SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
| o | REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
| x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013
| o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from ________________ to ________________
OR
| o | SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Date of event requiring this shell company report
Commission file number: 001-36298
GEOPARK LIMITED
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Bermuda
(Jurisdiction of incorporation)
Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles 179
Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
(Address of principal executive offices)
Pedro Aylwin
Director of Legal and Governance
GeoPark Limited
Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles 179
Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
Phone: +56 (2) 2242 9600
Fax: +56 (2) 2242 9600 ext. 201
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Copies to:
Maurice Blanco, Esq.
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 450 4000
Fax: (212) 701 5800
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common shares, par value US$0.001 per share | | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital stock or common stock as of the close of business covered by the annual report.
Common shares: 57,863,615
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
o Yes x No
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.*
* The registrant became subject to such requirements on February 6, 2014, and it has filed all reports so required since that date.
x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).
o Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer x |
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
US GAAP o | International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board x | Other o |
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
o Item 17 o Item 18
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
o Yes x No
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Certain definitions
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this annual report to:
| · | “GeoPark Limited,” “GeoPark,” “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and words of a similar effect, are to GeoPark Limited (formerly GeoPark Holdings Limited), an exempted company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda, together with its consolidated subsidiaries; |
| · | “Agencia” are to GeoPark Latin America Limited Agencia en Chile, an established branch, under the laws of Chile, of GeoPark Latin America Limited, an exempted company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda; |
| · | “GeoPark Latin America” are to our subsidiary GeoPark Latin America Limited, an exempted company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda; |
| · | “GeoPark Fell” are to our subsidiary GeoPark Fell SpA., a sociedad por acciones incorporated under the laws of Chile; |
| · | “GeoPark Chile” are to our subsidiary GeoPark Chile S.A., a sociedad anónima cerrada incorporated under the laws of Chile; |
| · | “GeoPark Colombia” are prior to our internal corporate reorganization of our Colombian operations, to our subsidiary GeoPark Colombia S.A., a sociedad anónima cerrada incorporated under the laws of Chile and subsequent to such reorganization, to GeoPark Colombia Coöperatie U.A., a cooperative duly incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands; |
| · | “GeoPark Colombia S.A.S.” are to our subsidiary GeoPark Colombia S.A.S., a sociedad anónima simplificada incorporated under the laws of Colombia, which absorbed Winchester, Luna and Cuerva and their Colombian branches by merger and assumed all rights and obligations of each; |
| · | “Winchester” are to our subsidiary Winchester Oil and Gas S.A., now GeoPark Colombia PN S.A. Sucursal Colombia, a Colombian branch of a sociedad anónima incorporated under the laws of Panama, which merged into GeoPark Colombia S.A.S.; |
| · | “Luna” are to our subsidiary La Luna Oil Company Limited S.A., a sociedad anónima incorporated under the laws of Panama, which merged into GeoPark Colombia S.A.S.; |
| · | “Cuerva” are to our subsidiary GeoPark Cuerva LLC, formerly known as Hupecol Caracara LLC, a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware, which merged into GeoPark Colombia S.A.S.; |
| · | “LGI” are to LG International Corp., a company incorporated under the laws of Korea; |
| · | “Panoro” are to Panoro Energy do Brasil Ltda., a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Brazil and a subsidiary of Panoro Energy ASA, a company incorporated under the laws of Norway, with assets in Brazil and Africa; |
| · | “Rio das Contas” are to Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda., a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Brazil; |
| · | our “Brazil Acquisitions” are to our Rio das Contas acquisition, which we completed on March 31, 2014, our award of two new concessions by the ANP, which are subject to confirmation of qualification requirements, and our award of seven new concessions by the ANP, in Brazil; |
| · | “Chile” are to the Republic of Chile; |
| · | “Colombia” are to the Republic of Colombia; |
| · | “Brazil” are to the Federative Republic of Brazil; |
| · | “Argentina” are to the Argentine Republic; |
| · | “Peru” are to the Republic of Peru; |
| · | “US$” and “U.S. dollars” are to the official currency of the United States of America; |
| · | “Ch$” and “Chilean pesos” are to the official currency of Chile; |
| · | “Col$” and “Colombian pesos” are to the official currency of Colombia; |
| · | “GBP” are to the official currency of the United Kingdom; |
| · | “AR$” and “Argentine pesos” are to the official currency of Argentina; |
| · | “real,” “reais” and “R$” are to the official currency of Brazil; |
| · | “IFRS” are to International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB; |
| · | “ANP” are to the Brazilian National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency (Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis); |
| · | “CNPE” are to the Brazilian National Council on Energy Policy (Conselho Nacional de Política Energética); |
| · | “ANH” are to the Colombian National Hydrocarbons Agency (Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos); |
| · | “ENAP” are to the Chilean National Petroleum Company (Empresa Nacional de Petróleo) |
| · | “economic interest” means an indirect participation interest in the net revenues from a given block based on bilateral agreements with the concessionaires; and |
| · | “working interest” means the right granted to the lessee of a property to explore for and to produce and own oil, gas, or other minerals. The working interest owners bear the exploration, development and operating costs on either a cash, penalty or carried basis. |
Financial statements
Our consolidated financial statements
This annual report includes our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, or our Annual Consolidated Financial Statements.
Our Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in U.S. dollars and have been prepared in accordance with IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).
Our Annual Consolidated Financial Statements have been audited by Price Waterhouse & Co. S.R.L., Argentina, a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers Network, or PwC, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report included elsewhere in this annual report.
Our fiscal year ends December 31. References in this annual report to a fiscal year, such as “fiscal year 2013,” relate to our fiscal year ended on December 31 of that calendar year.
Acquisition of Rio das Contas
On May 14, 2013, we agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Rio das Contas from Panoro, for a total cash consideration of US$140 million subject to certain purchase price and easement adjustments. The closing of the acquisition was subject to certain conditions, including approval by the ANP, among others. We closed the acquisition on March 31, 2014.
This annual report includes the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS of Rio das Contas as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, or the Rio das Contas Audited Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been audited by Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes S.S., Brazil, or Ernst & Young, as stated in their report appearing herein. References to Rio das Contas Consolidated Financial Statements are to the Rio das Contas Audited Consolidated Financial Statements. Our results as reflected in our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual report are not comparable to our results for any period following the future date on which we consolidate the results of Rio das Contas.
In light of our Rio das Contas acquisition that closed on March 31, 2014, we include in this annual report Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data to illustrate:
• The combined results of operations for GeoPark for the year ended December 31, 2013 to give pro forma effect to the acquisition of Rio das Contas as if such transaction had occurred as of January 1, 2013; and
• The combined statement of financial position for GeoPark as of December 31, 2013 to give pro forma effect to the acquisition of Rio das Contas as if such acquisition had occurred as of December 31, 2013.
We refer to these pro forma financial statements as our Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data. For purposes of preparing our Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data, we have made certain adjustments to the historical and pre-acquisition financial information of Rio das Contas. See “Item 3. Key Information—A. Selected financial data—Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data.” Our Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data is presented for informational purposes only and does not purport to represent our results of operations or financial condition had our acquisition of Rio das Contas occurred at the respective dates indicated above.
Our historical financial information and pro forma financial data should be read in conjunction with “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects,” our Consolidated Financial Statements and the Rio das Contas Consolidated Financial Statements, including, in each case, the accompanying notes thereto, included elsewhere in this annual report.
Non IFRS financial measures
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental non-IFRS financial measure that is used by management and external users of our financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies.
We define Adjusted EBITDA as profit for the period before net finance cost, income tax, depreciation, amortization and certain non-cash items such as impairments and write-offs of unsuccessful exploration and evaluation assets, accrual of stock options and stock awards and bargain purchase gain on acquisition of subsidiaries. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of profit or cash flows as determined by IFRS.
We believe Adjusted EBITDA is useful because it allows us to more effectively evaluate our operating performance and compare the results of our operations from period to period without regard to our financing methods or capital structure. We exclude the items listed above from profit for the period in arriving at Adjusted EBITDA because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within our industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structures and the method by which the assets were acquired. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, profit for the period or cash flows from operating activities as determined in accordance with IFRS or as an indicator of our operating performance or liquidity. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in
understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s cost of capital and tax structure and significant and/or recurring write-offs, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of Adjusted EBITDA. Our computation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.
For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the IFRS financial measure of profit for the year, see Note 6 to our Annual Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the years ended 2012 and 2013, included in this annual report.
We have also included Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA in this annual report to show our Adjusted EBITDA after giving pro forma effect to our Rio das Contas acquisition that closed on March 31, 2014. For a reconciliation of Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA to the IFRS financial measure of pro forma profit for the year, see “Item 3. Key Information—A. Selected financial data—Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data—Note 2—Reconciliations.”
Oil and gas reserves and production information
The information included in this annual report regarding estimated quantities of proved reserves in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Argentina is derived, in part, from estimates of the proved reserves as of December 31, 2013. The reserves estimates are derived from the report prepared by DeGolyer and MacNaughton, or D&M, independent reserves engineers, or the D&M Reserves Report, included as an exhibit to this annual report, prepared by D&M. The D&M Reserves Report was prepared by D&M for us and presents estimates as of December 31, 2013 of oil and gas reserves located in the Fell Block in Chile, the Del Mosquito, Cerro Doña Juana and Loma Cortaderal Blocks in Argentina and the La Cuerva, Llanos 32, Llanos 34, Llanos 17 and Yamú Blocks in Colombia and the interests held through Rio das Contas, which we acquired on March 31, 2014, in Brazil in BCAM-40 Concession (Manatí).
Information about our reserves only presents reserves estimates for our working interests in the blocks covered by such report as of the date of such report. These estimates are included in this annual report in reliance upon the authority of D&M as an expert in these matters.
Market share and other information
Market data, other statistical information, information regarding recent developments in Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina and certain industry forecast data used in this annual report were obtained from internal reports and studies, where appropriate, as well as estimates, market research, publicly available information (including information available from the SEC website) and industry publications. Industry publications generally state that the information they include has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed. Similarly, internal reports and studies, estimates and market research, which we believe to be reliable and accurately extracted by us for use in this annual report, have not been independently verified. However, we believe such data is accurate and agree that we are responsible for the accurate extraction of such information from such sources and its correct reproduction in this annual report.
In addition, we have provided definitions for certain industry terms used in this annual report in the “Glossary of oil and natural gas terms” included as Appendix A to this annual report.
Rounding
We have made rounding adjustments to some of the figures included in this annual report. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in some tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
This annual report contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this annual report can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate” and “potential,” among others.
Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this annual report and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, those identified under the section “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors” in this annual report. These risks and uncertainties include factors relating to:
| · | operating risks, including equipment failures and the amounts and timing of revenues and expenses; |
| · | termination of, or intervention in, concessions, rights or authorizations granted by the Chilean, Colombian, Brazilian and Argentine governments to us; |
| · | uncertainties inherent in making estimates of our oil and natural gas data; |
| · | the volatility of oil and natural gas prices; |
| · | environmental constraints on operations and environmental liabilities arising out of past or present operations; |
| · | discovery and development of oil and natural gas reserves; |
| · | project delays or cancellations; |
| · | financial market conditions and the results of financing efforts; |
| · | political, legal, regulatory, governmental, administrative and economic conditions and developments in the countries in which we operate; |
| · | fluctuations in inflation and exchange rates in Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and in other countries in which we may operate in the future; |
| · | availability and cost of drilling rigs, production equipment, supplies, personnel and oil field services; |
| · | contract counterparty risk; |
| · | projected and targeted capital expenditures and other cost commitments and revenues; |
| · | weather and other natural phenomena; |
| · | the impact of recent and future regulatory proceedings and changes, changes in environmental, health and safety and other laws and regulations to which our company or operations are subject, as well as changes in the application of existing laws and regulations; |
| · | current and future litigation; |
| · | our ability to successfully identify, integrate and complete acquisitions |
| · | our ability to retain key members of our senior management and key technical employees; |
| · | competition from other similar oil and natural gas companies; |
| · | market or business conditions and fluctuations in global and local demand for energy; |
| · | the direct or indirect impact on our business resulting from terrorist incidents or responses to such incidents, including the effect on the availability of and premiums on insurance; and |
| · | other factors discussed under “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors” in this annual report. |
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments or to release publicly any revisions to these statements in order to reflect later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
We are incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability under the laws of Bermuda, and substantially all of our assets are located in Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina. In addition, most of our directors and executive officers reside outside the United States, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process on those persons in the United States or to enforce in the United States judgments obtained in U.S. courts against us or those persons based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. securities laws.
There is no treaty in force between the United States and Bermuda providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. As a result, whether a U.S. judgment would be enforceable in Bermuda against us or our directors and officers depends on whether the U.S. court that entered the judgment is recognized by the Bermuda court as having jurisdiction over us or our directors and officers, as determined by reference to Bermuda conflict of law rules and the judgment is not contrary to public policy in Bermuda, has not been obtained by fraud in proceedings contrary to natural justice and is not based on an error in Bermuda law. A judgment debt from a U.S. court that is final and for a sum certain based on U.S. federal securities laws will not be enforceable in Bermuda unless the judgment debtor had submitted to the jurisdiction of the U.S. court, and the issue of submission and jurisdiction is a matter of Bermuda (not U.S.) law.
An action brought pursuant to a public or penal law, the purpose of which is the enforcement of a sanction, power or right at the instance of the state in its sovereign capacity, may not be entertained by a Bermuda court. Certain remedies available under the laws of U.S. jurisdictions, including certain remedies under U.S. federal securities laws, may not be available under Bermuda law or enforceable in a Bermuda court, as they may be contrary to Bermuda public policy. Further, no claim may be brought in Bermuda against us or our directors and officers in the first instance for violations of U.S. federal securities laws because these laws have no extraterritorial jurisdiction under Bermuda law and do not have force of law in Bermuda. A Bermuda court may, however, impose civil liability on us or our directors and officers if the facts alleged in a complaint constitute or give rise to a cause of action under Bermuda law. However, section 281 of the Bermuda Companies Act allows a Bermuda court, in certain circumstances, to relieve officers and directors of Bermuda companies of liability for acts of negligence, breach of duty or trust or other defaults.
Section 98 of the Bermuda Companies Act provides generally that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise be imposed on them in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, except in cases where such liability arises from fraud or dishonesty of which such director, officer or auditor may be guilty in relation to the company. Section 98 further provides that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability incurred by them in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is awarded in their favor or in which they are acquitted or granted relief by the Supreme Court of Bermuda pursuant to Section 281 of the Bermuda Companies Act.
Our bye-laws contain provisions whereby we and our shareholders waive any claim or right of action that we have, both individually and on our behalf, against any director or officer in relation to any action or failure to take action by such director or officer, except in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of such director or officer. We may also indemnify our directors and officers in their capacity as directors and officers for any loss arising or liability attaching to them by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence, default, breach of trust of which a director or officer may be guilty in relation to the company other than in respect of his own fraud or dishonesty. We have entered into customary indemnification agreements with our directors.
No treaty exists between the United States and Chile for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. Chilean courts, however, have enforced valid and conclusive judgments for the payment of money rendered by competent U.S. courts by virtue of the legal principles of reciprocity and comity, subject to review in Chile of the U.S. judgment in order to ascertain whether certain basic principles of due process and public policy have been respected, without retrial or review of the merits of the subject matter. If a U.S. court grants a final judgment, enforceability of this judgment in Chile will be subject to obtaining the relevant exequatur (i.e., recognition and enforcement of the foreign judgment) according to Chilean civil procedure law in effect at that time, and depending on certain factors (the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of which would be determined by the Supreme Court of Chile). Currently, the most important of such factors are: the existence of reciprocity (if it can be proved
that there is no reciprocity in the recognition and enforcement of the foreign judgment between the United States and Chile, that judgment would not be enforced in Chile); the absence of any conflict between the foreign judgment and Chilean laws (excluding for this purpose the laws of civil procedure) and Chilean public policy; the absence of a conflicting judgment by a Chilean court relating to the same parties and arising from the same facts and circumstances; the Chilean court’s determination that the U.S. courts had jurisdiction, that process was appropriately served on the defendant and that the defendant was afforded a real opportunity to appear before the court and defend its case; and the judgment being final under the laws of the country in which it was rendered. Nonetheless, we have been advised by our Chilean counsel that there is doubt as to the enforceability in original actions in Chilean courts of liabilities predicated solely upon U.S. federal or state securities laws.
| Directors and senior management |
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
| Method and expected timetable |
Not applicable.
We have derived our selected historical statement of income, balance sheet and cash flow data as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 from our Annual Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this annual report, which have been audited by PwC. We have derived our selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2011 from our Annual Consolidated Financial Statements not included in this annual report.
We maintain our books and records in U.S. dollars and prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS.
This financial information should be read in conjunction with “Presentation of Financial and Other Information,” “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes thereto, included elsewhere in this annual report.
The selected historical financial data set forth in this section does not include any results or other financial information of our Colombian acquisitions prior to their incorporation into our financial statements, or our Brazil Acquisitions.
We have not included selected consolidated financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 in the tables below. We have not presented financial data prior to this period as we qualify as an emerging growth company under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 or the JOBS Act and we make use of an existing accommodation for specified reduced reporting, requiring only two years of audited financial statements at the time of our initial public offering. As a result we have not prepared financial information in IFRS prior to December 31, 2011.
| | For the year ended December 31, | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except per share numbers) | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Revenue | | | | | | | | | |
Net oil sales | | | 315,435 | | | | 221,564 | | | | 73,508 | |
Net gas sales | | | 22,918 | | | | 28,914 | | | | 38,072 | |
Net revenue | | | 338,353 | | | | 250,478 | | | | 111,580 | |
Production costs | | | (179,643 | ) | | | (129,235 | ) | | | (54,513 | ) |
Gross profit(1) | | | 158,710 | | | | 121,243 | | | | 57,067 | |
Exploration costs | | | (16,254 | ) | | | (27,890 | ) | | | (10,066 | ) |
Administrative costs | | | (46,584 | ) | | | (28,798 | ) | | | (18,169 | ) |
Selling expenses | | | (17,252 | ) | | | (24,631 | ) | | | (2,546 | ) |
Other operating income/(expense) | | | 5,344 | | | | 823 | | | | (502 | ) |
Operating profit | | | 83,964 | | | | 40,747 | | | | 25,784 | |
Financial income | | | 4,893 | | | | 892 | | | | 162 | |
Financial expenses | | | (38,769 | ) | | | (17,200 | ) | | | (13,678 | ) |
Bargain purchase gain on acquisition of subsidiaries | | | — | | | | 8,401 | | | | — | |
Profit before tax | | | 50,088 | | | | 32,840 | | | | 12,268 | |
Income tax | | | (15,154 | ) | | | (14,394 | ) | | | (7,206 | ) |
Profit for the year | | | 34,934 | | | | 18,446 | | | | 5,062 | |
Non-controlling interest | | | 12,922 | | | | 6,567 | | | | 5,008 | |
Profit attributable to owners of the Company | | | 22,012 | | | | 11,879 | | | | 54 | |
Earnings per share for profit attributable to owners of the Company—Basic | | | 0.50 | | | | 0.28 | | | | 0.00 | |
Earnings per share for profit attributable to owners of the Company—Diluted(2) | | | 0.47 | | | | 0.27 | | | | 0.00 | |
Weighted average common shares outstanding—Basic | | | 43,603,846 | | | | 42,673,981 | | | | 41,912,685 | |
Weighted average common shares outstanding—Diluted(2) | | | 46,532,049 | | | | 44,109,305 | | | | 43,917,167 | |
(1) | Gross profit is defined as net revenue minus production costs. |
(2) | See Note 18 to our Annual Consolidated Financial Statements. |
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | (In thousands of US$) | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | |
Non-current assets | | | | | | | | | |
Property, plant and equipment | | | 595,446 | | | | 457,837 | | | | 224,635 | |
Prepaid taxes | | | 11,454 | | | | 10,707 | | | | 2,957 | |
Other financial assets | | | 5,168 | | | | 7,791 | | | | 5,226 | |
Deferred income tax | | | 13,358 | | | | 13,591 | | | | 450 | |
Prepayments and other receivables | | | 6,361 | | | | 510 | | | | 707 | |
Total non-current assets | | | 631,787 | | | | 490,436 | | | | 233,975 | |
Current assets | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other financial assets | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,000 | |
Inventories | | | 8,122 | | | | 3,955 | | | | 584 | |
Trade receivables | | | 42,628 | | | | 32,271 | | | | 15,929 | |
Prepayments and other receivables | | | 35,764 | | | | 49,620 | | | | 24,984 | |
Prepaid taxes | | | 6,979 | | | | 3,443 | | | | 147 | |
Cash at bank and in hand | | | 121,135 | | | | 48,292 | | | | 193,650 | |
Total current assets | | | 214,628 | | | | 137,581 | | | | 238,294 | |
Total assets | | | 846,415 | | | | 628,017 | | | | 472,269 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share capital | | | 44 | | | | 43 | | | | 43 | |
Share premium | | | 120,426 | | | | 116,817 | | | | 112,231 | |
Other | | | 150,371 | | | | 122,561 | | | | 96,615 | |
Equity attributable to owners of the Company | | | 270,841 | | | | 239,421 | | | | 208,889 | |
Equity attributable to non-controlling interest | | | 95,116 | | | | 72,665 | | | | 41,763 | |
Total equity | | | 365,957 | | | | 312,086 | | | | 250,652 | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Non-current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Borrowings | | | 290,457 | | | | 165,046 | | | | 134,643 | |
Provisions for other long-term liabilities | | | 33,076 | | | | 25,991 | | | | 9,412 | |
Trade and other payables | | | 8,344 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Deferred income tax | | | 23,087 | | | | 17,502 | | | | 13,109 | |
Total non-current liabilities | | | 354,964 | | | | 208,539 | | | | 157,164 | |
Current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Borrowings | | | 26,630 | | | | 27,986 | | | | 30,613 | |
Current income tax | | | 7,231 | | | | 7,315 | | | | 187 | |
Trade and other payables | | | 91,633 | | | | 72,091 | | | | 33,653 | |
Total current liabilities | | | 125,494 | | | | 107,392 | | | | 64,453 | |
Total liabilities | | | 480,458 | | | | 315,931 | | | | 221,617 | |
Total equity and liabilities | | | 846,415 | | | | 628,017 | | | | 472,269 | |
| | For the year ended December 31, | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | (In thousands of US$) | |
Cash provided by (used in) | | | | | | | | | |
Operating activities | | | 140,094 | | | | 131,802 | | | | 68,763 | |
Investing activities | | | (221,299 | ) | | | (303,507 | ) | | | (101,276 | ) |
Financing activities | | | 164,018 | | | | 26,375 | | | | 131,739 | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash | | | 82,813 | | | | (145,330 | ) | | | 99,226 | |
| | For the year ended December 31, | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA(1) (US$ thousands) | | | 167,253 | | | | 121,404 | | | | 63,391 | |
Adjusted EBITDA margin(2) | | | 49.4 | % | | | 48.5 | % | | | 56.8 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA per boe(3) | | | 33.9 | | | | 31.1 | | | | 22.9 | |
(1) | Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure. For a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and other information relating to this measure, see “Presentation of Financial and Other Information—Financial statements—Non-IFRS financial measures.” For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the IFRS financial measure of profit for the year, see Note 6 to our Annual Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the years ended 2012 and 2013, included in this annual report. |
(2) | Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by net revenue. |
(3) | Adjusted EBITDA per boe is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total production expressed in boe.” |
Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data
The following Unaudited condensed combined pro forma income statement data below is presented as if the acquisitions of Rio das Contas had occurred as of January 1, 2013. The Unaudited condensed combined pro forma statement of financial position is presented below as if our Rio das Contas acquisition had occurred on December 31, 2013.
The Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data is based on the following financial
statements included elsewhere in this annual report and should be read in conjunction with them and the notes thereto:
• our Annual Audited Consolidated Financial Statements; and
• the Rio das Contas Audited Consolidated Financial Statements;
Rio das Contas was acquired on March 31, 2014. The Rio das Contas pre-acquisition income statement data for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the pre-acquisition statement of financial position data as of December 31, 2013 have been extracted from the Rio das Contas Audited Consolidated Financial Statements.
The preparation of the Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data includes the impact of certain purchase accounting adjustments, such as estimated changes in depreciation expense on acquired proved and unproved properties that are expected to have a continuing impact on us. Accordingly, the amounts shown in our Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial data are not necessarily indicative of the results that would have resulted if the acquisitions had occurred on January 1, 2013 or that may result in the future.
The Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data is for informational purposes only. Because of its nature, it addresses a hypothetical situation and it is not intended to represent or to be indicative of the consolidated financial position or results of operations that we would have reported had the acquisitions been completed on the dates indicated. It should not be relied upon as representative of the historical consolidated financial position or results of operations that would have been achieved, or the future consolidated financial position or operating results that can be expected. The unaudited pro forma adjustments, described in the accompanying notes, are based on available information and certain assumptions that management believes are reasonable for purposes of this annual report.
Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental non-IFRS financial measure that is used by management and external users of our financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. We define Adjusted EBITDA as profit for the period before net finance cost, income tax, depreciation, amortization and certain non-cash items such as impairments and write-off of exploration and evaluation assets, accrual of stock options and stock awards and bargain purchase gain on acquisition of subsidiaries.
Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of profit or cash flows as determined by IFRS and may not be comparable to other similarly-titled measures of other companies.
Unaudited condensed combined pro forma income statement
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands of US$) | | GeoPark historical IFRS | | | Rio das Contas historical IFRS | | | Pro Forma adjustments Rio das Contas acquisition (1) | | | Pro Forma combined | |
For the year ended December 31, 2013 | | | |
Net revenue | | | 338,353 | | | | 48,570 | | | | — | | | | 386,923 | |
Production costs | | | (179,643 | ) | | | (22,861 | ) | | | (12,403 | )(a) | | | (214,907 | ) |
Gross profit | | | 158,710 | | | | 25,709 | | | | (12,403 | ) | | | 172,016 | |
Exploration costs | | | (16,254 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | | | (16,254 | ) |
Administrative costs | | | (46,584 | ) | | | (2,021 | ) | | | — | | | | (48,605 | ) |
Selling expenses | | | (17,252 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | | | (17,252 | ) |
Other operating income | | | 5,344 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 5,344 | |
Operating profit/(loss) | | | 83,964 | | | | 23,688 | | | | (12,403 | ) | | | 95,249 | |
Net financial result | | | (33,876 | ) | | | 353 | | | | (2,934 | ) (b) | | | (36,457 | ) |
Profit/(loss) before income tax | | | 50,088 | | | | 24,041 | | | | (15,337 | ) | | | 58,792 | |
Income tax | | | (15,154 | ) | | | (4,659 | ) | | | 5,214 | (c) | | | (14,599 | ) |
Profit/(loss) for the year | | | 34,934 | | | | 19,382 | | | | (10,122 | ) | | | 44,194 | |
Attributable to: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Owners of the Company | | | 22,012 | | | | 19,382 | | | | (10,122 | ) | | | 31,272 | |
Non-controlling interest | | | 12,922 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 12,922 | |
Earnings per share (in US$) for profit attributable to owners of the Company: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | | 0.50 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0.72 | |
Diluted | | | 0.47 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0.67 | |
Weighted average number of shares: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | | 43,603,846 | | | | | | | | | | | | 43,603,846 | |
Diluted | | | 46,532,049 | | | | | | | | | | | | 46,532,049 | |
(1) See Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data below.
Unaudited condensed combined pro forma statement of financial position
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands of US$) | | GeoPark historical IFRS | | | Rio das Contas historical IFRS | | | Pro Forma adjustments Rio das Contas acquisition (1) | | | Pro Forma combined | |
As of December 31, 2013 | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property, plant and equipment | | | 595,446 | | | | 64,754 | | | | 71,512 | (d) | | | 731,712 | |
Other | | | 36,341 | | | | 394 | | | | — | | | | 36,735 | |
Total non-current assets | | | 631,787 | | | | 65,148 | | | | 71,512 | | | | 768,447 | |
Trade receivables | | | 42,628 | | | | 9,546 | | | | — | | | | 52,174 | |
Prepayments and other receivables | | | 35,764 | | | | 142 | | | | — | | | | 35,906 | |
Cash at bank and in hand | | | 121,135 | | | | 17,015 | | | | (77,894 | )(e) | | | 60,256 | |
Other | | | 15,101 | | | | 117 | | | | — | | | | 15,218 | |
Total current assets | | | 214,628 | | | | 26,820 | | | | (77,894 | ) | | | 163,554 | |
Total assets | | | 846,415 | | | | 91,968 | | | | (6,382 | ) | | | 932,001 | |
Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share premium | | | 120,426 | | | | 64,865 | | | | (64,865 | ) (f) | | | 120,426 | |
Reserves | | | 126,465 | | | | 5,783 | | | | (5,783 | )(f) | | | 126,465 | |
Other | | | 23,950 | | | | 6,784 | | | | (6,784 | )(f) | | | 23,950 | |
Attributable to owners of the Company | | | 270,841 | | | | 77,432 | | | | (77,432 | ) | | | 270,841 | |
Non-controlling interest | | | 95,116 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 95,116 | |
Total equity | | | 365,957 | | | | 77,432 | | | | (77,432 | ) | | | 365,957 | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Borrowings | | | 290,457 | | | | — | | | | 70,450 | (g) | | | 360,907 | |
Provisions for other long-term liabilities | | | 33,076 | | | | 6,671 | | | | — | | | | 39,747 | |
Deferred income tax | | | 23,087 | | | | 3,247 | | | | — | | | | 26,334 | |
Trade and other payables | | | 8,344 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 8,344 | |
Contingent payment | | | — | | | | — | | | | 600 | (h) | | | 600 | |
Total non-current liabilities | | | 354,964 | | | | 9,918 | | | | 71,050 | | | | 435,932 | |
Trade and other payables | | | 91,633 | | | | 634 | | | | — | | | | 92,267 | |
Borrowings | | | 26,630 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 26,630 | |
Other | | | 7,231 | | | | 3,984 | | | | — | | | | 11,215 | |
Total current liabilities | | | 125,494 | | | | 4,618 | | | | — | | | | 130,112 | |
Total liabilities | | | 480,458 | | | | 14,536 | | | | 71,050 | | | | 566,044 | |
Total equity and liabilities | | | 846,415 | | | | 91,968 | | | | (6,382 | ) | | | 932,001 | |
(1) See Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data below.
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data
Note 1— Purchase price adjustments on Rio das Contas acquisition
The purchase price allocation of our Rio das Contas acquisition is preliminary and may be subject to change. The final purchase price may result in an adjustment to the purchase price or its allocation. Any such adjustment will be reflected as an increase or decrease by means of working capital adjustment to be determined when certain information is available.
(in thousands of US$) | | | | | | |
Cost of the acquisition | | | | | | |
Cash payment(i) | | | 140,100 | | | | |
Total cost of the acquisition | | | | | | | 140,100 | |
Less: Book value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed | | | | | | | | |
Total book value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed | | | 77,432 | | | | | |
Fair value adjustments: | | | | | | | | |
Proved and unproved properties(ii) | | | 62,668 | | | | | |
Fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed | | | | | | | 140,100 | |
(i) Comprised of a fixed purchase price of US$140 million, increased by a working capital adjustment of US$0.1 million calculated based on the Rio das Contas Consolidated Financial Statements. The working capital adjustment is preliminary and is subject to final agreement with the seller.
(ii) Reflects fair value adjustments of property, plant and equipment and the recognition of mineral interest.
The following pro forma adjustments were made to the unaudited condensed combined pro forma income statement for the year ended December 31, 2013 to reflect the acquisition of Rio das Contas as if it had occurred on January 1, 2013:
(a) Additional depreciation expense resulting from the increased basis of property, plant and equipment acquired of US$9.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Also, the accounting policy for depreciation of oil and gas properties was adjusted to conform to our policy (which is based on commercial proved and probable reserves) resulting in additional depreciation expense of US$2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
(b) Interest expense on US$70.5 million credit facility incurred in connection with the acquisition is calculated using an effective interest rate of 4.2% for the year ended December 31, 2013. The loan, which is secured by the benefits GeoPark receives under the Purchase and Sale Agreement for Natural Gas with Petrobras, will mature five years from the date of disbursement and will bear a variable interest rate equal six-month LIBOR + 3.9%. The effect of a 1⁄8 percent variance in the interest rate on profit for the year would be US$0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
(c) Decrease in income taxes related to foregoing adjustments. The rate applied for adjustments (a) and (c) is the statutory rate in Brazil of 34%.
The following pro forma adjustments were made to the unaudited condensed combined pro forma statement of financial position to reflect the acquisition of Rio das Contas as if it had occurred on
December 31, 2013:
(d) Fair value adjustment of US$71.5 million allocated to the recognition of mineral interest.
(e) Adjustment to reflect: (i) increase in cash of US$70.5 million due to bank indebtedness issued in connection with the acquisition; and (ii) cash payment of US$140.1 million relating to the acquisition.
(f) Elimination of Rio das Contas equity items for consolidation purposes.
(g) Bank indebtedness of US$70.5 million incurred in connection with the acquisition.
(h) Contingent payment of US$0.6 million relating to the acquisition. The purchase price is adjusted for an earn-out amount equal to 45% of the net cash flows of the BCAM-40 Concession in excess of
US$25 million. The earn-out amount is calculated over a five-year period starting January 1, 2013.
Note 2—Reconciliations
Reconciliation of pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to the IFRS financial measure of pro forma profit for the year
(In thousands of US$) | | For the year ended December 31, 2013 | |
Pro Forma profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company | | | 31,272 | |
Pro Forma non-controlling interest | | | 12,922 | |
Pro Forma profit for the year | | | 44,194 | |
Pro Forma income tax | | | 14,599 | |
Pro Forma net finance results | | | 36,457 | |
Pro Forma others(i) | | | (7,040 | ) |
Pro Forma impairment and write off of unsuccessful efforts | | | 10,962 | |
Pro Forma accrual of stock options and stock awards | | | 9,167 | |
Pro Forma depreciation | | | 89,724 | |
Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA | | | 198,062 | |
(h) Includes capitalized costs for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Reconciliation of Rio das Contas historical Adjusted EBITDA to the IFRS measure of Rio das Contas historical profit for the year
(in thousands of US$) | | For the year ended December 31, 2013 | |
Rio das Contas historical profit for the year | | | 19,382 | |
Income tax | | | 4,659 | |
Net financial result | | | (353 | ) |
Depreciation | | | 7,121 | |
Rio das Contas historical Adjusted EBITDA | | | 30,809 | |
Exchange rates
In Chile, Colombia and Argentina, our functional currency is the U.S. dollar. In Brazil, our functional currency is the real.
The Brazilian foreign exchange system allows the purchase and sale of foreign currency and the international transfer of real by any person or legal entity, regardless of the amount, subject to certain regulatory procedures.
Since 1999, the Brazilian Central Bank has allowed the U.S. dollar-real exchange rate to float freely, and, since then, the U.S. dollar-real exchange rate has fluctuated considerably.
Our operations in Brazil account for 12% of our consolidated assets and 21% of our production each on a pro forma basis, after giving effect to our Rio das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014. This portion of our business is exposed to losses that may arise from currency fluctuation. In the past, the Brazilian Central Bank has occasionally intervened to control unstable movements in foreign exchange rates. We cannot predict whether the Brazilian Central Bank or the Brazilian government will continue to permit the real to float freely or will intervene in the exchange rate market through the return of a currency band system or otherwise. The real may depreciate or appreciate substantially against the U.S. dollar. Furthermore, Brazilian law provides that, whenever there is a serious imbalance in Brazil’s balance of payments or there are serious reasons to foresee a serious imbalance, temporary restrictions may be imposed on remittances of foreign capital abroad. We cannot assure you that such measures will not be taken by the Brazilian government in the future. See “—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—Our results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.”
The following tables show the selling rate for U.S. dollars for the periods and dates indicated. The information in the “Average” column represents the average of the daily exchange rates during the periods presented. The numbers in the “Period-end” column are the quotes for the exchange rate as of the last business day of the period in question. As of April 15, 2014, the exchange rate for the purchase of U.S. dollars as reported by the Central Bank of Brazil was R$2.2257 per U.S. dollar.
The following table presents the monthly high and low representative market rate during the months indicated.
Recent exchange rates of real per U.S. dollar | | | | | | |
Month: | | | | | | |
October 2013 | | | 2.1611 | | | | 2.2123 | |
November 2013 | | | 2.2426 | | | | 2.3362 | |
December 2013 | | | 2.3102 | | | | 2.3817 | |
January 2014 | | | 2.3335 | | | | 2.4397 | |
February 2014 | | | 2.3334 | | | | 2.4238 | |
March 2014 | | | 2.2603 | | | | 2.3649 | |
April 2014 (through April 25, 2014) | | | 2.1974 | | | | 2.2811 | |
Source: Central Bank of Brazil.
The following table presents the average R$ per U.S. dollar representative market rate for each of the five most recent years, calculated by using the average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during the period, and the representative year-end market rate for each of the five most recent years.
Real per U.S. dollar | | | | | | |
Period: | | | | | | |
2009 | | | 1.9936 | | | | 1.7412 | |
2010 | | | 1.7593 | | | | 1.6662 | |
2011 | | | 1.6746 | | | | 1.8758 | |
2012 | | | 1.9550 | | | | 2.0435 | |
First quarter 2013 | | | 1.9964 | | | | 2.0138 | |
Second quarter 2013 | | | 2.0700 | | | | 2.2156 | |
Third quarter 2013 | | | 2.2889 | | | | 2.2300 | |
Fourth quarter 2013 | | | 2.2735 | | | | 2.3426 | |
First quarter 2014 | | | 2.3409 | | | | 2.2630 | |
Second quarter 2014 (through April 25, 2014) | | | 2.2331 | | | | 2.2325 | |
Source: Central Bank of Brazil.
Exchange rate fluctuation may affect the U.S. dollar value of any distributions we make with respect to our common shares. See “—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—Our results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.”
| Capitalization and indebtedness |
Not applicable.
| Reasons for the offer and use of proceeds |
Not applicable.
Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected if any of the risks described below occur. As a result, the market price of our common shares could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. This annual report also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Statements.” The risks below are not the only ones facing our Company. Additional risks not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also adversely affect us.
Risks relating to our business
A substantial or extended decline in oil, natural gas and methanol prices may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The prices that we receive for our oil and natural gas production heavily influence our revenues, profitability, access to capital and growth rate. Historically, the markets for oil, natural gas and methanol (which historically have influenced prices for almost all of our Chilean gas sales) have been volatile and will likely continue to be volatile in the future. International oil, natural gas and methanol prices have fluctuated widely in recent years and may continue to do so in the future.
The prices that we will receive for our production and the levels of our production depend on numerous factors beyond our control. These factors include, but are not limited, to the following:
| · | global economic conditions; |
| · | changes in global supply and demand for oil, natural gas and methanol; |
| · | the actions of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC; |
| · | political and economic conditions, including embargoes, in oil-producing countries or affecting other countries; |
| · | the level of oil- and natural gas-producing activities, particularly in the Middle East, Africa, Russia, South America and the United States; |
| · | the level of global oil and natural gas exploration and production activity; |
| · | the level of global oil and natural gas inventories; |
| · | availability of markets for natural gas; |
| · | weather conditions and other natural disasters; |
| · | technological advances affecting energy production or consumption; |
| · | domestic and foreign governmental laws and regulations, including environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; |
| · | proximity and capacity of oil and natural gas pipelines and other transportation facilities; |
| · | the price and availability of competitors’ supplies of oil and natural gas in captive market areas; |
| · | quality discounts for oil production based, among other things, on API and mercury content; |
| · | taxes and royalties under relevant laws and the terms of our contracts; |
| · | our ability to enter into oil and natural gas sales contracts at fixed prices; |
| · | the level of global methanol demand and inventories and changes in the uses of methanol; |
| · | the price and availability of alternative fuels; and |
| · | future changes to our hedging policies. |
These factors and the volatility of the energy markets make it extremely difficult to predict future natural gas and oil price movements. For example, from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013, NYMEX West Texas International, or WTI, crude oil contracts prices ranged from a low of US$64.78 per bbl to a high of US$113.39 per bbl, Henry Hub natural gas average monthly spot prices ranged from a low of US$1.82 per mmbtu to a high of US$7.51 per mmbtu, US Gulf methanol spot barge prices ranged from a low of US$324.61 per metric ton to a high of US$530.71 per metric ton and Brent spot prices ranged from a low of US$67.18 per barrel to a high of US$128.14 per barrel. Further, oil, natural gas and methanol prices do not necessarily fluctuate in direct relationship to each other.
As of December 31, 2013, natural gas comprised 26% of our net proved reserves. On a pro forma basis, after giving effect to our Rio das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014 natural gas comprised 47% of our net proved reserves. A decline in natural gas prices could negatively affect our future growth, particularly for future gas sales where we may not be able to secure or extend our current long-term contracts.
For the year ended December 31, 2013, 93% of our revenues, were derived from oil. Giving effect on a pro forma basis to our Rio das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014, 81.5% of our revenues would have been derived from oil in the same period. See “Item 3. Key Information—A. Selected financial data—Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data.” Because we expect that our production mix will continue to be weighted toward oil, our financial results are more sensitive to movements in oil prices.
Lower oil and natural gas prices may not only decrease our revenues on a per unit basis, but also may reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that we can produce economically. In addition, changes in oil and gas prices can impact our valuation of reserves and, in periods of sharply lower commodity prices, we may curtail production and capital spending projects or may defer or delay drilling wells because of lower cash flows. A substantial or extended decline in oil or natural gas prices would materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We have historically not hedged our production to protect against fluctuations in the international oil prices. We may in the future consider adopting a hedging policy against commodity price risk, when deemed appropriate and taking into account the size of our business and market volatility.
Unless we replace our oil and natural gas reserves, our reserves and production will decline over time. Our business is dependent on our continued successful identification of productive fields and prospects and the identified locations in which we drill in the future may not yield oil or natural gas in commercial quantities.
Production from oil and gas properties declines as reserves are depleted, with the rate of decline depending on reservoir characteristics. Accordingly, our current proved reserves will decline as these reserves are produced. For instance, based on our internal projections, we estimate that the daily production in our Colombian blocks will peak
in 2015 and decline thereafter, and that the daily production in the Fell Block and the Tierra del Fuego Blocks will peak in 2016 and decline thereafter. As of December 31, 2013, our reserves-to-production (or reserve life) ratio for net proved reserves in Chile and Colombia was 3.5 years. According to estimates, if on January 1, 2014, we ceased all drilling and development and workovers, including recompletions, refracs and workovers, our proved developed producing reserves base in Chile, Colombia and Argentina would decline at an annual effective rate of 50% over the first three years, including 50% during the first year. In Brazil, we estimate that daily production in the Manatí Field, in which we acquired an interest as a result of the Rio das Contas acquisition on March 31, 2014, will peak in 2017 and decline thereafter. We estimate that, if on January 1, 2014, all drilling and development and workovers had ceased, including recompletions, refracs and workovers, then the proved developed producing reserves base attributable to the Manatí Field in Brazil would have no decline in the first year, but would decline at an annual effective rate of approximately 30% per year over the next three years.
Our future oil and natural gas reserves and production, and therefore our cash flows and income, are highly dependent on our success in efficiently developing our current reserves and using cost-effective methods to find or acquire additional recoverable reserves. While we have had success in identifying and developing commercially exploitable deposits and drilling locations in the past, we may be unable to replicate that success in the future. We may not identify any more commercially exploitable deposits or successfully drill, complete or produce more oil or gas reserves, and the wells which we have drilled and currently plan to drill within our blocks or concession areas may not discover or produce any further oil or gas or may not discover or produce additional commercially viable quantities of oil or gas to enable us to continue to operate profitably. If we are unable to replace our current and future production, the value of our reserves will decrease, and our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially adversely affected.
We derive a significant portion of our revenues from sales to a few key customers.
In Chile, 100% of our crude oil and condensate sales are made to ENAP. For the year ended December 31, 2013, sales to ENAP represented 42.6% of our revenues from oil and 39.8% of our total revenues. ENAP imports the majority of the oil it refines and partially supplements those imports with volumes supplied locally by its own operated fields and those operated by us. The sales contract with ENAP is commonly revised every two years to reflect changes in the global oil market and to adjust for ENAP’s logistics costs in the Gregorio oil terminal. The current agreement was recently executed and signed, with an initial term of 1 year, until March 2015, and it will be automatically extended for periods of 1 year until the expiration of the Fell Block CEOP, which is the earlier of August 24, 2032 or the date on which we cease exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Fell Block. However, if ENAP were to decrease or cease purchasing oil from us, or if we were unable to renew our contract with ENAP at a lower sales price or at all, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In Colombia, for the year ended December 31, 2013, we made 52.5% of our oil sales to Gunvor, 20.9% to Hocol S.A., or Hocol, a subsidiary of Ecopetrol, and 9.8% to Perenco, with Gunvor accounting for 27.8%, Hocol 11.1% and Perenco 5.2% of our overall revenues for the same period. Our current sales contracts with Hocol, Perenco and Gunvor are short-term agreements. If any of Hocol, Perenco or Gunvor were to decrease or cease purchasing oil from us, or if any of them were to decide not to renew their contracts with us or to renew them at a lower sales price, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In Brazil, following our Rio das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014, we expect that all of our revenues from the sale of gas in the Manatí Field in Brazil will be generated from sales to Petrobras, the operator of the Manatí Field, pursuant to a long-term gas off-take contract. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Significant agreements—Brazil—Petrobras Natural Gas Purchase Agreement.”
There are inherent risks and uncertainties relating to the exploration and production of oil and natural gas.
Our performance depends on the success of our exploration and production activities and on the existence of the infrastructure that will allow us to take advantage of our oil and gas reserves. Oil and natural gas exploration and production activities are subject to numerous risks beyond our control, including the risk that exploration activities will not identify commercially viable quantities of oil or natural gas. Our decisions to purchase, explore, develop or otherwise exploit prospects or properties will depend in part on the evaluation of seismic and other data obtained
through geophysical, geochemical and geological analysis, production data and engineering studies, the results of which are often inconclusive or subject to varying interpretations.
Furthermore, the marketability of any oil and natural gas production from our projects may be affected by numerous factors beyond our control. These factors include, but are not limited to, proximity and capacity of pipelines and other means of transportation, the availability of upgrading and processing facilities, equipment availability and government laws and regulations (including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to prices, sale restrictions, taxes, governmental stake, allowable production, importing and exporting of oil and natural gas, environmental protection and health and safety). The effect of these factors, individually or jointly, cannot be accurately predicted, but may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
There can be no assurance that our drilling programs will produce oil and natural gas in the quantities or at the costs anticipated, or that our currently producing projects will not cease production, in part or entirely. Drilling programs may become uneconomic as a result of an increase in our operating costs or as a result of a decrease in market prices for oil and natural gas. Our actual operating costs or the actual prices we may receive for our oil and natural gas production may differ materially from current estimates. In addition, even if we are able to continue to produce oil and gas, there can be no assurance that we will have the ability to market our oil and gas production. See “—Our inability to access needed equipment and infrastructure in a timely manner may hinder our access to oil and natural gas markets and generate significant incremental costs or delays in our oil and natural gas production” below.
Our identified potential drilling location inventories are scheduled over many years, making them susceptible to uncertainties that could materially alter the occurrence or timing of their drilling.
Our management team has specifically identified and scheduled certain potential drilling locations as an estimation of our future multi-year drilling activities on our existing acreage. As of December 31, 2013, approximately 60 of our specifically identified potential future drilling locations were attributed to proved undeveloped reserves in Chile and Colombia. These identified potential drilling locations, including those without proved undeveloped reserves, represent a significant part of our growth strategy. In Brazil, we have not yet conducted seismic surveys in the seven new concession areas awarded to us by the ANP to allow us to identify any potential drilling locations.
Our ability to drill and develop these identified potential drilling locations depends on a number of factors, including oil and natural gas prices, the availability and cost of capital, drilling and production costs, the availability of drilling services and equipment, drilling results, lease expirations, the availability of gathering systems, marketing and transportation constraints, refining capacity, regulatory approvals and other factors. Because of the uncertainty inherent in these factors, there can be no assurance that the numerous potential drilling locations we have identified will ever be drilled or, if they are, that we will be able to produce oil or natural gas from these or any other potential drilling locations.
Our business requires significant capital investment and maintenance expenses, which we may be unable to finance on satisfactory terms or at all.
The oil and natural gas industry is capital intensive and we expect to make substantial capital expenditures in our business and operations for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas reserves. We made US$303.5 million (including US$105.3 million relating to the purchase price for our Colombian acquisitions) and US$228.0 million of capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013, respectively.
In March 2014, we invested US$140 million in Brazil, subject to certain adjustments, to acquire Rio das Contas, which we financed through the incurrence of a loan of US$70.5 million and cash on hand.
In 2014, we expect our total capital expenditures, excluding the purchase price of our Rio das Contas acquisition, to be between US$220 million to US$250 million, of which approximately 62%, 32% and 5% will be in Chile, Colombia and Brazil, respectively. We expect these capital expenditures to include the drilling of 50 to 60 new wells (approximately 40% of which we expect to be exploratory wells), as well as workovers, seismic surveys and new facility construction. In Brazil, we expect our capital expenditures will consist of between US$5 million to US$7.5 million to finance in part the construction of a gas compression plant in the Manatí Field (following our Rio
das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014) and approximately US$0.45 million in license fee payments to the ANP relating to our Round 12 concessions, with the remainder for seismic surveys in exploration blocks in the Potiguar and Recôncavo Basins.
The actual amount and timing of our future capital expenditures may differ materially from our estimates as a result of, among other things, commodity prices, actual drilling results, the availability of drilling rigs and other equipment and services, and regulatory, technological and competitive developments. In response to improvements in commodity prices, we may increase our actual capital expenditures. We intend to finance our future capital expenditures through cash generated by our operations and potential future financing arrangements. However, our financing needs may require us to alter or increase our capitalization substantially through the issuance of debt or equity securities or the sale of assets.
If our capital requirements vary materially from our current plans, we may require further financing. In addition, we may incur significant financial indebtedness in the future, which may involve restrictions on other financing and operating activities. These changes could cause our cost of doing business to increase, limit our ability to pursue acquisition opportunities, reduce cash flow used for drilling and place us at a competitive disadvantage. A significant reduction in cash flows from operations or the availability of credit could materially adversely affect our ability to achieve our planned growth and operating results.
We are subject to complex laws common to the oil and natural gas industry, which can have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The oil and natural gas industry is subject to extensive regulation and intervention by governments throughout the world, including extensive local, state and federal regulations, in such matters as the award of exploration and production interests, the imposition of specific exploration and drilling obligations, allocation of and restrictions on production, price controls, required divestments of assets and foreign currency controls, and the development and nationalization, expropriation or cancellation of contract rights.
We have been required in the past, and may be required in the future, to make significant expenditures to comply with governmental laws and regulations, including with respect to the following matters:
| · | licenses, permits and other authorizations for drilling operations; |
| · | reports concerning operations; |
| · | compliance with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; |
| · | drafting and implementing emergency planning; |
| · | plugging and abandonment costs; and |
Under these laws and regulations, we could be liable for, among other things, personal injury, property damage, environmental damage and other types of damage. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may also result in the suspension or termination of our operations and subject us to administrative, civil and criminal penalties. Moreover, these laws and regulations could change in ways that could substantially increase our costs. Any such liabilities, obligations, penalties, suspensions, terminations or regulatory changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
In addition, the terms and conditions of the agreements under which our oil and gas interests are held generally reflect negotiations with governmental authorities and can vary significantly. These agreements take the form of special contracts, concessions, licenses, associations or other types of agreements. Any suspensions, terminations or regulatory changes in respect of these special contracts, concessions, licenses, associations or other types of agreements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Oil and gas operations contain a high degree of risk and we may not be fully insured against all risks we face in our business.
Oil and gas exploration and production is speculative and involves a high degree of risk and hazards. In particular, our operations may be disrupted by risks and hazards that are beyond our control and that are common among oil and gas companies, including environmental hazards, blowouts, industrial accidents, occupational safety and health hazards, technical failures, labor disputes, community protests or blockades, unusual or unexpected geological formations, flooding, earthquakes and extended interruptions due to weather conditions, explosions and other accidents. For example, in the first half of 2013 we experienced a well control incident at our Chercán 1 well in the Flamenco Block in Chile with no harm to employees or property. While we were able to bring that incident under control without injuries or environmental damage, there can be no assurance that we will not experience similar or more serious incidents in the future, which could result in damage to, or destruction of, wells or production facilities, personal injury, environmental damage, business interruption, financial losses and legal liability.
While we believe that we maintain customary insurance coverage for companies engaged in similar operations, we are not fully insured against all risks in our business. In addition, insurance that we do and may carry may contain significant exclusions from and limitations on coverage. We may elect not to obtain certain non-mandatory types of insurance if we believe that the cost of available insurance is excessive relative to the risks presented. The occurrence of a significant event or a series of events against which we are not fully insured and any losses or liabilities arising from uninsured or underinsured events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The development schedule of oil and natural gas projects is subject to cost overruns and delays.
Oil and natural gas projects may experience capital cost increases and overruns due to, among other factors, the unavailability or high cost of drilling rigs and other essential equipment, supplies, personnel and oil field services. The cost to execute projects may not be properly established and remains dependent upon a number of factors, including the completion of detailed cost estimates and final engineering, contracting and procurement costs. Development of projects may be materially adversely affected by one or more of the following factors:
| · | shortages of equipment, materials and labor; |
| · | fluctuations in the prices of construction materials; |
| · | delays in delivery of equipment and materials; |
| · | obtaining easements and rights of way; |
| · | compliance with governmental laws and regulations, including environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; |
| · | adverse weather conditions; |
| · | unanticipated increases in costs; |
| · | unforeseen engineering and drilling complications; |
| · | environmental or geological uncertainties; and |
| · | other unforeseen circumstances. |
Any of these events or other unanticipated events could give rise to delays in development and completion of our projects and cost overruns.
For example, in 2013, the drilling and completion cost for the exploratory well Chilco x-1 in our Flamenco Block in Chile was originally estimated at US$2.6 million, but the actual cost was approximately US$4.0 million, mainly due to mechanical issues during the drilling as it was the first well drilled with a new drilling rig that needed calibration at the time, leading to longer operations.
Delays in the construction and commissioning of projects or other technical difficulties may result in future projected target dates for production being delayed or further capital expenditures being required. These projects may often require the use of new and advanced technologies, which can be expensive to develop, purchase and implement and may not function as expected. Such uncertainties and operating risks associated with development projects could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Competition in the oil and natural gas industry is intense, which makes it difficult for us to acquire properties and prospects, market oil and natural gas and secure trained personnel.
We compete with the major oil and gas companies engaged in the exploration and production sector, including state-owned exploration and production companies that possess substantially greater financial and other resources than we do for researching and developing exploration and production technologies and access to markets, equipment, labor and capital required to acquire, develop and operate our properties. We also compete for the acquisition of licenses and properties in the countries in which we operate.
Our competitors may be able to pay more for productive oil and natural gas properties and exploratory prospects and to evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties and prospects than our financial or personnel resources permit. Our competitors may also be able to offer better compensation packages to attract and retain qualified personnel than we are able to offer. In addition, there is substantial competition for capital available for investment in the oil and natural gas industry. As a result of each of the aforementioned, we may not be able to compete successfully in the future in acquiring prospective reserves, developing reserves, marketing hydrocarbons, attracting and retaining quality personnel or raising additional capital, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Our competition.”
In Chile, we partner with and sell to, and may from time to time compete with, ENAP and, to a lesser extent, some companies with operations in Argentina mentioned below. In Colombia, we partner with and sell to, and may from time to time compete with, Ecopetrol, as well as with privately-owned companies such as Pacific Rubiales, Gran Tierra, Petrominerales, Parex Resources Colombia Ltd. Sucursal, or Parex, and Canacol, among others. In Brazil, we partner with and sell to, and may from time to time compete with, Petrobras, privately-owned companies such as HRT, QGEP, Brasoil and some of the Colombian companies mentioned above, which have entered into Brazil, among others. In Argentina, we compete for resources with YPF, as well as with privately-owned companies such as Pan American Energy, Pluspetrol, Tecpetrol, Chevron, Wintershall, Total, Sinopec and others.
Our estimated oil and gas reserves are based on assumptions that may prove inaccurate.
Our oil and gas reserves estimates in Brazil (including our acquisition of Rio das Contas, which closed on March 31, 2014), Chile, Colombia and Argentina as of December 31, 2013 are based on the D&M Reserves Report. Although classified as “proved reserves,” the reserves estimates set forth in the D&M Reserves Report are based on certain assumptions that may prove inaccurate. D&M’s primary economic assumptions in estimates included oil and gas sales prices determined according to SEC guidelines, future expenditures and other economic assumptions (including interests, royalties and taxes) as provided by us.
In Brazil, D&M’s estimates are also based in part on the assumption that the gas compression facility for the Manatí Field will be completed by 2015.
Oil and gas reserves engineering is a subjective process of estimating accumulations of oil and gas that cannot be measured in an exact way, and estimates of other engineers may differ materially from those set out herein. Numerous assumptions and uncertainties are inherent in estimating quantities of proved oil and gas reserves, including projecting future rates of production, timing and amounts of development expenditures and prices of oil and gas, many of which are beyond our control. Results of drilling, testing and production after the date of the estimate may require revisions to be made. For example, if we are unable to sell our oil and gas to customers, this may impact the estimate of our oil and gas reserves. Accordingly, reserves estimates are often materially different from the quantities of oil and gas that are ultimately recovered, and if such recovered quantities are substantially lower that the initial reserves estimates, this could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our inability to access needed equipment and infrastructure in a timely manner may hinder our access to oil and natural gas markets and generate significant incremental costs or delays in our oil and natural gas production.
Our ability to market our oil and natural gas production depends substantially on the availability and capacity of processing facilities, oil tankers, transportation facilities (such as pipelines, crude oil unloading stations and trucks) and other necessary infrastructure, which may be owned and operated by third parties. Our failure to obtain such facilities on acceptable terms or on a timely basis could materially harm our business. We may be required to shut in oil and gas wells because access to transportation or processing facilities may be limited or unavailable when needed. If that were to occur, then we would be unable to realize revenue from those wells until arrangements were made to deliver the production to market, which could cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the shutting in of wells can lead to mechanical problems upon bringing the production back on line, potentially resulting in decreased production and increased remediation costs. The exploitation and sale of oil and natural gas and liquids will also be subject to timely commercial processing and marketing of these products, which depends on the contracting, financing, building and operating of infrastructure by third parties.
In Chile, we transport the crude oil we produce in the Fell Block by truck to ENAP’s processing, storage and selling facilities at the Gregorio Refinery. ENAP currently purchases all of the crude oil we produce in Chile. We rely upon the continued good condition, maintenance and accessibility of the roads we use to deliver the crude oil we produce. If the condition of these roads were to deteriorate or if they were to become inaccessible for any period of time, this could delay delivery of crude oil in Chile and materially harm our business. For example, in January 2011, social and labor unrest resulted in the roads to the Gregorio Refinery being closed for two days, and we were unable to deliver crude oil to ENAP.
In the Tierra del Fuego Blocks, we will temporarily depend on the existence of continuous ferry service to be able to transport crude oil from the island of Tierra del Fuego to the mainland. Ferry service may be adversely affected by weather conditions, in particular by certain combinations of strong winds and tidal currents that may occur, which may adversely affect our ability to deliver the crude oil we produce in Tierra del Fuego. In the Fell Block, we depend on ENAP-owned gas pipelines to deliver the gas we produce to Methanex, the sole purchaser of the gas we produce. If ENAP’s pipelines were unavailable, this could have a materially adverse effect on our ability to deliver and sell our product to Methanex, which could have a material adverse effect on our gas sales. In addition, gas production in some areas in the Tierra del Fuego Blocks and the Otway and Tranquilo Blocks could require us to build a new network of gas pipelines in order for us to be able to deliver our product to market, which could require us to make significant capital investments.
In Colombia, producers of crude oil have suffered from tanker transportation logistics issues and limited storage capacity, which cause delays in delivery and transfer of title of crude oil. Such capacity issues in Colombia may require us to transport crude from our Colombian operations via truck, which may increase the costs of those operations. Road infrastructure is limited in certain areas in which we operate, and certain communities have used and may continue to use road blockages, which can sometimes interfere with our operations in these areas.
While Brazil has a well-developed network of hydrocarbon pipelines, storage and loading facilities, we may not be able to access these facilities when needed. Pipeline facilities in Brazil are often full and seasonal capacity
restrictions may occur, particularly in natural gas pipelines. Our failure to secure transportation or access to pipelines or other facilities once we commence operations in the seven concessions we were awarded in Brazil on acceptable terms or on a timely basis could materially harm our business.
Our use of seismic data is subject to interpretation and may not accurately identify the presence of oil and natural gas.
Even when properly used and interpreted, seismic data and visualization techniques are tools only used to assist geoscientists in identifying subsurface structures as well as eventual hydrocarbon indicators, and do not enable the interpreter to know whether hydrocarbons are, in fact, present in those structures. In addition, the use of seismic and other advanced technologies requires greater pre-drilling expenditures than traditional drilling strategies, and we could incur losses as a result of these expenditures. Because of these uncertainties associated with our use of seismic data, some of our drilling activities may not be successful or economically viable, and our overall drilling success rate or our drilling success rate for activities in a particular area could decline, which could have a material adverse effect on us.
Through our Rio das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014, we will begin to face operational risks relating to offshore drilling that we have not faced in the past.
To date, we have operated solely as an onshore oil and gas exploration and production company. However, our operations in the Manatí Field in Brazil may include shallow-offshore drilling activity in two concession areas in the Camamu-Almada Basin, which we expect will continue to be operated by Petrobras.
Offshore operations are subject to a variety of operating risks and laws and regulations, including among other things, with respect to environmental, health and safety matters, specific to the marine environment, such as capsizing, collisions and damage or loss from hurricanes or other adverse weather conditions. These conditions can cause substantial damage to facilities and interrupt production. As a result, we could incur substantial liabilities, compliance costs, fines or penalties that could reduce or eliminate the funds available for exploration, development or leasehold acquisitions, or result in loss of equipment and properties. For example, the Manatí Field has been subject to administrative infraction notices, which have resulted in fines against Petrobras in an aggregate amount of US$12.5 million, all of which are pending a final decision of the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Natural Renewable Resources (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio-Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis), or IBAMA. Although the administrative fines were filed against Petrobras, as a party to the concession agreement governing the Manatí Field, Rio das Contas may be liable up to its participation interest of 10%. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Health, safety and environmental matters—Other regulation of the oil and gas industry—Brazil.”
Additionally, offshore drilling generally requires more time and more advanced drilling technologies, involving a higher-risk of technological failure and usually higher drilling costs. Offshore projects often lack proximity to existing oilfield service infrastructure, necessitating significant capital investment in flow line infrastructure before we can market the associated oil or gas of a commercial discovery, increasing both the financial and operational risk involved with these operations. Because of the lack and high cost of infrastructure, some offshore reserve discoveries may never be produced economically.
Further, because we are not the operator of our offshore fields, all of these risks may be heightened since they are outside of our control. Following our Rio das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014, we obtained a 10% interest in the Manatí Field which limits our operating flexibility in such offshore fields. See “—We are not, and may not be in the future, the sole owner or operator of all of our licensed areas and do not, and may not in the future, hold all of the working interests in certain of our licensed areas. Therefore, we may not be able to control the timing of exploration or development efforts, associated costs, or the rate of production of any non-operated and, to an extent, any non-wholly-owned, assets.”
We may suffer delays or incremental costs due to difficulties in negotiations with landowners and local communities where our reserves are located.
Access to the sites where we operate requires agreements (including, for example, assessments, rights of way and access authorizations) with landowners and local communities. If we are unable to negotiate agreements with landowners, we may have to go to court to obtain access to the sites of our operations, which may delay the progress
of our operations at such sites. In Chile, for example, we have negotiated the necessary agreements for many of our current operations in the Magallanes Basin. In the Tierra del Fuego Blocks, although we have successfully negotiated access to our sites, any future disputes with landowners or court proceedings may delay our operations in Tierra del Fuego Blocks. In Brazil, in the event that social unrest that occurred in 2013 continues or intensifies, this may lead to delays or damage relating to our ability to operate the assets we have acquired or may acquire in our Brazil Acquisitions.
In Colombia, although we have agreements with many landowners and are in negotiations with others, we expect our costs to increase following current and future negotiations regarding access to our blocks, as the economic expectations of landowners have generally increased, which may delay access to existing or future sites. In addition, the expectations and demands of local communities on oil and gas companies operating in Colombia have increased in the wake of recent changes to the royalty regime in Colombia. As a result, local communities have demanded that oil and gas companies invest in remediating and improving public access roads, compensate them for any damages related to use of such roads and, more generally, invest in infrastructure that was previously paid for with public funds. Due to these circumstances, oil and gas companies in Colombia, including us, are now dealing with increasing difficulties resulting from instances of social unrest, temporary road blockages and conflicts with landowners. For example, in August 2013, our access to Llanos 34 Block was blocked by the local community due to national social unrest in Colombia, resulting in our suspension of production for a period of five days.
There can be no assurance that disputes with landowners and local communities will not delay our operations or that any agreements we reach with such landowners and local communities in the future will not require us to incur additional costs, thereby materially adversely affecting our business, financial condition and results of operations. Local communities may also protest or take actions that restrict or cause their elected government to restrict our access to the sites of our operations, which may have a material adverse effect on our operations at such sites.
Under the terms of some of our various CEOPs, E&P Contracts and concession agreements, we are obligated to drill wells, declare any discoveries and file periodic reports in order to retain our rights and establish development areas. Failure to meet these obligations may result in the loss of our interests in the undeveloped parts of our blocks or concession areas.
In order to protect our exploration and production rights in our license areas, we must meet various drilling and declaration requirements. In general, unless we make and declare discoveries within certain time periods specified in our various CEOPs, E&P Contracts and concession agreements, our interests in the undeveloped parts of our license areas may lapse. Should the prospects we have identified under these contracts and agreements yield discoveries, we may face delays in drilling these prospects or be required to relinquish these prospects. The costs to maintain or operate the CEOPs, E&P Contracts and concession agreements over such areas may fluctuate and may increase significantly, and we may not be able to meet our commitments under such contracts and agreements on commercially reasonable terms or at all, which may force us to forfeit our interests in such areas. For example, on January 17, 2013, we voluntarily and formally announced to the Chilean Ministry of Energy our decision not to proceed with the second exploration period and to terminate the exploration phase under the Tranquilo Block CEOP, and subsequently relinquished all areas of the Tranquilo Block, except for an area of 92,417 gross acres, where we declared four hydrocarbons discoveries. Additionally, on April 10, 2013, we voluntarily and formally announced to the Chilean Ministry of Energy our decision not to proceed with the second exploratory period and to terminate the exploration phase under the Otway Block CEOP, and subsequently relinquished all areas of the Otway Block, except for two areas totaling 49,421 gross acres in which we have declared hydrocarbons discoveries. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Our operations—Operations in Argentina—Del Mosquito Block” and “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Our operations—Operations in Chile—Otway and Tranquilo Blocks.”
For additional details regarding the status of our operations with respect to our various special contracts and concession agreements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Our operations.”
A significant amount of our reserves and production have been derived from our operations in one block, the Fell Block.
For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Fell Block contained 53% of our net proved reserves and generated 51.5% of our total production. On a pro forma basis (including the Rio das Contas Acquisition), for the year ended December 31, 2013, the Fell Block contained 38% of our net proved reserves and generated 41% of our total
production. While the acquisitions of Winchester, Luna and Cuerva in Colombia and our expansion into Brazil mean that the Fell Block is a less significant component of our overall business than it has been in the past, we nonetheless expect that the Fell Block will continue to be responsible for a significant portion of our reserves and production. Any government intervention, impairment or disruption of our production due to factors outside of our control or any other material adverse event in our operations in the Fell Block would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our contracts in obtaining rights to explore and develop oil and natural gas reserves are subject to contractual expiration dates and operating conditions, and our CEOPs, E&P Contracts and concession agreements are subject to early termination in certain circumstances.
Under certain of the CEOPs, E&P Contracts and concession agreements to which we are or may in the future become parties, we are or may become subject to guarantees to perform our commitments and/or to make payment for other obligations, and we may not be able to obtain financing for all such obligations as they arise. If such obligations are not complied with when due, in addition to any other remedies that may be available to other parties, this could result in cancelation of our CEOPs, E&P Contracts and concession agreements or dilution or forfeiture of interests held by us. As of December 31, 2013, the aggregate outstanding amount of this potential liability for guarantees was approximately US$87.5 million, mainly relating to guarantees of our minimum work program for the Tierra del Fuego Blocks and, to a significantly lesser extent, our minimum work programs for our Colombian operations and the ten Brazilian concession areas.
Additionally, certain of the CEOPs, E&P Contracts and concession agreements to which we are or may in the future become a party are subject to set expiration dates. Although we may want to extend some of these contracts beyond their original expiration dates, there is no assurance that we can do so on terms that are acceptable to us or at all.
In particular, in Chile, our CEOPs provide for early termination by Chile in certain circumstances, depending upon the phase of the CEOP. For example, pursuant to the Fell Block CEOP, under which we are in the exploitation phase, Chile may terminate the CEOP if (i) we stop performing any of the substantial obligations assumed under the Fell Block CEOP without cause and do not cure such nonperformance pursuant to the terms of the concession, following notice of breach or (ii) our oil activities are interrupted for more than three years due to force majeure circumstances (as defined in the Fell Block CEOP). If the Fell Block CEOP is terminated in the exploitation phase, we will have to transfer to Chile, free of charge, any productive wells and related facilities, provided that such transfer does not interfere with our abandonment obligations and excluding certain pipelines and other assets. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Significant agreements—Chile—CEOPs—Fell Block CEOP.” If the CEOP is terminated early due to a breach of our obligations, we may not be entitled to compensation. Additionally, our CEOPs for the Tierra del Fuego Blocks, which are in the exploration phase, may be subject to early termination during this phase under circumstances including (i) a failure by us to comply with minimum work commitments at the termination of any exploration period, (ii) a failure to communicate our intention to proceed with the next exploration period 30 days prior to its termination, (iii) a failure to provide the Chilean Ministry of Energy requisite performance bonds, (iv) a voluntary relinquishment by us of all areas under the CEOP, (v) a failure by us to meet the requirements to enter into the exploitation phase upon the termination of the exploration phase, and (vi) a permanent suspension by us of all operations in the CEOP area or our declaration of bankruptcy. If the Tierra del Fuego Block CEOPs are terminated within the exploration phase, we are released from all obligations under the CEOPs, except for obligations regarding the abandonment of fields, if any. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Significant agreements—Chile—CEOPs.” There can be no assurance that the early termination of any of our CEOPs would not have a material adverse effect on us.
In addition, according to the Chilean Constitution, Chile is entitled to expropriate our rights in our CEOPs for reasons of public interest. Although Chile would be required to indemnify us for such expropriation, there can be no assurance that any such indemnification will be paid in a timely manner or in an amount sufficient to cover the harm to our business caused by such expropriation.
In Colombia, our E&P Contracts may be subject to early termination for a breach by the parties, a default declaration, application of any of the contracts’ unilateral termination clauses or pursuant to termination clauses mandated by Colombian law. Anticipated termination declared by the ANH results in the immediate enforcement of monetary guaranties against us and may result in an action for damages by the ANH and/or a restriction on our
ability to engage in contracts with the Colombian government during a certain period of time. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Significant agreements—Colombia—E&P Contracts.”
In Brazil, concession agreements generally may be renewed, at the ANP’s discretion, for an additional period equivalent to the original concession period, provided that a renewal request is made at least 12 months prior to the termination of the concession agreement and there has not been a breach of the terms of the concession agreement. We expect that all our concession agreements will provide for early termination in the event of: (i) government expropriation for reasons of public interest; (ii) revocation of the concession pursuant to the terms of the concession agreement; or (iii) failure by us or our partners to fulfill all of our respective obligations under the concession agreement (subject to a cure period). Administrative or monetary sanctions may also be applicable, as determined by the ANP, which shall be imposed based on applicable law and regulations. In the event of early termination of a concession agreement, the compensation to which we are entitled may not be sufficient to compensate us for the full value of our assets. Moreover, in the event of early termination of any concession agreement due to failure to fulfill obligations thereunder, we may be subject to fines and/or other penalties.
Early termination or nonrenewal of any CEOP, E&P Contract or concession agreement could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial situation or results of operations.
We sell almost all of our natural gas in Chile to a single customer, who has in the past temporarily idled its principal facility.
For the year ended December 31, 2013, almost all of our natural gas sales in Chile were made to Methanex under a long-term contract, or the Methanex Gas Supply Agreement, which expires on April 30, 2017. Sales to Methanex represented 6.7% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013. Methanex also buys gas from ENAP and a consortium that Methanex has formed with ENAP. While our contract with Methanex requires it to purchase the entirety of our production of natural gas from the Fell Block, and requires us to sell to Methanex all of our natural gas production from Fell Block, subject to minor exceptions, if Methanex were to decrease or cease its purchase of gas from us, this would have a material adverse effect on our revenues derived from the sale of gas. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will be able to extend or renew our contract with Methanex past April 30, 2017, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Methanex has two methanol producing facilities at its Cabo Negro production facility, near the city of Punta Arenas in southern Chile. However, after Argentine natural gas producers cut off exports to Chile in 2007, Methanex had to stop production at all but one of these facilities, and began to rely completely on local suppliers of natural gas, including ENAP, for its operations. Since 2009, however, the amount of natural gas that ENAP has been able to provide to Methanex has been decreasing, as ENAP has given priority to providing natural gas to the city of Punta Arenas. Although we sell all the natural gas we produce in the Fell Block to Methanex, and supplied approximately 50% of all the natural gas consumed by Methanex before the idling of its plant in April 2013, we alone cannot supply Methanex with all the natural gas it requires for its operations.
The plant was idled due to an anticipated insufficient supply of natural gas. The supply of natural gas decreased during the winter months of 2013 due to the increase in seasonal gas demand from the city of Punta Arenas in the Magallanes region, to which gas producers, including GeoPark, gave priority, delivering gas to the city through ENAP. Methanex continued to purchase from us the volume of gas it requires for the plant’s operation during the idling, and we signed an amendment to the agreement, pursuant to which Methanex pay us a premium over the current gas price for deliveries exceeding certain volumes of gas, in the period immediately following the Methanex plant’s startup, which occurred on September 23, 2013. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Marketing and Delivery Commitments—Chile.” Methanex has been making investments aimed at lowering its plant’s minimum gas requirements during the idling, so that the plant is currently able to function with 21.2 mcfpd of gas.
However, there can be no assurance that Methanex will continue to purchase the committed volume of gas from us or that its efforts to reduce the risk of future shutdowns will be successful, which could have a material adverse effect on our gas revenues. Additionally, there can be no assurance that Methanex will have sufficient supplies of gas to operate its plant and continue to purchase our gas production. If Methanex were to cease purchasing from us, there can be no assurance that we would be able to sell our gas production to other parties or on similar terms, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may not be able to meet delivery requirements under the agreement for the sale of our natural gas in Chile.
Under the Methanex Gas Supply Agreement, Methanex has committed to purchasing, and we have committed to selling, all of the gas that we produce in the Fell Block (subject to certain exceptions, including reasonable quantities required to maintain our operations and quantities that we might be required to pay in kind to Chile), with a minimum volume commitment which is defined by us on an annual basis. The agreement contains monthly DOP obligations, which require us to deliver in a given month the minimum gas committed for that month or pay a deficiency penalty to Methanex, with a threshold of 90% of the committed quantities of gas. The agreement also contains monthly TOP obligations, which apply when our committed volume for a given month exceeds 35.3 mcfpd, and require Methanex to take in such month the minimum gas volume committed for such period or face higher TOP obligations in later months, with a threshold of 90% of the committed quantities. These DOP and TOP obligations are subject to make-up provisions without penalty, for any delivery or off-take deficiencies accrued, in the three months following the month where delivery or off-take requirements were not met.
On August 30, 2013, we signed an amendment to the Methanex Gas Supply Agreement, pursuant to which Methanex committed, for a period of six months commencing September 15, 2013, to purchase an increased volume, in a total amount of 400,000 SCM/d per month (subject to reduction for deliveries above 200,000 SCM/d to Methanex or ENAP made between April 29 and September 15, 2013), incorporating an additional premium to the gas price depending on the volumes delivered. The amendment also provides for temporary DOP and TOP thresholds of 100% and 50%, respectively. The amendment has been extended until April 30 2014. Therefore, we are currently committed to providing to Methanex a monthly volume of gas of 0.4 bcf until April 30, 2014.
For example, in 2012, we failed to meet this adjusted volume for each of the months of April through December of 2012, such that we accrued US$1.7 million in DOP payments owed to Methanex under the Methanex Gas Supply Agreement, all of which had been paid as of September 30, 2013.
There can be no assurance that we or Methanex will be able to meet our respective DOP and TOP obligations under the Methanex Gas Supply Agreement or that we will not incur additional deficiency penalties, in the future.
We are not, and may not be in the future, the sole owner or operator of all of our licensed areas and do not, and may not in the future, hold all of the working interests in certain of our licensed areas. Therefore, we may not be able to control the timing of exploration or development efforts, associated costs, or the rate of production of any non-operated and, to an extent, any non-wholly-owned, assets.
As of the date of this annual report, we are not the sole owner or operator of the Llanos 17, Llanos 32 and Jagüeyes 3432 A Blocks in Colombia, which represented 3% of our total production as of December 31, 2013 (on a pro forma basis, accounting for our Rio das Contas acquisition). In Brazil, the terms of our Rio das Contas acquisition are such that we are not the sole owner or operator of the BCAM-40 Concession, which represented approximately 21% of our total production for the year ended December 31, 2013 (on a pro forma basis, accounting for our Rio das Contas acquisition).
In addition, the terms of the joint venture agreements or association agreements governing our other partners’ interests in almost all of the blocks that are not wholly-owned or operated by us require that certain actions be approved by supermajority vote. The terms of our other current or future license or venture agreements may require at least the majority of working interests to approve certain actions. As a result, we may have limited ability to exercise influence over operations or prospects in the blocks operated by our partners, or in blocks that are not wholly-owned or operated by us. A breach of contractual obligations by our partners who are the operators of such blocks could eventually affect our rights in exploration and production contracts in our blocks in Colombia. Our dependence on our partners could prevent us from realizing our target returns for those discoveries or prospects.
Moreover, as we are not the sole owner or operator of all of our properties, we may not be able to control the timing of exploration or development activities or the amount of capital expenditures and may therefore not be able to carry out our key business strategies of minimizing the cycle time between discovery and initial production at such properties. The success and timing of exploration and development activities operated by our partners will depend on a number of factors that will be largely outside of our control, including:
| · | the timing and amount of capital expenditures; |
| · | the operator’s expertise and financial resources; |
| · | approval of other block partners in drilling wells; |
| · | the scheduling, pre-design, planning, design and approvals of activities and processes; |
| · | selection of technology; and |
| · | the rate of production of reserves, if any. |
This limited ability to exercise control over the operations on some of our license areas may cause a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
LGI, our strategic partner in Chile and Colombia, may sell its interest in our Chilean and Colombian operations to a third party or may not consent to our taking certain actions.
We have a strategic partnership with LGI, which has a 20% equity interest in GeoPark Chile, a 14% direct equity interest in GeoPark TdF (31.2% taking into account direct and indirect participation through GeoPark Chile) and a 20% equity interest in GeoPark Colombia, through its equity interest in GeoPark Colombia Cooperatie. Our shareholders’ agreements with LGI in each of Chile and Colombia provides that we have a right of first offer if LGI decides to sell any of its interest in GeoPark Chile or GeoPark Colombia. There can be no assurance, however, that we will have the funds to purchase LGI’s interest in Chile and/or Colombia and that LGI will not decide to sell its shares to a third party whose interests may not be aligned with ours.
In addition, our shareholders’ agreements with LGI in Chile and Colombia contain provisions that require GeoPark Chile and GeoPark Colombia to obtain LGI’s consent before undertaking certain actions. For example, under the terms of the shareholders’ agreement with LGI in Colombia, LGI must approve GeoPark Colombia’s annual budget and work programs and mechanisms for funding any such budget or program, the entering into any borrowings other than those provided in an approved budget or incurred in the ordinary course of business to finance working capital needs, the granting of any guarantee or indemnity to secure liabilities of parties other than those of our Colombian subsidiaries and disposing of any material assets other than those provided for in an approved budget and work program. Similarly, in Chile, pursuant to the terms of our shareholders’ agreements with LGI, LGI’s consent is required in order for GeoPark Chile or GeoPark TdF, as applicable, to be able to take certain actions, including: making any decision to terminate or permanently or indefinitely suspend operations in or surrender our blocks in Chile (other than as required under the terms of the relevant CEOP for such blocks); selling our blocks in Chile to our affiliates; making any change to the dividend, voting or other rights that would give preference to or discriminate against the shareholders of these companies; entering into certain related party transactions; and creating a security interest over our blocks in Chile (other than in connection with a financing that benefits our Chilean subsidiaries).
Additionally, pursuant to our agreements with LGI in Chile, we and LGI have agreed to vote our common shares or otherwise cause GeoPark Chile or GeoPark TdF, as the case may be, to declare dividends only after allowing for retentions of cash to meet anticipated future investments, costs and obligations, and pursuant to our agreement with LGI in Colombia, we and LGI have agreed to vote our common shares or otherwise cause GeoPark Colombia to declare dividends only after allowing for retentions of cash for approved work programs and budgets and capital adequacy requirements of GeoPark Colombia, working capital requirements, banking covenants associated with any loan entered into by GeoPark Colombia or our other Colombian subsidiaries and operational requirements. Our inability to obtain LGI’s consent or a delay by LGI in granting its consent may restrict or delay the ability of GeoPark Chile, GeoPark TdF or GeoPark Colombia to take certain actions, which may have an adverse effect on our operations in such countries and on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Acquisitions that we have completed and any future acquisitions, strategic investments, partnerships or alliances could be difficult to integrate and/or identify, could divert the attention of key management personnel, disrupt our business, dilute stockholder value and adversely affect our financial results, including impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets.
One of our principal business strategies includes acquisitions of properties, prospects, reserves and leaseholds and other strategic transactions, including in jurisdictions in which we do not currently operate. The successful acquisition and integration of producing properties, including our acquisitions of Winchester, Luna and Cuerva in Colombia and our Brazil Acquisitions, requires an assessment of several factors, including:
| · | future oil and natural gas prices; |
| · | development and operating costs; and |
| · | potential environmental and other liabilities. |
The accuracy of these assessments is inherently uncertain. In connection with these assessments, we perform a review of the subject properties that we believe to be generally consistent with industry practices. Our review and the review of advisors and independent reserves engineers will not reveal all existing or potential problems nor will it permit us or them to become sufficiently familiar with the properties to fully assess their deficiencies and potential recoverable reserves. Inspections may not always be performed on every well, and environmental conditions are not necessarily observable even when an inspection is undertaken. We, advisors or independent reserves engineers may apply different assumptions when assessing the same field. Even when problems are identified, the seller may be unwilling or unable to provide effective contractual protection against all or part of the problems. We often are not entitled to contractual indemnification for environmental liabilities and acquire properties on an “as is” basis. Even in those circumstances in which we have contractual indemnification rights for pre-closing liabilities, it remains possible that the seller will not be able to fulfill its contractual obligations. There can be no assurance that problems related to the assets or management of the companies and operations we have acquired, such as in Colombia or Brazil, or other companies or operations we may acquire in future, will not arise in future, and these problems could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Significant acquisitions and other strategic transactions may involve other risks, including:
| · | diversion of our management’s attention to evaluating, negotiating and integrating significant acquisitions and strategic transactions; |
| · | challenge and cost of integrating acquired operations, information management and other technology systems and business cultures with those of ours while carrying on our ongoing business; |
| · | contingencies and liabilities that could not be or were not identified during the due diligence process, including with respect to possible deficiencies in the internal controls of the acquired operations; and |
| · | challenge of attracting and retaining personnel associated with acquired operations. |
If we fail to realize the benefits we anticipate from an acquisition, our results of operations may be adversely affected.
It is also possible that we may not identify suitable acquisition targets or strategic investment, partnership or alliance candidates. Our inability to identify suitable acquisition targets, strategic investments, partners or alliances, or our inability to complete such transactions, may negatively affect our competitiveness and growth opportunities. Moreover, if we fail to properly evaluate acquisitions, alliances or investments, we may not achieve the anticipated benefits of any such transaction and we may incur costs in excess of what we anticipate.
Future acquisitions financed with our own cash could deplete the cash and working capital available to adequately fund our operations. We may also finance future transactions through debt financing, the issuance of our equity securities, existing cash, cash equivalents or investments, or a combination of the foregoing. Acquisitions financed with the issuance of our equity securities could be dilutive, which could affect the market price of our
stock. Acquisitions financed with debt could require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow to principal and interest payments and could subject us to restrictive covenants.
The PN-T-597 concession is subject to an injunction and may not close.
In Brazil, GeoPark Brazil is currently a party to a legal proceeding related to the concession agreement of Block PN-T-597 that the ANP initially awarded to GeoPark Brazil in the 12th oil and gas bidding round. As a result of a class action filed by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, an injunction was issued by a Brazilian Federal Court against the ANP, the Federal Government and GeoPark Brazil on December 13, 2013. Due to the injunction GeoPark Brazil could not proceed to execute the concession agreement, and cannot do so until the injunction is lifted. According to the terms of the Court’s injunction, the ANP will first need to take certain actions, such as conducting studies that prove that drilling unconventional resources will not contaminate the dams and aquifers in the region. On February 21, 2014, GeoPark Brazil requested that the board of the ANP suspend the execution of the concession agreement (which entails delivery of the financial guarantee and performance guarantee and payment of the signing bonus) for six months with a possible extension of an additional six months, or until a firm court decision is reached that does not prevent GeoPark Brazil from entering into the concession agreement. On April 16, 2014, the ANP’s Board enacted a resolution stating that all proceedings related to the award of the concession of Block PN-T-597 to GeoPark Brazil were suspended.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to extend the deadlines associated with the entry into the Concession Contract or enter into the concession agreement. See “Item 8—Financial Information—A. Consolidated statements and other financial information—Legal proceedings.”
The present value of future net revenues from our proved reserves will not necessarily be the same as the current market value of our estimated oil and natural gas reserves.
You should not assume that the present value of future net revenues from our proved reserves is the current market value of our estimated oil and natural gas reserves. For the year ended December 31, 2013, we have based the estimated discounted future net revenues from our proved reserves on the 12 month unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for the preceding 12 months. Actual future net revenues from our oil and natural gas properties will be affected by factors such as:
| · | actual prices we receive for oil and natural gas; |
| · | actual cost of development and production expenditures; |
| · | the amount and timing of actual production; and |
| · | changes in governmental regulations, taxation or the taxation invariability provisions in our CEOPs. |
The timing of both our production and our incurrence of expenses in connection with the development and production of oil and natural gas properties will affect the timing and amount of actual future net revenues from proved reserves, and thus their actual value. In addition, the 10% discount factor we use when calculating discounted future net revenues may not be the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with us or the oil and natural gas industry in general.
The development of our proved undeveloped reserves may take longer and may require higher levels of capital expenditures than we currently anticipate. Therefore, our proved undeveloped reserves ultimately may not be developed or produced.
As of December 31, 2013, only approximately 42% of our net proved reserves have been developed. Development of our undeveloped reserves may take longer and require higher levels of capital expenditures than we currently anticipate. Additionally, delays in the development of our reserves or increases in costs to drill and develop such reserves will reduce the standardized measure value of our estimated proved undeveloped reserves and future net revenues estimated for such reserves, and may result in some projects becoming uneconomic, causing the quantities associated with these uneconomic projects to no longer be classified as reserves. For example, in Argentina, although we had production in the blocks in which we have a working interest, D&M determined that there were no reserves in these blocks as of December 31, 2013. This was due to the uneconomic status of the
reserves, given the proximity to the end of the concessions for these blocks, which does not allow for future capital investment in the blocks. There can be no assurance that we will not experience similar delays or increases in costs to drill and develop our reserves in the future, which could result in further reclassifications of our reserves.
We are exposed to the credit risks of our customers and any material nonpayment or nonperformance by our key customers could adversely affect our cash flow and results of operations.
Our customers may experience financial problems that could have a significant negative effect on their creditworthiness. Severe financial problems encountered by our customers could limit our ability to collect amounts owed to us, or to enforce the performance of obligations owed to us under contractual arrangements.
The combination of declining cash flows as a result of declines in commodity prices, a reduction in borrowing basis under reserves-based credit facilities and the lack of availability of debt or equity financing may result in a significant reduction of our customers’ liquidity and limit their ability to make payments or perform on their obligations to us.
Furthermore, some of our customers may be highly leveraged, and, in any event, are subject to their own operating expenses. Therefore, the risk we face in doing business with these customers may increase. Other customers may also be subject to regulatory changes, which could increase the risk of defaulting on their obligations to us. Financial problems experienced by our customers could result in the impairment of our assets, a decrease in our operating cash flows and may also reduce or curtail our customers’ future use of our products and services, which may have an adverse effect on our revenues and may lead to a reduction in reserves.
We may not have the capital to develop our unconventional oil and gas resources.
We have identified opportunities for analyzing the potential of unconventional oil and gas resources in some of our blocks and concessions in Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina. Our ability to develop this potential depends on a number of factors, including the availability of capital, seasonal conditions, regulatory approvals, negotiation of agreements with third parties, commodity prices, costs, access to and availability of equipment, services and personnel and drilling results. In addition, as we have no previous experience in drilling and exploiting unconventional oil and gas resources, the drilling and exploitation of such unconventional oil and gas resources depends on our ability to acquire the necessary technology, to hire personnel and other support needed for extraction or to obtain financing and venture partners to develop such activities. Because of these uncertainties, we cannot give any assurance as to the timing of these activities, or that they will ultimately result in the realization of proved reserves or meet our expectations for success.
Our operations are subject to operating hazards, including extreme weather events, which could expose us to potentially significant losses.
Our operations are subject to potential operating hazards, extreme weather conditions and risks inherent to drilling activities, seismic registration, exploration, production, development and transportation and storage of crude oil, such as explosions, fires, car and truck accidents, floods, labor disputes, social unrest, community protests or blockades, guerilla attacks, security breaches, pipeline ruptures and spills and mechanical failure of equipment at our or third-party facilities. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our exploration and production operations, or disrupt transportation or other process-related services provided by our third-party contractors.
We are highly dependent on certain members of our management and technical team, including our geologists and geophysicists, and on our ability to hire and retain new qualified personnel.
The ability, expertise, judgment and discretion of our management and our technical and engineering teams are key in discovering and developing oil and natural gas resources. Our performance and success are dependent to a large extent upon key members of our management and exploration team, and their loss or departure would be detrimental to our future success. In addition, our ability to manage our anticipated growth depends on our ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel. Our ability to retain our employees is influenced by the economic environment and the remote locations of our exploration blocks, which may enhance competition for human resources where we conduct our activities, thereby increasing our turnover rate. There is strong ongoing competition in our industry to hire employees in operational, technical and other areas, and the supply of qualified employees is limited in the regions where we operate and throughout Latin America generally. The loss of any of our executive
officers or other key employees of our technical team or our inability to hire and retain new qualified personnel could have a material adverse effect on us.
Unfavorable credit and market conditions, such as the global financial crisis that began in 2008, have affected and could continue to affect negatively the economies of the countries in which we operate and may negatively affect our liquidity, business, and results of operations.
Global financial crises and related turmoil in the global financial system have had, and may continue to have, a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The lingering effects of the global credit crisis that began in 2008 and of financial crises generally on our customers and on us cannot be predicted. Persistent uncertainty in international credit markets, exacerbated by the sovereign debt crises in Europe and the United States, may affect our ability to access the credit or capital markets at a time when we would need financing, which could have an impact on our flexibility to react to changing economic and business conditions. Any of the foregoing factors or a combination of these factors could have an adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
We and our operations are subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations which may result in material liabilities and costs.
We and our operations are subject to various international, foreign, federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations governing, among other things, the emission and discharge of pollutants into the ground, air or water; the generation, storage, handling, use, transportation and disposal of regulated materials; and human health and safety. Our operations are also subject to certain environmental risks that are inherent in the oil and gas industry and which may arise unexpectedly and result in material adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Breach of environmental laws, as well as impacts on natural resources and unauthorized use of such resources, could result in environmental administrative investigations and/or lead to the termination of our concessions and contracts. Other potential consequences include fines and/or criminal or civil environmental actions. For instance, non-governmental organizations seeking to preserve the environment may bring actions against us or other oil and gas companies in order to, among other things, halt our activities in any of the countries in which we operate or require us to pay fines. Additionally, in Colombia, recent rulings have provided that environmental licenses are administrative acts subject to class actions that could eventually result in their cancellation, with potential adverse impacts on our E&P Contracts.
We are required to obtain environmental permits from governmental authorities for our operations, including drilling permits for our wells. We have not been and may not be at all times in complete compliance with these permits and the environmental and health and safety laws and regulations to which we are subject. If we violate or fail to comply with such requirements, we could be fined or otherwise sanctioned by regulators, including through the revocation of our permits or the suspension or termination of our operations. If we fail to obtain, maintain or renew permits in a timely manner or at all (such as due to opposition from partners, community or environmental interest groups, governmental delays or any other reasons) or if we face additional requirements due to changes in applicable laws and regulations, our operations could be adversely affected, impeded, or terminated, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Some environmental licenses related to operation of the Manatí Field production system and natural gas pipeline have expired. However, the operator submitted timely a request for renewal of those licenses and as such this operation is not in default as long as the regulator does not state its final position on the renewal.
We, as the owner, shareholder or the operator of certain of our past, current and future discoveries and prospects, could be held liable for some or all environmental, health and safety costs and liabilities arising out of our actions and omissions as well as those of our block partners, third-party contractors, predecessors or other operators. To the extent we do not address these costs and liabilities or if we do not otherwise satisfy our obligations, our operations could be suspended, terminated or otherwise adversely affected. We have also contracted with and intend to continue to hire third parties to perform services related to our operations. There is a risk that we may contract with third parties with unsatisfactory environmental, health and safety records or that our contractors may be unwilling or unable to cover any losses associated with their acts and omissions. Accordingly, we could be held liable for all costs and liabilities arising out of the acts or omissions of our contractors, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Releases of regulated substances may occur and can be significant. Under certain environmental laws and regulations applicable to us in the countries in which we operate, we could be held responsible for all of the costs relating to any contamination at our past and current facilities and at any third-party waste disposal sites used by us
or on our behalf. Pollution resulting from waste disposal, emissions and other operational practices might require us to remediate contamination, or retrofit facilities, at substantial cost. We also could be held liable for any and all consequences arising out of human exposure to such substances or for other damage resulting from the release of hazardous substances to the environment, property or to natural resources, or affecting endangered species or sensitive environmental areas. Environmental laws and regulations also require that wells be plugged and sites be abandoned and reclaimed to the satisfaction of the relevant regulatory authorities. We are currently required to, and in the future may need to, plug and abandon sites in certain blocks in each of the countries in which we operate, which could result in substantial costs.
In addition, we expect continued and increasing attention to climate change issues. Various countries and regions have agreed to regulate emissions of greenhouse gases including methane (a primary component of natural gas) and carbon dioxide (a byproduct of oil and natural gas combustion). The regulation of greenhouse gases and the physical impacts of climate change in the areas in which we, our customers and the end-users of our products operate could adversely impact our operations and the demand for our products.
Environmental, health and safety laws and regulations are complex and change frequently, and have tended to become increasingly stringent over time. Our costs of complying with current and future climate change, environmental, health and safety laws, the actions or omissions of our partners and third-party contractors and our liabilities arising from releases of, or exposure to, regulated substances may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Health, safety and environmental matters” and “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Industry and regulatory framework.”
Legislation and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing and other drilling activities for unconventional oil and gas resources could increase the future costs of doing business, cause delays or impede our plans, and materially adversely affect our operations.
Hydraulic fracturing of unconventional oil and gas resources is a process that involves injecting water, sand, and small volumes of chemicals into the wellbore to fracture the hydrocarbon-bearing rock thousands of feet below the surface to facilitate a higher flow of hydrocarbons into the wellbore. We are contemplating such use of hydraulic fracturing in the production of oil and natural gas from certain reservoirs, especially shale formations. We currently are not aware of any proposals in Chile, Colombia, Brazil or Argentina to regulate hydraulic fracturing beyond the regulations already in place. However, various initiatives in other countries with substantial shale gas resources have been or may be proposed or implemented to, among other things, regulate hydraulic fracturing practices, limit water withdrawals and water use, require disclosure of fracturing fluid constituents, restrict which additives may be used, or implement temporary or permanent bans on hydraulic fracturing. If any of the countries in which we operate adopts similar laws or regulations, which is something we cannot predict right now, such adoption could significantly increase the cost of, impede or cause delays in the implementation of any plans to use hydraulic fracturing for unconventional oil and gas resources.
Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial health and our ability to raise additional capital, and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under our existing agreements.
As of December 31, 2013, we had US$317.1 million of total indebtedness outstanding on a consolidated basis, of which US$300.1 million, or 94.7%, was secured. As of December 31, 2013, our annual debt service obligation was approximately US$25.2 million, which includes interest payments under the Notes due 2020. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Indebtedness.”
Our substantial indebtedness could:
| · | make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness, and any failure to comply with the obligations of any of our debt instruments, including restrictive covenants and borrowing conditions, could result in an event of default under the agreements governing our indebtedness; |
| · | require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to the payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund acquisitions, working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes; |
| · | place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to certain of our competitors that have less debt; |
| · | limit our ability to borrow additional funds; |
| · | in the case of our secured indebtedness, lose assets securing such indebtedness upon the exercise of security interests in connection with a default; |
| · | make us more vulnerable to downturns in our business or the economy; and |
| · | limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our operations or business and the industry in which we operate. |
Our Notes due 2020 include a covenant restricting dividend payments. For a description, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Indebtedness—Notes due 2020.”
Furthermore, on March 28, 2014, our Brazilian subsidiary that acquired Rio das Contas entered into a US$70.5 million loan to finance part of the acquisition. This loan includes covenants restricting dividend payments to us. For a description, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Indebtedness—Rio das Contas Credit Facility.
As a result of these covenants, we are limited in the manner in which we conduct our business, and we may be unable to engage in favorable business activities or finance future operations or capital needs.
Similar restrictions could apply to us and our subsidiaries when we refinance or enter into new debt agreements which could intensify the risks described above.
Our results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
Although a majority of our net revenues is denominated in U.S. dollars, unfavorable fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates for certain of our expenses in Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Furthermore, we have not entered, and do not anticipate entering, into derivative transactions to hedge the effect of changes in the exchange rate of local currencies to the U.S. dollar. Because our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, we must translate revenues, expenses and income, as well as assets and liabilities, into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect during or at the end of each reporting period.
In addition, our Rio das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014, significantly increased our exposure to fluctuations in the real against the U.S. dollar, as Rio das Contas’s revenues and expenses are denominated in reais. The real has experienced frequent and substantial variations in relation to the U.S. dollar and other foreign currencies. For example, the real was R$1.56 per US$1.00 in August 2008. Following the onset of the crisis in the global financial markets, the real depreciated 31.9% against the U.S. dollar and reached R$2.34 per US$1.00 at the end of 2008. In 2011, the real appreciated against the U.S. dollar, reaching R$1.876 per US$1.00 at the end of 2011. In 2012, however, the real depreciated, and on December 31, 2012, the exchange rate was R$2.044 per US$1.00. As of December 31, 2013, the exchange rate was R$2.3426 per US$1.00. Depending on the circumstances, either depreciation or appreciation of the real could materially and adversely affect the growth of the Brazilian economy and our business, financial condition and results of operations. See “—A. Selected financial data—Exchange rates.”
Risks relating to the countries in which we operate
Our operations may be adversely affected by political and economic circumstances in the countries in which we operate and in which we may operate in the future.
All of our current operations are located in South America. For the year ended December 31, 2013, our operations in Chile and Colombia represented 51.5% and 48%, respectively, of our total production, with our Argentine operations representing less than 0.5% of our total production. As of December 31, 2013, on a pro forma basis, and accounting for our Rio das Contas acquisition, Chile, Colombia and Brazil represented 41%, 38% and 21%, respectively, of our average production during the same period. If local, regional or worldwide economic
trends adversely affect the economy of any of the countries in which we have investments or operations, our financial condition and results from operations could be adversely affected.
Oil and natural gas exploration, development and production activities are subject to political and economic uncertainties (including but not limited to changes in energy policies or the personnel administering them), changes in laws and policies governing operations of foreign-based companies, expropriation of property, cancellation or modification of contract rights, revocation of consents or approvals, the obtaining of various approvals from regulators, foreign exchange restrictions, price controls, currency fluctuations, royalty increases and other risks arising out of foreign governmental sovereignty, as well as to risks of loss due to civil strife, acts of war and community-based actions, such as protests or blockades, guerilla activities, terrorism, acts of sabotage, territorial disputes and insurrection. In addition, we are subject both to uncertainties in the application of the tax laws in the countries in which we operate and to possible changes in such tax laws (or the application thereof), each of which could result in an increase in our tax liabilities. These risks are higher in developing countries, such as those in which we conduct our activities.
The main economic risks we face and may face in the future because of our operations in the countries in which we operate include the following:
| · | difficulties incorporating movements in international prices of crude oil and exchange rates into domestic prices; |
| · | the possibility that a deterioration in Chile’s, Colombia’s, Argentina’s or Brazil’s relations with multilateral credit institutions, such as the IMF, will impact negatively on capital controls, and result in a deterioration of the business climate; |
| · | inflation, exchange rate movements (including devaluations), exchange control policies (including restrictions on remittance of dividends), price instability and fluctuations in interest rates; |
| · | liquidity of domestic capital and lending markets; |
| · | the possibility that we may become subject to restrictions on repatriation of earnings from the countries in which we operate in the future. |
In addition, our operations in these areas increase our exposure to risks of guerilla activities, social unrest, local economic conditions, political disruption, civil disturbance, community protests or blockades, expropriation, piracy, tribal conflicts and governmental policies that may: disrupt our operations; require us to incur greater costs for security; restrict the movement of funds or limit repatriation of profits; lead to U.S. government or international sanctions; limit access to markets for periods of time; or influence the market’s perception of the risk associated with investments in these countries. Some countries in the geographic areas where we operate have experienced, and may experience in the future, political instability, and losses caused by these disruptions may not be covered by insurance. Consequently, our exploration, development and production activities may be substantially affected by factors which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Our operations may also be adversely affected by laws and policies of the jurisdictions, including Bermuda, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands and other jurisdictions in which we do business, that affect foreign trade and taxation, and by uncertainties in the application of, possible changes to (or to the application of) tax laws in these jurisdictions. Changes in any of these laws or policies or the implementation thereof, and uncertainty over potential changes in policy or regulations affecting any of the factors mentioned above or other factors in the future may increase the volatility of domestic securities markets and securities issued abroad by companies operating in these countries, which could materially and adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Furthermore, we may be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts outside the United States or may not be successful in subjecting non-U.S. persons to the jurisdiction of courts in the United States, which could adversely affect the outcome of such dispute.
We depend on maintaining good relations with the respective host governments and national oil companies in each of our countries of operation.
The success of our business and the effective operation of the fields in each of our countries of operation depend upon continued good relations and cooperation with applicable governmental authorities and agencies, including national oil companies such as ENAP and Petrobras. For instance, for the year ended December 31, 2013, 100% of our crude oil and condensate sales in Chile were made to ENAP, the Chilean state-owned oil company, and 20.9% of our crude oil and condensate sales in Colombia were made to Hocol, a subsidiary of Ecopetrol, the Colombian state-owned oil and gas company. In addition, our recent Rio das Contas acquisition in Brazil provides us with a long-term off-take contract with Petrobras, the Brazilian state-owned company, that covers approximately 74% of net proved gas reserves in the Manatí Field. If we, the respective host governments and the national oil companies are not able to cooperate with one another, it could have an adverse impact on our business, operations and prospects.
Oil and natural gas companies in Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina do not own any of the oil and natural gas reserves in such countries.
Under Chilean, Colombian, Brazilian and Argentine law, all onshore and offshore hydrocarbon resources in these countries are owned by the respective sovereign. Although we are the operator of the majority of the blocks and concessions in which we have a working and/or economic interest and generally have the power to make decisions as how to market the hydrocarbons we produce, the Chilean, Colombian, Brazilian and Argentine governments have full authority to determine the rights, royalties or compensation to be paid by or to private investors for the exploration or production of any hydrocarbon reserves located in their respective countries.
Under the Chilean Constitution, the state is the exclusive owner of all mineral and fossil substances, including hydrocarbons, regardless of who owns the land on which the reserves are located. The exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons may be carried out by the state, companies owned by state or private persons through administrative concessions granted by the President of Chile by Supreme Decree or by CEOPs executed by the Minister of Energy. Hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation activities are regulated by the Chilean Ministry of Energy. In Chile, a participant is granted rights to explore and exploit certain assets under a CEOP. Although the government cannot unilaterally modify or terminate the rights granted in the CEOP once it is signed, if a participant fails to complete certain obligations under a CEOP, such participant may lose the right to exploit certain areas or may be required to return all or a portion of the awarded areas back to Chile.
In Colombia, oil and natural gas companies have acquired the exclusive right to explore, develop and produce reserves discovered within certain concession areas, pursuant to concession agreements awarded by the Colombian government through the ANH or, prior to 2004, entered into with Ecopetrol. However, a concessionaire owns only the oil and natural gas that it extracts under the concession agreements to which it is a party. If the Colombian government were to restrict or prevent concessionaires, including us, from exploiting these oil and natural gas reserves, or otherwise interfere with our exploration through regulations with respect to restrictions on future exploration and production, price controls, export controls, foreign exchange controls, income taxes, expropriation of property, environmental legislation or health and safety, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Additionally, we are dependent on receipt of Colombian government approvals or permits to develop the concessions we hold in Colombia. There can be no assurance that future political conditions in Colombia will not result in the Colombian government adopting different policies with respect to foreign development and ownership of oil, environmental protection, health and safety or labor relations. This may affect our ability to undertake exploration and development activities in respect of present and future properties, as well as our ability to raise funds to further such activities. Any delays in receiving Colombian government approvals, permits or no objection certificates may delay our operations or may affect the status of our contractual arrangements or our ability to meet contractual obligations.
Pursuant to Article 20 of the Brazilian Constitution and Article 3 of Law No. 9,478, dated as of August 6, 1997, as amended, or the Brazilian Petroleum Law, oil, natural gas and hydrocarbon reserves located within the Brazilian territory, which encompasses onshore and offshore reserves, as well as deposits in the Brazilian continental shelf, territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, are considered assets of the Brazilian government. Therefore, the concessionaire owns only the oil and natural gas that it produces under the concession agreements. Oil and natural
gas companies in Brazil acquire the exclusive right to explore, develop and produce reserves discovered within certain concession areas pursuant to concession agreements awarded by the Brazilian government. However, if the Brazilian government were to restrict or prevent concessionaires, including us, from exploiting these oil and natural gas reserves, or interfere in the sale or transfer of the production, our ability to generate income would be materially adversely affected, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Companies in the Brazilian oil and natural gas industry also rely primarily on the public auction process regulated by the ANP to acquire rights to explore oil and natural gas reserves. While the ANP may offer concessions in certain basins in future bidding rounds, there is a risk that future bidding rounds may not take place or that they do not include desirable locations, since they are conducted by and under the Brazilian government’s discretion, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, expected results of operations and financial condition.
In Argentina, jurisdiction over oil and gas activities is now largely vested in the same provincial states who own the relevant underground oil and gas resources. The Federal Executive Branch is still empowered to design and rule federal energy policy and to rule on domestic inter-jurisdictional and international oil and gas transportation concessions and has, for example, imposed measures controlling oil and gas investments in the provincial states. Private companies must obtain exploration permits or exploitation concessions from the provincial states or otherwise enter into certain types of joint venture or association agreements with provincial state-owned oil and gas companies in order to undertake exploration and production activities onshore, and must enter into certain types of joint venture or association agreements with the federally-owned oil and gas company, ENARSA, to undertake these activities offshore. Additionally, whereas until 2012, exploration permit and exploitation concession holders had the right to freely dispose of and market up to 70% of the production they generated, on July 28th, 2012, the publication of Presidential Decree 1277/2012 abrogated this right. As of December 31, 2013, our production in Argentina represented less than 0.5% of our total production, though recent regulations affecting the oil and gas industry in Argentina may have an adverse impact on our business, operations and prospects in Argentina.
Oil and gas operators are subject to extensive regulation in the countries in which we operate.
In Chile, rights to exploration and exploitation of a particular area are established in a CEOP. According to article 19, No 24 of the Chilean Constitution, the President of Chile has the power to determine the terms and conditions for the granting of a particular CEOP. In addition, the CEOP is subject to extensive supervision by the government through the Chilean Ministry of Energy. The President of Chile may also decide to terminate a CEOP early, though with compensation to the counterparty, and only if the relevant area is located within an area declared relevant for national security reasons.
Although the government of Chile cannot unilaterally modify the rights granted in the CEOP once it is signed, exploration and exploitation are nonetheless subject to significant government regulations, such as regulations concerning the environment, tort liability, health and safety and labor, all of which have an impact on our business and operations. Changes in laws and regulations could have an adverse effect on the costs and timing of our operations. For example, in November 2012, the government approved new regulations governing the abandonment of oilfield operations that would require us to obtain prior approval for new oil wells and could also require us to post a bond in connection with the abandonment or closure of an oil well.
The Colombian hydrocarbons industry is subject to extensive regulation and supervision by the government in matters such as the environment, tort liability, health and safety, labor, the award of exploration and production contracts by the ANH, the imposition of specific drilling and exploration obligations, taxation, foreign currency controls, price controls, capital expenditures and required divestments. Existing Colombian regulation applies to virtually all aspects of our concessions or E&P Contracts in Colombia. The terms and conditions of the agreements with the ANH generally reflect negotiations with the ANH and other Colombian governmental authorities, and may vary by fields, basins and hydrocarbons discovered.
We are required, as are all oil companies undertaking exploratory and production activities in Colombia, to pay a percentage of our expected production to the Colombian government as royalties. The Colombian government has modified the royalty program for oil and natural gas production several times in the last 20 years, as it has modified the regime regulating new contracts entered into with the Colombian government. The royalty regime for contracts being entered into today for conventional oil is tied to a scale ring-fenced by field starting at 8% for production of up to 5,000 mbopd and increases up to 25% for production above 600,000 mbopd. Royalties for natural gas production
of onshore blocks where our assets are located, range between 8% and 25%. Furthermore, production of unconventional resources discovered as of May 19, 2012 is subject to royalties equivalent to 60% of the royalties applicable to conventional oil.
In Brazil, the oil and natural gas industry is subject to extensive regulation and intervention by the Brazilian government in such matters as the award of exploration and production interests, taxation and foreign currency controls. Ultimately, those regulations may also address restrictions on production, price controls, mandatory divestments of assets and nationalization, expropriation or cancellation of contractual rights.
Under these laws and regulations, there is potential liability for personal injury, property damage and other types of damages. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations also may result in the suspension or termination of operations or our being subjected to administrative, civil and criminal penalties, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and expected results of operations. We expect to also operate in a consortium in some of our concessions, which, under the Brazilian Petroleum Law, establishes joint and strict liability among consortium members. If the operator does not maintain the appropriate licenses, the consortium may suffer administrative penalties, including fines of R$10 to R$500 million.
In addition, the local content policy, which is a contractual requirement in a Brazilian concession agreements, has become a significant issue for oil and natural gas companies operating in Brazil given the penalties related with breaches thereof. The local content requirement will also apply to the production sharing contract regime. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Brazil.”
The Argentine hydrocarbons industry is also extensively regulated both by federal and provincial state regulations in matters including the award of exploration permits and exploitation concessions, investment, royalty, canon, price controls, export restrictions and domestic market supply obligations. The terms of our exploitation concessions are embodied in Decrees and Administrative Decisions issued by the Federal Executive Power and incorporate statutory rights and obligations provided under the Hydrocarbons Law. The federal government is further empowered to design and implement federal energy policy and to rule on domestic inter-jurisdictional and international oil and gas transportation concessions, and has used these powers to establish export restrictions and duties, induce private companies to enter into price stability agreements with the government or otherwise impose price control regulations or create incentive programs to promote increased production. Jurisdictional controversies among the federal government and the provincial states are not uncommon.
Significant expenditures may be required to ensure our compliance with governmental regulations related to, among other things, licenses for drilling operations, environmental matters, drilling bonds, reports concerning operations, the spacing of wells, unitization of oil and natural gas accumulations, local content policy and taxation.
Governmental actions in the countries in which we operate and in which we may operate in the future may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by actions taken by the Chilean, Colombian, Brazilian or Argentine governments concerning the economy, including actions aimed at targeting inflation, interest rates, oil and gas price controls, foreign exchange controls and taxes.
Brazil has in the past periodically experienced extremely high rates of inflation. As measured by the National Consumer Price Index (Índice Nacional de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo), Brazil had annual rates of inflation of 5.9% in 2010, 6.5% in 2011, 5.8% in 2012 and 5.9% in 2013. Brazil may experience high levels of inflation in the future. Periods of higher inflation may slow the rate of growth of the Brazilian economy. Although the long-term off-take contract covering gas production in the Manatí Field is indexed to inflation, inflation is likely to increase some of our costs and expenses, and, as a result, may reduce our profit margins and net income. Inflationary pressures could also lead to counter-inflationary prices that may harm our business. Any decline in our expected net sales or net income could lead to a deterioration in our financial condition.
In Argentina, since 2001, the Argentine government has imposed and expanded upon exchange controls and restrictions on the transfer of U.S. dollars outside of Argentina, which substantially limit the ability of companies to retain foreign currency or make payments abroad. These and other measures have led the implied AR$/US$ exchange rate as reflected in the quotations for certain Argentine securities that trade in foreign markets to differ substantially from the official foreign exchange rate in Argentina. If the Argentine government decides once again to
tighten the restrictions on the transfer of funds, we may be unable to make payments related to the import of products and services, which could have a material adverse effect on us.
Additionally, in May 2012, the Argentine government expropriated 51% of YPF’s capital stock owned by Repsol YPF of Spain, and 51% of the capital stock of Repsol YPF Gas owned by Repsol Butano.
There can be no assurance that future economic, social and political developments in the countries in which we operate currently or in the future, which are out of our control, may impair our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our operations may be affected by tax reforms in the countries in which we operate and in which we may operate in the future.
Our operations may be affected by changes in tax laws in the countries in which we operate and in which we may operate in the future. For example, in early April 2014, the Chilean government put forth a proposal for an income tax-reform which is designed to increase government revenues. The proposed tax reform eliminates certain tax structures that were previously beneficial to large companies, including deferral of taxes paid on reinvested company profits. Although, as of the date of this annual report, we cannot estimate the full impact of these proposed tax reforms on our Chilean operations, there can be no assurance that these tax reforms will not be implemented and have an adverse impact on our cash flow and profitability due to the loss of certain advantageous tax structures.
In Brazil, the Brazilian government frequently implements changes to tax and social security regimes that may affect us and our customers. These changes include changes in prevailing tax and contribution rates and, occasionally, enactment of temporary taxes, the proceeds of which are earmarked for designated governmental purposes. Some of these changes in tax laws may result in increases in our tax payments, which could materially adversely affect our profitability and increase the prices of our products and services, restrict our ability to do business in our existing and target markets and cause our results of operations to suffer. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our projected cash flow and profitability following any increase in taxes applicable to us and to our operations.
Colombia has experienced and continues to experience internal security issues that have had or could have a negative effect on the Colombian economy.
Colombia has experienced internal security issues, primarily due to the activities of guerrillas, including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia), or the FARC, paramilitary groups and drug cartels. In the past, guerrillas have targeted the crude oil pipelines, including the Oleoducto Transandino, Caño Limón-Coveñas and Ocensa pipelines, and other related infrastructure disrupting the activities of certain oil and natural gas companies. On several occasions guerilla attacks have resulted in unscheduled shut-downs of the transportation systems in order to repair damaged sections and undertake clean-up activities. These activities, their possible escalation and the effects associated with them have had and may have in the future a negative impact on the Colombian economy or on our business, which may affect our employees or assets. In the context of the political instability, allegations have been made against members of the Colombian Congress and against government officials for possible ties with guerilla groups. This situation may have a negative impact on the credibility of the Colombian government, which could in turn have a negative impact on the Colombian economy or on our business in the future.
The Colombian government commenced peace talks with the FARC in August 2012. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by rapidly changing economic or social conditions, including the Colombian government’s response to current peace negotiations which may result in legislation that increases our tax burden or that of other Colombian companies. Tensions with neighboring countries may affect the Colombian economy and, consequently, our results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, from time to time, community protests and blockades may arise near our operations in Colombia, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our operations may be adversely affected by political and economic circumstances in Argentina.
Some of our current operations and management offices are located in Argentina. If local political or economic trends adversely affect the Argentine economy, our financial condition and results from operations could be
adversely affected. In particular, we face risks in Argentina related to the following: restrictions on Argentina’s energy supplies and an inadequate governmental response to such restrictions, which could negatively affect Argentina’s economic activity; social and political tensions and the governmental response to such tensions; requirements of the Federal General Environmental Law, which requires persons who carry out activities that are potentially hazardous to the environment to obtain insurance; and tax implications under Argentine law with respect to our incorporation in Bermuda, which may subject our Argentine subsidiaries to higher tax rates.
Risks related to our common shares
An active, liquid and orderly trading market for our common shares may not develop and the price of our stock may be volatile, which could limit your ability to sell our common shares.
Our common shares began to trade on the New York Stock Exchange on February 7, 2014, and as a result have a limited trading history. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in our company will maintain an active trading market on the NYSE, or how liquid that market will be in the future.
The market price of our common shares may be volatile and may be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including:
| · | our operating and financial performance and identified potential drilling locations, including reserve estimates; |
| · | quarterly variations in the rate of growth of our financial indicators, such as net income per common share, net income and revenues; |
| · | changes in revenue or earnings estimates or publication of reports by equity research analysts; |
| · | speculation in the press or investment community; |
| · | sales of our common shares by us or our shareholders, or the perception that such sales may occur; |
| · | involvement in litigation; |
| · | announcements by the company; |
| · | domestic and international economic, legal and regulatory factors unrelated to our performance. |
| · | variations in our quarterly operating results; |
| · | volatility in our industry, the industries of our customers and the global securities markets; |
| · | changes in our dividend policy; |
| · | risks relating to our business and industry, including those discussed above; |
| · | strategic actions by us or our competitors; |
| · | actual or expected changes in our growth rates or our competitors’ growth rates; |
| · | investor perception of us, the industry in which we operate, the investment opportunity associated with our common shares and our future performance; |
| · | adverse media reports about us or our directors and officers; |
| · | addition or departure of our executive officers; |
| · | change in coverage of our company by securities analysts; |
| · | trading volume of our common shares; |
| · | future issuances of our common shares or other securities; |
| · | the release or expiration of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding common shares. |
We have never declared or paid, and do not intend to pay in the foreseeable future, cash dividends on our common shares, and, consequently, your only opportunity to achieve a return on your investment is if the price of our stock appreciates.
We have never paid, and do not intend to pay in the foreseeable future, cash dividends on our common shares. Any decision to pay dividends in the future, and the amount of any distributions, is at the discretion of our board of directors and our shareholders, and will depend on many factors, such as our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, prospects and other factors.
We are also subject to Bermuda legal constraints that may affect our ability to pay dividends on our common shares and make other payments. Under the Bermuda Companies Act, we may not declare or pay a dividend if there are reasonable grounds for believing that we are, or would after the payment be, unable to pay our liabilities as they become due or that the realizable value of our assets would thereafter be less than our liabilities. We are also subject to contractual restrictions under certain of our indebtedness.
We are a holding company dependent upon dividends from our subsidiaries, which may be limited by law and by contract from making distributions to us, which would affect our ability to pay dividends on the common shares.
As a holding company, our only material assets are our cash on hand, the equity interests in our subsidiaries and other investments. Our principal source of revenues and cash flow is distributions from our subsidiaries. Thus, our ability to pay dividends on the common shares will be contingent upon the financial condition of our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are and will be separate legal entities, and although they may be wholly-owned or controlled by us, they have no obligation to make any funds available to us, whether in the form of loans, dividends, distributions or otherwise. The ability of our subsidiaries to distribute cash to us is also subject to, among other things, restrictions that are contained in our and our subsidiaries’ financing (including our Notes due 2020 and GeoPark Brazil’s loan to finance Rio das Contas) and joint venture agreements (principally our agreements with LGI), availability of sufficient funds in such subsidiaries and applicable state laws and regulatory restrictions. Claims of creditors of our subsidiaries generally will have priority as to the assets of such subsidiaries over our claims and claims of our creditors and stockholders. To the extent the ability of our subsidiaries to distribute dividends or other payments to us could be limited in any way, our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as our ability to pay dividends on the common shares, could be materially adversely affected.
Additionally, we may not be able to fully control the operations and the assets of our joint ventures and we may not be able to make major decisions or take timely actions with respect to our joint ventures unless our joint venture partners agree. For example, we have entered into shareholder agreements with LGI in Chile and Colombia that limit the amount of dividends that can be declared or returned to us, certain aspects related to the management of our Chilean and Colombian businesses, the incurrence of indebtedness, liens and our ability to sell certain assets. See “—Risks relating to our business—LGI, our strategic partner in Chile and Colombia, may sell its interest in our Chilean and Colombian operations to a third party or may not consent to our taking certain actions.” We may, in the future, enter into other joint venture agreements imposing additional restrictions on our ability to pay dividends.
Sales of substantial amounts of our common shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our common shares to decline.
We may issue additional common shares or convertible securities in the future, for example, to finance potential acquisitions of assets, which we intend to continue to pursue. Sales of substantial amounts of our common shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our common shares to decline. This could also impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of our equity securities. Under our memorandum of association, we are authorized to issue up to 5,171,949,000 common shares, of which
57,863,615 common shares were outstanding as of the date of this annual report. We cannot predict the size of future issuances of our common shares or the effect, if any, that future sales and issuances of shares would have on the market price of our common shares.
Provisions of the Notes due 2020 could discourage an acquisition of us by a third party.
Certain provisions of the Notes due 2020 could make it more difficult or more expensive for a third party to acquire us, or may even prevent a third party from acquiring us. For example, upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, holders of the Notes due 2020 will have the right, at their option, to require us to repurchase all of their notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus any accrued and unpaid interest (including any additional amounts, if any) to the date of purchase. By discouraging an acquisition of us by a third party, these provisions could have the effect of depriving the holders of our common shares of an opportunity to sell their common shares at a premium over prevailing market prices.
Certain shareholders have substantial control over us and could limit your ability to influence the outcome of key transactions, including a change of control.
Mr. Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy, our Chairman, Mr. James F. Park, our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Juan Cristóbal Pavez, a director and Mr. Steven J. Quamme, a director, control approximately 48% of our outstanding common shares as of the date of this annual report, holding the shares either directly or through privately held funds which they control. As a result, these shareholders, if acting together, would be able to influence or control matters requiring approval by our shareholders, including the election of directors and the approval of amalgamations, mergers or other extraordinary transactions. They may also have interests that differ from yours and may vote in a way with which you disagree and which may be adverse to your interests. The concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change of control of our company, could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common shares as part of a sale of our company and might ultimately affect the market price of our common shares. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—A. Major shareholders” for a more detailed description of our share ownership
As a foreign private issuer, we are subject to different U.S. securities laws and NYSE governance standards than domestic U.S. issuers. This may afford less protection to holders of our common shares, and you may not receive corporate and company information and disclosure that you are accustomed to receiving or in a manner in which you are accustomed to receiving it.
As a foreign private issuer, the rules governing the information that we disclose differ from those governing U.S. corporations pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Although we intend to report quarterly financial results and report certain material events, we are not required to file quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or provide current reports on Form 8 K disclosing significant events within four days of their occurrence and our quarterly or current reports may contain less information than required under U.S. filings. In addition, we are exempt from the Section 14 proxy rules, and proxy statements that we distribute will not be subject to review by the SEC. Our exemption from Section 16 rules regarding sales of common shares by insiders means that you will have less data in this regard than shareholders of U.S. companies that are subject to the Exchange Act. As a result, you may not have all the data that you are accustomed to having when making investment decisions. For example, our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder with respect to their purchases and sales of our common shares. The periodic disclosure required of foreign private issuers is more limited than that required of domestic U.S. issuers and there may therefore be less publicly available information about us than is regularly published by or about U.S. public companies. See “Item 10. Additional Information—H. Documents on display.”
As a foreign private issuer, we will be exempt from complying with certain corporate governance requirements of the NYSE applicable to a U.S. issuer, including the requirement that a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors. As the corporate governance standards applicable to us are different than those applicable to domestic U.S. issuers, you may not have the same protections afforded under U.S. law and the NYSE rules as shareholders of companies that do not have such exemptions.
We are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common shares less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and for as long as we continue to be an “emerging growth company” we may choose to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes Oxley Act. We cannot predict if investors will find our common shares less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common shares and our share price may be more volatile.
Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards, and, therefore, we will be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.
Our internal controls over financial reporting may not be effective which could have a significant and adverse effect on our business and reputation.
We intend to evaluate our internal controls over financial reporting in order to allow management to report on, our internal controls over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) thereunder, which we refer to as “Section 404.” The process of documenting and testing our internal control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. During the course of our internal testing, we may identify deficiencies of which we are not currently aware.
In addition, if we fail to achieve and maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404. We are not currently required to furnish a report on our internal control over financial reporting and we expect that this rule will apply to us when we file our annual report on Form 20-F for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, which we will be required to file by April 30, 2015. In addition, we are not currently required to include an attestation report of our auditors on our assessment of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to the SEC’s rules under Section 404, for as long as we continue to be an “emerging growth company”. We cannot be certain as to the timing of completion of our evaluation, testing and any remediation actions or the impact of the same on our operations. If we are not able to implement the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or with adequate compliance, we may not be able to certify as to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting and we may be subject to sanctions, stock exchange delisting or investigation by regulatory authorities, such as the SEC.
As a result, there could be a negative reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements. This could harm our reputation and may otherwise negatively affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, we may be required to incur costs in improving our internal control system and the hiring of additional personnel.
We will continue to incur significantly increased costs and devote substantial management time as a result of operating as a public company.
Our recent initial public offering will have a significant transformative effect on us. We expect to incur significant legal, accounting, reporting and other expenses as a result of having publicly traded common shares listed on the NYSE. We will also incur costs which we have not incurred previously, including, but not limited to, costs and expenses for directors’ fees, increased directors and officers insurance, investor relations, and various other costs of a public company.
We also anticipate that we will incur costs associated with corporate governance requirements, including requirements under the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules implemented by the SEC and NYSE. We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and make some management
and corporate governance activities more time-consuming and costly, particularly after we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” These rules and regulations may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. This could have an adverse impact on our ability to recruit and bring on a qualified independent board.
The additional demands associated with being a public company listed on the NYSE may disrupt regular operations of our business by diverting the attention of some of our senior management team away from revenue-producing activities to management and administrative oversight, adversely affecting our ability to attract and complete business opportunities and increasing the difficulty in both retaining professionals and managing and growing our businesses. Any of these effects could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
There are regulatory limitations on the ownership and transfer of our common shares which could result in the delay or denial of any transfers you might seek to make.
The Bermuda Monetary Authority, or the BMA, must specifically approve all issuances and transfers of securities of a Bermuda exempted company like us unless it has granted a general permission. We are able to rely on a general permission from the BMA to issue our common shares, and to freely transfer of our common shares as long as the common shares are listed on the NYSE and/or other appointed stock exchange, to and among persons who are non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes. Any other transfers remain subject to approval by the BMA and such approval may be denied or delayed.
We are a Bermuda company, and it may be difficult for you to enforce judgments against us or against our directors and executive officers.
We are incorporated as an exempted company under the laws of Bermuda and substantially all of our assets are located in Chile, Colombia, Argentina and Brazil. In addition, most of our directors and executive officers reside outside the United States and all or a substantial portion of the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible to effect service of process within the United States upon us, or to recover against us on judgments of U.S. courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. Further, no claim may be brought in Bermuda against us or our directors and officers in the first instance for violation of U.S. federal securities laws because these laws have no extraterritorial application under Bermuda law and do not have force of law in Bermuda. However, a Bermuda court may impose civil liability, including the possibility of monetary damages, on us or our directors and officers if the facts alleged in a complaint constitute or give rise to a cause of action under Bermuda law.
There is no treaty in force between the United States and Bermuda providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. As a result, whether a United States judgment would be enforceable in Bermuda against us or our directors and officers depends on whether the U.S. court that entered the judgment is recognized by the Bermuda court as having jurisdiction over us or our directors and officers, as determined by reference to Bermuda conflict of law rules. A judgment debt from a U.S. court that is final and for a sum certain based on U.S. federal securities laws will not be enforceable in Bermuda unless the judgment debtor had submitted to the jurisdiction of the U.S. court, and the issue of submission and jurisdiction is a matter of Bermuda (not U.S.) law.
In addition, and irrespective of jurisdictional issues, the Bermuda courts will not enforce a U.S. federal securities law that is either penal or contrary to Bermuda public policy. An action brought pursuant to a public or penal law, the purpose of which is the enforcement of a sanction, power or right at the instance of the state in its sovereign capacity, will not be entertained by a Bermuda court. Certain remedies available under the laws of U.S. jurisdictions, including certain remedies under U.S. federal securities laws, would not be available under Bermuda law or enforceable in a Bermuda court, as they would be contrary to Bermuda public policy.
Bermuda law differs from the laws in effect in the United States and might afford less protection to shareholders.
Our shareholders could have more difficulty protecting their interests than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction of the United States. As a Bermuda company, we are governed by our memorandum of association and bye-laws and Bermuda company law. The provisions of the Bermuda Companies Act, which applies
to us, differs in some material respects from laws generally applicable to U.S. corporations and shareholders, including the provisions relating to interested directors, mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, shareholder lawsuits and indemnification of directors. Set forth below is a summary of these provisions, as well as modifications adopted pursuant to our bye-laws, which differ in certain respects from provisions of Delaware corporate law. Our shareholders approved the adoption of new bye-laws which came into effect on February 19, 2014, being the date on which the company cancelled admission of its common shares on AIM. Because the following statements are summaries, they do not discuss all aspects of Bermuda law that may be relevant to us and our shareholders.
Interested Directors. Under our bye-laws and The Companies Act, 1981(as amended) of Bermuda, or the Bermuda Companies Act, a director shall declare the nature of his interest in any contract or arrangement with the company. Our bye-laws further provide that a director so interested shall not, except in particular circumstances, be entitled to vote or be counted in the quorum at a meeting in relation to any resolution in which he has an interest, which is to his knowledge, a material interest (otherwise than by virtue of his interest in shares or debentures or other securities of or otherwise in or through the company). In addition, the director will not be liable to us for any profit realized from the transaction. In contrast, under Delaware law, such a contract or arrangement is voidable unless it is approved by a majority of disinterested directors or by a vote of shareholders, in each case if the material facts as to the interested director’s relationship or interests are disclosed or are known to the disinterested directors or shareholders, or such contract or arrangement is fair to the corporation as of the time it is approved or ratified. Additionally, such interested director could be held liable for a transaction in which such director derived an improper personal benefit.
Amalgamations, Mergers and Similar Arrangements. Pursuant to the Bermuda Companies Act, the amalgamation or merger of a Bermuda company with another company or corporation requires the amalgamation or merger agreement to be approved by the company’s board of directors and by its shareholders. Shareholder approval is not required where (i) the holding company and one or more of its wholly-owned subsidiary companies amalgamate or merge or (ii) two or more wholly-owned subsidiary companies of the same holding company amalgamate or merge. Save for such “short-form” amalgamations or mergers, unless the company’s bye-laws provide otherwise, the approval of 75% of the shareholders voting at such meeting is required to approve the amalgamation or merger agreement, and the quorum for such meeting must be two persons holding or representing more than one-third of the issued shares of the company. Under our bye-laws, an amalgamation or merger will require the approval of our board of directors and of our shareholders by Special Resolution, meaning a resolution adopted by 65% of more of the votes cast by shareholders who (being entitled to do so) vote in person or by proxy at any general meeting of the shareholders in accordance with the provisions of the bye-laws. Under Bermuda law, in the event of an amalgamation or merger of a Bermuda company with another company or corporation, a shareholder of the Bermuda company who is not satisfied that fair value has been offered for such shareholder’s shares may, within one month of notice of the shareholders meeting, apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda to appraise the fair value of those shares. Under Delaware law, with certain exceptions, a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all the assets of a corporation must be approved by the board of directors and a majority of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon. Under Delaware law, a shareholder of a corporation participating in certain major corporate transactions may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights pursuant to which such shareholder may receive cash in the amount of the fair value of the shares held by such shareholder (as determined by a court) in lieu of the consideration such shareholder would otherwise receive in the transaction.
Shareholders’ Suit. Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available to shareholders under Bermuda law. The Bermuda courts, however, would ordinarily be expected to permit a shareholder to commence an action in the name of a company to remedy a wrong to the company where the act complained of is alleged to be beyond the corporate power of the company or illegal, or would result in the violation of the company’s memorandum of association or bye-laws. Furthermore, consideration would be given by a Bermuda court to acts that are alleged to constitute a fraud against the minority shareholders or where an act requires the approval of a greater percentage of the company’s shareholders than that which actually approved it.
When the affairs of a company are being conducted in a manner which is oppressive or prejudicial to the interests of some part of the shareholders, one or more shareholders may apply under the Bermuda Companies Act for an order of the Supreme Court of Bermuda, which may make such order as it sees fit, including an order regulating the conduct of the company’s affairs in the future or ordering the purchase of the shares of any shareholders by other shareholders or by the company.
Our bye-laws contain a provision by virtue of which we and our shareholders waive any claim or right of action that they have, both individually and on our behalf, against any director or officer in relation to any action or failure to take action by such director or officer, except in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of such director or officer. Class actions and derivative actions generally are available to shareholders under Delaware law for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste and actions not taken in accordance with applicable law. In such actions, the court has discretion to permit the winning party to recover attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such action.
Indemnification of Directors. We may indemnify our directors and officers in their capacity as directors or officers for any loss arising or liability attaching to them by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which a director or officer may be guilty in relation to the company other than in respect of his own fraud or dishonesty. Our bye-laws provide that we shall indemnify our officers and directors in respect of their acts and omissions, except in respect of their fraud or dishonesty, or to recover any gain, personal profit or advantage to which such Director is not legally entitled, and (by incorporation of the provisions of the Bermuda Companies Act) that we may advance moneys to our officers and directors for the costs, charges and expenses incurred by our officers and directors in defending any civil or criminal proceedings against them on condition that the directors and officers repay the moneys if any allegations of fraud or dishonesty is proved against them provided, however, that, if the Bermuda Companies Act requires, and advancement of expenses shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts if it shall ultimately be determined by final decision that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under our Bye-law. Under Delaware law, a corporation may indemnify a director or officer of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in defense of an action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position if such director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, such director or officer had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In addition, we have entered into customary indemnification agreements with our directors.
As a result of these differences, investors could have more difficulty protecting their interests than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in the United States.
We may become subject to taxes in Bermuda after March 31, 2035, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Under current Bermuda law, we are not subject to tax on income or capital gains. We have received from the Minister of Finance under The Exempted Undertaking Tax Protection Act 1966, as amended, an assurance that, in the event that Bermuda enacts legislation imposing tax computed on profits, income, any capital asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance, then the imposition of any such tax shall not be applicable to us or to any of our operations or shares, debentures or other obligations, until March 31, 2035. We could be subject to taxes in Bermuda after that date. This assurance is subject to the provision that it is not to be construed to prevent the application of any tax or duty to such persons as are ordinarily resident in Bermuda or to prevent the application of any tax payable in accordance with the provisions of the Land Tax Act 1967 or otherwise payable in relation to any property leased to us. We are incorporated in Bermuda as an exempted company and pay annual Bermuda government fees. In addition, all entities employing individuals in Bermuda are required to pay a payroll tax and there are other sundry taxes payable, directly or indirectly, to the Bermuda government. Neither we nor our Bermuda subsidiaries employ individuals in Bermuda as at the date of this annual report.
The transfer of our common shares may be subject to capital gains taxes pursuant to indirect transfer rules in Chile.
In September 2012, Chile established “indirect transfer rules,” which impose taxes, under certain circumstances, on capital gains resulting from indirect transfers of shares, equity rights, interests or other rights in the equity, control or profits of a Chilean entity, as well as on transfers of other assets and property of permanent establishments or other businesses in Chile, or the Chilean Assets. As we indirectly own Chilean Assets, the indirect transfer rules would apply to transfers of our common shares provided certain conditions outside of our control are met. If such conditions were present and as a result the indirect transfer rules were to apply to sales of our common shares, such sales would be subject to indirect transfer tax on the capital gain that may be determined in each transaction. For a
description of the indirect transfer rules and the conditions of their application see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—Chilean tax on transfers of shares.”
Our common shares will for a time trade on two separate stock markets, and investors seeking to take advantage of price differences between such markets may create unexpected volatility in our share price; in addition, investors may not be able to easily move common shares for trading between such markets.
Our common shares are currently registered on the NYSE and the Santiago Offshore Stock Exchange. Although we intend to de-register from the Santiago Offshore Stock Exchange as soon as practicable, our common shares will be traded on two markets for a period of time. During such time, price levels for our common shares could fluctuate between markets, independent of our share price on the other market. Investors could seek to sell or buy our common shares to take advantage of any price differences between the markets through a practice referred to as arbitrage. Any arbitrage activity could create unexpected volatility in the price of our common shares on the NYSE.
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
| History and development of the company |
General
We were incorporated as an exempted company pursuant to the laws of Bermuda as GeoPark Holdings Limited in February 2006. On July 30, 2013, our shareholders approved a change in our name to GeoPark Limited, effective from July 31, 2013. We maintain a registered office in Bermuda at Cumberland House, 9th Floor, 1 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. Our principal executive offices are located at Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles 179, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile, telephone number +562 2242 9600, and Florida 981, 1st floor, Buenos Aires, Argentina, telephone number +5411 4312 9400. Our website is www.geo-park.com. The information on our website does not constitute part of this annual report.
Our company
We are an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production, or E&P, company with operations in Latin America and a proven track record of growth in production, reserves and cash flows since 2006. We operate in Chile, Colombia, Brazil and, to a lesser extent, in Argentina, and also in 2014 further expanded our footprint in Brazil as a result of our Rio das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014. See “B. Business Overview—Our operations—Operations in Brazil.”
We have a well-balanced portfolio of assets that includes working and/or economic interests in 27 hydrocarbons blocks, 26 of which are onshore blocks, including eleven currently in production, as well as in an additional shallow- offshore concession in Brazil that includes the Manatí Field. In addition, we have two new concessions in Brazil that are subject to confirmation of qualification requirements by the ANP. We produced a net average of 13,517 boepd during the year ended December 31, 2013, 51.5% of which was produced in Chile, 48% of which was produced in Colombia and 0.5% of which was produced in Argentina, and of which 82% was oil. As of December 31, 2013, we had net proved reserves of 20.1 mmboe (composed of 74% oil and 26% natural gas), of which 10.7 mmboe, or 53%, and 9.4 mmboe, or 47%, were in Chile and Colombia, respectively. After giving effect to the Rio das Contas acquisition on a pro forma basis, we would have produced an average of 17,098 boepd during the year ended December 31, 2013, with Chile, Colombia and Brazil representing 41%, 38% and 21% of our production, respectively, and with oil representing 65% of our total production. Additionally, according to the D&M Reserves Report, as of December 31, 2013, Rio das Contas had net proved reserves of 8.3 mmboe (composed of approximately 98% natural gas).
We have built our company around three principal capabilities:
| · | as an Explorer, which is our ability, experience, methodology and creativity to find and develop oil and gas reserves in the subsurface, based on the best science, solid economics and ability to take the necessary managed risks. |
| · | as an Operator, which is our ability to execute in a timely manner and to have the know-how to profitably drill for, produce, treat, transport and sell our oil and gas – with the drive and persistence to find solutions, overcome obstacles, seize opportunities and achieve results. |
| · | as a Consolidator, which is our ability and initiative to assemble the right balance and portfolio of upstream assets in the right hydrocarbon basins in the right regions with the right partners and at the right price – coupled with the visions and skills to transform and improve value above ground |
We believe that our risk and capital management policies have enabled us to compile a geographically diverse portfolio of properties that balances exploration, development and production of oil and gas. These attributes have also allowed us to raise capital and to partner with premier international companies. Finally, we believe we have developed a distinctive culture within our organization that promotes and rewards partnership, entrepreneurship and merit. Consistent with this approach, all of our employees are eligible to participate in our long-term incentive program, or our Performance-Based Employee Long-Term Incentive Program. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Performance-Based Employee Long-Term Incentive Program.”
In Chile, we are the first and the largest non-state controlled oil and gas producer. We began operations in 2006 in the Fell Block and have evolved from having a non-operated, non-producing interest to having a fully-operated and producing asset with 10.7 mmboe of net proved reserves as of December 31, 2013 and average production of 6,962 boepd in 2013. In addition, we operate five other hydrocarbon blocks in Chile with significant prospective resources.
In Colombia, following our successful acquisitions of Winchester, Luna and Cuerva in early 2012, we have an asset base of 10 hydrocarbon blocks where we were able to perform an active exploration and development drilling campaign, which resulted in multiple new oilfield discoveries and to increase average production from 2,965 boepd for the month of April 30, 2012 (the first full month following our Colombian acquisitions) to 7,725 boepd in the fourth quarter of 2013. Total net production in Colombia averaged 6,491 boepd in 2013. As of December 31, 2013, we had net proved reserves of 9.4 mmboe in Colombia.
Recently, we expanded our footprint to Brazil. In May 2013, we agreed to acquire Rio das Contas from Panoro, which holds a 10% working interest in the shallow offshore Manatí Field, the largest non-associated gas field in Brazil, which produced approximately 7.6% of the gas produced in Brazil in the year ended December 31, 2013. Rio das Contas’s 10% working interest in the Manatí Field represented 3,580 boepd of production during 2013. We closed our Rio das Contas acquisition on March 31, 2014.
Separately, in September 2013, we entered into concession agreements with the ANP relating to seven new concessions in the onshore Recôncavo Basin in the State of Bahia and in the onshore Potiguar Basin in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, or, our Round 11 concessions, and in November 2013, the ANP awarded us two additional concessions in the Parnaíba Basin in the State of Maranhão and the Sergipe Alagoas Basin in the State of Alagoas, subject to confirmation of qualification requirements, or, our Round 12 concessions. See “—Our operations—Operations in Brazil.”
History
We were founded in 2002 by Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy and James F. Park, who have over 25 and 35 years of international oil and natural gas experience, respectively, and who collectively hold approximately 26% of our common shares as of the date of this annual report, and are involved in our operations and strategy. Mr. O’Shaughnessy currently serves as our Chairman and Mr. Park currently serves as our Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chairman, and both actively contribute to our ongoing operations and business decisions.
Our history commenced with the purchase of AES Corporation’s upstream oil and natural gas assets in Chile and Argentina. Those assets included a non-operating working interest in the Fell Block in Chile, which at that time was operated by the Empresa Nacional de Petróleo, or ENAP, the Chilean state-owned hydrocarbon company, and operating working interests in the Del Mosquito, Cerro Doña Juana and Loma Cortaderal blocks in Argentina, which we collectively refer to as the Argentina Blocks. Since 2002, our business has grown significantly.
In 2006, after demonstrating our technical expertise and committing to an exploration and development plan, we obtained a 100% operating working interest in the Fell Block by the Republic of Chile. Also in 2006, the International Finance Corporation, or the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, became one of our principal shareholders, and we listed our common shares on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange plc, in an initial public offering of common shares outside the United States. Subsequently, in 2008 and 2009, we issued and sold additional common shares outside the United States.
In 2008 and 2009, we continued our growth in Chile by acquiring operating working interests in each of the Otway and Tranquilo Blocks, and by forming partnerships with Pluspetrol, Wintershall, Methanex and IFC.
In 2010, we formed a strategic partnership with LGI, a Korean conglomerate, to jointly acquire and develop upstream oil and gas projects in Latin America. LGI’s business includes a portfolio of energy and raw material projects, including oil and gas projects in the Middle East and in Southeast and Central Asia.
In 2011, ENAP awarded us the opportunity to obtain operating working interests in each of the Isla Norte, Flamenco and Campanario blocks in Tierra del Fuego, Chile, which we refer to collectively as the Tierra del Fuego Blocks, and in 2012, jointly with ENAP we entered into special operation contracts (Contratos Especiales de Operación para la Exploración y Explotación de Yacimientos de Hidrocarburo, or CEOPs) with Chile for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons within these blocks.
Also in 2011, LGI acquired a 20% equity interest in GeoPark Chile and a 14% equity interest in GeoPark TdF S.A., or GeoPark TdF, for US$148.0 million. LGI also provided to GeoPark TdF US$84.0 million in standby letters of credit to partially secure the US$101.4 million performance bond required by the Chilean government to guarantee GeoPark TdF’s obligations with respect to the minimum work program under the Tierra del Fuego CEOPs. Our agreement with LGI in the Tierra del Fuego Blocks allows us to earn back up to 12% equity participation in GeoPark TdF, depending on the success of our operations in Tierra del Fuego. See “Item 10. Additional Information—C. Material contracts.”
In the first quarter of 2012, we moved into Colombia by acquiring three privately held E&P companies, Winchester, Luna and Cuerva. These acquisitions provided us with an attractive platform in Colombia that includes working interests and/or economic interests in 10 blocks located in the Llanos, Magdalena and Catatumbo Basins and covering an area of 575,700 gross acres.
In December 2012, LGI acquired a 20% equity interest in GeoPark Colombia for US$20.1 million, including the assumption of existing debt and the commitment to provide additional funding to cover LGI’s share of required future investments in Colombia. In addition, our agreement with LGI in Colombia allows us to earn back up to 12% of equity participation in GeoPark Colombia, depending on the success of our operations in Colombia. See “Item 10. Additional Information—C. Material contracts.” We and LGI also agreed that we would extend our strategic partnership to build a portfolio of upstream oil and gas assets throughout Latin America through 2015. We believe our partnership with LGI represents a positive independent assessment and validation of the quality of our Chilean and Colombian asset inventory, the extent of our technical and operational expertise and the ability of our management to structure and effect significant transactions.
In May 2013, we entered into agreements to expand our operations to Brazil. See “—B. Business overview—Our operations—Operations in Brazil.”
On September 30, 2013, we entered into a strategic alliance with Tecpetrol S.A. (the oil and gas subsidiary of the Techint Group) or Tecpetrol, to jointly identify, study and potentially acquire upstream oil and gas opportunities in Brazil, with a specific focus on the Parnaíba, Sao Francisco, Recôncavo, Potiguar and Sergipe Alagoas basins. Tecpetrol has an extensive track record as an oil and gas explorer and operator throughout the Americas, with a portfolio of assets in Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela and the United States and current net production of over 85,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. As part of our strategic alliance with Tecpetrol, we expect to enter into an agreement to jointly develop, by assigning to Tecpetrol 50% of our working interest in, the PN T 597 concession in the Parnaíba Basin in the State of Maranhão, which we were awarded by the ANP, subject to confirmation of qualification requirements.
Recent developments
NYSE Listing
In February 2014, we commenced trading on NYSE raising US$98 million (before underwriting commissions and expenses) through the issuance of 13,999,700 common shares that also included shares issued pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
Acquisition of Rio das Contas
On March 31, 2014, we acquired Rio das Contas, which holds a 10% working interest in the BCAM-40 Concession in the shallow-depth offshore Manatí Field in the Camamu-Almada Basin, from Panoro. The total cash consideration for the acquisition is US$140 million, subject to certain purchase price and easement adjustments.
The Manatí Field, which is in the production phase, is operated by Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.—Petrobras, or Petrobras (with a 35% working interest), the Brazilian national company and the largest oil and gas operator in Brazil, in partnership with Queiroz Galvão Exploração e Produção, or QGEP (with a 45% working interest), and Brasoil Manatí Exploração Petrolífera S.A., or Brasoil (with a 10% working interest).
We believe the Manatí Field provides us with a strategically important upstream asset in Brazil. The shallow offshore Manatí Field is the largest non-associated gas field in Brazil, which produced approximately 7.6% of the gas produced in Brazil in the year ended December 31, 2013. During the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013,
net production attributable to Rio das Contas in the Manatí Field was approximately 3,677 boepd and 3,580 boepd, respectively.
Our Rio das Contas acquisition in Brazil provides us with a long-term off-take contract with Petrobras that covers approximately 74% of net proved gas reserves in the Manatí Field, a valuable relationship with Petrobras and an established local platform and presence, with seasoned and experienced geoscience and administrative team to manage our Brazilian assets and to seek new growth opportunities.
In the year ended December 31, 2013, Rio das Contas generated net income of approximately US$19.4 million, revenues of approximately US$48.6 million, and Adjusted EBITDA of approximately US$30.8 million. See "“Item 3. Selected financial data—Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data—Note 2—Reconciliations.”
In addition to the closing purchase price, the purchase agreement also provides that for each year from 2013 to and including 2017, we will make annual earn-out payments to Panoro in an amount equal to 45% of net cash flow, calculated as EBITDA less the aggregate of capital expenditures and corporate income taxes, with respect to the BCAM-40 Concession of any amounts in excess of US$25.0 million, up to a maximum cumulative earn-out amount of US$20.0 million.
See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business” and “Item 4. Information on the CompanyB. Business overview—Significant agreements—Brazil—Rio das Contas Quota Purchase Agreement”
We are an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production, or E&P, company with operations in Latin America and a proven track record of growth in production, reserves and cash flows since 2006. We operate in Chile, Colombia, Brazil and, to a lesser extent, in Argentina.
We have a well-balanced portfolio of assets that includes working and/or economic interests in 27 hydrocarbons blocks, 26 of which are onshore blocks, including eleven currently in production, as well as an additional shallow- offshore concession in Brazil that includes the Manatí Field. In addition, we have two new concessions in Brazil that are subject to confirmation of qualification requirements by the ANP. We produced a net average of 13,517 boepd during the year ended December 31, 2013, 51.5% of which was produced in Chile, 48% of which was produced in Colombia and 0.5% of which was produced in Argentina, and of which 82% was oil. Accounting for our Rio das Contas acquisition, on a pro forma basis, we would have produced an average of 17,098 boepd during the year ended December 31, 2013, with Chile, Colombia and Brazil representing 41%, 38% and 21% of our production, respectively, and with oil representing 65% of our total production. As of December 31, 2013, we had net proved reserves of 20.1 mmboe (composed of 74% oil and 26% natural gas), of which 10.7 mmboe, or 53%, and 9.4 mmboe, or 47%, were in Chile and Colombia, respectively. Additionally, according to the D&M Reserves Report, as of December 31, 2013, Rio das Contas had net proved reserves of 8.3 mmboe (composed of approximately 98% natural gas).
We have been able to successfully develop our assets through drilling, with 106 of the 152 wells that we drilled from 2006 through 2013 having become productive wells, a 70% success ratio. We have grown our business through winning new licenses and acquiring strategic assets and businesses, with 15 new blocks incorporated into our portfolio since January 1, 2006, eight new concessions in Brazil awarded to us following our entry into concession agreements with the ANP and the closing of our Rio das Contas acquisition. Since our inception, we have supported our growth through our prospect development efforts and our drilling program, as well as by developing long-term strategic partnerships and alliances with key industry participants, accessing debt and equity capital markets and developing and retaining a technical team with vast experience and a successful track record of finding and producing oil and gas in Latin America. A key factor behind our success ratio is our experienced team of geologists, geophysicists and engineers, including professionals with specialized expertise in the geology of Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina.
For the year ended December 31, 2013, we drilled 39 new wells, 17 in Chile and 22 in Colombia) in blocks in which we have working interests and/or economic interests. Our capital expenditures of US$228.0 million (US$145.7 million, US$82.1 million and US$0.2 million in Chile, Colombia and Argentina, respectively) for the year ended December 31, 2013 consisted of US$133.3 million related to exploration, including approximately 1,350 sq. km in 3D seismic surveys (more than 1,100 sq. km in Chile, mainly related to the blocks located in Tierra del Fuego and over 250 sq. km in Colombia)
In March 2014, we invested US$140 million in Brazil, subject to certain adjustments, to acquire Rio das Contas, which we financed through the incurrence of a loan of US$70.5 million and cash on hand.
In 2014, we expect our total capital expenditures, excluding the purchase price for our Rio das Contas acquisition, to be between US$220 million to US$250 million, of which approximately 62%, 32% and 5% will be in Chile, Colombia and Brazil, respectively. These capital expenditures will include the drilling of 50 to 60 new wells (approximately 40% of which we expect will be exploratory wells), as well as workovers, seismic surveys and new facility construction. In Brazil, we expect our capital expenditures will consist of between US$5 million to US$7.5 million to finance in part the construction of a gas compression plant in the Manatí Field, and approximately US$0.45 million in license fee payments to the ANP relating to our Round 12 concessions, with the remainder for seismic surveys in exploration blocks in the Potiguar and Recôncavo Basins.
For the year ended December 31, 2013, our average oil and gas production totaled 13,517 boepd, a 20% increase as compared to our average oil and gas production for the year ended December 31, 2012 of 11,292 boepd. Oil and liquids represented 82% and 66% of our total oil and gas production for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Oil production increased by 48% to 11,113 bopd (consisting of 4,581 bopd, 6,482 bopd and 50 bopd in Chile, Colombia and Argentina, respectively) for the year ended December 31, 2013, as compared to 7,491 bopd for the year ended December 31, 2012. Gas production increased to 14,419 mcfpd (consisting of 14,283 mcfpd, 52 mcfpd and 84 mcfpd in Chile, Colombia and Argentina, respectively) for the year ended December 31, 2013. On a pro forma basis, accounting for our Rio das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014, our average oil and gas production for the year ended December 31, 2013 reached 17,098 boepd (consisting of 11,173 bopd of oil and 35,539 mcfpd of gas), with oil and liquids representing 65% of total production.
The following map shows the countries in which we have blocks with working and/or economic interests as of December 31, 2013 and also includes our Brazil Acquisitions. For information on our working interests in each of these blocks, see “—Our assets” below.
(1) | We closed the acquisition of Rio das Contas on March 31, 2014. We have also entered into seven new concession agreements with the ANP in the Recôncavo and Potiguar Basins in Brazil and were awarded, two new concessions, subject to confirmation of qualification requirements and absence of legal impediments, by the ANP in the Parnaíba Basin and the Sergipe Alagoas Basin. See “—Our operations—Operations in Brazil.” |
The following table sets forth our net proved reserves and other data as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013, and also includes on a pro forma basis information on our recent Rio das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014.
| | For the year ended December 31, 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Revenues (in thousands of US$) | | | | |
Chile | | | 5.4 | | | | 32.2 | | | | 10.7 | | | | 50 | % | | | 157,491 | | | | 47 | % |
Colombia | | | 9.4 | | | | 0.0 | | | | 9.4 | | | | 100 | % | | | 179,324 | | | | 53 | % |
Argentina | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.0 | | | | — | | | | 1,538 | | | | — | |
Total | | | 14.8 | | | | 32.2 | | | | 20.1 | | | | 74 | % | | | 338,353 | | | | 100 | % |
Brazil (1) | | | 0.2 | | | | 48.8 | | | | 8.3 | | | | 2 | % | | | 48,570 | | | | — | |
Pro forma total | | | 15.0 | | | | 80.9 | | | | 28.4 | | | | 53 | % | | | 386,923 | | | | — | |
(1) | Reflects our Rio das Contas acquisition. |
As of December 31, 2013, according to the D&M Reserves Report, the net proved reserves attributable to our Rio das Contas acquisition in Brazil were 8.3 mmboe (composed of approximately 98% natural gas), which generated revenues of US$48.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Our commitment to growth has translated into a strong compounded annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 45.9% for production in the period from 2007 to 2013, as measured by boepd in the table below.
| | For the year ended December 31, | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average net production (mboepd) | | | 13.5 | | | | 11.3 | | | | 7.6 | | | | 6.9 | | | | 6.3 | | | | 3.4 | | | | 1.4 | |
% oil | | | 82.2 | % | | | 66.3 | % | | | 33.0 | % | | | 28.4 | % | | | 19.5 | % | | | 9.8 | % | | | 12.0 | % |
During the year ended December 31, 2013, Rio das Contas, whose production is not accounted for in the table above, produced 3.6 mboepd.
The following table sets forth our production of oil and natural gas in the blocks in which we have a working and/or economic interest as of December 31, 2013.
| | | |
| | For the year ended December 31, 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Oil production | | | | | | | | | |
Total crude oil production (bopd) | | | 4,581 | | | | 6,482 | | | | 50 | |
Average sales price of crude oil (US$/bbl) | | | 84.3 | | | 80.3 | | | 70.3 |
Natural gas production | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total natural gas production (mcf/day) | | | 14,283 | | | | 52 | | | | 84 | |
Average sales price of natural gas (US$/mcf) | | | 5.0 | | | 4.18 | | | 1.1 |
Oil and natural gas production cost | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average production cost (US$/boe) | | | 26.6 | | | 47.2 | | | 14.8 |
During the year ended December 31, 2013, average daily production of Rio das Contas was 21,120 mcf/day with an average sales price of natural gas of 6.4 US$/mcf. In addition, weighted average production cost was 27.0 (US$/boe).
Pro Forma net proved reserves
Pro Forma net proved reserves of oil, condensate and natural gas
The following table sets forth the pro forma evolution of our net proved reserves of oil and condensate as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013, as adjusted for the acquisition of Rio das Contas at December 31, 2013.
| | Net proved reserves (developed and undeveloped) of oil and condensate | |
| | GeoPark historical | | | Rio das Contas historical | | | Pro Forma combined | |
| | (mbbl) | |
Reserves as of December 31, 2012 | | | 11,885.1 | | | | 134.3 | | | | 12,019.4 | |
Increase (decrease) attributable to: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revisions | | | (5.9 | ) | | | 37.8 | | | | 31.9 | |
Extensions and discoveries | | | 6,641.0 | | | | — | | | | 6,641 | |
Purchases of minerals in place | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Production | | | (3,718.6 | ) | | | (22.1 | ) | | | (3,740.7 | ) |
Pro Forma Reserves as of December 31, 2013 | | | 14,801.6 | ) | | | 150.0 | | | | 14,951.6 | |
The following table sets forth the pro forma evolution of our net proved reserves of natural gas as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013, as adjusted for the acquisition of Rio das Contas on December 31, 2013.
| | Net proved reserves (developed and undeveloped) of natural gas | |
| | GeoPark historical | | | Rio das Contas historical | | | Pro Forma combined | |
| | (mmcf) | |
Reserves as of December 31, 2012 | | | 29,581.0 | | | | 51,762.9 | | | | 81,343.9 | |
Increase (decrease) attributable to: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revisions | | | 4,691.0 | | | | 4,712.9 | | | | 9,403.9 | |
Extensions and discoveries | | | 2,219.0 | | | | — | | | | 2,219.0 | |
Purchases | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Production | | | (4332.0 | ) | | | (7,708.8 | ) | | | (12,040.8 | ) |
Pro Forma Reserves as of December 31, 2013 | | | 32,159.0 | | | | 48,767.0 | | | | 80,926.0 | |
Our assets
According to the D&M Reserves Report, as of December 31, 2013, the blocks in Chile, Colombia and Argentina in which we have a working interest had 20.1 mmboe of net proved reserves, with 10.7 mmboe, or 53%, and 9.4 mmboe, or 47%, of such net proved reserves located in Chile and Colombia, respectively. Giving effect to our Rio das Contas acquisition on a pro forma basis, we would have net proved reserves of 28.4 mmboe as of December 31, 2013, with Chile, Colombia and Brazil representing 38%, 33% and 29% of net proved reserves, respectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2013, we produced an average of 13,517 boepd, of which 6,962 boepd, or 52%, was produced in the Fell Block, 6,491 boepd, or 48%, was produced in the Colombian blocks and 64 boepd, or 0.5%, was produced in the Argentine blocks. Giving effect to our Rio das Contas acquisition on a pro forma basis, we would have produced an average of 17,098 boepd during the year ended December 31, 2013, with Chile, Colombia and Brazil representing 41%, 38% and 21% of our production, respectively, and with oil representing 65% of our total production.
We are the operator of a majority of the blocks in which we have a working interest. The following table summarizes certain information about our Chilean, Colombian and Argentine blocks as of December 31, 2013, and also includes on a pro forma basis information on our recent Rio das Contas acquisition.
| | | | | | Working interest (1)(2)(12) | | | | Gross area (thousand acres)(3) | | Net proved reserves (mmboe)(4) | | | | | | | | Concession expiration year |
Chile | | Fell | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Magallanes | | 367.8 | | 10.7 | | 50% | | 6,962 | | 66% | | Exploitation: 2032 |
Chile | | Tranquilo (19) | | GeoPark | | 29% | | Magallanes | | 92.4 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | Exploitation: 2043 |
Chile | | Otway | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Magallanes | | 49.4(6) | | — | | — | | — | | — | | Exploitation: 2044 |
Chile | | Isla Norte | | GeoPark | | 60%(7) | | Magallanes | | 130.2 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | Exploration: 2019 Exploitation: 2044 |
Chile | | Campanario | | GeoPark | | 50%(7) | | Magallanes | | 192.2 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | Exploration: 2020 Exploitation: 2045 |
Chile | | Flamenco (20) | | GeoPark | | 50%(7) | | Magallanes | | | | | | | | | | | | Exploration: 2019 Exploitation: 2044 |
Subtotal Chile | | | | | | | | | | 973.3 | | 10.7 | | 50% | | 6,962 | | 66% | | |
Colombia | | La Cuerva | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Llanos | | 47.8 | | 2.6 | | 100% | | 1,962 | | 100% | | Exploration: 2014 Exploitation: 2038 |
Colombia | | Llanos 34 | | GeoPark | | 45% | | Llanos | | 82.2 | | 6.4 | | 100% | | 3,469 | | 100% | | Exploration: 2015 Exploitation: 2039 |
Colombia | | Llanos 62 | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Llanos | | 44.0 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | Exploration: 2017 Exploitation: 2041 |
Colombia | | Yamú | | GeoPark | | 54.5/75%(8) | | Llanos | | 11.2 | | 0.3 | | 100% | | 550 | | 100% | | Exploration: 2013 Exploitation: 2036 |
Colombia | | Llanos 17 | | RIL-Parex | | 36.8%(9) | | Llanos | | 108.8 | | 0.03 | | 100% | | 49 | | — | | Exploration: 2015 Exploitation: 2039 |
Colombia | | Llanos 32 | | Verano Energy | | 0%(10) | | Llanos | | 100.3 | | 0.06 | | 100% | | 180 | | 100% | | Exploration: 2015 Exploitation: 2039 |
Colombia | | Jagüeyes 3432A | | Columbus | | 5% | | Llanos | | 61.0 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | Exploration: 2014 Exploitation: 2038 |
Colombia | | Arrendajo | | Pacific | | 0%(11) | | Llanos | | 78.1 | | — | | — | | 177 | | 100% | | Exploration: 2017 Production: 2041 |
Colombia | | Abanico | | Pacific | | 0%(11) | | Magdalena | | 32.1 | | — | | — | | 95 | | 100% | | Production: 2022 |
Colombia | | Cerrito | | Pacific | | 0%(11) | | Catatumbo | | | | | | | | | | | | Production: 2028 |
Subtotal Colombia | | | | | | | | | | 575.7 | | 9.4 | | 100% | | 6,491 | | 100% | | |
Argentina | | Del Mosquito | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Austral | | 17.3 | | — | | — | | 64 | | 78% | | Exploitation: 2016 |
Argentina | | Cerro Doña Juana (18) | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Neuquén | | 19.6 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | Exploitation: 2017 |
Argentina | | Loma Cortaderal (18) | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Neuquén | | | | | | | | | | | | Exploitation: 2017 |
Subtotal Argentina | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Brazil | | REC T 94 | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Recôncavo | | | | | | | | | | | | Exploration: 2018 |
Brazil | | REC T 85 | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Recôncavo | | | | | | | | | | | | Exploitation: 2045 |
Brazil | | POT T 664 | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Potiguar | | | | | | | | | | | | Exploration: 2018 |
Brazil | | POT T 665 | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Potiguar | | | | | | | | | | | | Exploitation: 2045 |
Brazil | | POT T 619 | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Potiguar | | | | | | | | | | | | Exploration: 2018 |
Brazil | | POT T 620 | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Potiguar | | | | | | | | | | | | Exploitation: 2045 |
Brazil | | POT T 663 | | GeoPark | | 100% | | Potiguar | | | | | | | | | | | | Exploration: 2018 |
Brazil | | PN T 597(15) | | GeoPark(16) | | 100%(16) | | Parnaíba | | | | | | | | | | | | Exploitation: 2045 |
Brazil | | SEAL T 268(15) | | GeoPark | | | | Sergipe Alagoas | | | | | | | | | | | | Exploration: 2018 |
Subtotal Brazil | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total GeoPark | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Brazil | | BCAM 40 | | Petrobras(17) | | 10% | | Camamu-Almada | | | | | | | | | | | | Exploitation: 2029(13) 2034(14) |
Total GeoPark Pro forma | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | Working interest corresponds to the working interests held by our respective subsidiaries in such block, net of any working interests and/or economic interests held by other parties in such block. |
(2) | As of the date of this annual report, LGI has a 20% equity interest in our Chilean operations through GeoPark Chile and a 20% equity interest in our Colombian operations through GeoPark Colombia. |
(3) | Gross area refers to the total acreage of each block. |
(4) | Reflects net proved reserves as of December 31, 2013. |
(5) | Reflects net average production for 2013. Net production refers to average production for each block, net of any working interests or economic interests held by others in such block but gross of any royalties due to others. |
(6) | In April 2013, we voluntarily relinquished to the Chilean government all of our acreage in the Otway Block, except for 49,421 acres. In May 2013, our partners under the joint operating agreement governing the Otway Block decided to withdraw from such joint operating agreement, and applied for an assignment of rights permit on August 5, 2013. On August 26, 2013, the Ministry of Energy granted this permit, such that, upon execution of a deed of assignment of rights containing the as-approved terms, we will be the sole participant, and have a 100% working interest, in our two remaining areas under the Otway Block CEOP. See “—Our operations—Operations in Chile—Otway and Tranquilo Blocks.” |
(7) | LGI has a 14% direct equity interest in our Tierra del Fuego operations through GeoPark TdF and a 20% direct equity interest in GeoPark Chile, for a total 31.2% effective equity interest in our Tierra del Fuego operations. See “—Our operations—Operations in Chile—Tierra del Fuego Blocks (Isla Norte, Campanario and Flamenco Blocks).” |
(8) | Although we are the sole title holder of the working interest in the Yamú Block, other parties have been granted economic interests in fields in this block. Taking those other parties’ interests into account, we have a 54.5% interest in the Carupana Field and a 75% interest in the Yamú and Potrillo Fields, both located in the Yamú Block. |
(9) | We currently have a 40% working interest in the Llanos 17 Block, although we have assigned a 3.2% economic interest to a third party. We expect to apply to formalize this assignment with the ANH so that it will be recognized as a working interest. |
(10) | We currently have a 10% economic interest in the Llanos 32 Block, although we have applied to the ANH to recognize this as a working interest in the block, and expect to receive the ANH’s authorization in the first half of 2014. |
(11) | We do not have a working interest in those blocks, though we have a 10% economic interest in the net revenues of each of these blocks pursuant to various partnership interests’ agreements. See “—Our operations—Operations in Colombia.” |
(12) | Working interest corresponds to the working interests we expect to hold in such concession, net of any working interests held by other parties in such concession, as a result of our Rio das Contas acquisition and Round 12 concessions |
(13) | Corresponds to the Manatí Field. |
(14) | Corresponds to the Camarão Norte Field. |
(15) | Round 12 concessions are subject to confirmation of qualification requirements by the ANP and absence of any legal impediments to signing. See “Item 3. Key information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—The PN-T-597 concession is subject to an injunction and may not close.” |
(16) | We expect to jointly develop this concession with Tecpetrol and assign 50% of our working interest in this concession to Tecpetrol. |
(17) | We closed the Rio das Contas acquisition on March 31, 2014. Partners: Petrobras; QGEP and Brasoil. |
(18) | In April 2014, we informed the Secretary of Infrastructure and Energy of the province of Mendoza of our decision to relinquish 100% of the Cerro Doña Juana and Loma Cortaderal Concessions to the Mendoza Province. |
(19) | On December 31, 2013, the Consortium members and interest were: GeoPark 29%, Pluspetrol 29%, Wintershall 25% and Methanex 17%. Methanex and Wintershall have recently announced its decision to exit the Consortium. The new ownership is being negotiated among us and Pluspetrol. |
(20) | In 2013, there were new discoveries in the Flamenco block. However, there are no proved reserves estimated for this block due to incomplete testing of these wells as of the date of this annual report. |
Our strengths
We believe that we benefit from the following competitive strengths:
High quality and diversified asset base built through a successful track record of organic growth and acquisitions
Our assets include a diverse portfolio of oil- and natural gas-producing reserves, operating infrastructure, operating licenses and valuable geological surveys. According to the D&M Reserves Report, as of December 31, 2013, we had 20.1 mmboe of net proved reserves in Chile and Colombia, of which 74%, or 14.8 mmboe, was oil, and 26%, or 5.3 mmboe, was gas and of which 50%, or 7.1 mmboe, was net proved developed reserves. In addition, on a pro forma basis, after giving effect to our Rio das Contas acquisition, as of December 31, 2013, we had 28.4 mmboe of net proved reserves in Brazil, Chile and Colombia, of which 53%, or 15.0 mmboe, was oil, and 47%, or 13.4 mmboe, was gas and of which 42%, or 12.1 mmboe, was net proved developed reserves. Throughout our
history, we have delivered continuous growth in our production, and our management team has been able to identify under-exploited assets and turn them into valuable, productive assets. For example, in 2002, we acquired a non-operating working interest in the Fell Block in Chile, which at the time had no material oil and gas production or reserves despite having been actively explored and drilled over the course of more than 50 years. Since 2006, when we became the operator of the Fell Block, through 2013, we have invested more than US$410 million and drilled approximately 95 wells in the block, with 73% of such wells becoming productive during that period. Currently, we are the operator and sole concessionaire of the Fell Block, which, during the year ended December 31, 2013, produced approximately 6,962 boepd. As of December 31, 2013, we generated 66% of Chile’s total oil production and 16% of its gas production, according to information provided by the Chilean Ministry of Energy.
The acquisitions of Winchester, Luna and Cuerva in Colombia in the first quarter of 2012 gave us access to an additional 574,979 gross exploratory and productive acres across 10 blocks in what we believe to be one of South America’s most attractive oil and gas geographies. According to the D&M Reserves Report, as of December 31, 2013, the blocks in Colombia in which we have a working interest had 9.4 mmboe of net proved reserves, all of which were in oil. Since we acquired Winchester, Luna and Cuerva, we were able to perform an active exploration and development drilling campaign, which resulted in multiple new discoveries and to increase average production to 6,962 boepd in Colombia in 2013. Also, we have been able to leverage our technical expertise achieving significant positive results in terms of reduced drilling costs in our multiple new oilfield discoveries, one of which was located in the hanging wall of a normal fault, a play type that had not been successfully tested before in the Llanos basin.
In addition, in line with our growth strategy, on March 31, 2014 we closed the acquisition of Rio Das Contas, which gave us a 10% working interest in the BCAM-40 Concession, including the shallow-depth offshore Manatí and Camarão Norte Fields, in the Camamu-Almada Basin in the State of Bahia. The Manatí Field, which is in the production phase, is operated by Petrobras (with a 35% working interest), the Brazilian national company and the largest oil and gas operator in Brazil, in partnership with QGEP (with a 45% working interest), and Brasoil (with a 10% working interest). See “—Significant agreements—Brazil—Rio das Contas Quota Purchase Agreement.”Our Rio das Contas acquisition in Brazil provides us with a long-term off-take contract with Petrobras that covers approximately 74% of net proved gas reserves in the Manatí Field, a valuable relationship with Petrobras and an established local platform and presence, with seasoned and experienced geoscience and administrative team to manage our Brazilian assets and to seek new growth opportunities. According to the D&M Reserves Report, as of December 31, 2013, BCAM-40 Concession had 8.3 mmboe of net proved reserves, (composed of approximately 98% natural gas). See “—Our operations—Operations in Brazil.”
Significant drilling inventory and resource potential from existing asset base
Our portfolio includes large land holdings in high-potential hydrocarbon basins and blocks with multiple drilling leads and prospects in different geological formations, which provide a number of attractive opportunities with varying levels of risk. Our drilling inventory consists of over 200 identified drilling locations, and our development plans target locations that we believe are low-cost, provide attractive economics and support a predictable production profile. Currently, we are executing our most significant exploration and drilling plan to date:
| · | In Chile, in 2013, we completed a 3D seismic survey covering approximately 315,000 gross acres, or 68% of the gross acres in our Tierra Del Fuego Blocks. Part of the survey took place in the Flamenco Block, where we drilled our first successful exploratory well (Chercán 1), which resulted in our first oil and gas discovery in Tierra del Fuego. We have completed the construction of a flowline to connect this well to existing infrastructure, and the well is currently producing approximately 2,650 mcfpd. We subsequently drilled two additional exploratory wells in the Flamenco Block (Omeling 1 and Yakamush 1), which are on standby for workover activities. Our Tierra del Fuego Blocks have similar geological characteristics to the Fell Block, and we intend to replicate the exploration and development strategy we successfully executed in the Fell Block in these blocks. In 2011, we expanded into a new play concept following our first oil discovery in the Konawentru well in the Tobífera formation, a volcaniclastic reservoir that lies below the Springhill formation, the traditional sandstone of the Magallanes Basin. Since then, we have significantly increased our oil production from the drilling of additional wells in the formation and we plan to continue to explore this formation, which has been the focus of our drilling plan. See “—Our operations” We have also initiated a technical assessment of the oil and gas shale potential in the Estratos con Favrella shale formation in some of our blocks in Chile. |
· In Colombia, in 2013, following our identification of several leads and prospects in our Llanos 34 Block, our most prospective Colombian block, we completed a 3D seismic survey on most of the remaining 50% of the acreage that had not been previously surveyed. Furthermore, in the second quarter of 2013, we successfully put into production our third discovery, the Potrillo 1 well in the Yamú Block, and our fourth discovery, the Tarotaro 1 well in the Llanos 34 Block. In addition, in the fourth quarter of 2013, we drilled and tested the Tigana 1 exploration well in the Mirador and Guadalupe formations, our fifth new oil field discovery, and the Tigana Sur 1 exploration well in the Guadalupe formation, our sixth new oil field discovery in Colombia, both in the Llanos 34 Block. See “—Our operations
· In Brazil, in 2013 we were awarded seven new exploratory concessions that were entered into with the ANP, and we expect to begin seismic surveys in these blocks in 2014.
Our geoscience team continues to identify new potential accumulations and expand our inventory of prospects and drilling opportunities.
Strong liquidity and financial flexibility to fund expansion
We benefit from both historically consistent cash flows and access to debt and equity capital markets, as well as other funding sources, which have provided us with strong liquidity and the financial flexibility to finance our organic growth and the pursuit of potential new opportunities. We generated US$140.1 million and US$131.8 million in cash from operations in the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and had US$121.1 million and US$38.3 million in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 3013 and 2012, respectively.
In March 2014, we borrowed US$70.5 million pursuant to a five-year term variable interest secured loan, secured by the benefits GeoPark receives under the Purchase and Sale Agreement for Natural Gas with Petrobras, equal to six-month LIBOR + 3.9% to finance part of the purchase price of our Rio das Contas acquisition, and funded the remaining amount with cash on hand.
In February 2014, we commenced trading on the NYSE and raised US$98 million (before underwriting commissions and expenses), including the over allotment option granted to and exercised by the underwriters, through the issuance of 13,999,700 common shares.
In 2010, we issued US$133.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.75% senior secured notes in the international markets, or the Notes due 2015, which were redeemed following our issuance in 2013 of US$300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.50% senior secured notes due 2020, or the Notes due 2020.
In 2007, we obtained financing from Methanex Chile S.A., or Methanex, the Chilean subsidiary of the Methanex Corporation, a leading global methanol producer, in an amount of US$40 million, structured as a gas pre-sale agreement with a six-year term at an interest rate equal to the six-month LIBOR.
In 2006, we completed an initial public offering of our common shares outside the United States on AIM and, in 2008 and 2009, we issued and sold additional common shares outside the United States.
In February 2006, the IFC became a significant shareholder by contributing US$10 million. Later that year, we entered into a loan agreement for US$20 million with the IFC, which we have since fully repaid, to partially finance our investment program.
Highly committed founding shareholders and technical and management teams with proven industry expertise and technically-driven culture
Our founding shareholders, management and operating teams have significant experience in the oil and gas industry and a proven technical and commercial performance record in onshore fields, as well as complex projects in Latin America and around the world, including expertise in identifying acquisition and expansion opportunities. Moreover, we differentiate ourselves from other E&P companies through our technically-driven culture, which fosters innovation, creativity and timely execution. Our geoscientists, geophysicists and engineers are pivotal to the success of our business strategy, and we have created an environment and supplied the resources that enable our technical team to focus its knowledge, skills and experience on finding and developing oil and gas fields.
In addition, we strive to provide a safe and motivating workplace for employees in order to attract, protect, retain and train a quality team in the competitive marketplace for capable energy professionals.
Our CEO, Mr. James Park, has been involved in E&P projects in Latin America since 1978. He has been closely involved in grass-roots exploration activities, drilling and production operations, surface and pipeline construction, legal and regulatory issues, crude oil marketing and transportation and capital raising for the industry. As of the date of this annual report, Mr. Park held 12.9% of our outstanding common shares.
Our Chairman, Mr. Gerald O’Shaughnessy, has been actively involved in the oil and gas business internationally and in North America since 1976. As of the date of this annual report, Mr. O’Shaughnessy held 13.2% of our outstanding common shares.
Our management and operating team has an average experience in the energy industry of approximately 25 years in companies such as Chevron, San Jorge, Petrobras, Total, Pluspetrol, ENAP and YPF, among others. Throughout our history, our management and operating team has had success in unlocking unexploited value from previously underdeveloped assets.
In addition, as of the date of this annual report, our executive directors, management and employees (excluding our founding shareholders, Mr. Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy and Mr. James F. Park) owned 6.6% of our outstanding common shares, aligning their interests with those of our shareholders and helping retain the talent we need to continue to support our business strategy. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation.” Our founding shareholders are also involved in our daily operations and strategy.
Long-term strategic partnerships and strong strategic relationships, such as with LGI, provide us with additional funding flexibility to pursue further acquisitions
We benefit from a number of strong partnerships and relationships. In March 2010, we entered into a framework agreement with LGI to establish a strategic growth partnership to jointly acquire and invest in oil and natural gas projects throughout Latin America. In May 2011, our partnership with LGI was strengthened by LGI’s acquisition of a 10% equity interest in our existing Chilean operations. In October 2011, LGI acquired an additional 10% equity interest in GeoPark Chile and a 14% equity interest in GeoPark TdF, and agreed to provide additional financial support for the further development of the Tierra del Fuego Blocks. In December 2012, LGI acquired a 20% equity interest in our Colombian business. We also agreed with LGI to extend our strategic partnership in order to build a portfolio of upstream oil and gas assets throughout Latin America through 2015. We are currently the only independent E&P company in which LGI has equity investments in Latin America. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Significant agreements—Agreements with LGI” for additional information relating to these agreements.
In addition, the IFC has been one of our shareholders since 2006, holding an 8% equity interest in us. In Chile, we have strong long-term commercial relationships with Methanex and ENAP, and in Colombia, through our acquisitions of Winchester, Luna and Cuerva, we have inherited a strong relationship with Ecopetrol, the Colombian state-owned oil and gas company.
In Brazil, the closing of our Rio das Contas acquisition on March 31, 2014 leads us to believe we will derive substantial benefits from Rio das Contas’s long-term relationship with Petrobras. Additionally, we have entered into a strategic alliance with Tecpetrol, to jointly identify, study and potentially acquire upstream oil and gas opportunities in Brazil. As part of our strategic alliance with Tecpetrol, we expect to enter into an agreement to jointly develop, by assigning to Tecpetrol 50% of our working interest in, the PN T 597 concession in the Parnaíba Basin in the State of Maranhão, which we were awarded by the ANP, subject to confirmation of qualification requirements. See “—Our operations—Operations in Brazil.”
Our strategy
Continue to grow a risk-balanced asset portfolio
We intend to continue to focus on maintaining a risk-balanced portfolio of assets, combining cash flow-generating assets with upside potential opportunities, and on increasing production and reserves through finding, developing and producing oil and gas reserves in the countries in which we operate. For example, through our recent expansion into Brazil, we have secured steady cash flows through our acquisition of Rio das Contas, as well as exploratory potential through our success in two ANP oil and gas bidding rounds in which we were awarded a total of nine concessions in Brazil. We believe this approach will allow us to sustain continuous and profitable growth and also participate in higher risk growth opportunities with upside potential. See “—Our operations.”
Maintain conservative financial policies
We seek to maintain a prudent and sustainable capital structure and a strong financial position to allow us to maximize the development of our assets and capitalize on business opportunities as they arise. We intend to remain financially disciplined by limiting substantially all our debt incurrence to identified projects with repayment sources. We expect to continue benefiting from diverse funding sources such as our partners and customers in addition to the international capital markets.
Pursue strategic acquisitions in Latin America
We have historically benefited from, and intend to continue to grow through, strategic acquisitions. Our Colombian acquisitions highlight our ability to identify and execute opportunities at what we believe to be attractive prices. These acquisitions have provided us with, and we expect that our Brazil Acquisitions will provide us with, attractive platforms in those countries. Our enhanced regional portfolio, primarily in investment-grade countries, and strong partnerships position us as a regional consolidator. We intend to continue to grow through strategic acquisitions and potentially in other countries in Latin America, including Peru which has an investment-grade rating. Our acquisition strategy is aimed at maintaining a balanced portfolio of lower-risk cash flow-generating properties and assets that have upside potential, keeping a balanced mix of oil- and gas-producing assets (though we expect to remain weighted toward oil) and focusing on both assets and corporate targets.
Continue to foster a technically-driven culture and to capitalize on local knowledge
We intend to continue to build and strengthen an environment that will allow us to fully consider and understand risk and reward and to deliberately and collectively pursue strategies that maximize value. For this purpose, we intend to continue expanding our technical teams and to foster a culture that rewards talent according to results. For example, we have been able to maintain the technical teams we inherited through our Colombian acquisitions and intend to retain our technical teams in Brazil after acquiring Rio das Contas on March 31, 2014. We believe local technical and professional knowledge is key to operational and long-term success and intend to continue to secure local talent as we grow our business in different locations.
Maintain a high degree of operatorship
We currently are, and intend to continue to be, the operator of a majority of the blocks and concessions in which we have working interests. Operating the majority of our blocks and concessions gives us the flexibility to allocate our capital and resources opportunistically and efficiently. We believe that this strategy has allowed, and will continue to allow, us to leverage our unique culture and our talented technical, operating and management teams. As of December 31, 2013, 99.6% of our net proved reserves and 96% of our production came from blocks in which we are the operator. On a pro forma basis, accounting for our Rio das Contas acquisition, approximately 71% of our production as of December 31, 2013 would have come from blocks that we operate.
Maintain our commitment to environmental and social responsibility
A major component of our business strategy is our focus on our environmental and social responsibility. We are committed to minimizing the impact of our projects on the environment. We also aim to create mutually beneficial relationships with the local communities in which we operate in order to enhance our ability to create sustainable value in our projects. In line with the IFC’s standards, our commitment to our environmental and social responsibilities is a major component of our business strategy. These commitments are embodied in our in-house designed Environmental, Health, Safety and Security management program, which we refer to as “S.P.E.E.D.” (Safety, Prosperity, Employees, Environment and Community Development). Our S.P.E.E.D. program was developed in accordance with several international quality standards, including ISO 14001 for environmental management issues, OHSAS 18001 for occupational health and safety management issues, SA 8000 for social accountability and workers’ rights issues, and applicable World Bank standards. See “—Health, safety and environmental matters.”
Our operations
We have a well-balanced portfolio of assets that includes working and/or economic interests in 27 hydrocarbons blocks, 26 of which are onshore blocks, including eleven currently in production, as well as in an additional shallow-
offshore concession in Brazil that includes the Manatí Field. In addition, we have two new concessions in Brazil that are subject to confirmation of qualification requirements by the ANP.
Operations in Chile
We became the first privately-owned oil and gas producer in Chile when we began production in the Fell Block in May 2006, and, for the year ended December 31, 2013, we produced 66% of Chile’s total oil production and 16% of its total gas production, according to information provided by the Chilean Ministry of Energy. We believe our acreage position in Chile represents an important platform for continued growth and expansion in that country.
The map below shows the location of the blocks in Chile in which we have working interests.
The table below summarizes information about the blocks in Chile in which we have working interests as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013.
| | Gross acres (thousand acres) | | | | | | | | | | Net proved reserves (mmboe)(3) | | | | | | | Concession expiration year |
Fell | | | 367.8 | | | | 100 | % | | | — | | GeoPark | | | 10.7 | | | | 6,962 | | Magallanes | | Exploitation: 2032 |
Tranquilo | | | 92.4 | | | | 29 | %(6) | | Pluspetrol; Wintershall; Methanex | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Magallanes | | Exploitation: 2043 |
Otway | | | 49.4 | (4) | | | 100 | %(5) | | | — | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Magallanes | | Exploitation: 2044 |
Isla Norte | | | 130.2 | | | | 60 | %(5) | | ENAP | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Magallanes | | Exploration: 2019 Exploitation: 2044 |
Campanario | | | 192.2 | | | | 50 | %(5) | | ENAP | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Magallanes | | Exploration: 2020 Exploitation: 2045 |
Flamenco (7) | | | 141.3 | | | | 50 | %(5) | | ENAP | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Magallanes | | Exploration: 2019 Exploitation: 2044 |
(1) | Working interest corresponds to the working interests held by our respective subsidiaries in such block, net of any working interests held by other parties in such block. LGI has a 20% direct equity interest in our Chilean operations through GeoPark Chile. See “—Significant agreements—Agreements with LGI—LGI Chile Shareholders’ Agreements.” |
(2) | Partners with working interests. |
(3) | As of December 31, 2013. |
(4) | In April 2013, we voluntarily relinquished to the Chilean government all of our acreage in the Otway Block, except for 49,421 acres. In May 2013, our partners under the joint operating agreement governing the Otway Block decided to withdraw from such joint operating agreement, and applied for an assignment of rights permit on August 5, 2013. On August 26, 2013, the Ministry of Energy granted this permit, such that, upon the execution of a deed of assignment of rights containing the as-approved terms, we will be the sole participant, and have a 100% working interest, in our two remaining areas under the Otway Block CEOP. See “—Otway and Tranquilo Blocks.” |
(5) | LGI has a 14% direct equity interest in our Tierra del Fuego operations through GeoPark TdF and a 20% direct equity interest in GeoPark Chile, for a total effective equity interest of 31.2% in our Tierra del Fuego operations. See “—Tierra del Fuego Blocks (Isla Norte, Campanario and Flamenco Blocks)” and “—Significant agreements—Agreements with LGI—LGI Chile Shareholders’ Agreements.” |
(6) | At 31 December 2013, the Consortium members and interest were: GeoPark 29%, Pluspetrol 29%, Wintershall 25% and Methanex 17%. Methanex and Wintershall have recently announced its decision to exit the Consortium. The new ownership is being negotiated among us and Pluspetrol. |
(7) | In 2013, there were new discoveries in the Flamenco block. However, there are no proved reserves estimated for this block due to incomplete testing of these wells as of the date of this annual report. |
Our Chilean blocks are located in the provinces of Ultima Esperanza, Magallanes and Tierra del Fuego in the Magallanes Basin, a proven oil- and gas-producing area. As of December 31, 2013, the Magallanes Basin accounted for all of Chile’s oil and gas production. Although this basin has been in production for over 60 years, we believe that it remains relatively underdeveloped.
Substantial technical data (seismic, geological, drilling and production information), developed by us and by ENAP, provides an informed base for new hydrocarbon exploration and development. Shut-in and abandoned fields may also have the potential to be put back in production by constructing new pipelines and plants. Our geophysical analyses suggest additional development potential in known fields and exploration potential in undrilled prospects and plays, including opportunities in the Springhill, Tertiary, Tobífera and Estratos con Favrella formations. The Springhill formation has historically been the source of production in the Fell Block, though the Estratos con Favrella shale formation is the principal source rock of the Magallanes Basin, and we believe it contains unconventional resource potential.
Fell Block
In 2006, we became the operator and 100% interest owner of the Fell Block. When we first acquired an interest in the Fell Block in 2002, it had no material oil and gas production. Since then, we have completed more than 1,100 sq. km of 3D seismic surveys and drilled 95 exploration and development wells. In the year ended December 31, 2013, we produced an average of approximately 14,283 mcfpd of gas and 4,581 bopd of oil, or 6,692 boepd, in the Fell Block.
The Fell Block has an area of approximately 368,000 gross acres (1,488 sq. km) and its center is located approximately 140 km northeast of the city of Punta Arenas. It is bordered on the north by the international border between Argentina and Chile and on the south by the Strait of Magellan.
The first exploration efforts began on the Fell Block in the 1950s. Through 2005, ENAP carried out seismic surveys and drilled numerous wells in the block. From 2006 through August 2011, we invested approximately US$210 million in exploring and developing the Fell Block, which allowed us to transition approximately 84% of the Fell Block’s area from an exploration phase into an exploitation phase, which we expect will last through 2032. During the exploration phase, we exceeded the minimum work and investment commitment required under the Fell Block CEOP by more than 75 times, and as of December 31, 2013, had invested more than US$410 million in the Fell Block. There are no minimum work and investment commitments under the Fell Block CEOP associated with the exploitation phase.
Geologically, the Fell Block is located in the north-eastern part of the Magallanes Basin. The principal producing reservoir is composed by sandstones in the Springhill formation, at depths of 2,200 to 3,500 meters. Additional reservoirs have been discovered and put into production in the Fell Block—namely, Tobífera formation volcaniclastic rocks at depths of 2,900 to 3,600 meters, and Upper Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous sandstones, at depths of 700 to 2,000 meters.
Our geosciences team continues to identify and develop an attractive inventory of prospects and drilling opportunities for both exploration and development in the Fell Block, and we expect to continue our comprehensive drilling program in the Fell Block in the coming years. The recent oil discoveries in the Konawentru, Yagan, Yagán Norte , Copihue and Guanaco fields have opened up new oil and gas potential in the Fell Block. An important discovery during 2011 was the Konawentru 1 well, which we initially tested to have in excess of 2,000 bopd from the Tobífera formation, and which has opened up additional potentially attractive opportunities (workovers, well-deepenings and new exploration and development wells) in the Tobífera formation throughout the Fell Block.
During the last three months of 2012 and throughout 2013, we continued our exploration and development from the Tobífera formation by drilling wells in Konawentru, Yagán and Yagán Norte fields, as well as deepening existing wells in Ovejero and Molino fields with stable production from the formation, and successful workovers in the Tetera and Kiuaku fields. We are also evaluating the Estratos con Favrella shale reservoir, which we believe represents a high-potential, unconventional resource play for shale oil and gas, as a broad area of the Fell Block (1,000 sq. km) appears to be in the oil window for this play. We have begun work to reinterpret core data logs and well test information, evaluate cores and fluids and determine reservoir brittleness (for fracturing) through special field tests.
Additionally, we have installed ESPs in some key wells in the Fell Block, which we believe were the first-ever ESPs to be used in Chile and which are generating positive results and increasing our oil production in those wells. Our team is working on identifying other Tobifera wells where to replicate these results.
Tierra del Fuego Blocks (Isla Norte, Campanario and Flamenco Blocks)
In the first and second quarters of 2012, we entered into three CEOPs with ENAP and Chile granting us working interests in the Isla Norte, Campanario and Flamenco Blocks, located in the center-north of the Tierra del Fuego province of Chile. We are the operator of all three of these blocks, with working interests of 60%, 50% and 50%, respectively. We believe that these three blocks, which collectively cover 463,700 gross acres (1,877 sq. km) and are similar and geologically contiguous to the Fell Block, represent strategic acreage with high resource potential. Following the successful methodology we employed on the Fell Block, we expect to evaluate early production opportunities from existing nonproducing wells in Tierra del Fuego. We have committed to paying 100% of the required minimum investment under the CEOPs covering these blocks, in an aggregate amount of US$101.4
million through the end of the first exploratory periods for these blocks, which we expect will occur by November 2015 for the Flamenco and Isla Norte Blocks and by January 2016 for the Campanario Block, which includes our covering of ENAP’s investment commitment which corresponds to its working interest in the blocks. In the first quarter of 2012, we began 3D seismic operations in the Flamenco Block. As of March 2014, 8 wells have been drilled and 1,500 sq. km of 3D seismic have been carried out over the three blocks; which represent the total 3D seismic program commitment.
Exploration in the Tierra del Fuego province in the Magallanes Basin dates back to the 1940s, when the first surface exploration focused on obtaining stratigraphic and structural information. Structural traps with transgressive sandstone reservoirs (Springhill formation) were outlined with refraction seismic lines and, in 1945, oil was discovered.
In the specific area of our Tierra del Fuego Blocks, the first wells were drilled in 1951, resulting in the discovery of the Sombrero oil and gas field. At the end of the 1950s and in the early 1960s, new fields were discovered to the east (the Catalina and Cuarto Chorrillo fields) and, following the gathering of seismic reflection data acquisition, additional new fields were discovered and existing fields were further developed. During the past decade, geological studies in the Magallanes Basin have focused on stratigraphic analysis, based on 3D and 2D seismic information, the definition and distribution of facies of the deltaic and/or turbidite depositional systems of the Late Cretaceous-Tertiary period and the evolution of the oil system in terms of generation/timing/expulsion and trapping.
Geologically, our Tierra del Fuego Blocks are located in the south-eastern margin of the Magallanes Basin. The principal producing reservoir is composed by sandstones in the Springhill formation at depths of 1,800 to 2,300 meters. Additional reservoirs have been discovered and put into production in the Tierra del fuego Blocks namely Tobífera formation volcaniclastic rocks at depths of 2,000 to 2,500 meters, and Upper Terciary and Upper Cretaceous sandstones, at depths of 500 to 1,400 meters.Isla Norte Block. We are the operator of, and have a 60% working interest in, the Isla Norte Block, which covers approximately 130,200 gross acres (527 sq. km). As of March 2014 we had completed 100% of the committed 350 sq. km of 3D seismic surveys. We have also committed to drilling three wells during the first exploration period under the CEOP governing the Isla Norte Block.
Isla Norte Block. We are the operator of, and have a 60% working interest in, the Isla Norte Block, which covers approximately 130,200 gross acres (527 sq. km). As of March 2014 we had completed 100% of the committed 350 sq. km of 3D seismic surveys. We have also committed to drilling three wells during the first exploration period under the CEOP governing the Isla Norte Block.
Campanario Block. We are the operator of, and have a 50% working interest in, the Campanario Block, which covers approximately 192,200 gross acres (778 sq. km). As of December 31, 2013, we had completed 100% of the committed 578 sq. km of 3D seismic surveys. We have also committed to drilling eight wells during the first exploration period under the CEOP governing the Campanario Block. We are currently drilling the Primavera Sur 1 well, being the first exploration well of the commitment.
Flamenco Block. We are the operator of, and have a 50% working interest in, the Flamenco Block, which covers approximately 143,800 gross acres (582 sq. km). In June 2013, we discovered a new oil and gas field in the block following the successful testing of the Chercán 1 well, the first well drilled by us in Tierra del Fuego. We conducted a production test in the Tobífera formation, in which gas flowed at a rate of approximately 4.0 mmcfpd and oil flowed at rates of approximately 35 bopd. We have completed the construction of a flowline to connect this well to existing infrastructure, and the well is currently producing approximately 2,900 mcfpd and 21 bopd under a long-term production test. Together with ENAP, we decided to pass on to the commercialization phase. We have also completed drilling three additional wells in 2013, the Omeling 1, Yakamush 1 and Chilco 1 wells in the Flamenco Block. Omeling 1 was completed as an oil productive well while Yakamush 1 and Chilco 1 are still waiting for completion. As of April 2014, we drilled four additional wells in the Flamenco Block, all of them were completed as of the date of this annual report, and an additional well is currently being drilled.
As of December 31, 2013, we had completed 100% of the committed 570 sq. km of 3D seismic surveys. We have also committed to drilling 10 wells during the first exploration period under the CEOP governing the Flamenco Block.
Otway and Tranquilo Blocks
We are the operator of the Otway and Tranquilo Blocks.
In the Otway Block, as of December 31, 2013, we had a 25% working interest and our partners were Pluspetrol (25%), Wintershall (25%), IFC (12.5%) and Methanex (12.5%). Our partners withdrew from the joint operating agreement governing the Otway Block in May 2013, and applied to the Chilean Ministry of Energy to assign their rights to us in the Otway Block CEOP in August 2013. The Ministry of Energy approved the assignment on August 26, 2013, subject to the execution of a deed of assignment of rights containing the as-approved terms. Following the execution of this assignment deed, we will be the sole participant in the Otway Block CEOP.
In 2012, we drilled two wells in the Otway Block, both of which were subsequently plugged and abandoned.
On April 10, 2013, we voluntarily and formally announced to the Chilean Ministry of Energy our decision not to proceed with the second exploratory period and to terminate the exploratory phase under the Otway Block CEOP, such that we relinquished all areas of the Otway Block, except for two areas totaling 49,421 gross acres in which we declared the discovery of hydrocarbons, in the Cabo Negro and Tatiana prospect areas.
In the Tranquilo Block, as of December 31, 2013, we had a 29% working interest, where our partners were Pluspetrol (29%), Wintershall (25%) and Methanex (17%). Methanex and Wintershall have recently announced its decision to exit the Tranquilo Block Consortium. The new ownership in the Tranquilo Block is being negotiated among us and Pluspetrol.
In the Tranquilo Block we completed a seismic program consisting of 163 sq. km of 3D seismic and 371 sq. km of 2D seismic survey work, and drilled four wells, including the Palos Quemados and Marcou Sur well. The Marcou Sur well is under evaluation and we discovered gas in the El Salto formation of the Palos Quemado well. At the Palos Quemados well, we recently completed a 22-week commercial feasibility test aimed at defining its productive potential. As the test was not conclusive, we were granted permission by the Chilean Ministry of Energy to extend the testing period for an additional six months. In order to continue producing in this well, we will have to declare its commercial viability.
On January 17, 2013, we formally announced to the Chilean Ministry of Energy our decision not to proceed with the second exploratory period and to terminate the exploratory phase of the Tranquilo Block CEOP. Subsequently, we relinquished all areas of the Tranquilo Block, except for a remaining area of 92,417 gross acres, for the exploitation of the Renoval, Marcou Sur, Estancia Maria Antonieta and Palos Quemados Fields, which we have identified as the areas with the most potential for prospects in the block.
As of December 31, 2013, we had completed our minimum work commitments for the Otway and Tranquilo Blocks, with a total investment of approximately US$24.0 million for the first exploratory period. The Otway Block’s seismic commitment program was completed in 2011 and included 270 sq. km of 3D seismic and 127 km of 2D seismic survey work.
Operations in Colombia
In the first quarter of 2012, we acquired Winchester, Luna and Cuerva, three privately-held E&P companies operating in Colombia. We closed the acquisitions of Winchester and Luna in February 2012 and the acquisition of Cuerva in March 2012. We acquired Winchester, Luna and Cuerva for a total consideration of US$105.0 million, adjusted for working capital. Additionally,
In December 2012, LGI agreed to acquire a 20% equity interest in GeoPark Colombia for a total consideration of US$20.1 million, composed of a US$14.9 million capital contribution, a US$4.9 million loan to GeoPark Colombia and certain miscellaneous reimbursements. See “—Significant agreements—Agreements with LGI—LGI Colombia Agreements.”
Our Colombian acquisitions gave us access to 574,979 of gross exploratory and productive acres across 10 blocks in what we believe to be one of South America’s most attractive oil and gas geographies. Since we acquired Winchester, Luna and Cuerva, we were able to perform an active exploration and development drilling campaign, which resulted in multiple new discoveries and to increase average production to 6,962 boepd in Colombia in 2013.
According to the D&M Reserves Report, as of December 31, 2013, the blocks in Colombia in which we have a working interest had 9.4 mmboe of net proved reserves, all of which were in oil.
Under the terms of the agreement to acquire Winchester, or the Winchester Stock Purchase Agreement, we are obligated to make certain payments to the previous owners of Winchester based on the production and sale of
hydrocarbons discovered by exploration wells drilled after October 25, 2011. These payments involve both an earnings-based measure and an overriding royalty equal to an estimated 4% of our net revenues for any new discoveries of oil. During 2013, we paid US$7.8 million and accrued US$11.5 million to the previous owners of Winchester pursuant to the Winchester Stock Purchase Agreement.
Our interests in Colombia include working interests and economic interests. “Working interests” are direct participation interests granted to us pursuant to an E&P Contract with the ANH, whereas “economic interests” are indirect participation interests in the net revenues from a given block based on bilateral agreements with the concessionaires.
The map below shows the location of the blocks in Colombia in which we have working and/or economic interests.
(1) The PN-T-597 block is subject to an injunction and our bid for the concession has been suspended.
The table summarizes information about the blocks in Colombia in which we have working interests as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013.
| | Gross acres (thousand acres) | | | | | | | | | | Net proved reserves (mmboe)(3) | | | | | | | Concession expiration year |
La Cuerva | | | 47.8 | | | | 100.0 | % | | | | — | | GeoPark | | | 2.6 | | | | 1,962 | | Llanos | | Exploration: 2014 Exploitation: 2038 |
Llanos 34 | | | 82.2 | | | | 45.0 | % | | RIL-Parex; Verano Energy | | GeoPark | | | 6.4 | | | | 3,469 | | Llanos | | Exploration: 2015 Exploitation: 2039 |
Llanos 62 | | | 44.0 | | | | 100.0 | % | | | | — | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Llanos | | Exploration: 2017 Exploitation: 2041 |
Yamú | | | 11.2 | | | | 54.5/75.0 | %(4) | | | | — | | GeoPark | | | 0.3 | | | | 550 | | Llanos | | Exploration: 2013(7) Production: 2036 |
Llanos 17 | | | 108.8 | | | | 36.8 | %(5) | | RIL- Parex | | RIL-Parex | | | 0.03— | | | | 49 | | Llanos | | Exploration: 2015 Exploitation: 2039 |
Llanos 32 | | | 100.3 | | | | 0 | %(6) | | ; APCO; Verano Energy | | Verano Energy | | | 0.06 | | | | 180 | | Llanos | | Exploration: 2015 Exploitation: 2039 |
Jagüeyes 3432A | | | 61.0 | | | | 5.0 | % | | Columbus | | Columbus | | | — | | | | — | | Llanos | | Exploration: 2014 Exploitation: 2038 |
(1) | Working interest corresponds to the working interests held by our respective subsidiaries in such block, net of any working interests held by other parties in such block. LGI has a 20% direct equity interest in our Colombian operations through GeoPark Colombia. See “—Significant agreements—Agreements with LGI—LGI Colombia Agreements.” |
(2) | Partners with working interests. |
(3) | As of December 31, 2013. |
(4) | Although we are the sole title holder of the working interest in the Yamú Block, other parties have been granted economic interests in fields in this block. Taking those other parties’ interests into account, we have a 54.5% interest in the Carupana Field and a 75% interest in the Yamú and Potrillo Fields, both located in the Yamú Block. |
(5) | We currently have a 40% working interest in the Llanos 17 Block, although we assigned a 3.2% economic interest to a third party. We expect to formalize this assignment with the ANH so that it will be recognized as a working interest. |
(6) | We currently have a 10% economic interest in the Llanos 32 Block, although we have applied to the ANH to recognize this as a working interest in the block, and expect to receive the ANH’s authorization in the first half of 2014. |
(7) | The Yamú Block E&P Contract is in both the exploration and exploitation phases. The phases overlap because the exploitation phase (lasting 24 years) for the Yamú and Carupana Fields began on the date these fields were declared commercially viable, while the exploration phase continued to run for the rest of the block. |
The table summarizes information about the blocks in Colombia in which we have economic interests as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013.
| | Gross acres (thousand acres) | | | | | | | | | | |
Arrendajo | | | 78.1 | | | | 10 | % | | Pacific | | | 177 | | Llanos |
Abanico | | | 32.1 | | | | 10 | % | | Pacific | | | 95 | | Magdalena |
Cerrito | | | 10.2 | | | | 10 | % | | Pacific | | | 9 | | Catatumbo |
(1) | Economic interest corresponds to indirect participation interests in the net revenues from the block, granted to us pursuant to a joint operating agreement. |
Eastern Llanos Basin: (La Cuerva, Yamú, Llanos 34, Llanos 32, Llanos 62, Llanos 17, Jagüeyes 3432A, Arrendajo, Abanico and Cerrito Blocks)
The Eastern Llanos Basin is a Cenozoic Foreland basin in the eastern region of Colombia. Two giant fields (Caño Limón and Castilla), three major fields (Rubiales, Apiay and Tame Complex) and approximately fifty minor fields had been discovered. The source rock for the basin is located beneath the east flank of the Eastern Cordillera, as a mixed marine-continental shaly basinal facies of the Gachetá formation. The main reservoirs of the basin are represented by the Paleogene Carbonera and Mirador sandstones. Within the Cretaceous sequence, several sandstones are also considered to have good reservoirs.
Llanos 34 Block. We are the operator of, and have a 45% working interest in, the Llanos 34 Block, which covers approximately 82,200 gross acres (333 sq. km). We acquired an interest in and took operatorship of the block in the first quarter of 2012, which at the time had no production, reserves or wells drilled on it, and with 210 sq. km of existing 3D seismic on which our team had mapped multiple exploration prospects. We have drilled some of these prospects with positive results. Through 2013, we have drilled 14 wells which resulted in five new oil discoveries and 13 new productive wells. These include the Tarotaro 1 exploration well in the Tarotaro Field, which we successfully drilled, tested and put into production in June 2013. A test conducted on the Tarotaro 1 well resulted in a production rate of approximately 2,239 bopd. Surface facilities are already in place and the crude oil produced from the wells is now being marketed and sold. The Tarotaro Field is the second oil field that we have discovered since our expansion into Colombia in the first half of 2012. We drilled and tested the Tigana 1 exploration well in the Mirador formation, with production at a rate of approximately 2,126 bopd. In addition, we tested the Guadalupe formation, with production at a rate of approximately 1,465 bopd. We also drilled and tested the Tigana Sur 1 well in the Guadalupe formation, which is currently producing at a rate of approximately 1,598 bopd. The Tigana 1 and Tigana Sur 1 wells represent our fourth and fifth new oil field discoveries, respectively, in the Llanos 34 Block since 2012. For the year ended December 31, 2013, our average net daily production in the block was 3,469 bopd. During 2013 we completed 250 sq. km of 3D seismic covering the north-west part of the block, where our team expects to map new exploration prospects to be drilled in 2015. Our partners in the block are Ramshorn International Limited, or RIL-
Parex and Verano Energy Corp., or Verano Energy, who have a 45% and 10% interest, respectively. See “—Our operations.” We operate in the block pursuant to an E&P Contract with the ANH. See “—Significant agreements—Colombia—E&P Contracts—Llanos 34 Block E&P Contract.”
La Cuerva Block. We are the operator of, and have a 100% working interest in, the La Cuerva Block, which covers approximately 47,000 gross acres (190 sq. km). Since we acquired an interest in the La Cuerva Block, we have drilled a total of 15 wells in the block, 10 of which were productive. For the year ended December 31, 2013, our average net production at the La Cuerva Block was 1,962 bopd. We operate in the block pursuant to an E&P Contract with the ANH. See “—Significant agreements—Colombia—E&P Contracts—La Cuerva Block E&P Contract.”
Llanos 62 Block. We are the operator of, and have a 100% working interest in, the Llanos 62 Block, which covers approximately 44,000 gross acres (178 sq. km). As of December 31, 2013, we had undertaken 72.2 sq. km of 3D seismic surveys within the block. We operate the block pursuant to an E&P Contract with the ANH.
Yamú Block. We are the operator of, and have a 100% working interest in, the Yamú Block, which covers approximately 11,200 gross acres (45.5 sq. km). Economic rights to certain fields in the Yamú Block have been granted to other parties. In May 2013, we successfully drilled and completed the Potrillo 1 well in the block—our third oil field discovery in Colombia—to a total depth of 3,560 meters. The well is producing at a rate of approximately 230 bopd. Surface facilities are already in place, and the crude oil produced from the well is now being marketed and sold. For the year ended December 31, 2013, our average net production at the Yamú Block was 550bopd. We operate in the block pursuant to an E&P Contract with the ANH.
Llanos 17 Block. We have a 40% working interest in the Llanos 17 Block, which covers approximately 108,800 gross acres (440 sq. km). Ramshorn International Limited (“RIL”) -Parex is the operator of, and has a 60% working interest in, the Llanos 17 Block. Since we acquired a working interest in the block, two wells have been drilled in the block, one of which was productive. We maintain our 40% working interest in the Llanos 17 Block pursuant to an E&P Contract with the ANH. However, we expect to apply to the ANH to approve an assignment of 3.2% of our working interest in this block to another party.
Llanos 32 Block. Verano Energy is the operator of, and has a 50% working interest in, the Llanos 32 Block, which covers approximately 100,300 gross acres (406 sq. km).Verano Energy’s partners in the block are RIL-Parex and APCO Properties Ltd., or APCO, who have a 30% and a 20% working interest in the block, respectively. Currently, we have a 10% economic interest in the Llanos 32 Block pursuant to a joint operating agreement with Verano Energy. We do not maintain a direct working interest in this block pursuant to an E&P Contract with the ANH, but we have applied to the ANH to recognize our interest in the Llanos 32 Block as a working interest, and expect to receive the ANH’s authorization in the first half of 2014. Since we acquired an interest in the Llanos 32 Block, and as of December 31, 2013, five wells have been drilled in the block, three of which were productive. For the year ended December 31, 2013, our average net production in the Llanos 32 Block was 180 bopd.
Jagüeyes 3432A Block. We have a 5% working interest in the Jagüeyes 3432A Block, which covers approximately 61,000 acres (247 sq. km). Our partner in the block is Columbus Energy, who maintains a 95% working interest in and is the operator of the Jagüeyes 3432A Block. We maintain a working interest in the Jagüeyes 3432A Block pursuant to an E&P Contract with the ANH.
Arrendajo Block. In December 2005, Great North Energy Colombia Inc. (now Pacific Stratus Energy Corp., or Pacific) and the ANH entered into the Arrendajo Block E&P Contract. Pacific is the operator of, and has a 100% working interest in, the Arrendajo Block, which covers approximately 78.1 gross acres. We do not maintain a direct working interest in this block pursuant to an E&P Contract with the ANH, but rather have a 10% economic interest in the net revenues of the Arrendajo Block pursuant to a participating interest agreement between us and Great North Energy Colombia Inc. (now Pacific).
Abanico Block. In October 1996, Ecopetrol and Explotaciones CMS Nomeco Inc. entered into the Abanico Block association contract. Pacific is the operator of, and has a 100% working interest in, the Abanico Block, which covers an area of approximately 32.1 gross acres. We do not maintain a direct working interest in the Abanico Block, but rather have a 10% economic interest in the net revenues from the block pursuant to a joint operating agreement initially entered into with Kappa Resources Colombia Limited (now Pacific, who subsequently assigned
its participation interest to Cespa de Colombia S.A., who then assigned the interest to Explotaciones CMS Oil & Gas), Maral Finance Corporation and Getionar S.A.
Cerrito Block. In February of 2002, Ecopetrol and Kappa Resources Colombia Limited (now Pacific) entered into the Cerrito Block association contract. The Cerrito Block covers an area of approximately 10.2 gross acres. Pacific is the operator of, and has a 100% working interest in, the Cerrito Block. We do not maintain a direct working interest in the Cerrito Block, but rather have a 10% economic interest in the block pursuant to a joint operating agreement initially entered into with Kappa Resources Colombia Limited (now Pacific), Maral Finance Corporation, Geoproduction Oil & Gas Company of Colombia Limitada and Texican Oil PLC.
Operations in Brazil
On May 14, 2013, we announced the future extension of our footprint into Brazil when the ANP awarded us seven new exploratory licenses in the REC-T 94 and REC-T 85 Concessions in the Recôncavo Basin in the State of Bahia and the POT-T 664, POT-T 665, POT-T 619, POT-T 620 and POT-T 663 Concessions in the Potiguar Basin in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, or our Round 11 concessions, collectively covering an area of approximately 54,900 gross acres. On September 17, 2013, we entered into seven concession agreements with the ANP for the right to exploit the oil and natural gas in these seven new concessions. For our winning bids on these seven concessions, we committed to invest a minimum of US$15.3 million (including bonuses and estimated work program commitment) during the first three years of the exploratory period for the concessions, and expect to begin seismic work in the first half of 2014. These seven new concessions cover an area of approximately 54,850 gross acres. Pursuant to ANP requirements, actual exploitation of these new concessions will also depend on obtaining an environmental license from the respective state environmental agencies. The ANP has also qualified us as a class B operator, meaning that we are recognized as having met all technical and managerial conditions required to operate safely in Brazil, both onshore and offshore at water depths of less than 400 meters. As of the date of this annual report, seismic licensing contracts were signed for the Reconcavo basin blocks and for the Potiguar basin blocks, which are planned to start during 2014.
Additionally, we acquired Rio das Contas from Panoro for a total cash consideration of US$140 million (subject to working capital adjustments and further earn-out payments, if any), which closed on March 31, 2014 and gives us a 10% working interest in the BCAM-40 Concession, including the shallow-depth offshore Manatí and Camarão Norte Fields, in the Camamu-Almada Basin in the State of Bahia. The Manatí Field, which is in the production phase, is operated by Petrobras (with a 35% working interest), the Brazilian national company and the largest oil and gas operator in Brazil, in partnership with QGEP (with a 45% working interest), and Brasoil (with a 10% working interest). See “—Significant agreements—Brazil—Rio das Contas Quota Purchase Agreement.” Some environmental licenses related to operation of the Manatí Field production system and natural gas pipeline are expired. However, the operator submitted, timely, the request for renewal of those licenses and as such this operation is not in default as long as the regulator does not state its final position on the renewal. See “—Health, safety and environmental matters—Other regulation of the oil and gas industry—Brazil.” The Camarão Norte Field is in the development phase and is not yet subject to the environmental licensing requirement.
Our acquisition of Rio das Contas in Brazil, which closed on March 31, 2014, provides us with a long-term off-take contract with Petrobras that covers approximately 74% of net proved gas reserves in the Manatí Field, a valuable relationship with Petrobras and an established local platform and presence, with seasoned and experienced geoscience and administrative team to manage the assets and to seek new growth opportunities.
Also in Brazil, on November 28, 2013, the ANP awarded us two new concessions, the PN-T-597 Concession in the Parnaíba Basin in the State of Maranhão and the SEAL-T-268 Concession in the Sergipe Alagoas Basin in the State of Alagoas, in the 12th oil and gas bidding round. Our winning bids are subject to confirmation of qualification requirements. For our winning bids on these two concessions, we have committed to invest a minimum of US$4.0 million (including bonus and estimated work program commitments) during the first exploratory period. These two new concessions cover an area of approximately 196,500 acres. For more information, see “Item 3. Key information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—The PN-T-597 concession is subject to an injunction and may not close.”
On September 30, 2013, we entered into a strategic alliance with Tecpetrol to jointly identify, study and potentially acquire upstream oil and gas opportunities in Brazil, with a specific focus on the Parnaíba, Sao Francisco, Recôncavo, Potiguar and Sergipe Alagoas basins. As part of our strategic alliance with Tecpetrol, we
expect to enter into an agreement to jointly develop, by assigning to Tecpetrol 50% of our working interest in, the PN T 597 concession in the Parnaíba Basin in the State of Maranhão, which we were awarded by the ANP, subject to confirmation of qualification requirements.
The map below shows the location of the concessions in Brazil in which we expect to have working interests as a result of our Brazil Acquisitions.
(1) The PN-T-597 block is subject to an injunction and our bid for the concession has been suspended. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—The PN-T-597 concession is subject to an injunction and may not close.”
The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2013 on our concessions in Brazil in which we have a current or future working interest, including the Round 11 concessions and the Round 12 concessions, and also includes on a pro forma basis information on our recent Rio das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014.
| | Gross acres (thousand acres) | | | | | | | | | | | Net proved reserves (mmboe) | | | | | | | Concession expiration year | |
REC-T 94 | | | 7.7 | | | | 100 | % | | | — | | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Recôncavo | | Exploration: 2018 Exploitation: 2045 | |
REC-T 85 | | | 7.7 | | | | 100 | % | | | — | | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Recôncavo | | Exploration: 2018 Exploitation: 2045 | |
POT-T 664 | | | 7.9 | | | | 100 | % | | | — | | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Potiguar | | Exploration: 2018 Exploitation: 2045 | |
POT-T 665 | | | 7.9 | | | | 100 | % | | | — | | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Potiguar | | Exploration: 2018 Exploitation: 2045 | |
POT-T 619 | | | 7.9 | | | | 100 | % | | | — | | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Potiguar | | Exploration: 2018 Exploitation: 2045 | |
POT-T 620 | | | 7.9 | | | | 100 | % | | | — | | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Potiguar | | Exploration: 2018 Exploitation: 2045 | |
POT-T 663 | | | 7.9 | | | | 100 | % | | | — | | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Potiguar | | Exploration: 2018 Exploitation: 2045 | |
PN-T-597(4) | | | 188.7 | | | | 100 | %(5) | | | — | (5) | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Parnaíba | | | —(4) | |
SEAL-T-268(4) | | | 7.8 | | | | 100 | % | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | —(4) | |
Total Brazil | | | 251.4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | |
BCAM-40 | | | 22.8 | | | | 10 | % | | Petrobras; QGEP; Brasoil | | | Petrobras | | | — | | | | — | | Camamu-Almada | | Exploitation: 2029(2) - 2034(3) | |
Total Brazil Pro forma | | | 274.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8.3 | | | | 3,580 | | | | | | |
(1) | Working interest corresponds to the working interests we expect to hold in such concession, net of any working interests held by other parties in such concession, as a result of our Rio das Contas acquisition and the separate award to us by the ANP of the Round 12 concessions. |
(2) | Corresponds to Manatí Field. |
(3) | Corresponds to Camarão Norte Field. |
(4) | Round 12 concessions are subject to confirmation of qualification requirements by the ANP and absence of any legal impediments to signing. See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—The PN-T-597 concession is subject to an injunction and may not close.” |
(5) | We expect to jointly develop this concession with Tecpetrol and assign 50% of our working interest in this concession to Tecpetrol. See Item 3 - Risk Factors “The PN-T-597 concession is subject to an injunction and may not close”. |
BCAM-40 Concession
As a result of the Rio das Contas acquisition, we have a 10% working interest in the BCAM-40 Concession, which includes interests in the Manatí Field and the Camarão Norte Field, and which is located in the Camamu-Almada Basin. Petrobras is the operator of, and has a 35% working interest in, the BCAM-40 Concession, which covers approximately 22,784 gross acres (92.2 sq. km). In addition to us, Petrobras’ partners in the block are Brasoil and QGEP, with 10% and 45% working interests, respectively. Petrobras operates the BCAM-40 Concession pursuant to a concession agreement with the ANP, executed on August 6, 1998. See “—Significant agreements—Brazil—Overview of concession agreements—BCAM-40 Concession Agreement.” In September 2009, Petrobras announced the relinquishment of BCAM-40’s exploration area within the concession to the ANP, except for the Manatí Field and the Camarão Norte Field.
The Manatí Field is located 65 km south of Salvador, at a 35-meter water depth. The field was discovered in October 2000, and, in 2002, Petrobras declared the field commercially viable. Production began in January 2007. As of September 30, 2013, 11 wells had been drilled in the Manatí Field, six of which are productive and connected to a fixed production platform installed at a depth of 35 meters, located 9 km from the coast of the State of Bahia. From the platform, the gas flows by sea and land through a 125 km pipeline to the Estação Vandemir Ferreira or EVF gas treatment plant. The gas is sold to Petrobras up to a maximum volume as determined in the existing Petrobras Gas Sales Agreement (as defined below). Rio das Contas is negotiating an amendment to the existing Petrobras Gas Sales Agreement with Petrobras for the sale of additional volumes from the Manatí Field to Petrobras.
REC-T 94 and REC-T 85 Concessions
The REC-T 94 and REC-T 85 Concessions are onshore and located in the Recôncavo Basin, which covers an area of approximately 2.7 million gross acres (11,000 sq. km). The basin’s main source rocks belong to the Candeias formation, with reservoirs on the fluvio-deltaic sandstones of the Marfim and Pojuca formations, Fluvial sandstones of the Candeias and Marancagalha formations, and the Fluvio-Eolic sandstones of the Agua Grande and Sergi formations. Reconcavo basin is considered a mature basin. According to the ANP, as of December 31, 2013, 92 fields are in production or development stage, and production was 43,905 bopd and 2.519 mmm3 per day.
The REC-T 94 and REC-T 85 Concessions cover an area of 7,660 gross acres (31 sq. km) and 7,660 gross acres (31 sq. km), respectively. In connection with our bid to obtain the licenses for these concessions, we have committed to drilling two exploratory wells in the concessions, and to undertaking 31 sq. km of 3D seismic surveys in the REC-T 94 Concession and 30 km of 2D seismic surveys in the REC-T 85 Concession. We have also committed, following the signing of the concession agreement in respect of the concessions, to a work program to the ANP of R$19.3 million (approximately US$8.5 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) during
the first exploratory period under the concession agreement governing the concessions, consisting of a R$7.2 million (approximately US$3.2 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) bonus payable to the ANP in the first year of exploration and R$12.1 million (approximately US$5.3 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) as a work program guarantee payable over the course of the three years. The work program consists on drilling two exploratory wells and 31 sq. km of 3D seismic surveys in the REC-T94 Concession and 30 sq. km of 2D seismic surveys in REC-T 85 Concession. The exploratory phase for these concessions is divided into two exploratory periods, the first of which lasts for three years and the second of which is non-obligatory and can last for up to two years.
POT-T 663, POT-T 664, POT-T 665, POT-T 619 and POT-T 620 Concessions
The POT-T 663, POT-T 664, POT-T 665, POT-T 619 and POT-T 620 Concessions are onshore and located in the Potiguar Basin. As of December 31, 2013, according to the ANP, the Potiguar basin was the third largest producer of oil in Brazil, with 91 fields in production and 11 fields in development stage including onshore and offshore. Total production of the above mentioned fields were 60,402 bopd and 1.460 mmm3 per day of gas.
The POT-T 663, POT-T 664, POT-T 665, POT-T 619 and POT-T 620 Concessions cover a total area of 39,507 gross acres (160 sq. km). The concession agreements require us make total investments of R$11.3 million (approximately US$5.0 million at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) during the first exploratory period under the concession agreement, with a R$3.0 million (approximately US$1.3 million at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) bonus payable to the ANP in the first year of exploration and R$8.3 million (approximately US$3.7 million at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) as a work program guarantee payable over the course of the three years. We have also committed to undertaking 222 km of 2D seismic work in the first exploration period for the concession areas, with no well drilling commitment during this period. The exploratory phase for these concessions is divided into two exploratory periods, the first of which lasts for three years and the second of which is non-obligatory and can last for up to two years.
Round 12 Concessions
Additionally, on November 28, 2013, the ANP awarded us two new concessions (the PN-T-597 Concession in the Parnaíba Basin in the State of Maranhão and the SEAL-T-268 Concession in the Sergipe Alagoas Basin in the State of Alagoas) in the 12th oil and gas bidding round. Our winning bids are subject to confirmation of qualification requirements. We have committed to invest a minimum of US$4 million (including bonus and work program commitments). For more information, see “Item 3. Key information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—The PN-T-597 concession is subject to an injunction and may not close.”
PN-T-597 Concession
The PN-T-597 Concession is located onshore in the Parnaiba Basin, which covers an area of approximately 148 million gross acres (600,000 sq. km). The basin’s main petroleum system consists of the Devonian Pimenteras Fm source rock with reservoirs of continental to shallow marine sandstones of the Poti and Cabeças formations. Intrusive and extrusive magmatic rocks are interbedded within the sedimentary column, influencing source rock maturation and sometimes acting as seals.
Parnaiba is a basin with large underexplored areas. As December 31, 2013, the basin had one producing field accounting for the production of 5.651 mmm3 per day of gas and 144 bopd. Three more fields are in development stage.
The PN-T-597 Concession covers an area of 188,667 gross acres (763.5 sq. km). The offer requires a commitment to the ANP of R$ 7.7 million (approximately US$3.4 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) for the first exploratory period. This amount is comprised of R$0.9 million (approximately US$0.4 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) bonus payable to the ANP in the first year of exploration and R$ 6.7 million (approximately US$ 3.0 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) as a work program guarantee payable over the course of the four years. Work program is equivalent to 180 km of 2D seismic, with no well drilling committed during the first exploratory period.
The exploratory phase for these concessions is divided into two exploratory periods. Given that Parnaiba basin is considered as a “new frontier” area by the ANP, the first exploratory period lasts four years, and the second exploratory period, which is optional, can last for up to two years.
See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—The PN-T-597 concession is subject to an injunction and may not close” and “—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to the countries in which we operate—Our operations may be adversely affected by political and economic circumstances in the countries in which we operate and in which we may operate in the future” for more information.
SEAL-T-268 Concession
The SEAL-T-268 Concession is located onshore in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin. This basin encompasses an area of approximately 10.9 million gross acres (44,400 sq. km), of which 3.1 million gross acres (12600 sq. km) are situated onshore. It has gone through 3 main tectonic stages: pre-rift, rift, and drift. Source rock intervals were identified on the Rift (Barra de Ituba and Coqueiro Seco Fms) and Prerift sequences (Aracare Fm). Reservoirs are the fluvio-deltaic and lacustrine sandstones present in the pre-rift and rift intervals (Aracare, Serraria, Penedo and Maceio Fms). Over the drift sequence, turbiditic sandstones were deposited, mainly in the offshore part of the basin and the cretaceous shale acts as seal. The onshore part of the basin is considered mature in terms of hydrocarbon exploration.
Sergipe-Alagoas accounts for a production of 44,417 bopd and 4.6 mmm3 per day of gas as of December 31th, 2013, according to the ANP. At this date, there were 55 fields either in production or development stages on the basin.
The SEAL-T-268 Concession covers an area of 7,799 gross acres (31.6 sq. km). GeoPark’s winning offer requires a commitment to the ANP of R$1.6 million (approximately US$ 0.7 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) for the first exploratory period. This amount is comprised of R$ 0.14 million (approximately US$0.07 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) bonus payable to the ANP in the first year of exploration and R$ 1.5 million (approximately US$0.7 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) as a work program guarantee payable over the course of three years. Work program is equivalent to 40 km of 2D seismic, with no well drilling committed during the first exploratory period.
The exploratory phase for this concession is divided into two exploratory periods, the first lasting three years, and the second, which is optional, can last for up to two years.
Operations in Argentina
The map below shows the location of the blocks in Argentina in which we have working interests as of December 31, 2013.
The table below summarizes information about the blocks in Argentina in which we have working interests as of December 31, 2013.
| | Gross acres (thousand acres) | | | | | | | | Net proved reserves (mmboe)(2) | | | | | | | Expiration concession year |
Del Mosquito | | | 17.3 | | | | 100 | % | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | 64 | | Magallanes Austral | | Exploitation: 2016 |
Cerro Doña Juana (3) | | | 19.6 | | | | 100 | % | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Neuquén | | Exploitation: 2017 |
Loma Cortaderal (3) | | | 28.3 | | | | 100 | % | | GeoPark | | | — | | | | — | | Neuquén | | Exploitation: 2017 |
(1) | Working interest corresponds to the working interests held by our respective subsidiaries in such block, net of any working interests held by other parties in each block. |
(2) | As of December 31, 2013. |
(3) | In April 2014, we informed theSecretary of Infrastructure and Energy of the Province of Mendoza of our decision to relinquish 100% of the Cerro Doña Juana and Loma Cortaderal Concessions to the Mendoza Province. |
As of December 31, 2013, although we had production in our blocks in Argentina, D&M determined that there were no reserves in these blocks. This was due to the uneconomic status of the reserves, given the proximity to the end of the concessions for these blocks, which does not allow for future capital investment in the blocks. However, if we are able to extend our concessions in Argentina, the assumptions used to make this determination may change in the future.
Del Mosquito Block
We are the operator of, and have 100% working interest in, the Del Mosquito Block. We established oil production in the block in 2002 by rehabilitating the abandoned Del Mosquito Field and subsequently discovered the Del Mosquito Norte field. We are evaluating potential drilling opportunities on the Del Mosquito Block and the option of bringing a partner into the project to increase investment activity. For the year ended December 31, 2013, our average daily production at the Del Mosquito Block was 64 boepd.
The Del Mosquito Block covers an area of approximately 17,313 gross acres (70 sq. km), and is located in the Magallanes Austral Basin in southern Argentina.
According to the Secretariat of Energy (Secretaría de Energía) in Argentina, or the Argentine Secretary of Energy, for the year ended December 31, 2013, the Magallanes Austral Basin produced approximately 4.6% of Argentina’s total oil production and approximately 25.2% of its total gas production.
Cerro Doña Juana and Loma Cortaderal Blocks
The Cerro Doña Juana and Loma Cortaderal Blocks cover areas of approximately 28,300 (115 sq. km) and 19,600 (79 sq. km) gross acres, respectively.
As of December 31, 2013 we were the operator of, and have a 100% working interest in, each of the Cerro Doña Juana and Loma Cortaderal Blocks. Neither the Cerro Doña Juana nor the Loma Cortaderal Block is currently in production.
In April 2014, we informed the Secretary of Infrastructure and Energy of the Province of Mendoza of our decision to relinquish 100% of the Cerro Doña Juana and Loma Cortaderal Concessions to the Mendoza Province. Neither the Cerro Doña Juana nor the Loma Cortaderal are currently in production or have any associated reserves.
Oil and natural gas reserves and production
Overview
We have achieved consistent growth in oil and gas reserves from our investment activities since 2007, when we began production in the Fell Block. As of December 31, 2013, D&M reported that on a pro forma basis, our total net proved reserves in Brazil (including our Rio das Contas acquisition that closed on March 31, 2014), Chile, Colombia and Argentina were 28.4 mmboe. Of this total, 8.3mmboe or 29%, 10.7 mmboe, or 38%, 9.4 mmboe, or 33%, were in Brazil, Chile and Colombia, respectively, and we had no net proved reserves in Argentina.
The following table summarizes our net proved reserves in Chile, Colombia and Argentina as of December 31, 2013 and also includes on a pro forma basis information related to our Rio das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014.
| | | | | | | | Total net proved reserves (mmboe)(1) | | | | |
Chile | | | 5.4 | | | | 32.2 | | | | 10.7 | | | | 50 | % |
Colombia | | | 9.4 | | | | 0.0 | | | | 9.4 | | | | 100 | % |
Argentina | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total | | | 14.8 | | | | 32.2 | | | | 20.1 | | | | 74 | % |
Brazil (2) | | | 0.2 | | | | 48.8 | | | | 8.3 | | | | 2 | % |
Pro forma total | | | 15.0 | | | | 80.9 | | | | 28.4 | | | | 53 | % |
(1) | We calculate one barrel of oil equivalent as six mcf of natural gas. |
(2) | Reflects our Rio das Contas acquisition. |
Our reserves
The following table sets forth our oil and natural gas net proved reserves as of December 31, 2013, which is based on the D&M Reserves Report. In addition, it includes on a pro forma basis information on our Rio das Contas acquisition, which closed on March 31, 2014.
| | | |
| | | |
| | | | | | | | Total net proved reserves (mmboe)(1) | | | | |
Net proved developed | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Chile | | | 2.2 | | | | 10.0 | | | | 3.9 | | | | 57 | % |
Colombia | | | 3.3 | | | | — | | | | 3.3 | | | | 100 | % |
Argentina | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total net proved developed | | | 5.5 | | | | 10.0 | | | | 7.2 | | | | 89 | % |
Brazil (2) | | | 0.1 | | | | 28.8 | | | | 4.9 | | | | 2 | % |
Total net proved developed Pro forma | | | 5.6 | | | | 38.8 | | | | 12.1 | | | | 46 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net proved undeveloped | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Chile | | | 3.1 | | | | 22.1 | | | | 6.8 | | | | 46 | % |
Colombia | | | 6.2 | | | | — | | | | 6.2 | | | | 100 | % |
Argentina | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total net proved undeveloped | | | 9.3 | | | | 22.1 | | | | 13.0 | | | | 72 | % |
Brazil (2) | | | 0.1 | | | | 20.0 | | | | 3.4 | | | | 2 | % |
Total net proved undeveloped Pro forma | | | 9.4 | | | | 42.1 | | | | 16.3 | | | | 57 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total net proved | | | 14.8 | | | | 32.1 | | | | 20.1 | | | | 74 | % |
Total net proved Pro forma | | | 15.0 | | | | 80.9 | | | | 28.4 | | | | 53 | % |
(1) | We calculate one barrel of oil equivalent as six mcf of natural gas. |
(2) | Reflects our Rio das Contas acquisition. |
Internal controls over reserves estimation process
We maintain an internal staff of petroleum engineers and geosciences professionals who work closely with our independent reserves engineers to ensure the integrity, accuracy and timeliness of data furnished to our independent reserves engineers in their estimation process and who have knowledge of the specific properties under evaluation.
Our Director of Development Geology, Carlos Alberto Murut, is primarily responsible for overseeing the preparation of our reserves estimates and for the internal control over our reserves estimation. He has more than 30 years of industry experience as an E&P geologist, with broad experience in reserves assessment, field development, exploration portfolio generation and management and acquisition and divestiture opportunities evaluation. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—A. Directors and senior management.”
In order to ensure the quality and consistency of our reserves estimates and reserves disclosures, we maintain and comply with a reserves process that satisfies the following key control objectives:
| · | estimates are prepared using generally accepted practices and methodologies; |
| · | estimates are prepared objectively and free of bias; |
| · | estimates and changes therein are prepared on a timely basis; |
| · | estimates and changes therein are properly supported and approved; and |
| · | estimates and related disclosures are prepared in accordance with regulatory requirements. |
Throughout each fiscal year, our technical team meets with Independent Qualified Reserves Engineers, who are provided with full access to complete and accurate information pertaining to the properties to be evaluated and all applicable personnel. This independent assessment of the internally-generated reserves estimates is beneficial in ensuring that interpretations and judgments are reasonable and that the estimates are free of preparer and management bias.
Recognizing that reserves estimates are based on interpretations and judgments, differences between the proved reserves estimates prepared by us and those prepared by an Independent Qualified Reserves Engineer of 10% or less, in aggregate, are considered to be within the range of reasonable differences. Differences greater than 10% must be resolved in the technical meetings. Once differences are resolved, the independent Qualified Reserves Engineer sends a preliminary copy of the reserves report to members of our senior management, who act as a Reserves Review Committee. Our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Development Geology and Director of Exploration, form this committee.
Independent reserves engineers
Pro forma reserves estimates as of December 31, 2013 for Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Argentina included in this annual report are based on the D&M Reserves Report, completed on March 19, 2014 and effective as of December 31, 2013. The D&M Reserves Report, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to this annual report, was prepared in accordance with SEC rules, regulations, definitions and guidelines at our request in order to estimate reserves and for the areas and period indicated therein.
D&M, a Delaware corporation with offices in Dallas, Houston, Calgary, Moscow and Algiers, has been providing consulting services to the oil and gas industry for more than 75 years. The firm has more than 150 professionals, including engineers, geologists, geophysicists, petrophysicists and economists that are engaged in the appraisal of oil and gas properties, the evaluation of hydrocarbon and other mineral prospects, basin evaluations, comprehensive field studies and equity studies related to the domestic and international energy industry. D&M restricts its activities exclusively to consultation and does not accept contingency fees, nor does it own operating interests in any oil, gas or mineral properties, or securities or notes of its clients. The firm subscribes to a code of professional conduct, and its employees actively support their related technical and professional societies. The firm is a Texas Registered Engineering Firm.
The D&M Reserves Report covered 100% of our total reserves. In connection with the preparation of the D&M Reserves Report, D&M prepared its own estimates of our proved reserves. In the process of the reserves evaluation, D&M did not independently verify the accuracy and completeness of information and data furnished by us with respect to ownership interests, oil and gas production, well test data, historical costs of operation and development, product prices, or any agreements relating to current and future operations of the fields and sales of production. However, if in the course of the examination something came to the attention of D&M that brought into question the validity or sufficiency of any such information or data, D&M did not rely on such information or data until it had satisfactorily resolved its questions relating thereto or had independently verified such information or data. D&M
independently prepared reserves estimates to conform to the guidelines of the SEC, including the criteria of “reasonable certainty,” as it pertains to expectations about the recoverability of reserves in future years, under existing economic and operating conditions, consistent with the definition in Rule 4-10(a)(2) of Regulation S-X. D&M issued the D&M Reserves Report based upon its evaluation. D&M’s primary economic assumptions in estimates included oil and gas sales prices determined according to SEC guidelines, future expenditures and other economic assumptions (including interests, royalties and taxes) as provided by us. The assumptions, data, methods and procedures used, including the percentage of our total reserves reviewed in connection with the preparation of the D&M Reserves Report were appropriate for the purpose served by such report, and D&M used all methods and procedures as it considered necessary under the circumstances to prepare such reports.
However, uncertainties are inherent in estimating quantities of reserves, including many factors beyond our and our independent reserves engineers’ control. Reserves engineering is a subjective process of estimating subsurface accumulations of oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner, and the accuracy of any reserves estimate is a function of the quality of available data and its interpretation. As a result, estimates by different engineers often vary, sometimes significantly. In addition, physical factors such as the results of drilling, testing and production subsequent to the date of an estimate, economic factors such as changes in product prices or development and production expenses, and regulatory factors, such as royalties, development and environmental permitting and concession terms, may require revision of such estimates. Our operations may also be affected by unanticipated changes in regulations concerning the oil and gas industry in the countries in which we operate, which may impact our ability to recover the estimated reserves. Accordingly, oil and natural gas quantities ultimately recovered will vary from reserves estimates.
Technology used in reserves estimation
According to SEC guidelines, proved reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with “reasonable certainty” to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation.
The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project within a reasonable time. The term “reasonable certainty” implies a high degree of confidence that the quantities of oil and/or natural gas actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimate. Reasonable certainty can be established using techniques that have been proved effective by actual production from projects in the same reservoir or an analogous reservoir or by other evidence using reliable technology that establishes reasonable certainty. Reliable technology is a grouping of one or more technologies (including computational methods) that have been field tested and have been demonstrated to provide reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation.
There are various generally accepted methodologies for estimating reserves including volumetrics, decline analysis, material balance, simulation models and analogies. Estimates may be prepared using either deterministic (single estimate) or probabilistic (range of possible outcomes and probability of occurrence) methods. The particular method chosen should be based on the evaluator’s professional judgment as being the most appropriate, given the geological nature of the property, the extent of its operating history and the quality of available information. It may be appropriate to employ several methods in reaching an estimate for the property.
Estimates must be prepared using all available information (open and cased hole logs, core analyses, geologic maps, seismic interpretation, production/injection data and pressure test analysis). Supporting data, such as working interest, royalties and operating costs, must be maintained and updated when such information changes materially.
Proved undeveloped reserves
As of December 31, 2013, excluding reserves from Rio das Contas, we had 13.0 mmboe in proved undeveloped reserves, an increase of 2.4 mmboe, or 23%, over our December 31, 2012 proved undeveloped reserves of 10.6 mmboe. The increase in proved undeveloped oil reserves consisted of 4.8 mmboe, partially offset by 2.4 mmboe of revisions principally resulting from 2.3 mmboe of proved undeveloped reserves converted to proved developed.
Of our 13.0 mmboe of net proved undeveloped reserves, 6.8 mmboe, 6.2 mmboe and 0 mmboe, or 52%, 48% and 0%, were located in Chile, Colombia and Argentina, respectively. During 2013, we incurred approximately US$ 90.1 million in capital expenditures to convert such proved undeveloped reserves to proved developed reserves, of which approximately US$56.3 million and US$33.8 million were made in Chile and Colombia, respectively. Giving effect to our recent Rio das Contas acquisition, as of December 31, 2013 we had 16.4 mmboe in proved undeveloped reserves, of which 3.4 mmboe corresponds to Rio das Contas.
Production, revenues and price history
The following table sets forth certain information on our production of oil and natural gas in Chile, Colombia and Argentina for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.
| | Average daily production(1) | |
| | As of December 31, | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Oil production | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average crude oil production (bopd) | | 4,581 | | | 6,482 | | | 50 | | | 11,113 | | | 4,013 | | | 3,431 | | | 48 | | | 7,491 | | | 2,441 | | | — | | | 68 | | | 2,508 | |
Average sales price of crude oil (US$/bbl) (4) | | 84.3 | | | 80.3 | | | 70.3 | | | 82.0 | | | 85.42 | | | 97.15 | | | 67.8 | | | 90.5 | | | 83.8 | | | — | | | 59.4 | | | 83.8 | |
Natural gas production | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average natural gas production (mcfpd) | | 14,283 | | | 52 | | | 84 | | | 14,419 | | | 22,663 | | | 56 | | | 84 | | | 22,804 | | | 30,419 | | | — | | | 87 | | | 30,506 | |
Average sales price of natural gas (US$/mcf) (4) | | 5.0 | | | 4.18 | | | 1.1 | | | 5.0 | | | 4.04 | | | 4.18 | | | 1.1 | | | 4.0 | | | 3.9 | | | — | | | 1.1 | | | 3.9 | |
Oil and gas production cost | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average operating cost (US$/boe) | | 12.2 | | | 26.5 | | | 4.0 | | | 19.0 | | | 10.7 | | | 34.0 | | | (6.7 | ) | | 16.8 | | | 8.6 | | | — | | | 6.8 | | | 8.6 | |
Average royalties and Other (US$/boe) | | 2.9 | | | 4.1 | | | 8.3 | | | 3.5 | | | 2.5 | | | 4.0 | | | 7.6 | | | 2.9 | | | 1.7 | | | — | | | 7.0 | | | 1.7 | |
Average production cost (US$/boe)(3) | | 15.1 | | | 30.6 | | | 12.3 | | | 22.5 | | | 13.2 | | | 38.1 | | | 0.9 | | | 19.7 | | | 10.3 | | | — | | | 13.7 | | | 10.3 | |
Average depreciation (US$/boe) | | 11.5 | | | 16.6 | | | 2.5 | | | 13.9 | | | 9.9 | | | 20.4 | | | 142.1 | | | 13.4 | | | 9.1 | | | — | | | 29.6 | | | 9.3 | |
Average production cost (US$/boe) | | 26.6 | | | 47.2 | | | 14.8 | | | 36.4 | | | 23.1 | | | 58.4 | | | 143.0 | | | 33.1 | | | 19.4 | | | — | | | 43.3 | | | 19.7 | |
(1) | We present production figures net of interests due to others, but before deduction of royalties, as we believe that net production before royalties is more appropriate in light of our foreign operations and the attendant royalty regimes. |
(2) | We acquired Winchester and Luna in February 2012 and Cuerva in March12. Production figures do not include, for 2012, production for Winchester, Luna and Cuerva prior to their acquisition by us. |
(3) | Calculated pursuant to FASB ASC 932. |
(4) | Averaged realized sales price for oil does not include our Argentine blocks because our Argentine operations were not material during such periods. Averaged realized sales price for gas does not include our Argentine and Colombian blocks because our gas operations in those countries were not material during such period. |
For the year ended December 31, 2013, information on our Rio das Contas acquisition, which we closed in March 31, 2014, was as follows:
| | | |
Oil production | | | |
Average crude oil production (bopd) | | | 60 | |
Average sales price of crude oil (US$/bbl) | | | 108.3 | |
Natural gas production | | | | |
Average natural gas production (mcfpd) | | | 21,120 | |
Average sales price of natural gas (US$/mcf) (4) | | | 6.4 | |
Oil and gas production cost | | | | |
Average operating cost (US$/boe) | | | 8.3 | |
Average royalties and Other (US$/boe) | | | 3.8 | |
Average production cost (US$/boe)(3) | | | 12.1 | |
Average depreciation (US$/boe) | | | 14.9 | |
Average production cost (US$/boe) | | | 27.0 | |
Drilling activities
The following table sets forth the exploratory wells we drilled as operators in Chile, Colombia and Argentina during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.
| | | |
| | As of December 31, | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Productive | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | 7.0 | | | | 9.0 | | | | — | | | | 8.0 | | | | 4.0 | | | | — | | | | 7.0 | | | | — | | | | 1.0 | |
Net | | | 4.8 | | | | 6.0 | | | | — | | | | 8.0 | | | | 2.4 | | | | — | | | | 7.0 | | | | — | | | | 1.0 | |
Dry | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | 3.0 | | | | 1.0 | | | | — | | | | 6.0 | | | | 3.0 | | | | — | | | | 7.0 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Net | | | 1.5 | | | | 1.0 | | | | — | | | | 4.5 | | | | 2.5 | | | | — | | | | 7.0 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | 10.0 | | | | 10.0 | | | | — | | | | 14.0 | | | | 7.0 | | | | — | | | | 14.0 | | | | — | | | | 1.0 | |
Net | | | 6.3 | | | | 7.0 | | | | — | | | | 12.5 | | | | 4.9 | | | | — | | | | 14.0 | | | | — | | | | 1.0 | |
(1) | Includes appraisal wells. |
(2) | We acquired Winchester and Luna in February 2012 and Cuerva in March12. Figures do not include, for 2012, exploration activities for Winchester, Luna and Cuerva prior to their acquisition by us. |
The following table sets forth the development wells we drilled in Chile, Colombia and Argentina during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.
| | | |
| | As of December 31, | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Productive | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | 6.0 | | | | 5.0 | | | | — | | | | 4.0 | | | | 6.0 | | | | — | | | | 8.0 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Net | | | 6.0 | | | | 2.8 | | | | — | | | | 4.0 | | | | 5.5 | | | | — | | | | 8.0 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Dry | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | 1.0 | | | | - | | | | — | | | | 2.0 | | | | 2.0 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Net | | | 1.0 | | | | - | | | | — | | | | 2.0 | | | | 2.0 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | 7.0 | | | | 5.0 | | | | — | | | | 6.0 | | | | 8.0 | | | | — | | | | 8.0 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Net | | | 7.0 | | | | 2.8 | | | | — | | | | 6.0 | | | | 7.5 | | | | — | | | | 8.0 | | | | — | | | | — | |
(1) | We acquired Winchester and Luna in February 2012 and Cuerva in March 2012. Figures do not include, for 2012, exploration activities for Winchester, Luna and Cuerva prior to their acquisition by us. |
For the year ended December 31, 2013 there were no exploratory wells drilled in our Rio das Contas acquisition, which we closed on March 31, 2014.
Developed and undeveloped acreage
The following table sets forth certain information regarding our total gross and net developed and undeveloped acreage in Chile, Colombia and Argentina as of December 31, 2013.
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | (in thousands of acres) | |
Total developed acreage | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | 14.5 | | | | 3.3 | | | | 2.0 | |
Net | | | 14.5 | | | | 2.6 | | | | 2.0 | |
Total undeveloped acreage | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | 7.4 | | | | 2.4 | | | | - | |
Net | | | 7.4 | | | | 1.3 | | | | - | |
Total developed and undeveloped acreage | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | 21.9 | | | | 5.7 | | | | 2.0 | |
Net | | | 21.9 | | | | 3.9 | | | | 2.0 | |
(1) | Defined as acreage assignable to productive wells. Net acreage based on our working interest. |
For the year ended December 31, 2013, total developed acreage in Brazil was 18.7 thousand acres (gross) and 1.9 thousand acres (net). Total undeveloped acreage was 4.1 thousand acres (gross) and 0.4 thousand acres (net). Total developed and undeveloped acreage was 22.8 thousand acres (gross) and 2.3 thousand acres (net).
Productive wells
The following table sets forth our total gross and net productive wells as of March 31, 2014. Productive wells consist of producing wells and wells capable of producing, including natural gas wells awaiting pipeline connections to commence deliveries and oil wells awaiting connection to production facilities. Gross wells are the total number of producing wells in which we have an interest, and net wells are the sum of our fractional working interests owned in gross wells.
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Oil wells | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | 46.0 | | | | 72.0 | | | | 5.0 | |
Net | | | 45.0 | | | | 36.5 | | | | 5.0 | |
Gas wells | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | 27.0 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Net | | | 25.8 | | | | — | | | | — | |
(1) | Includes wells drilled by other operators, prior to our commencing operations, and wells drilled in blocks in which we are not the operator. |
(2) | We acquired Winchester and Luna in February 2012 and Cuerva in March2012. Figures include wells drilled by Winchester, Luna and Cuerva prior to their acquisition by us. |
For the year ended December 31, 2013, there were 6.0 gross and 0.6 net productive gas wells in our Rio das Contas acquisition, which we closed on March 31, 2014.
Present activities
The following table shows the number of wells in Chile, Colombia and Argentina that are in the process of being drilled or are in active completion stages, and the number of wells suspended or waiting on completion as of March 31, 2014.
| | Wells in process of being drilled or in active completion(1) | | | Wells suspended or waiting on completion(2) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Oil wells | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | — | | | | 1.0 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2.0 | | | | — | |
Net | | | — | | | | 0.5 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.9 | | | | — | |
Gas wells | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1.0 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Net | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.3 | | | | — | | | | — | |
(1) | We consider wells to be in active completion when we have begun procedures used in finishing and equipping them for production. |
(2) | We consider wells to be waiting on completion when we have completed drilling in such wells but have not yet begun to perform testing procedures. |
For the year ended December 31, 2013, there were no wells in process of being drilled or in active completion stages, nor were there any wells suspended or waiting on completion in our Rio das Contas acquisition, which we closed on March 31, 2014.
Marketing and delivery commitments
Chile
Our customer base in Chile is limited in number and primarily consists of ENAP and Methanex. For the year ended December 31, 2013, we sold 100% of our oil production in Chile to ENAP and 99% of our gas production to Methanex, with sales to ENAP and Methanex accounting for 39.8% and 6.7%, respectively, of our revenues in the same period.
Under our oil sales agreement with ENAP, or the ENAP Oil Sales Agreement, ENAP has committed to purchase our oil production in the Fell Block, but only in the amounts that we produce, and with the only limitation being storage capacity at the Gregorio Terminal. The sales contract with ENAP is commonly revised every two years to reflect changes in the global oil market and to adjust to logistics costs of ENAP in the Gregorio oil terminal. The current agreement has been recently executed, with an initial term of 1 year, until March 2015, and it will be
automatically extended for periods of 1 year until the expiration of the Fell Block CEOP, which is the earlier of August 24, 2032 or the date on which we cease exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Fell Block. Commercial conditions of the amended contract are similar to the previous one in effect, however the price will now be related to Ice Brent Crude Futures on the London Intercontinental Exchange. In addition, some terms of the contract have improved for us, including changes in the calculation of certain discounts, such as discounts for mercury content.
We deliver the oil we produce in the Fell Block to ENAP at the Gregorio Terminal, where ENAP assumes responsibility for the oil. ENAP owns two refineries in Chile in the north central part of the country and must ship any oil from the Gregorio Terminal to these refineries unless it is consumed locally.
Under the Methanex Gas Supply Agreement, Methanex has committed to purchasing, and we have committed to selling, all of the gas that we produce in the Fell Block (subject to certain exceptions, including reasonable quantities required to maintain our operations and quantities that we might be required to pay in kind to Chile), with a minimum volume commitment which is defined by us on an annual basis. The agreement contains monthly DOP obligations, which require us to deliver in a given month the minimum gas committed for that month or pay a deficiency penalty to Methanex, with a threshold of 90% of the committed quantities of gas. The agreement also contains monthly TOP obligations, which apply when our committed volume for a given month exceeds 35.3 mcfpd, and require Methanex to take in such month the minimum gas volume committed for such period or face higher TOP obligations in later months, with a threshold of 90% of the committed quantities. These DOP and TOP obligations are subject to make-up provisions without penalty, for any delivery or off-take deficiencies accrued, in the three months following the month where delivery or off-take requirements were not met. We failed to meet this adjusted volume for each of the months of April through December of 2012, such that we accrued US$1.7 million in DOP payments owed to Methanex under the Methanex Gas Supply Agreement, all of which had been paid as of September 30, 2013.
In April 2013, Methanex idled its plant, but committed to purchasing from us the minimum committed gas volumes under the Methanex Gas Supply Agreement during the time the plant was idle. The plant resumed operations on September 23, 2013. The same condition is expected in 2014, as ENAP will require additional gas beyond its own production to supply residential consumption. We also expect that Methanex will require additional deliveries to restart its plant after the winter months, beginning in September 2014.
On August 30, 2013, we signed an amendment to the Methanex Gas Supply Agreement, pursuant to which Methanex has committed, for a period of six months beginning September 15, 2013, to purchase an increased volume, a total amount of 400,000 SCM/d per month (subject to reduction for deliveries above 200,000 SCM/d to Methanex or ENAP made between April 29 and September 15, 2013), at an additional price per month of US$1.50 per mmbtu for volumes in excess of 180,000 SCM/d, or an additional price per month of US$2.00 per mmbtu in any month in which we commit to deliver at least 500,000 SCM/d (subject to certain exceptions based on methanol prices). The amendment also provides for temporary DOP and TOP thresholds of 100% and 50%, respectively. The amendment has been extended until April 30 2014. Therefore, we are currently committed to providing Methanex with a monthly volume of gas of 0.424 bcf until April 30, 2014. As of the date of this annual report, we have fulfilled the delivery volume commitment.
We gather the gas we produce in several wells through our own flow lines and inject it into several gas pipelines owned by ENAP. The transportation of the gas we sell to Methanex through these pipelines is pursuant to a private contract between Methanex and ENAP. We do not own any principal natural gas pipelines for the transportation of natural gas.
If we were to lose any one of our key customers in Chile, the loss could temporarily delay production and sale of our oil and gas in Chile. For a discussion of the risks associated with the loss of key customers, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—We sell all of our natural gas in Chile to a single
customer, who has in the past temporarily idled its principal facility” and “—We derive a significant portion of our revenues from sales to a few key customers.”
Colombia
Our production in Colombia consists almost exclusively of oil. Our oil sales agreements are generally for a fixed term, with a maximum length of one year. They do not commit the parties to a minimum volume, and are subject to the ability of either party to receive or deliver production. The contracts generally provide that they can be renewed by mutual written agreement, and all allow for early termination by either party with advanced notice and without penalty
The delivery points for our production range from the well-head to the port of export (Coveñas), depending on the client. If sales are made via pipeline, the delivery point is usually the pipeline injection point, whereas for direct export sales, the most frequent delivery point is the well-head. In Colombia, the restrictions to access pipeline networks, especially for mid to heavy crudes, have forced the market to access different ways of transport and commercialization, reducing our dependency on pipeline infrastructure significantly. For the year ended December 31, 2013, we sold approximately 66% of our production directly at the well-head and approximately 30% to the major oil companies that own capacity in the pipelines. In the first quarter of 2014, access to the pipeline network has improved upon the commencement of the Bicentenario pipeline, which added transportation capacity of 100,000 bopd and also open up additional supply opportunities involving reduced trucking costs. Since we do not own capacity in, or have access to, the oil transportation pipelines in Colombia or have any other assets for the transportation of our commodities, we use third parties to transport our production by pipeline or truck.
The price of the oil that we sell under these agreements is based on a market reference price (Brent, WTI or Vasconia), adjusted for certain marketing and quality discounts based on, among other things, API, viscosity, sulphur and water content, as well as for certain transportation costs (including pipeline costs and trucking costs).
For the year ended December 31, 2013, we made 52.5% of our oil sales to Gunvor, 20.9% to Hocol and 9.8% to Perenco, with Gunvor accounting for 27.8%, Hocol 11.1% and Perenco 5.2% of our overall revenues for the same period. If we were to lose any one of our key customers, the loss could temporarily delay production and sale of our oil in the corresponding block. However, we believe we could identify a substitute customer to purchase the impacted production volumes.
Brazil
Our production in Brazil consists of natural gas and condensate oil. Natural gas production is sold through a long-term, extendable agreement with Petrobras, which provides for the delivery and transportation of the gas produced in the Manatí Field to the EVF gas treatment plant in the State of Bahia. The contract is in effect until delivery of the maximum committed volume or June 2030, whichever occurs first. The contract allows for sales above the maximum committed volume if mutually agreed by both seller and buyer. We are currently negotiating an amendment to the contract in order to provide for the purchase and sale of additional volumes, pending the closing of the gas compression facility. The price for the gas is fixed in reais and is adjusted annually in accordance with the Brazilian inflation index.
The Manatí Field is developed via a PMNT-1 production platform, which is connected to the Estação Vandemir Ferreira, or EVF, gas treatment plant through an offshore and onshore pipeline with a capacity of 335.5 mmcfpd (9.5 mm3 per day). The existing pipeline connects the field’s platform to the EVF gas treatment plant, which is owned by the field’s current concession holders. The BCAM-40 Concession, which includes the Manatí Field, also benefits from the advantages of Petrobras’s size. As the largest onshore and offshore operator in Brazil, Petrobras has the ability to mobilize the resources necessary to support its activities in the concession.
The condensate produced in the Manatí Field is subject to a condensate purchase agreement with Petrobras, pursuant to which Petrobras has committed to purchase all of our condensate production in the Manatí Field, but only in the amounts that we produce, without any minimum or maximum deliverable commitment from us. The
agreement is valid through December 31, 2015, but can be renewed upon an amendment signed by Petrobras and the seller.
If the agreements with Petrobras were terminated, this could temporarily delay production and sale of our natural gas and condensate oil in Brazil, and could have a detrimental effect on our ability to find substitute customers to purchase our production volumes.
Argentina
In Argentina, we sell substantially all of our oil production to Oil Combustibles, but because the volume we produce in Argentina is small and the sale price is fixed at the moment when all other producers have delivered their product to the Punta Loyola terminal, from which we sell our crude, we do not sell our oil to Oil Combustibles at a predetermined formula or price, but rather on the basis of on-call contracts based on demand.
We have the ability to store and process the oil we produce in Argentina ourselves, and do not have material contracts with third parties for such services. We enter into ad hoc contracts with local companies for the transportation of crude from fields in the Del Mosquito Block to the Punta Loyola terminal.
Significant agreements
Chile
CEOPs
We have entered into six CEOPs with Chile, one for each of the blocks in which we operate, which grant us the right to explore and exploit hydrocarbons in these blocks, determine our working interests in the blocks and appoint the operator of the blocks. These CEOPs are divided into two phases: (1) an exploration phase, which is divided into two or more exploration periods, and which begins on the effectiveness date of the relevant CEOP, and (2) an exploitation phase, which is determined on a per-field basis, commencing on the date we declare a field to be commercially viable and ending with the term of the relevant CEOP. In order to transition from the exploration phase to an exploitation phase, we must declare a discovery of hydrocarbons to the Ministry of Energy. This is a unilateral declaration, which grants us the right to test a field for a limited period of time for commercial viability. If the field proves commercially viable, we must make a further unilateral declaration to the Ministry of Energy. In the exploration phase, we are obligated to fulfill a minimum work commitment, which generally includes the drilling of wells, the performance of 2D or 3D seismic surveys, minimum capital commitments and guaranties or letters of credit, as set forth in the relevant CEOP. We also have relinquishment obligations at the end of each period in the exploration phase in respect of those areas in which we have not made a declaration of discovery. We can also voluntarily relinquish areas in which we have not declared discoveries of hydrocarbons at any time, at no cost to us. In the exploitation phase, we generally do not face formal work commitments, other than the development plans we file with the Chilean Ministry of Energy for each field declared to be commercially viable.
Our CEOPs provide us with the right to receive a monthly remuneration from Chile, payable in petroleum and gas, based either on the amount of petroleum and gas production per field or according to Recovery Factor, which considers the ratio of hydrocarbon sales to total cost of production (capital expenditures plus operating expenses). Pursuant to Chilean law, the rights contained in a CEOP cannot be modified without consent of the parties.
Our CEOPs are subject to early termination in certain circumstances, which vary depending upon the phase of the CEOP. During the exploration phase, Chile may terminate a CEOP in circumstances including a failure by us to comply with minimum work commitments at the termination of any exploration period, or a failure to communicate our intention to proceed with the next exploration period 30 days prior to its termination, a failure to provide the Chilean Ministry of Energy the performance bonds required under the CEOP, a voluntary relinquishment by us of all areas under the CEOP or a failure by us to meet the requirements to enter into the exploitation phase upon the termination of the exploration phase. In the exploitation phase, Chile may terminate a CEOP if we stop performing any of the substantial obligations assumed under the CEOP without cause and do not cure such nonperformance pursuant to the terms of the concession, following notice of breach from the Chilean Ministry of Energy. Additionally, Chile may terminate the CEOP due to force majeure circumstances (as defined in the relevant CEOP). If Chile terminates a CEOP in the exploitation phase, we must transfer to Chile, free of charge, any productive wells and related facilities, provided that such transfer does not interfere with our abandonment obligations and excluding
certain pipelines and other assets. Other than as provided in the relevant CEOP, Chile cannot unilaterally terminate a CEOP without due compensation. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—Our contracts in obtaining rights to explore and develop oil and natural gas reserves are subject to contractual expiration dates and operating conditions, and our CEOPs, E&P Contracts and concession agreements are subject to early termination in certain circumstances.”
Fell Block CEOP. On November 5, 2002, we acquired a percentage of rights and interests of the CEOP for the Fell Block with Chile, or the Fell Block CEOP, and on May 10, 2006, we became the sole owners, with 100% of the rights and interest in the Fell Block CEOP. Chile had originally entered into a CEOP for the Fell Block with ENAP and Cordex Petroleum Inc., or Cordex, on April 29, 1997, which had an effective date of August 25, 1997. The Fell Block CEOP grants us the exclusive right to explore and exploit hydrocarbons in the Fell Block and has a term of 35 years, beginning on the effective date. The Fell Block CEOP provided for a 14-year exploration period, composed of numerous phases that ended in 2011, and an up-to-35-year exploitation phase for each field.
The Fell Block CEOP provides us with a right to receive a monthly retribution from Chile payable in petroleum and gas, based on the following per-field formula: 95% of the oil produced in the field, for production of up to 5,000 bopd, ring fenced by field, and 97% of gas produced in the field, for production of up to 882.9 mmcfpd. In the event that we exceed these levels of production, our monthly retribution from Chile will decrease based on a sliding scale set forth under the Fell Block CEOP to a maximum of 50% of the oil and 60% of the gas that we produce per field.
Colombia
E&P Contracts
We have entered into E&P Contracts granting us the right to explore and operate, as well as working interests in, six blocks in Colombia. Additionally, we have applied to the ANH to recognize our economic interest in a seventh Colombian block as a working interest. These E&P Contracts are generally divided into two periods: (1) the exploration period, which may be subdivided into various exploration phases and (2) the exploitation period, determined on a per-area basis and beginning on the date we declare an area to be commercially viable. Commercial viability is determined upon the completion of a specified evaluation program or as otherwise agreed by the parties to the relevant E&P Contract. The exploitation period for an area may be extended until such time as such area is no longer commercially viable and certain other conditions are met.
Pursuant to our E&P Contracts, we are required, as are all oil and gas companies undertaking exploratory and production activities in Colombia, to pay a royalty to the Colombian government based on our production of hydrocarbons, as of the time a field begins to produce. Under Law 756 of 2002, as modified by Law 1530 of 2012, the royalties we must pay in connection with our production of light and medium oil are calculated on a field-by-field basis, using the following sliding scale:
Production (mbop) | | Production Royalty rate | |
Up to 5,000 | | | 8 | % |
5,000 to 125,000 | | | 8-20 | % |
125,000 to 400,000 | | | 20 | % |
400,000 to 600,000 | | | 20-25 | % |
Greater than 600,000 | | | 25 | % |
In the case of natural gas, the royalties are 80% of the rates presented above for the exploitation of onshore and offshore fields at depths less than or equal to 304.8 meters, and 60% for the exploitation of offshore fields at depths exceeding 304.8 meters. For new discoveries of heavy oil, classified as oil with an API equal to or less than 15°, the royalties are 75% of the rates presented above. Additionally, in the event that an exploitation area has produced amounts in excess of an aggregate amount established in the E&P Contract governing such area, the ANH is entitled to receive a “windfall profit,” to be paid periodically, calculated pursuant to such E&P Contract.
In each of the exploration and exploitation periods, we are also obligated to pay the ANH a subsoil use fee. During the exploration period, this fee is scaled depending on the contracted acreage. During the exploitation period, the fee is assessed on the amount of hydrocarbons produced, multiplied by a specified dollar amount per barrel of oil produced or thousand cubic feet of gas produced. Further, the ANH has the right to receive an additional fee when prices for oil or gas, as the case may be, exceed the prices set forth in the relevant E&P Contract.
Our E&P Contracts are generally subject to early termination for a breach by the parties, a default declaration, application of any of the contract’s unilateral termination clauses or termination clauses mandated by Colombian law. Anticipated termination declared by the ANH results in the immediate enforcement of monetary guaranties against us and may result in an action for damages by the ANH. Pursuant to Colombian law, if certain conditions are met, the anticipated termination declared by the ANH may also result in a restriction on the ability to engage contracts with the Colombian government during a certain period of time. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—Our contracts in obtaining rights to explore and develop oil and natural gas reserves are subject to contractual expiration dates and operating conditions, and our CEOPs, E&P Contracts and concession agreements are subject to early termination in certain circumstances.”
La Cuerva Block E&P Contract. Pursuant to an E&P Contract between us and the ANH that became effective as of April 16, 2008, or the La Cuerva Block E&P Contract, we were granted the right to explore and operate, and a 100% working interest in, the La Cuerva Block.
We are currently in the sixth phase of exploration under the La Cuerva Block E&P Contract. The exploration period has six phases and terminates on July 16, 2014. Each exploration period requires a guaranty of 10% of the total budget for the corresponding exploration period or post-exploration period (such amount must be at least US$100,000 and may not exceed US$3 million). Production began in the west, southwest and southern areas of the block on December 13, 2011, February 15, 2012 and April 23, 2012, respectively. The La Cuerva Block E&P Contract provides for a 24-year exploitation period for each area in the La Cuerva Block, beginning from the date such area is declared commercially viable.
Pursuant to the La Cuerva Block E&P Contract and applicable law, we are required to pay to the ANH a royalty of at least 8.0% based on hydrocarbons produced, in accordance with the table presented above. Additionally, we are required to pay a subsoil use fee to the ANH, which, during the exploration period, is scaled depending upon the contracted acreage, and which, during the exploitation period, is equivalent to the amount of oil we produce multiplied by US$0.1119 per bbl or the amount of natural gas we produce multiplied by US$0.0119 per mcf. The ANH also has the right to receive an additional fee when prices for oil or gas, as the case may be, exceed the prices set forth in the La Cuerva Block E&P Contract.
Llanos 34 Block E&P Contract. Pursuant to an E&P Contract between Unión Temporal Llanos 34 (a consortium between Ramshorn and Winchester) and the ANH that became effective as of March 13, 2009, or the Llanos 34 Block E&P Contract, Unión Temporal Llanos 34 was granted the right to explore and operate the Llanos 34 Block, and we and Ramshorn were granted a 40% and a 60% working interest, respectively, in the Llanos 34 Block. We were also granted the right to operate the Llanos 34 Block. On December 16, 2009, we entered into a joint operating agreement with Ramshorn and P1 Energy in respect of our operations in the block. On August 31, 2012, the ANH approved the assignment by Ramshorn to us of an additional 5% working interest, giving Ramshorn a 55% working interest and us a 45% working interest in the Llanos 34 Block.
We are currently in the exploration period of the Llanos 34 Block E&P Contract. The contract provides for a six-year exploration period, consisting of two three-year phases, which can be extended for up to six additional months to allow for the completion of exploration activities. The Llanos 34 Block E&P Contract provides for a 24-year exploitation period for each commercial area, beginning on the date on which such area is declared commercially viable. The exploitation period may be extended for periods of up to 10 years at a time, until such time as the area is no longer commercially viable and certain conditions are met. We have presented evaluation programs to the ANH for the Max, Túa and Tarotaro Fields, which expire on September 15, 2014, December 1, 2014, and November 17, 2015, respectively.
Pursuant to the Llanos 34 Block E&P Contract and applicable law, we are required to pay to the ANH a royalty based on hydrocarbons produced in the Llanos 34 Block. In the Max Field, we pay the ANH a royalty of at least 6.0%, and in the Túa and Tarotaro Fields, we pay a royalty of at least 8.0%. Additionally, we are required to pay a subsoil use fee to the ANH, which, during the exploration period, is scaled depending on the contracted acreage, and which, during the exploitation period, is equivalent to the amount of oil we produce multiplied by US$0.1162 per bbl or the amount of natural gas we produce multiplied by US$0.01162 per mcf. The ANH also has the right to receive an additional fee when prices for oil or gas, as the case may be, exceed the prices set forth in the Llanos 34 Block E&P Contract. The ANH also has an additional economic right equivalent to 1% of production, net of royalties.
Winchester and Luna Stock Purchase Agreement
Pursuant to the stock purchase agreement entered into on February 10, 2012 with Darlan S.A., Bonanza Ventures, Inc., Winamac Holdings Inc. and Realstep Overseas Inc., as the Sellers, or the Winchester Stock Purchase Agreement, we agreed to pay the Sellers a total consideration of US$30.0 million, adjusted for working capital. Additionally, under the terms of the Winchester Stock Purchase Agreement, we are obligated to make certain payments to the Sellers based on the production and sale of hydrocarbons discovered by exploration wells drilled after October 25, 2011. The agreement provides that we make a quarterly payment to the Sellers in an amount equal to 14% of adjusted revenue (as defined under the agreement) from any new discoveries of oil, up to the maximum earn-out amount of US$35.0 million (net of Colombian taxes). Once the maximum earn-out amount is reached, we will pay the Sellers quarterly overriding royalties in an amount equal to 4% of our net revenues from any new discoveries of oil. For the year ended December 31, 2013, we paid US$7.8 million and accrued US$11.5 million with regards to this agreement.
Cuerva purchase and sale agreement
Pursuant to the purchase and sale agreement dated March 26, 2012 between Hupecol Cuerva Holdings LLC, as the Seller, and us, we agreed to pay to the Seller a total consideration of US$75 million, adjusted for working capital.
Brazil
Rio das Contas Quota Purchase Agreement
Pursuant to the Rio das Contas Quota Purchase Agreement we entered into on May 14, 2013, we agreed to acquire from Panoro all of the quotas issued by Rio das Contas for a purchase price of US$140 million (subject to working capital adjustments at closing and further earn-out payments, if any) upon satisfaction of certain conditions. With respect to the earn-out payments, the Rio das Contas Quota Purchase Agreement provides that during the calendar periods beginning on January 1, 2013 and ending as late as December 31, 2017, we will make annual earn-out payments to Panoro in an amount equal to 45% of “net cash flow,” calculated as EBITDA less the aggregate of capital expenditures and corporate income taxes, with respect to the BCAM-40 Concession of any amounts in excess of US$25.0 million, up to a maximum cumulative earn-out amount of US$20.0 million in a five-year period. Once the maximum earn-out amount is reached or the five-year period has elapsed, no further earn-out amounts will be payable.
We financed our Rio das Contas acquisition in part through our Brazilian subsidiary’s entrance into a US$70.5 million credit facility (the “Rio das Contas Credit Facility”) with Itau BBA International plc, which is secured by the benefits GeoPark receives under the Purchase and Sale Agreement for Natural Gas with Petrobras. The facility matures five years from March 28, 2014, which was the date of disbursement and bears interest at a variable interest rate equal to the six-month LIBOR + 3.9%. The facility agreement includes customary events of default, and subject our Brazilian subsidiary to customary covenants, including the requirement that it maintain a ratio of net debt to EBITDA of up to 3.5x the first two years and up to 3.0x thereafter. The credit facility also limits the borrower’s ability to pay dividends if the ratio of net debt to EBITDA is greater than 2.5x. We have the option to prepay the facility in whole or in part, at any time, subject to a pre-payment fee to be determined under the contract.
Overview of concession agreements
The Brazilian oil and gas industry is governed mainly by the Brazilian Petroleum Law, which provides for the granting of concessions to operate petroleum and gas fields in Brazil, subject to oversight by the ANP. A concession agreement is divided into two phases: (1) exploration and (2) development and production. The exploration phase, which is further divided into two subsequent exploratory periods, the first of which begins on the date of execution of the concession agreement, can last from three to eight years (subject to earlier termination upon the total return of the concession area or the declaration of commercial viability with respect to a given area), while the development and production phase, which begins for each field on the date a declaration of commercial viability is submitted to the ANP, can last up to 27 years. Upon each declaration of commercial viability, a concessionaire must submit to the ANP a development plan for the field within 180 days. The concessions may be renewed for an additional period equal to their original term if renewal is requested with at least 12 months’ notice, and provided that a default under the concession agreement has not occurred and is then continuing. Even if obligations have been fulfilled under the
concession agreement and the renewal request was appropriately filed, renewal of the concession is subject to the discretion of the ANP.
The main terms and conditions of a concession agreement are set forth in Article 43 of the Brazilian Petroleum Law, and include: (1) definition of the concession area; (2) validity and terms for exploration and production activities; (3) conditions for the return of concession areas; (4) guarantees to be provided by the concessionaire to ensure compliance with the concession agreement, including required investments during each phase; (5) penalties in the event of noncompliance with the terms of the concession agreement; (6) procedures related to the assignment of the agreement; and (7) rules for the return and vacancy of areas, including removal of equipment and facilities and the return of assets. Assignments of participation interests in a concession are subject to the approval of the ANP, and the replacement of a performance guarantee is treated as an assignment.
The main rights of the concessionaires (including us in our concession agreements) are: (1) the exclusive right of drilling and production in the concession area; (2) the ownership of the hydrocarbons produced; (3) the right to sell the hydrocarbons produced; and (4) the right to export the hydrocarbons produced. However, a concession agreement set forth that, in the event of a risk of a fuel supply shortage in Brazil, the concessionaire must fulfill the needs of the domestic market. In order to ensure the domestic supply, the Brazilian Petroleum Law granted the ANP the power to control the export of oil, natural gas and oil products.
Among the main obligations of the concessionaire are: (1) the assumption of costs and risks related to the exploration and production of hydrocarbons, including responsibility for environmental damages; (2) compliance with the requirements relating to acquisition of assets and services from domestic suppliers; (3) compliance with the requirements relating to execution of the minimum exploration program proposed in the winning bid; (4) activities for the conservation of reservoirs; (5) periodic reporting to the ANP; (6) payments for government participation; and (7) responsibility for the costs associated with the deactivation and abandonment of the facilities in accordance with Brazilian law and best practices in the oil industry.
A concessionaire is required to pay to the Brazilian government the following:
| · | rent for the occupation or retention of areas; |
| · | a special participation fee; |
Rental fees for the occupation and maintenance of the concession areas are payable annually. For purposes of calculating these fees, the ANP takes into consideration factors such as the location and size of the relevant concession, the sedimentary basin and the geological characteristics of the relevant concession.
A special participation fee is an extraordinary charge that concessionaires must pay in the event of obtaining high production volumes and/or profitability from oil fields, according to criteria established by applicable regulations, and is payable on a quarterly basis for each field from the date on which extraordinary production occurs. This participation fee, whenever due, varies between 0% and 40% of net revenues depending on (1) the volume of production and (2) whether the concession is onshore or in shallow water or deep water. Under the Brazilian Petroleum Law and applicable regulations issued by the ANP, the special participation fee is calculated based on the quarterly net revenues of each field, which consist of gross revenues calculated using reference prices established by the ANP (reflecting international prices and the exchange rate for the period) less:
| · | investment in exploration; |
| · | depreciation adjustments and applicable taxes. |
The Brazilian Petroleum Law also requires that the concessionaire of onshore fields pay to the landowners a special participation fee that varies between 0.5% to 1.0% of the net operational income originated by the field production.
BCAM-40 Concession Agreement. On August 6, 1998, the ANP and Petrobras executed the concession agreement governing the BCAM-40 Concession, or the BCAM-40 Concession Agreement, following the first round of bidding, referred to as Bid Round Zero, under the regime established by the Brazilian Petroleum Law. The exploration phase will end in November 2029. On September 11, 2009, Petrobras announced the termination of BCAM-40 Concession’s exploration phase and the return of the exploratory area of the concession to the ANP, except for the Manatí Field and the Camarão Norte Field.
Under the BCAM-40 Concession Agreement, the ANP is entitled to a monthly royalty payment equal to 7.5% of the production of oil and natural gas in the concession area. In addition, in case the special participation fee of 10% shall be applicable for a field in any quarter of the calendar year, the concessionaire is obliged to make qualified research and development investments equivalent to one percent of the field’s gross revenue. Area retention payments are also applicable under the concession agreement.
Pursuant to the Rio das Contas Quota Purchase Agreement, we have agreed to acquire Rio das Contas’s 10% participation interest in the BCAM-40 Concession. We closed the acquisition on March 31, 2014.
Round 11 concession agreements. Additionally, on May 14, 2013, following the 11th oil and gas bidding round pursuant to the Brazilian Petroleum Law, we were awarded seven new exploratory licenses in Brazil in the REC-T 94 and REC-T 85 Concessions in the Recôncavo Basin in the State of Bahia and the POT-T 664, POT-T 665, POT-T 619, POT-T 620 and POT-T 663 Concessions in the Potiguar Basin in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. We have entered into seven concession agreements, which we collectively refer to as the Round 11 Concession Agreements, with the ANP on September 17, 2013, for the right to exploit the oil and natural gas in these seven new license areas. We have paid to the ANP a license fee in the amount of R$10.2 million (approximately US$4.2 million, at the January 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.4263 to US$1.00), consisting of R$7.2 million (approximately US$3.0 million, at the January 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.4263 to US$1.00) for the REC-T 94 and REC-T 85 Concessions and R$3.0 million (approximately US$1.2 million, at the January 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.4263 to US$1.00) for the POT-T 664, POT-T 665, POT-T 619, POT-T 620 and POT-T 663 Concessions, and provide to the ANP financial guarantees in the amount of R$20.4 million (approximately US$8.4 million, at the January 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.4263 to US$1.00), consisting of R$12.1 million (approximately US$5.0 million, at the January 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.4263 to US$1.00) for the REC-T 94 and REC-T 85 Concessions and R$8.3 million (approximately US$3.4 million, at the January 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.4263 to US$1.00) for the POT-T 664, POT-T 665, POT-T 619, POT-T 620 and POT-T 663 Concessions, to secure our obligations under the Minimum Exploratory Programs, or PEMs, for the first exploratory period of the concessions.
Under the Round 11 Concession Agreements, the ANP is entitled to a monthly royalty corresponding to 10% of the production of oil and natural gas in the concession area, in addition to the special participation fee described above, the payment for the occupation of the concession area of approximately R$7,600 (approximately US$3,358, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) per year and the payment to the owners of the land of the concession equivalent to one percent of the oil and natural gas produced in the concession area.
Round 12 concession agreements.
On November 28, 2013, following the 12th oil and gas bidding round pursuant to the Brazilian Petroleum Law, we were awarded two new exploratory licenses in Brazil, the PN-T-597 Concession on the Parnaiba Basin in the State of Maranhão and the SEAL-T-268 Concession in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin in the State of Alagoas.
Our offer requires a commitment to the ANP of R$9.3 million (approximately US$4.0 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) composed of R$1.6 million (approximately US$0.7 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) for the first exploratory period on the Concession SEAL-T-268 and R$7.7 million (approximately US$3.4 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) for the first exploratory period on the PN-T-597.
Part of our bid for the Round 12 concessions was comprised of work program guarantees, or commitments to invest certain sums in the blocks as part our exploration activities. Our SEAL-T-268 commitment is composed of R$0.14 million (approximately US$0.07 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) bonus payable to the ANP and R$1.5 million (approximately US$0.7 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) as part of the work program guarantee payable over the course of the three years. Work program is equivalent to 40 km of 2D seismic, with no well drilling committed during the first exploratory period.
Our PN-T-597 commitment is composed of R$0.9 million (approximately US$0.4 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) bonus payable to the ANP in the first year of exploration and R$ 6.7 million (approximately US$ 3.0 million, at the March 31, 2014 exchange rate of R$2.263 to US$1.00) as a work program guarantee. See “Item 3. Key information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—The PN-T-597 concession is subject to an injunction and may not close.” for more information.
Overview of consortium agreements
A consortium agreement is a standard document describing consortium members’ respective percentages of participation and appointment of the operator. It generally provides for joint execution of oil and natural gas exploration, development and production activities in each of the concession areas. These agreements set forth the allocation of expenses for each of the parties with respect to their respective participation interests in the concession. The agreements are supplemented by joint operating agreements, which are private instruments that typically regulate the aggregation of funds, the sharing of costs, mitigation of operational risks, preemptive rights and the operator’s activities.
An important characteristic of the consortia for exploration and production of oil and natural gas that differs from other consortia (Article 278, paragraph 1, of the Brazilian Corporate Law) is the joint liability among consortium members as established in the Brazilian Petroleum Law (Article 38, item II).
BCAM-40 Consortium Agreement. On January 14, 2000, the consortium formed by Petrobras, QG Perfurações and Petroserv entered into a consortium agreement, or the BCAM-40 Consortium Agreement, for the performance of the BCAM-40 Concession Agreement. Petrobras is the operator of the BCAM-40 concession, with a 35% participation interest. QGEP, Brasoil and Rio das Contas have a 45%, 10% and 10% participation interest, respectively. The BCAM-40 Consortium Agreement has a specified term of 40 years, terminating on January 14, 2040 and, at the time the obligations undertaken in the agreement are fully completed, the parties will have the right to terminate it. The BCAM-40 Concession consortium has also entered into a joint operating agreement, which sets out the rights and obligations of the parties in respect of the operations in the concession.
Petrobras Natural Gas Purchase Agreement
QGEP, Rio das Contas, Brasoil and Petrobras are party to a natural gas purchase agreement providing for the sale of natural gas by QGEP, Rio das Contas and Brasoil to Petrobras, in an amount of 812 bcf over the term of agreement. The Petrobras Natural Gas Purchase Agreement is valid until the earlier of Petrobras’s receipt of this total contractual quantity or June 30, 2030. The agreement may not be fully or partially assigned except upon execution of an assignment agreement with the written consent of the other parties, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld provided that certain prerequisites have been met.
The agreement provides for the provision of “daily contractual quantities” to Petrobras, in the following amounts: from the first year through the end of the fourth year under the contract, 211.9 mmcfpd; from the beginning of the fifth year through the end of the ninth year, 141.3 mmcfpd; and from the beginning of the tenth year through the end of the contract, 141.3 mmcfpd or such smaller quantity as stipulated by the parties, to take into account the Manatí Field’s depletion. Pursuant to the agreement, the base price is denominated in reais and is adjusted annually for inflation pursuant to the general index of market prices (IGPM). Additionally, the gas price applicable on a given day is subject to reduction as a result of the gas quantity acquired by Petrobras above the volume of the annual TOP commitment (85% of the daily contracted quantity) in effect on such day.
The Petrobras Natural Gas Purchase Agreement provides that if the Manatí Field’s daily production capacity is less than the amount of the applicable daily contractual quantity, gas sales shall be made exclusively to Petrobras, with any sales to third parties subject to a penalty. If the field’s production is above the applicable daily contractual quantity, the agreement provides that Petrobras must first be offered to purchase the excess amount of gas.
Petrobras Natural Gas Condensate Purchase Agreement
On January 1, 2014, Rio das Contas and Petrobras entered into an agreement, the Petrobras Natural Gas Condensate Purchase Agreement, valid until December 31, 2015 for the sale to Petrobras of Rio das Contas’s share of the total volume of natural gas condensate to be produced in the Manatí Field. The agreement can be renewed and takes into consideration market factors that affect the production and sale of gas.
Pursuant to the agreement, for each liquid barrel of condensed natural gas sold by Rio das Contas, Petrobras will pay the monthly arithmetic average of the averages of the daily prices for the “BRENT DTD” barrel, as published by Platt’s Crude Oil Marketwire, subject to a discount of $2.87 per barrel.
Any assignment of a party’s interest under the agreement requires the other party’s prior written consent.
Argentina
Overview of exploitation concessions
As the concession holder of three concessions in Argentina—the Del Mosquito Concession, the Cerro Doña Juana Concession and the Loma Cortaderal Concession—we are subject to numerous restrictions and fees related to hydrocarbon production and foreign markets. For example, the domestic oil and gas market in Argentina has supply privileges favoring the domestic market, to the detriment of the export market, including hydrocarbon export restrictions, domestic price controls, export duties and domestic market supply obligations. We are also subject to certain foreign currency retention restrictions. We must comply with central bank registration requirements, maintain a minimum one-year residency in Argentina and comply with central bank registration requirements, including the requirement that 30% of all funds remitted to Argentina remain deposited in a domestic financial institution for one year without yielding interest unless such funds are proven invested in exploration and production or meet other limited requirements, as established under Presidential Decree 616/2005. We are also subject to certain export duties under each of the concessions (in particular, to a 20% duty on gas exports, as established under Presidential Decree 645/2004) and an up-to-45% duty on oil exports, depending on oil prices, as established under Resolution 394/2007 of the Argentine Secretary of Energy.
In general, our Argentina concession agreements for the Del Mosquito, Cerro Doña Juana and Loma Cortaderal Blocks grant us the exclusive right to produce, explore and develop hydrocarbons in these blocks, as well as the right to receive a transportation concession to build unused pipelines or other transportation facilities beyond the boundaries of the concessions for 35 years. The term of each of these concessions is 25 years, with an optional extension of up to 10 years. There is no minimum work or investment commitment under any of the concessions other than the general requirement to make needed investments to develop the entire acreage of the concession, though the Argentine Secretary of Energy takes into account all work and investment undertaken when determining whether to grant an extension of the concession term. Work and investment programs for the concessions are required to be presented annually to the incumbent Provincial State enforcement authority, the Argentine Secretary of Energy and the Strategic Planning and Coordination Committee for the National Hydrocarbon Investment Plan.
Under the terms of our concession agreements, we are entitled to 100% of production, with no governmental participation. We are also required, under Argentine law, to pay royalties to certain Argentine provinces, at a rate of 12% on both oil and gas sales. In addition to this 12% royalty, we are also required to pay additional royalties ranging from 2.5% to 8%, pursuant to private royalty agreements we have entered into. We also pay annual surface rental fees established under hydrocarbons law 17.319 and Resolution 588/98 of the Argentine Secretary of Energy and Decree 1454/2007, and certain landowner fees.
Our Argentine concession agreements have no change of control provisions, though any assignment of these concessions is subject to the prior authorization by the executive branch of the incumbent Provincial State. For the four years prior to the expiration of each of these concessions, the concession holder must provide technical and commercial justifications for leaving any inactive and non-producing wells unplugged. Each of these concessions can be terminated for default in payment obligations and/or breach of material statutory or regulatory obligations. We may also voluntarily relinquish acreage to the Argentine authorities. For example, in November 2012, we voluntarily relinquished approximately 102,500 non-producing gross acres in the Del Mosquito Block to the Argentine authorities, which relinquishment is currently subject to approval by the authorities of the province of Santa Cruz and the completion of certain environmental audits. In addition, in April 2014, we informed the
Secretary of Infrastructure and Energy of the Province of Mendoza of our decision to relinquish 100% of the Cerro Doña Juana and Loma Cortaderal Concessions to the Mendoza Province. The area covered by the Cerro Doña Juana and Loma Cortaderal blocks is 47.9 acres and neither the Cerro Doña Juana nor the Loma Cortaderal are currently in production or have any associated reserves. Relinquishment is subject to approval by the authorities of the province of Mendoza.
Our Argentine concessions are governed by the laws of Argentina and the resolution of any disputes must be sought in the Federal Courts, although provincial courts may have jurisdiction over certain matters.
Agreements with LGI
LGI Chile Shareholders’ Agreements
In 2010, we formed a strategic partnership with LGI to jointly acquire and develop upstream oil and gas projects in Latin America. In 2011, LGI acquired a 20% equity interest in GeoPark Chile and a 14% equity interest in GeoPark TdF, for a total consideration of US$148.0 million, plus additional equity funding of US$18.0 million over the following three years. On May 20, 2011, in connection with LGI’s investment in GeoPark Chile, we and LGI entered into a shareholders’ agreement (as amended on July 4, 2011, the GeoPark Chile Shareholders’ Agreement) and a subscription agreement (as amended on July 4, 2011 and October 4, 2011, in connection with LGI’s investment in GeoPark TdF, the GeoPark TdF Subscription Agreement, and, together with the GeoPark Chile Shareholders’ Agreement, the LGI Chile Shareholders’ Agreements), setting forth our and LGI’s respective rights and obligations in connection with LGI’s investment in our Chilean oil and gas business.
The respective boards of each of GeoPark Chile and GeoPark TdF supervise their day-to-day operations. Each of these boards has four directors. As long as LGI holds at least 5% of the voting shares of GeoPark Chile, LGI has the right to elect one director and such director’s alternate, and the remaining directors, and alternates, are elected by us. As long as LGI holds at least 5% of the voting shares of GeoPark TdF, LGI has the right to elect one director and such director’s alternate, and the remaining directors, and alternates, are elected by GeoPark Chile.
The LGI Chile Shareholders’ Agreements require the consent of LGI or the LGI appointed director in order for GeoPark Chile and GeoPark TdF, as the case may be, to take certain actions, including, among others:
| · | making any decision to terminate or permanently or indefinitely suspend operations in or surrender our blocks in Chile (other than as required under the terms of the relevant CEOP for such blocks); |
| · | selling our blocks in Chile to our affiliates; |
| · | any change to the dividend, voting or other rights that would give preference to or discriminate against the shareholders of GeoPark Chile and GeoPark TdF; |
| · | entering into certain related party transactions; and |
| · | creating a security interest over our blocks in Chile (other than in connection with a financing that benefits our Chilean subsidiaries). |
The LGI Chile Shareholders’ Agreements provide that if LGI or either Agencia or GeoPark Chile decides to sell its shares in GeoPark Chile or GeoPark TdF, as the case may be, the transferring shareholder must make an offer to sell those shares to the other shareholder before selling those shares to a third party. In addition, any sale to a third party is subject to tag-along and drag-along rights, and the non-transferring shareholder has the right to object to a sale to the third-party if it considers such third-party to be not of a good reputation or one of our direct competitors. Under the LGI Chile Shareholders’ Agreements, we and LGI have also agreed to vote our common shares or otherwise cause GeoPark Chile or GeoPark TdF, as the case may be, to declare dividends only after allowing for retentions to meet anticipated future investments, costs and obligations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—LGI, our strategic partner in Chile and Colombia, may sell its interest in our Chilean and Colombian operations to a third party or may not consent to our taking certain actions.”
LGI Colombia Agreements
In December 2012, we and LGI agreed that we would extend our strategic partnership to build a portfolio of upstream oil and gas assets throughout Latin America through 2015. On December 18, 2012, LGI agreed to acquire a 20% equity interest in GeoPark Colombia for a total consideration of US$20.1 million composed of a US$14.9 million capital contribution, a US$4.9 million loan to GeoPark Colombia and miscellaneous reimbursements. Concurrently, we and LGI entered into a shareholders’ agreement, the LGI Colombia Shareholders’ Agreement, setting forth our and LGI’s respective obligations in connection with LGI’s investment in our Colombian oil and gas business, and LGI and Winchester (now GeoPark S.A.S.) entered into a loan agreement, whereby, upon the closing of LGI’s subscription of shares in GeoPark Colombia, LGI granted a credit line (of which US$4.9 million was drawn at closing) to Winchester (now GeoPark S.A.S.) of up to US$12.0 million, to be used for the acquisition, development and operation of oil and gas assets in Colombia. Further, on January 8, 2014, following an internal corporate reorganization of our Colombian operations, GeoPark Colombia Coöperatie U.A. and GeoPark Latin America entered into a new members’ agreement with LGI, or the LGI Colombia Members’ Agreement, that sets out substantially similar rights and obligations to the LGI Colombia Shareholders’ Agreement in respect of our oil and gas business in Colombia. We refer to the LGI Colombia Shareholders’ Agreement and the LGI Colombia Members’ Agreement collectively as the LGI Colombia Agreements.
GeoPark Colombia’s board supervises its day-to-day operations. GeoPark Colombia has four directors. As long as LGI holds at least 14% of the voting shares of GeoPark Colombia, LGI has the right to elect one director and such director’s alternate, and the remaining directors and alternates are elected by us.
Under the LGI Colombia Agreements, LGI agreed to assume its share of the existing debt of GeoPark Colombia and to provide additional funding to cover LGI’s share of required future investments in Colombia. In addition, we can earn back up to 12% additional equity interests in GeoPark Colombia depending on the success of our Colombian operations.
The LGI Colombia Agreements require the consent of LGI or the LGI-appointed director for GeoPark Colombia to take certain actions, including, among others:
| · | making any decision to terminate or permanently or indefinitely suspend operations in or surrender our blocks in Colombia (other than as required under the terms of the relevant concessions for such blocks); |
| · | creating of a security interest over our blocks in Colombia; |
| · | approving of GeoPark Colombia’s annual budget and work programs and the mechanisms for funding any such budget or program; |
| · | entering into of any borrowings other than those provided in an approved budget or incurred in the ordinary course of business to finance working capital needs; |
| · | granting any guarantee or indemnity to secure liabilities of parties other than those of our Colombian subsidiaries; |
| · | changing the dividend, voting or other rights that would give preference to or discriminate against the shareholders of GeoPark Colombia; |
| · | entering into certain related party transactions; and |
| · | disposing of any material assets other than those provided for in an approved budget and work program. |
We have also agreed to ensure that the board of directors and rules and management of our other subsidiaries engaged in our Colombian oil and gas business are subject to the same principles and restrictions outlined above.
The LGI Colombia Agreements provide that if either we or LGI decide to sell our respective shares in GeoPark Colombia, the transferring shareholder must make an offer to sell those shares to the other shareholder before selling those shares to a third party. In addition, any sale to a third party is subject to tag-along and drag-along rights, and the non-transferring shareholder has the right to object to a sale to the third-party if it considers such third-party to be not of a good reputation or one of our direct competitors.
Under the LGI Colombia Agreements, we and LGI have agreed to vote our common shares or otherwise cause GeoPark Colombia to declare dividends only after allowing for retentions for approved work programs and budgets and capital adequacy requirements of GeoPark Colombia, working capital requirements, banking covenants associated with any loan entered into by GeoPark Colombia or our other Colombian subsidiaries and operational requirements. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—LGI, our strategic partner in Chile and Colombia, may sell its interest in our Chilean and Colombian operations to a third party or may not consent to our taking certain actions.”
Title to properties
In each of the countries in which we operate, the state is the exclusive owner of all hydrocarbon resources located in such country and has full authority to determine the rights, royalties or compensation to be paid by private investors for the exploration or production of any hydrocarbon reserves. In Chile, the Republic of Chile grants such rights through a CEOP. In Colombia, the Republic of Colombia grants such rights through E&P Contracts or contracts of association. In Argentina, the Argentine Republic grants such rights through exploitation concessions. In Brazil, the Federative Republic of Brazil grants such rights pursuant to concession agreements. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to the countries in which we operate—Oil and natural gas companies in Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina do not own any of the oil and natural gas reserves in such countries.” Other than as specified in this annual report, we believe that we have satisfactory rights to exploit or benefit economically from the oil and gas reserves in the blocks in which we have an interest in accordance with standards generally accepted in the international oil and gas industry. Our CEOPs, E&P Contracts, contracts of association, exploitation concessions and concession agreements are subject to customary royalty and other interests, liens under operating agreements and other burdens, restrictions and encumbrances customary in the oil and gas industry that we believe do not materially interfere with the use of or affect the carrying value of our interests. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—We are not, and may not be in the future, the sole owner or operator of all of our licensed areas and do not, and may not in the future, hold all of the working interests in certain of our licensed areas. Therefore, we may not be able to control the timing of exploration or development efforts, associated costs, or the rate of production of any non-operated and, to an extent, any non-wholly-owned, assets.”
Our customers
In Chile, our primary customers are ENAP and Methanex. As of December 31, 2013, ENAP purchased all of our oil and condensate production and Methanex purchased 99% of our natural gas production in Chile, and represented 39.8% and 6.7%, respectively, of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013. Our contract with ENAP is automatically renewed for six-month terms, with oil pricing based on international market prices. Our contract with Methanex is a long-term contract subject to take-or-pay and deliver-or-pay provisions, with the price of natural gas based on the international market prices for methanol. In Colombia, our primary customers are Gunvor, Hocol, Perenco and Trenaco, who purchase our production through short-term contracts, and who represented 27.8%, 11.1%, 5.2% and 3.9%, respectively, of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013. In Argentina, our primary customer is Oil Combustibles, representing 0.5% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013. Having closed our Brazil acquisitions on March 31, 2014, we expect our primary customer in Brazil to be Petrobras.
Seasonality
Although there is some historical seasonality to the prices that we receive for our production, the impact of such seasonality has not been material. Additionally, seasonality does not play a significant role in our ability to conduct our operations, including drilling and completion activities. Although in winter months, it is more difficult or even impossible to conduct certain of our operations, such as seismic work, we take such seasonality into account in planning for and conducting our operations, such that the impact on our overall business is not material.
Our competition
The oil and gas industry is competitive, and we may encounter strong competition from other independent operators and from major oil companies in acquiring and developing licenses. In Chile, we partner with and sell to, and may from time to time compete with, ENAP and, to a lesser extent, some companies with operations in Argentina mentioned below. In Colombia, we partner with and sell to, and may from time to time compete with,
Ecopetrol, as well as with privately-owned companies such as Pacific Rubiales, Gran Tierra, Petrominerales, Parex and Canacol, among others. In Brazil, we partner with and sell to, and may from time to time compete with, Petrobras, privately-owned companies such as HRT, QGEP, Brasoil and some of the Colombian companies mentioned above, which have entered into Brazil, among others. In Argentina, we compete for resources with YPF, as well as with privately-owned companies such as Pan American Energy, Pluspetrol, Tecpetrol, Chevron, Wintershall, Total, Sinopec and others.
Many of these competitors have financial and technical resources and personnel substantially larger than ours. As a result, our competitors may be able to pay more for desirable oil and natural gas assets, or to evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of licenses than our financial or personnel resources will permit. Furthermore, these companies may also be better able to withstand the financial pressures of unsuccessful wells, sustained periods of volatility in financial and commodities markets and generally adverse global and industry-wide economic conditions, and may be better able to absorb the burdens resulting from changes in relevant laws and regulations, which may adversely affect our competitive position. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—Competition in the oil and natural gas industry is intense, which makes it difficult for us to acquire properties and prospects, market oil and natural gas and secure trained personnel.”
We are also affected by competition for drilling rigs and the availability of related equipment. Higher commodity prices generally increase the demand for drilling rigs, supplies, services, equipment and crews, and can lead to shortages of, and increasing costs for, drilling equipment, services and personnel. Over the past several years, oil and natural gas companies have experienced higher drilling and operating costs. Shortages of, or increasing costs for, experienced drilling crews and equipment and services could restrict our ability to drill wells and conduct our operations.
Health, safety and environmental matters
General
We and our operations are subject to various stringent and complex international, federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations in the countries in which we operate governing matters including the emission and discharge of pollutants into the ground, air or water; the generation, storage, handling, use and transportation of regulated materials; and human health and safety. These laws and regulations may, among other things:
| · | require the acquisition of various permits or other authorizations or the preparation of environmental assessments, studies or plans (such as well closure plans) before seismic or drilling activity commences; |
| · | enjoin some or all of the operations of facilities deemed not in compliance with permits; |
| · | restrict the types, quantities and concentration of various substances that can be released into the environment in connection with oil and natural gas drilling, production and transportation activities; |
| · | require establishing and maintaining bonds, reserves or other commitments to plug and abandon wells; |
| · | limit or prohibit seismic and drilling activities in certain locations lying within or near protected or otherwise sensitive areas; and |
| · | require remedial measures to mitigate or remediate pollution from our operations, which, if not undertaken, could subject us to substantial penalties. |
These laws and regulations may also restrict the rate of oil and natural gas production below the rate that would otherwise be possible. Compliance with these laws can be costly. The regulatory burden on the oil and gas industry increases the cost of doing business in the industry and consequently affects profitability.
Moreover, public interest in the protection of the environment continues to increase. Drilling in some areas has been opposed by certain community and environmental groups and, in other areas, has been restricted. Our operations could be adversely affected to the extent laws are enacted or other governmental action is taken that prohibits or restricts seismic or drilling activities or imposes environmental requirements that result in increased
costs to the oil and gas industry in general, such as more stringent or costly waste handling, disposal or cleanup requirements.
Climate change
Our operations and the combustion of oil and natural gas-based products results in the emission of greenhouse gases, which may contribute to global climate change. Climate change regulation has gained momentum in recent years internationally and at the federal, regional, state and local levels. On the international level, various nations have committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol was set to expire in 2012. In late 2011, an international climate change conference in Durban, South Africa resulted in, among other things, an agreement to negotiate a new climate change regime by 2015 that would aim to cover all major greenhouse gas emitters worldwide, including the U.S., and take effect by 2020. In November and December 2012, at an international meeting held in Doha, Qatar, the Kyoto Protocol was extended by amendment until 2020. In addition, the Durban agreement to develop the protocol’s successor by 2015 and implement it by 2020 was reinforced.
Other regulation of the oil and gas industry
Chile
Companies in the oil and gas sector, like all Chilean companies, must comply with the general principles concerning employee health and safety laws that are contained in the Chilean Labor Code and other labor statutes. The Chilean Ministry of Labor is responsible for the enforcement of those standards, with the authority to impose fines. In addition, the Health Department of the Ministry of Health has the responsibility to monitor compliance and also the authority to impose fines and stop operations of health and safety violators.
Regarding environmental matters, the Chilean Constitution grants all citizens the right to live in a pollution-free environment. It further provides that other constitutional rights may be limited in order to protect the environment. Chile has numerous laws, regulations, decrees and municipal ordinances relating to environmental protection, pursuant to which specific approvals, consents and permits may be required in order to perform activities that may affect the environment.
The General Environmental Law (Law No. 19,300), enacted in March 1994 and modified in 2010 by Law No. 20,417, establishes a framework for environmental regulation in Chile, which has become increasingly stringent in recent years. Recent amendments include, among others, the creation of a new institutional framework composed of: (1) the Ministry of Environment (Ministerio del Medio Ambiente); (2) the Council of Ministers for Sustainability (Consejo de Ministros para la Sustentabilidad); (3) the Environmental Assessment Service (Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental); and (4) the Superintendency of the Environment (Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente), all of which are in charge of regulating, assessing and enforcing activities that could have an environmental impact. Recent modifications introduced to existing regulations also gives right for public participation for interested people and non-governmental organizations in the assessment of projects, which could result in additional delays for the final approval of new projects.
The new institutions and regulatory framework are likely to result in additional restrictions or costs on us relating to environmental litigation and protection of the environment, particularly those related to plant and animal life, wildlife protected areas, water quality standards, air emissions and soil pollution. In addition, violations of these environmental regulations may lead to fines, the closure of facilities and the revocation of environmental approvals. The General Environmental Law and its regulations entitle the Chilean government, through the Superintendency of the Environment, to: (1) bring administrative and judicial proceedings against companies that violate environmental laws; (2) close non-complying facilities; (3) revoke required operating licenses; and (iv) impose sanctions and fines when companies act negligently, recklessly or deliberately in connection with environmental matters.
The sanction procedures and environmental liability claims derived from environmental damage will be handled by the Chilean environmental court.
For additional information on environmental, health and safety regulations applicable to the Chilean oil and gas sector, see “—Industry and regulatory framework—Chile—Regulatory entities.”
Colombia
Health, safety and environmental regulation of the oil and gas industry in Colombia is dispersed throughout a number of different laws and regulations. Environmental regulation is primarily governed by Law 99 of 1993, which established the Ministry of Environment and provided for the issuance of a number of associated laws and regulations. The Ministry of Environment through the ANLA monitors compliance with environmental obligations. Furthermore, licenses for exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons are granted by the ANLA and this is the entity in charge of monitoring the permits. Regional corporations who are responsible for monitoring environmental compliance within their regions have additional obligations.
Law 99 introduced the requirement of environmental permits for activities, including oil and gas exploration and production, which can cause serious deterioration of renewable natural resources or damage to the environment, or that introduce substantial changes to the landscape. Decree 2820 of 2010 requires an environmental license for all hydrocarbon projects, including for each of the following activities: conducting seismic exploration activities that require the construction of roads for vehicular traffic, exploratory drilling projects, exploitation of hydrocarbons and development of related facilities (including internal pipelines and storage, roads and related infrastructure), transportation and handling of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons, developing liquid hydrocarbon delivery terminals or transfer stations, and construction and operation of refineries. Other hydrocarbon activities may require environmental permits as well. Compliance with environmental regulations is handled under a strict sanctioning regime, established by Law 1333 of 2009, whereby liability is presumed and fines are significant.
Legislation governing Health and Safety is varied, but mainly focuses on the Law 1562 of 2012, issued by the Colombian Congress through the System of Occupational Hazards.
Law 1010 of 2006 established actions to prevent, correct and punish labor bullying; Resolution 2646 of 2008 of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection establishes responsibilities for the identification, assessment, prevention, intervention and ongoing monitoring of exposure to psychosocial risk factors at work and for determining the origin of defined diseases caused by occupational stress; among others.
For additional information on environmental, health and safety regulations applicable to the Colombian oil and gas sector, see “—Industry and regulatory framework—Colombia—Regulatory entities.”
Brazil
In accordance with Brazilian environmental legislation, activities or ventures that use natural resources or that are deemed to be actually or potentially polluting are subject to environmental licensing requirements, under which the relevant environmental body analyzes location, facilities, expansion and operation of projects, as well as establishes conditions for project development.
Environmental licensing of E&P activities in the offshore basin (territorial sea, the continental platform and exclusive economic zones) is granted on a federal level. The environmental licensing in Brazil may be subject to federal, state or municipal (local) licensing as a general rule, and in many industries it is usual to have projects in which more than one of those entities claim jurisdiction. That may be the case for onshore E&P activities (and it is in the ports sector, for instance), but such controversy does not apply to offshore E&P environmental licensing.
The IBAMA, by means of its General Supervision for Oil and Gas Licensing (Coordenação Geral de Licenciamento de Petróleo e Gás), is the entity in charge of the environmental licensing for E&P projects.
E&P activities are divided in two subgroups, according to the Brazilian Ministry for the Environment: (i) seismic activities; and (ii) drilling and production of hydrocarbons. In addition to the Complementary Law, the main rules governing the environmental licensing of such activities are: (1) Resolution No. 237, from December 19, 1997, issued by the Brazilian National Committee for the Environment (Conselho Nacional do Meio-Ambiente), or CONAMA; (2) Resolution No. 350, from July 6, 2004, also issued by CONAMA; and (3) Ordinance No. 422, from October 26, 2011, issued by the Brazilian Ministry for the Environment.
CONAMA Resolution No. 237 sets forth the general rules that must be complied with regarding environmental licensing. It prescribes that the competent environmental authority, with the entrepreneur’s participation, shall define the plans, projects and environmental assessments necessary to start the environmental licensing proceeding. In addition, IBAMA Normative Ordinance No. 184, from July 17, 2008, defines the general rules of environmental
licensing on the federal level. However, for oil and gas activities, these general rules do not apply and have been adjusted and regulated by specific regulation, as mentioned below.
CONAMA Resolution No. 350/2004 governs environmental licensing for seismic activities. Ordinance No. 422, from October 26, 2011, issued by the Brazilian Ministry for the Environment, sets forth rules for the environmental licensing of: (1) seismic activities (i.e., clarifying and creating some new steps between those mentioned above); (2) drilling; and (3) oil and gas production and evacuation, as well as Extended Well Tests, or EWTs. For the environmental licensing of oil and gas production and evacuation, as well as EWTs, the proceeding is more complex. The steps differ depending on the status of the enterprise and the environmental license sought: (1) planning for the installation of the enterprise, which needs a Preliminary License (Licença Prévia), or LP; (2) implementation and installation of the project licensed with the LP, which needs an Installation License (Licença de Instalação) or LI; and (3) operation of the enterprise installed according with the LI, which needs an Operation License (Licença de Operação).
The environmental licensing of oil and natural gas exploration, development and production activities is subject to, among several other requirements, the preparation of environmental assessments, the complexity and rules of which vary according to the activities sought, the depth and distance from the coast and the environmental sensitivity of the area in which the development of activities is sought. Among such studies, the Environmental Impact Assessment (Estudo Prévio de Impacto Ambiental) and the respective Environmental Impact Report (Relatório de Impacto de Ambiental) may be deemed the most complex and time-demanding environmental assessment, though an Environmental Seismic Study (Estudio Ambiental de Sísmica) or an Environmental Drilling Study (Estudio Ambiental de Perfuração) may also be required for purposes of respective environmental licensing. This is a very comprehensive, tailor-made analysis of the environmental impacts, to be produced by the enterprise.
As a compensatory measure, we are also obligated to allocate funds for the implementation and maintenance of conservation areas, based on Federal Law No. 9,985/2000, which are evaluated by the competent environmental agency on the basis of Federal Decree Nos. 4,340/2002 and 6,848/2009 and which must not exceed the value of 0.5% of the total cost involved for the construction of the facility.
Failure to maintain a valid environmental license is classified as an administrative infraction and environmental crime. Any delays or denials by the environmental licensing authority in issuing or renewing licenses, as well as the inability to meet the requirements established by the environmental authorities during the environmental licensing process, may harm or even prevent the construction and regular development of the activity. Some environmental licenses related to operation of the Manatí Field production system and natural gas pipeline are expired. However, the operator submitted, timely, the request for renewal of those licenses and as such this operation is not in default as long as the regulator does not state its final position on the renewal.
Environmental nonconformities and damages may result in civil, administrative and criminal liabilities.
The National Environmental Policy (Federal Law No. 6,938/81) regulates civil liability for damages caused to the environment, such liability being of an objective nature (strict liability), i.e., irrespective of fault. Demonstration of the cause-effect relationship between damage caused and action or inaction suffices to trigger the obligation to redress environmental damage. The fact that the relevant entity’s operations are covered by environmental licenses does not preclude such liability. The National Environmental Policy established joint liability among polluting agents. In case of environmental damage to an industrial area, it may be difficult to identify the source of environmental damages and intensity thereof. The victim of such damages or whomever the law so authorizes, as indicated below, is not compelled to sue all polluting agents within the same proceeding. Because liability is of a joint nature, the aggrieved party may choose one out of all polluting agents (for example, the agent with the best economic standing) to redress all damages. A polluting agent so sued will have a right of recourse against the other polluting agents.
Furthermore, under Brazilian law, due to environmental damages and noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations, individuals or entities are also subject to criminal and administrative sanctions.
In the criminal sphere, the Environmental Crimes Act (Federal Law No. 9,605/98) applies to every individual or legal entity that carries out any activity deemed damaging to the environment. Because criminal liability is of a subjective nature, the Environmental Crimes Act attributed liability to representatives of legal entities. As a result, upon occurrence of an environmental violation, a legal entity’s officer, administrator, director, manager, agent or
attorney-in-fact may also be subject to criminal penalties, which comprise fines and imprisonment. With respect to judicial actions, a civil or administrative settlement does not prevent prosecution in a criminal sphere should an environmental crime have occurred.
In the administrative sphere, Federal Decree No. 6,514/2008 provides that environmental authorities may also impose administrative sanctions for those who do not comply with environmental laws and regulations, including, among others: simple fines from R$50 to R$50 million, depending on the infraction, e.g., absence of environmental licenses or failure to comply with its terms may subject the entrepreneur to a fine ranging from R$500 to R$10 million, daily fines, partial or total suspension of activities, demolition of the enterprise and rights restriction sanctions, such as forfeiture or restriction of tax incentives or benefits, closing of the establishments or ventures and forfeiture or suspension of participation in credit lines with official credit establishments.
Due to environmental damages and noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations, the environmental authorities may also propose Conduct Adjustment Agreements (Termos de Ajustamento de Conduta) through which the enterprise may be obliged to fund recovery works and environmental projects.
For additional information on environmental, health and safety regulations applicable to the Brazilian oil and gas sector, see “—Industry and regulatory framework—Brazil—Regulatory entities.”
Argentina
Historically, environmental legislation and enforcement powers in respect of oil and gas operations have been vested with the federal government. However, after the 1994 constitutional reform and after the enactment of the YPF Privatization Law in 1992, provincial states have passed and enforced concurrent new environmental legislation. The federal government is empowered to establish minimum environmental protection standards and provincial governments are empowered to complement them, though provincial environmental legislation is not always fully consistent with federal environmental legislation.
The oil and natural gas industry in Argentina is subject to environmental regulations pursuant to concurrent provincial state and federal legislation. Such legislation provides for restrictions and prohibitions on the release or emission of various substances produced in association with certain oil and gas industry operations. In addition, such legislation requires that wells, facilities and sites be abandoned, reclaimed and/or remediated according to specific standards and/or to the satisfaction of governmental authorities and/or surface owners. Compliance with such legislation can require significant expenditures and a breach of such requirements may result in suspension or revocation of necessary licenses and authorizations, civil and criminal liability for pollution damage and the imposition of material fines and penalties.
Environmental regulations in Argentina also require that wells be plugged in and that facility sites be abandoned and returned to Argentina in a state deemed satisfactory to the applicable regulatory authorities. Four years prior to the expiration of any hydrocarbon concession granted by the Argentine government, an operator is required to present any technical or commercial reasons for seeking to leave an inactive and non-producing well unplugged to the applicable regulatory authorities. In addition, the province of Santa Cruz, in which the Del Mosquito block is located, has created a Registry of Environmental Liabilities and requires operators to submit a five-year remediation program for all environmental liabilities that have been registered.
For additional information on environmental, health and safety regulations applicable to the Argentine oil and gas sector, see “—Industry and regulatory framework—Argentina—Regulatory entities.”
Our environmental policy
Our health, safety and environmental management plan is focused on undertaking realistic and practical programs based on recognized world practices. Our emphasis is on building key principles and company-wide ownership and then expanding programs from within as we continue to grow. Our S.P.E.E.D. program has been developed in accordance with: ISO 14001 for environmental management issues, OHSAS 18001 for occupational health and safety management issues, SA 8000 for social accountability and workers’ rights issues and applicable World Bank standards.
Our policy is to strive to meet or exceed environmental regulations in the countries in which we operate. We believe that oil and gas can be produced in an environmentally-responsible manner with proper care, understanding
and management. We have within our S.P.E.E.D. program a team that is exclusively focused on securing the environmental authorizations and permits for the projects we undertake. This team is also responsible for the achievement of the environmental standards set by our board of directors and for training and supporting our personnel. In these activities, we are supported by experienced oil and gas environmental consulting firms. Our senior executives have also received training in proper environmental management.
Our health and safety policy
We believe that the implementation of additional safety tools in our operations in 2012 have significantly contributed to control and minimizing risks in our operation. Actions taken by us included training, permits to work, internal audits, drills, tailgate safety meetings, job safety analysis and risk evaluations. As of December 31, 2013, on a rolling 12-month basis, our Lost Time Incident Rate was 0.62, and our Total Recordable Incident Rate was 0.95 (based on a rate of 200,000 labor hours) compared to 0.83 and 0.99, respectively, in December 2012. We had no fatalities due to workforce incidents related to our operations in 2012 and 2013.
Certain Bermuda law considerations
As a Bermuda exempted company, we and our Bermuda subsidiaries are subject to regulation in Bermuda. We have been designated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority as a non-resident for Bermuda exchange control purposes. This designation allows us to engage in transactions in currencies other than the Bermuda dollar, and there are no restrictions on our ability to transfer funds (other than funds denominated in Bermuda dollars) in and out of Bermuda.
Under Bermuda law, “exempted” companies are companies formed for the purpose of conducting business outside Bermuda from a principal place of business in Bermuda. As exempted companies, we and our Bermuda subsidiaries may not, without a license or consent granted by the Minister of Finance of Bermuda, participate in certain business transactions, including transactions involving Bermuda landholding rights and the carrying on of business of any kind for which we or our Bermuda subsidiaries are not licensed in Bermuda.
Insurance
We maintain insurance coverage of types and amounts that we believe to be customary and reasonable for companies of our size and with similar operations in the oil and gas industry. However, as is customary in the industry, we do not insure fully against all risks associated with our business, either because such insurance is not available or because premium costs are considered prohibitive.
Currently, our insurance program includes, among other things, construction, fire, vehicle, technical, umbrella liability, director’s and officer’s liability and employer’s liability coverage. Our insurance includes various limits and deductibles or retentions, which must be met prior to or in conjunction with recovery. A loss not fully covered by insurance could have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—Oil and gas operations contain a high degree of risk and we may not be fully insured against all risks we face in our business.”
Industry and regulatory framework
Global oil and gas industry
During 2012, the growth rate of energy consumption globally dropped following (1) the global economic slowdown and (2) a more efficient use of energy as a response to the high price environment of recent years.
Global oil consumption in 2012 grew by 895,000 bopd, or 0.9%, compared to 2011, to reach 89,774,000 bopd. On the other hand, global oil production in 2012 increased by 1.9 mmbopd, or 2.2%, to reach 86.2 mmbopd. Global natural gas consumption in 2012 grew by 7.1 bcfpd, or 2.3%, to reach 319.8 bcfpd, while global natural gas production in 2012 grew by 6.2 bcfpd, or 1.9%, to reach 324.6 bcfpd, with the United States recording the largest volumetric increases in natural gas consumption and production. In 2012, the United States posted the largest oil and natural gas production gains worldwide, and saw the largest increase in oil production in its history. Elsewhere, for a second year, disruptions to oil supply in Africa and parts of the Middle East were offset by growth among OPEC producers according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2013, or the BP Statistical Review.
World proved oil reserves at the end of 2012 reached 1,668.9 billion barrels (up 0.9% in relation to 2011), enough to meet 52.9 years of 2012’s global production, according to the BP Statistical Review. In 2012, South and Central America contributed 19.7% of global proved oil reserves, with Venezuelan reserves as reported by BP Statistical Review being the main source of production (totaling 297.6 bbopd). Global oil production averaged 86.2 mmbopd (an increase of 2.2% over 2011). Throughout the last twenty years, the overall contribution of South and Central America to global proved oil reserves has increased dramatically as a result of the emergence of markets like Brazil and Ecuador coupled with the dramatic increase of reserves in Venezuela (by 370% during the same period).
Distribution of proved oil reserves in 1992, 2002 and 2012
Percentage
Source: BP Statistical Review
According to the BP Statistical Review, global proved natural gas reserves at the end of 2012 remained stable at 187.3 trillion cubic meters, enough to meet 55.7 years of 2012’s global production. South and Central America currently hold 4.1% of global proved natural gas reserves. During 2012, global natural gas production averaged 3363.9 billion cubic meters, an increase of 1.9% over 2011.
Distribution of proved natural gas reserves in 1992, 2002 and 2012
Percentage
Source: BP Statistical Review
The industry’s outlook is gradually shifting, driven mainly by supply patterns. According to BP’s Energy Outlook 2030, global energy demand is expected to grow by 36% between 2011 and 2030 as a result of increasing consumption by emerging economies (with China and India becoming increasingly more import-dependent). On the
supply side, unconventional oil and gas resources are expected to play a major role in balancing global demand, with the United States leading this process. BP projects that between 2011 and 2030, the United States will become self-sufficient in energy, while key emerging markets, namely China and India, will become increasingly import-dependent.
Chile
Chile is recognized as the most developed and stable economy in South America. The country’s economy has grown consistently during the last two decades, a trend which is expected to continue in the near future. With over 50 free trade agreements, Chile is an open-market economy, and in 2010, became the first South American country to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, or the OECD. The country’s fiscal policy follows a countercyclical spending rule and the Chilean Central Bank aims to ensure price stability by targeting yearly inflation of around 3%. Chile has been successful in attracting foreign direct investment, and in 2011, achieved the second-highest foreign investment inflows in South America. Chile holds investment-grade sovereign debt ratings from all major ratings agencies, S&P, Fitch and Moody’s (AA-, A+, and Aa3, respectively).
Oil and gas industry
Demand and consumption
According to ENAP, national consumption of refined oil products reached 18.4 mmcf in Chile during 2012, a 0.4% increase compared to 2011 and equivalent to 316,200 barrels per day. This increase was mainly due to strong and stable economic growth, offset by an increase in prices of the main products. As is the case in many OECD countries, oil is predominantly used as a transport fuel, but a notable difference in Chile is that diesel is used as a substitute for natural gas in power generation.
Diesel is the main product in terms of consumption in Chile (157,300 barrels per day), followed by gasoline (66,300 barrels per day) and liquid petroleum gas, or LPG (36,200 barrels per day). Among the different types of refined oil products, gasoline experienced the greatest increase in terms of consumption, with consumption increasing 5.2% compared to 2011.
Consumption in Chile by type of oil product (thousands of cubic meters) | | | | | | | | | |
Diesel | | | 9,153 | | | | 8,936 | | | | 2.4 | % |
Gasoline | | | 3,856 | | | | 3,667 | | | | 5.2 | % |
LPG | | | 2,109 | | | | 2,090 | | | | 0.9 | % |
Fuel Oil | | | 1,498 | | | | 1,864 | | | | (19.6 | %) |
Kerosene | | | 1,243 | | | | 1,192 | | | | 4.3 | % |
Others | | | 542 | | | | 586 | | | | (7.5 | %) |
Total | | | 18,401 | | | | 18,335 | | | | 0.4 | % |
Source: ENAP 2012 Annual Report
Natural gas consumption grew significantly from the late 1990s to 2004, as direct pipeline connections were built to Argentina, providing a cheap and easily accessible supply. In 2002, however, the Argentine government capped the price of gas in its domestic market, resulting in increased demand for natural gas in Argentina. This led the Argentine government in 2004 to restrict natural gas exports to Chile in order to reserve them for domestic use. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to the countries in which we operate—Governmental actions in the countries in which we operate and in which we may operate in the future may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.” The restriction of Argentine natural gas exports has caused gas consumption in Chile to decrease significantly since 2004, when natural gas accounted for some 24% of the Total Primary Energy Supply, or TPES, according to the International Energy Agency. By 2009, natural gas only accounted for 8% of TPES.
LPG has been consumed in place of natural gas. As such, the LPG and gas markets overlap in Chile. LPG is predominantly used as a residential fuel in Chile (notably for cooking), particularly in relatively remote regions.
In 2012, the bulk of gas demand (41%) came from the power generation sector. Industry and the petrochemical sector accounted for 24% each, and the residential/commercial sector for the remaining 11%.
Supply and production
Chile is a large net importer of both crude oil and oil products. Its hydrocarbon reserves, which comprise limited crude oil reserves and 1,447.9 bcf of natural gas reserves according to the OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin 2013, or the OPEC Bulletin, are concentrated in the Magallanes Basin at the southern tip of the country.
Due to its limited oil and natural gas reserves, Chile has in the past imported almost all of its crude oil requirements principally from Brazil, Argentina and Colombia, and most of its natural gas requirements principally from Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Guinea and Yemen. In the northern part of the country, natural gas is imported through the Mejillones liquid natural gas, or LNG, terminal and is used predominantly for electricity generation by the mining industry. In the central part of the country (including the capital, Santiago), gas is primarily supplied by the Quintero LNG terminal.
Oil and Gas Infrastructure in Chile
In 2012, Chile produced 6.1 mbopd of crude oil and 40.2 bcf of natural gas but imported 174.8 mbopd of crude oil and 134.8 bcf of natural gas, according to the OPEC Bulletin.
The exploration and development of oil fields in Chile has historically been controlled mainly by ENAP, with few private companies working in this sector. We were the first private producer of oil and gas in Chile.
Regulation of the oil and gas industry
Under the Chilean Constitution, the state is the exclusive owner of all mineral and fossil substances, including hydrocarbons, regardless of who owns the land on which the reserves are located. The exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons may be carried out by the state, companies owned by the state or private persons through administrative concessions granted by the President of Chile by Supreme Decree or CEOPs executed by the Minister
of Energy. Exploitation rights granted to private companies are subject to special taxes and/or royalty payments. The hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation industry is supervised by the Chilean Ministry of Energy.
In Chile, a participant is granted rights to explore and exploit certain assets under a CEOP. If a participant breaches certain obligations under a CEOP, the participant may lose the right to exploit certain areas or may be required to return all or a portion of the awarded areas to Chile with no right of compensation. Although the government of Chile cannot unilaterally modify the rights granted in the CEOP once it is signed, exploration and exploitation are nonetheless subject to significant government regulations, such as regulations concerning the environment, tort liability, health and safety and labor. In the past year, for example, the Chilean government has proposed new regulations regarding the closure plans applicable to hydrocarbon operations that could have an impact on the timeframes and costs required to set up exploration or exploitation activities.
Regulatory entities
The Chilean Ministry of Energy and the National Commission of Energy (Comisión Nacional de Energía), or the CNE, are the principal government agencies responsible for the issuance of policies and regulations for the oil and gas sector. The Chilean Ministry of Energy is responsible for monitoring a participant’s compliance with its obligations under a CEOP. The Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (Superintendencia de Electricidad y Combustibles), or the SDEC, supervises compliance with regulations regarding gas pipeline transportation and the Ministry of Environment, the Environmental Assessment Service and the Superintendency of Environment are responsible for environmental matters. The new Environmental Courts are responsible for adjudicating claims against the Superintendency of Environment and claims concerning environmental damage.
Ministry of Energy
The Chilean Ministry of Energy is responsible for developing and coordinating all plans, policies and regulations for the energy sector in Chile and supervising and advising the government in all matters related to energy. It coordinates the different entities in the energy sector in Chile and, by law, its Minister is the chairman of the board of directors of ENAP. The Ministry of Energy is also responsible for the protection, conservation and development of renewable and non-renewable energy resources.
SDEC
The SDEC is responsible for monitoring compliance with all regulations related to the generation, production, storage, transportation and distribution of all fuels, gas and electricity for the consumer market. To enforce such regulations, the SDEC has the power to impose fines and, if necessary, to take over the administration of deficient services when applicable. Our operations are not under the supervision of the SDEC.
Ministry of Environment, Environmental Assessment Service and Superintendency of Environment
The Ministry of Environment, the Environmental Assessment Service and the Superintendency of Environment are primarily responsible for environmental issues in Chile, including those affecting the oil and gas industry. The Ministry of Environment is responsible for the formulation and implementation of environmental policies, plans and programs, as well as for the protection and conservation of biological diversity and renewable natural resources and water resources and for promoting sustainable development and the integrity of environmental policy and regulations. The Environmental Assessment Service is responsible for assessing whether projects that might have an adverse effect on the environment comply with Chilean environmental laws and regulations. The Environmental Assessment Service directs and coordinates the environmental impact assessment process, whose final qualification is granted by the competent regional environmental assessment commission. The Superintendency of Environment’s primary responsibilities are monitoring compliance with the terms of an environmental impact assessment, as well as monitoring compliance with government plans to prevent environmental damage or to clean or restore contaminated geographical areas. The Superintendency of Environment has the power to suspend or terminate, or impose fines from US$1,000 up to US$10.0 million for, activities that it deems to have an adverse environmental impact, even if such activities comply with a previously approved environmental impact assessment.
The Environmental Courts
The Environmental Courts are principally responsible for hearing appeals of determinations made by the Superintendency of Environment and for adjudicating claims for environmental damage. There is currently one
Environmental Court in Chile, which began to hear claims on December 28, 2012. Another two Environmental Courts are expected to begin hearing claims during 2013. The Environmental Court that will have jurisdiction over the area in which we operate elected its members on September 12, 2013 and is expected to begin hearing claims shortly.
Regulatory framework
Regulation of exploration and production activities
Oil and gas exploration and development is governed by the Political Constitution of the Republic of Chile and Decree with Law Force No 2 of 1986 of the Ministry of Mines, which set forth the revised text of the Decree Law 1089 of 1975, on CEOPS. However, the right to explore and develop fields is granted for each area under a CEOP between Chile and the relevant contractors. The CEOP establishes the legal framework for hydrocarbon activities, including, among other things, minimum investment commitments, exploration and exploitation phase durations, compensation for the private company (either in cash or in kind) and the applicable tax regime. Accordingly, all the provisions governing the exploitation and development of our Chilean operations are contained in our CEOPs and the CEOPs constitute all the licenses that we need in order to own, operate, import and export any of the equipment used in our business and to conduct our gas and petroleum operations in Chile.
Under Chilean law, the surface landowners have no property rights over the minerals found under the surface of their land. Subsurface rights do not generate any surface rights, except the right to impose legal easements or rights of way. Easements or rights of way can be individually negotiated with individual surface land owners or can be granted without the consent of the landowner through judicial process. Pursuant to the Chilean Code of Mines, a judge can permit a party to use an easement pending final adjudication and settlement of compensation for the affected landowner.
Regulation of transportation activities
Liquid hydrocarbon transportation, storage, importation and marketing are subject to a number of technical regulations regarding safety, quality and other matters. The rules for the transportation of liquid fuels through trucks and pipelines are primarily found in Supreme Decree No. 160 of 2009 (the Safety Code for Facilities and Production and Refining Operations, Transportation, Storage, Distribution and Supply of Liquid Fuels) of the Ministry of Economy. The Ministry of Energy is responsible for the regulation of transportation by pipeline and the Ministry of Transport is responsible for the regulation of transportation by truck.
Gas transportation in Chile is subject to open access rules, in which the gas transportation company must make its excess transportation capacity available to third parties under equal economic, commercial and technical conditions. Laws prohibit the abuse of a dominant position by a gas transportation company in order to discriminate among potential customers for use of its pipelines. Pursuant to Ministry of Economy Supreme Decree No. 280 of 2009, gas pipelines must also comply with the Regulation of Security for Transportation and Distribution of Gas, which regulates the design, construction, operation, maintenance, inspection and termination of operations of a natural gas pipeline.
Additionally, Chile is a signatory state to the Substitute Protocol of the Eighth Additional Protocol to the Economic Complementation Agreement No. 16 between Chile Republic and Argentina Republic (ACE 16) Regulation for Marketing, Operations and Transportation of Hydrocarbons Liquids—Crude Oil, Liquefied Gas and Liquid Products of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the following international conventions: the International Convention for the prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil of 1954, the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matters of 1972 and the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969.
Taxation
With regard to direct taxes on hydrocarbon exploitation, the general rule is that hydrocarbons are transferred to the contractor (its retribution under the CEOP), and those re-acquisitions from the contractor performed by Chile or its enterprises, as well as their corresponding acts, contracts and documents, are tax exempt. In addition, hydrocarbon exports by the contractor are also tax exempt. With regard to income taxes, as provided by article 5 of Decree Law No. 1,089, the contractor is subject either to a single tax calculated on its retribution, equal to 50% of such retribution, or to the general income tax regime established in the Income Tax Law (Decree Law No. 824 of
1974), in force at the time of the execution of the public deed which contains CEOPs, terms of which will be applicable and invariable throughout the duration of the contract. Income in Chile is subject to corporate tax on an accrual basis and has a current rate of 20%. The applicable and invariable corporate income tax rates of our CEOPs range between 15% and 18.5%, as follows: the Fell Block is subject to a rate of 15%, the Otway and Tranquilo Blocks are subject to a rate of 17% and the Flamenco, Isla Norte and Campanario Blocks are subject to a rate of 18.5% for the income accrued or received during 2012 and 17% for the income accrued or received during 2013 and onward. Dividends or profits distributed to the foreign shareholders of the contractors are subject to 35% Additional Withholding Tax with a tax credit for the corporate income tax paid by the contractor being deductible from the corporate income tax already paid as credit. With regard to the value added tax, contractors may obtain as a refund the value added tax (which is 19% according to the Sales and Services Tax Law contained in Decree Law No. 825 of 1974) supported or paid on the import or purchase of goods or services used in connection with the exploration and exploitation activities. The applicable tax regime for each CEOP remains unchanged throughout the duration of the CEOP.
Colombia
Oil and gas industry
Today, Colombia is one of the largest and most stable economies in South America. The country has a stable political and judicial environment, with a strong track record of growth. Furthermore, Colombia holds investment-grade sovereign debt ratings from all major rating agencies (BBB, BBB- and Baa3 from S&P, Fitch and Moody’s, respectively).
In 2012, the country’s GDP grew by 4%, with CPI inflation at 2.44%. In order to stimulate growth and private investments, Colombia has throughout the last years entered into several free trade agreements, which include the agreement with the United States in May 2012 and the creation of the Pacific Alliance with Mexico, Peru and Chile in June 2013.
Oil is currently Colombia’s leading export and source of foreign investment. Historically, all oil production in the country was from concessions granted to foreign operators or undertaken by Ecopetrol, in contracts of association with foreign companies. During 1999 and 2000, the country was considered to be at risk of becoming a net oil importer unless significant additional reserves were discovered. As a result, Ecopetrol was restructured, and in 2003, a regulatory agency for the sector, the ANH, was created. Following these initial steps, consistent acreage sales to private investors coupled with better seismic work led to an improvement in the country’s exploratory success rate and, consequently, to a change in the country’s production landscape. Discoveries in Colombia in general have not been relevant in terms of scale; however, the number of discoveries has favored a significant increase in production and the creation of several medium-sized companies. Opportunities offered by the Colombian energy sector have changed the competitive landscape by attracting foreign investment in the country from leading multinational energy companies that operate in Colombia either independently or through joint ventures. Foreign investment in the oil and gas industry in Colombia has grown from US$1.125 million in 2005 to US$5.377 million in 2012.
Colombia—signed contracts
Source: ANH
According to the BP Statistical Review, Colombia is the third-largest producer of crude oil and the seventh-largest producer of natural gas in Central and South America. According to the BP Statistical Review, in 2012, the country’s oil production reached 365.5 mmboe, with natural gas production of 423.6 bcf.
Colombia—production profile
Source: BP Statistical Review
Colombia is divided in 23 sedimentary basins. Colombian sedimentary basins have extensively developed petroleum systems that make them well suited for exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons. Colombian supply growth is driven mainly by conventional resources located in reservoirs with large regional distribution systems and heavy oil development along the eastern part of the Tertiary Foreland basins. The Eastern Llanos and Magdalena Valley Basins show the most potential for exploration activities. The Eastern Llanos Basin accounts for over 79% of the country’s current oil and liquids reserves, followed by Caguan-Putumayo Basin, which accounts for 9%. The Eastern Llanos Basin also contains large gas reserves, comprising 90% of the country’s reserves. From 2002 to 2012, Colombian production increased at a CAGR of 5.1% for oil and 6.8% for natural gas.
We believe Colombia offers significant potential for value creation through the application of modern technology and exploration strategies on undercapitalized producing fields.
Colombia—seismic profile (thousand km 2D equivalent)
Source: ANH
Regulation of the oil and gas industry
Under Colombian law, the state owns all hydrocarbon reserves discovered in the Colombian territory and exercises control of the exploitation of such reserves primarily through the ANH.
The ANH is responsible for managing all exploration lands not subject to previously existing association contracts with Ecopetrol. The ANH began offering all undeveloped and unlicensed exploration areas in the country under E&P Contracts and Technical Evaluation Agreements, or TEAs, which resulted in a significant increase in Colombian exploration activity and competition, according to the ANH. According to the ANH, since January 2004, 450 E&P Contracts and 97 TEAs have been signed, of which 46 E&P Contracts and eight TEAs have been signed during 2012. The ANH is also in charge of negotiating and executing contracts through “direct negotiation” mechanisms with attention to special conditions in the areas to be explored.
Regulatory entities
The principal authorities that regulate our activities in Colombia are the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the ANH, the National Environmental Licensing Authority, or the ANLA, and the Regulatory Commission of Energy and Gas, or the CREG.
Ministry of Mines and Energy
The Ministry of Mines and Energy is responsible for managing and regulating Colombia’s nonrenewable natural resources, assuring their optimal utilization by defining and adopting national policies regarding exploration, production, transportation, refining, distribution and export of minerals and hydrocarbons.
ANH
The ANH was created in 2003 and is responsible for the administration of Colombia’s hydrocarbon reserves. The ANH’s objective is to manage the hydrocarbon reserves owned by the state through the design, promotion and negotiation of the exploration and production agreements in areas where hydrocarbons may be found. The ANH is also responsible for creating and maintaining attractive conditions for private investments in the hydrocarbon sector and for designing bidding rounds for exploration blocks.
Any oil company selected by the ANH to explore a specific block must execute either a TEA or an E&P Contract to develop and exploit the block with the ANH. All royalty payments in connection with the production of hydrocarbons are made to the ANH in kind unless the ANH grants a specific waiver to make royalty payments in cash or the specific contract provides for payment in cash. Any oil company working in Colombia must present to the ANH periodic reports on the evolution of their exploration and exploitation activities.
ANLA
The ANLA was created pursuant to Decree 3573 of 2011 issued by the Colombian government with the participation of the Administrative Department of Public Functions (Departamento Adminstrativo de la Función Pública), and is responsible for hydrocarbon environmental licensing in Colombia. Any project in the hydrocarbons sector requiring an environmental license must submit to environmental licensing procedures, which require the presentation of an environmental impact assessment, an environmental management plan and a contingency plan. Environmental licenses are granted for exploration and production phases separately.
CREG
Laws 142 and 143 of 1994 created the CREG, a special administrative unit of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, responsible for establishing the standards for the exploitation and use of energy, regulating the domestic utilities of electricity and fuel gas (liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas), establishing price rules for energy and gas and regulating self-generation and cogeneration of energy. The CREG is also responsible for fostering the development of the energy services industry, promoting competition and responding to consumer and industry needs. Decree 4130 of 2011 assigned the CREG new functions that were previously fulfilled by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, including the regulation of tariffs for oil transportation in poliducts and the regulation of petroleum-derived liquid fluids.
Superintendency of Domiciliary Public Services
Under Colombian regulations, the distribution and marketing of natural gas is considered a public service. As such, this activity, as well as electricity, are regulated by Law 142 of 1994 and supervised by the Superintendency of Domiciliary Public Services (Superintendencia de Servicios Públicos Domiciliarios).
Regulatory framework
Regulation of exploration and production activities
Pursuant to Colombian law, the state is the exclusive owner of all hydrocarbon resources located in Colombia and has full authority to determine the rights, royalties or compensation to be paid by private investors for the exploration or production of any hydrocarbon reserves. The Ministry of Mines and Energy is the authority responsible for regulating all activities related to the exploration and production of hydrocarbons in Colombia.
Decree Law 1056 of 1953 (Código de Petróleos), or the Petroleum Code, establishes the general procedures and requirements that must be completed by a private investor prior to commencing hydrocarbon exploration or production activities. The Petroleum Code sets forth general guidelines, obligations and disclosure procedures that need to be followed during the performance of these activities.
Exploration and production activities were governed by Decree 1895 of 1973 until September 2009. Decree Law 2310 of 1974 (as complemented by Decree 743 of 1975) governed the contracts and contracting processes carried out by Ecopetrol and the rules applicable to such contracts, and also provided that Ecopetrol was responsible for administering the hydrocarbons resources in the Country. Decree 2310 of 1974 was replaced by Decree Law 1760 of 2003, but all agreements entered into by us prior to 2003 with other oil companies are still regulated by Decree 2310 of 1974.
Decree Law 1760 of 2003 provided the faculties, structure and functions of the ANH, and granted the ANH full and exclusive authority to regulate and oversee the exploration and production of hydrocarbon reserves. Decree Law 1760 of 2003 was complemented by Decree 2288 of 2004, which regulates all aspects related to the reversion of reserves and infrastructure under the joint venture agreements executed by us before 2004.
The regime for the ANH’s contracts is set forth in Agreement 008 of 2004 and Agreement 004 of 2012. Accord 008 of 2004, as repealed and replaced by Accord 004 of 2012, issued by the Directive Council of the ANH, sets forth the necessary steps for entering into E&P Contracts with the ANH. This Agreement only regulates the contracts entered into as of May 4, 2012. Prior contracts are still ruled by Agreement 008 of 2004.
Resolution 18-1495 of 2009 establishes a series of regulations regarding hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation. In the E&P Contracts, operators are afforded access to non-contracted blocks by committing to an
exploration work program. These E&P Contracts provide companies with 100% of new production, less the participation of the ANH, which participation may differ for each E&P Contract and depends on the percentage that each company has offered to the ANH in order to be granted with a block, subject to an initial royalty payment of 8% and the payment of income taxes of 33%. In addition, the Colombian government also introduced TEAs, in which companies that enter into TEAs are the only ones to have the right to explore, evaluate and select desirable exploration areas and to propose work commitments on those areas, and have a preemptive right to enter into an E&P Contract, thereby providing companies with low-cost access to larger areas for preliminary evaluation prior to committing to broader exploration programs. A preemptive right is granted to convert the TEA into an E&P Contract. Exploration activities can only be carried out by the TEA contractor.
Pursuant to Colombian law, companies are obligated to pay a percentage of their production to the ANH as royalties and an economic right as ANH’s participating interest in the production. In 1999, a modification to the royalty system established a sliding scale for royalty payments, linking them to the production level of crude oil and natural gas fields discovered after July 29, 1999 and to the quality of the crude oil produced. Since 2002 the royalties system has ranged from 8% for fields producing up to 5,000 bopd to 25% for fields producing in excess of 600,000 bopd. Changes in royalty programs only apply to new discoveries and do not alter fields already in their production stage. Producing fields pay royalties in accordance with the applicable royalty program at the time of the discovery. The purchase price is calculated based on a reference price for crude oil at the wellhead and varies depending on prevailing international prices. Decree 2100 of 2011 modified the commercialization scheme of natural gas royalties. From 2012 and until May 2013, producers had to directly commercialize the royalties of their own production on behalf of the ANH. In return, the ANH paid a commercialization fee to producers. As of May 2013, contractors must pay in kind royalties to third parties called “Royalty Trading Companies” or “Royalty Marketing Companies,” which are in charge of commercializing the royalties.
Regulation of refining and petrochemical activities
Refining and petrochemical activities are considered to be public utility activities and are subject to governmental regulation. Article 58 of the Petroleum Code establishes that oil refining activities can be developed throughout Colombia. Oil refineries must comply with the technical characteristics and requirements established by the existing regulations.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy is responsible for regulating, supervising and overseeing all activities related to the refining of crude oil, import of refined products, storage, transport and distribution.
Decree 2657 of 1964 regulated the oil refining activities and created the Oil Refining Planning Committee, which is responsible for studying industry problems and implementing short- and long-term refining planning policies. The Committee is also responsible for evaluating and reviewing new refining projects or expansion of existing infrastructure. In evaluating a new project, the Committee must take into account the significance of the project and the economic impact, the sources of financing, profitability, social contribution, the effects on Colombia’s balance of payments and the price structure of the refined products.
Pursuant to Resolution 18-0966 of 2006 issued by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and Article 58 of the Petroleum Code, any refining company operating in Colombia must provide a portion or, if needed, the total of its production to supply local demand prior to exporting any production. If the regulated production income, the principal item in the price formula, becomes lower than the export parity price, the price paid for the refined products will be equivalent to the price for those products in the U.S. Gulf Coast market. If there is local demand for imported crudes, the refining company may charge additional transportation costs in proportion to the crudes delivered to the refinery.
In 2008, Law 1205 was issued, with the main purpose of contributing to a healthier environment, and established the minimum quality that fuels should have in the country and the time frame for such a purpose.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy establishes the safety standards for LPG, storage equipment, maintenance and distribution. Regulations issued in 1992 established that every local, commercial and industrial facility with a storage capacity of LPG greater than 420 pounds must receive authorization for operations from the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
As of May 2012, under the powers granted by Decree 4130 of 2011 for currency and tax matters as well as for royalties, the ANH will determine the crude oil price reference.
Regulation of transportation activities
Hydrocarbon transportation activity is considered a public utility activity in Colombia and therefore is under governmental supervision and control. It is also a public service, and pipelines are considered to be public transport companies. Transportation and distribution of crude oil, natural gas and refined products must comply with the Petroleum Code, the Commerce Code (Código de Comercio) and with all governmental decrees and resolutions.
Notwithstanding the general rules for hydrocarbon transportation in Colombia, natural gas transportation has specific regulations, due to the categorization of natural gas distribution as a public utility activity under Colombian laws. Therefore, natural gas distribution transportation is governed by specific regulation, issued by the CREG that seeks primarily to satisfy the needs of the population.
The exportation of natural gas is not considered a public utility activity under Colombian law and therefore is not subject to Law 142 of 1994. Nevertheless, the internal supply of natural gas is a priority for the Colombian government. This policy is included in Decree 2100 of 2011, providing that in the event the supply of natural gas is reduced or halted as a result of a shortage of this hydrocarbon, the Colombian government has the right to suspend the supply of natural gas to foreign customers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Decree 2100 of 2011, establishes freedom to export natural gas, under normal conditions for gas reserves.
Transport systems, classified as crude oil pipelines and multipurpose pipelines, can be owned by private parties. The building, operation and maintenance of pipelines must comply with environmental, social, technical and economic requirements under national and international standards. Transportation networks must follow specific conditions regarding design and specifications, while complying with the quality standards demanded by the oil and gas industry.
According to Law 681 of 2001, multipurpose pipelines must be open to third-party use and owners must offer their capacity on the basis of equal access to all. Hydrocarbon transport activity may be developed by third parties and must meet all requirements established by law.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy is responsible for studying and approving the design and blueprints of all pipelines, mediation of rates between parties or, in case of disagreement, establishing the hydrocarbon transport rates based on information furnished by the service provider, issuing hydrocarbon transport regulations, liquidation, distribution and verification of payment of transport-related taxes and managing the information system for the oil product distribution chain.
The construction of transportation systems requires government licenses and local permits awarded by the Ministry of Environment, in addition to other requirements from the regional environmental authorities.
Recently, further regulations on pipeline access and tariff systems have been defined by the Ministry of Mines and Energy. Over the past months, the Ministry of Mines and Energy has been working on a project to modify the 2010 regulation of pipeline access and tariff systems.
Taxation
The Tax Statute and Law 9 of 1991 provide the primary features of the oil and gas industry’s tax and exchange system in Colombia. Generally, national taxes under the general tax statute apply to all taxpayers, regardless of industry. The main taxes currently in effect—after the December 2012 tax reform discussed below—are the income tax (25%), the special income tax for the development of social investments (9% for 2013 to 2015 and 8% for 2016 and beyond) the equity or net assets tax, sales or value added tax (16%), and the tax on financial transaction (0.4%). Additional regional taxes also apply. Colombia has entered into a number of international tax treaties to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion in matters of income tax and net asset tax.
Decree 2080 of 2000 (amended by Decree 4800 of 2010), or the international investment regime, regulates foreign capital investment in Colombia. Resolution 8 of the board of the Colombian Central Bank, or the Exchange Statute, and its amendments contain provisions governing exchange operations. Articles 48 to 52 of Resolution 8 provide for a special exchange regime for the oil industry that removes the obligation of repayment to the foreign
exchange market currency from foreign currency sales made by foreign oil companies. Such companies may not acquire foreign currency in the exchange market under any circumstances and must reinstate in the foreign exchange market the capital required in order to meet expenses in Colombian legal currency. Companies can avoid participating in this special oil and gas exchange regime, however, by informing the Colombian Central Bank, in which case they will be subject to the general exchange regime of Resolution 8 and may not be able to access the special exchange regime for a period of 10 years.
On December 26, 2012, the Colombian Congress approved a number of tax reforms. These changes include, among other things, VAT rate consolidation, a reduction in corporate income tax (from 33% to 25%), changes to transfer pricing rules, the creation of a new corporate income tax to pay for health, education and family care issues (9% for fiscal years 2013 to 2015 and 8% from 2016 and beyond), modifications in individual income tax, new “thin capitalization” rules and a reduction of social contributions paid by certain employees. The implementation of such tax reforms requires further administrative regulation. As of the date of this annual report, some administrative regulations had been published, although we do not expect the final impact of these reforms to be material to our business.
Brazil
Oil and gas industry
Recent discoveries in the E&P space have transformed Brazil’s oil and gas industry landscape and turned the country into one of the fastest-growing oil and gas markets in the world. According to the BP Statistical Review, the country’s proved oil reserves in 2012 jumping to 15.3 bboe, an increase of 1.8% as compared to the previous year. The reserves’ CAGR throughout the last 10 years has reached 4.56%, significantly above the world’s average CAGR of 2.36%. Furthermore, production has also grown above the global rate during this 10-year period—3.7% as compared to 1.4%—in great part favored by recent discoveries in the pre-salt and offshore Atlantic concessions. In 2012, oil production reached 822.4 mmbbl.
Similar dynamics took place for the natural gas market, with reserves in 2012 jumping to 0.45 trillion cubic meters, or tm3, with an implied 10-year CAGR of 6.50%, significantly above the global CAGR of 1.91%. Production has also grown above the global rate during this period—6.53% as compared to 2.90%—also favored by both non-associated gas finds and gas associated with the pre-salt areas. In 2012, natural gas production reached 614.2 bcf. Production levels will be further boosted with the next bidding round, which has been pre-announced by the ANP for the fourth quarter of 2013, and which will be dedicated to areas with gas potential according to studies led by the ANP.
Today, offshore fields are the main contributor to reserves and production; however, the first phase of the production history in the sector, with upstream activities dating back to the 1940s, was in the onshore space, with the Recôncavo Basin in northeast Brazil playing a pivotal role. In 2011, proven domestic oil and natural gas reserves from offshore sites contributed to 94% of total proven reserves (with the remainder located onshore).
Recent pre-salt discoveries are expected to be transformational for Brazil. The hydrocarbon fields Sapinhoá (former Guará), Lula (former Tupi), Iara, and Cernambi (former Iracema) have the vast majority of the recoverable volumes of 15.7 bboe announced by Petrobras in its Management and Business Plan for 2013-2017. On October 21, 2013 the ANP hosted an auction of the Libra prospect in the Santos basin, which was discovered in 2010. It was the first bidding of the production sharing regime. A consortium formed by Petrobras, Shell, Total, China National Petroleum Corporation and China National Offshore Oil Corporation was awarded the concession, offering a 41.65% share of profit oil to the federal government (the minimum share of profit oil set forth under the bidding protocol). ANP studies estimate a potential of 26 to 42 billion barrels of oil in situ, of which 8 to 12 billion are recoverable barrels.
Growth of oil and natural gas production (CAGR from 2002 to 2012)
Source: BP Statistical Review
Historically, Brazil’s oil and natural gas industry was controlled by Petrobras. In 1995, the Brazilian Federal Constitution was amended to allow privately- or publicly-owned companies to engage in the exploration and exploitation of oil and natural gas, subject to conditions set forth in specific legislation governing the sector. In 1997, the Brazilian Petroleum Law created the ANP to promote a transparent regulatory framework and bidding rounds for new concession areas and to regulate and oversee the Brazilian oil and natural gas sector.
The opening of the Brazilian oil and natural gas industry attracted the attention of private companies. According to the ANP’s Brazilian Annual Statistic Report of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuelds, until the end of year 2012 Brazil had 701 areas under concession, being 279 blocks under exploration phase, 75 fields under development and 347 fields under production, with 133 concessionaries conducting exploratory, development and production activities in Brazilian sedimentary basis. Out of the 347 fields currently in production, 278 were exclusive concessions to Petrobras and 22 fields were designed as partnership agreements between Petrobras and other concessionaries. Petrobras did not take part in the remaining 47.
As of December 2013, the ANP has held 12 oil and gas bidding rounds and one pre-salt auction. Round zero was the first round, and was held by the ANP to define Petrobras’s participation in its existing concessions after the end of its monopoly. The graph below indicates the number of exploration concessions auctioned at each round.
The ANP’s exploratory concession grants
Source: ANP
On May 14, 2013, the ANP hosted the 11th oil and gas bidding round offering 289 concessions, located in 11 basins. These concessions cover approximately 155.8 sq. km. The auction was characterized by a high level of participation and raised R$2.8 billion in proceeds through license fees. Of the 289 concessions offered, 142 were successfully bid upon by industry players.
Additionally, on November 28, 2013, the ANP hosted the 12th oil and gas bidding round offering 240 concessions, located in seven onshore basins. The auction raised R$165.2 million in proceeds through signing bonuses. The round was focused on conventional and unconventional resources with natural gas potential. Of the 240 concessions offered, 72 were successfully bid upon by industry players.
Natural gas market in Brazil
The natural gas industry in Brazil has undergone significant changes over the past decade. During this period, natural gas was the fastest-growing component of the non-renewable energy mix in the country. Taking into account the increased local production and imports from Bolivia, natural gas currently accounts for about 7.5% of total Brazilian energy demand, according to the 2012 National Energy Balance published by the Energy Research Company, or EPE. Furthermore, according to EPE’s 2021 Ten Year Energy Expansion Plan, the share of natural gas in overall energy consumption in Brazil should reach 7.8% in 2016 and 8.1% in 2021. Production will be further boosted with the next bid round, which has been pre-announced by the ANP for the fourth quarter of 2013, and which will be dedicated to areas with gas potential according to studies led by the ANP.
Brazil has the capacity for both sustained and rapid growth in natural gas over the next decade, which may potentially change the balance between natural gas supply and demand in the country. The increased supply could open up new opportunities in the country. Natural gas may not only help sustain the continued growth of the local market, but Brazil may also choose to reduce the amount of gas imported and, in the long-term, become a seasonal exporter.
The increase of the gas supply associated with a growing reserve profile is expected to enable the continued development of the domestic market at rates above the historical ones. Market growth has been largely directed by increased demand from the industrial and power generation sectors, which increased their demand for gas by 89.1% between 2002 and 2011, according to the EPE.
The chart below compares the reserves with the reserves-to-production, or R/P, ratio, in Brazil in the periods indicated.
Reserves versus R/P(1) (Brazil)
Source: BP Statistical Review
(1) R/P is a valuation formula, calculated as total proved reserves, or R, divided by annualized current net daily production, or P.
The chart below illustrates the Brazilian domestic natural gas supply in the periods indicated.
Natural gas production/imports
Source: ANP
Brazil’s sedimentary basins
The offshore area covers approximately 383.0 million gross acres and the onshore area covers approximately 1,112.0 million gross acres.
Infrastructure and workforce
Overview. Extensive infrastructure is already in place in the mature coastal basins. The Brazilian midstream infrastructure has grown significantly during recent years. However, it is still small in comparison to other countries, such as the U.S., China and France. In total, there are 32 oil pipes extending across 2,000 km. Local oil pipeline systems connect the fields in the Sergipe-Alagoas, Potiguar and Recôncavo Basins to the coastal export terminals where oil is sent by ship to the refineries in Fortaleza, Bahia and other States. The Brazilian government is expected to announce a ten-year plan for pipeline development, or Pemat, similar to what is done today in the power and utilities sector, through EPE’s 2021 Ten Year Energy Expansion Plan.
With a well-established onshore oil and gas industry, the country has an experienced and skilled workforce.
Oil infrastructure. The oil infrastructure in Brazil is relatively limited, and the majority of oil production is offshore. Oil is loaded onto tankers and shipped directly to coastal terminals and refineries or exported.
Gas infrastructure. The gas pipeline network in Brazil is still relatively underdeveloped despite the significant expansion currently underway. There are many gas transmission pipelines, including international pipelines and a large distribution system. However, the existing infrastructure covers only a small portion of Brazil, primarily serving the main population centers of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, some states in the south and coastal states in the northeast.
LNG
Brazil began importing LNG in early 2009 through two import terminals, one located in northeast Brazil, in the State of Ceará, and another near the major gas markets in southeast Brazil, in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Both terminals offer re-gasification vessels with an anchor point, which may be connected directly to the national gas network. The terminals are designed to provide flexibility in gas supply and meet the region’s thermoelectric demand.
Refineries
There are currently 16 refineries operating in Brazil, of which 12 are Petrobras-operated. The current refining capacity is approximately 2.1 mmboepd, up from the 1.9 mmboepd during the 2000s. This increase has been achieved through capacity expansion of the existing refineries. Petrobras has plans to continue the expansion of the country’s refining capacity, and several major projects are either underway or planned that will add a further 1.5 mmboepd of capacity.
Regulation of the oil and gas industry
Article 177 of the Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988 provides for the Federal Government’s monopoly over the prospecting and exploration of oil, natural gas resources and other fluid hydrocarbon deposits, as well as over the refining, importation, exportation and sea or pipeline transportation of crude oil and natural gas. Initially, paragraph one of article 177 barred the assignment or concession of any kind of involvement in the exploration of oil or natural gas deposits to private industry. On November 9, 1995, however, Constitutional Amendment Number 9 altered paragraph one of article 177 so as to allow private or state-owned companies to engage in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, subject to the conditions to be set forth by legislation.
The Brazilian Petroleum Law, which enacted this constitutional provision:
| · | confirmed the Federal Government’s monopoly over oil and natural gas deposits and further provided that the exploration and production of such hydrocarbons would be regulated and overseen by the federal government; |
| · | created the CNPE (as defined below) and the ANP; |
| · | revoked Law Number 2,004/53, which appointed Petrobras as the exclusive agent to execute the Federal Government’s monopoly; and |
| · | established a transitional rule that entitled Petrobras to: (1) produce in fields where Petrobras had already started production under a concession agreement made with the ANP for 27 years, on an exclusive basis, starting on the date the field was declared commercially profitable; and (2) explore areas where Petrobras was able to show evidence of “established reserves” prior to the enactment of the Brazilian Petroleum Law, for up to three years, subsequently extended to five years. |
Regulatory entities
National petroleum, natural gas and biofuel agency (ANP)
The Brazilian Petroleum Law created the ANP. The ANP is a regulatory body of the federal government associated with the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The ANP’s function is to regulate the oil, natural gas and biofuels industry in Brazil. One of the ANP’s primary objectives is to create a competitive environment for oil and natural gas activities in Brazil that will lead to the lowest prices and best services for consumers. Its principal responsibilities include enforcing regulations as well as awarding concessions related to oil, natural gas and biofuels, in accordance with the Brazilian Petroleum Law, as set forth in Decree No. 2,455, dated January 14, 1998, and regulations enacted by the National Council on Energy Policy and National Interest.
National council on energy policy (CNPE)
The CNPE, also created by the Brazilian Petroleum Law, is a council of the President of Brazil presided over by the Minister of Mines and Energy. The CNPE is charged with submitting national energy policies, designing oil and natural gas production policies and establishing the procedural guidelines for competitive bids regarding the exploration concessions and areas with established viability in accordance with the Brazilian Petroleum Law.
Regulatory framework
Pricing policy
Until the enactment of the Brazilian Petroleum Law, the Brazilian government regulated all aspects of the pricing of oil and oil products in Brazil, from the cost of oil imported for use in refineries to the price of refined oil products charged to the consumer. Under the rules adopted following the Brazilian Petroleum Law, the Brazilian government changed its price regulation policies. Under these regulations, the Brazilian government: (1) introduced a new methodology for determining the price of oil products designed to track prevailing international prices denominated in U.S. dollars, and (2) gradually eliminated controls on wholesale prices.
Concessions
In addition to opening the Brazilian oil and natural gas industry to private investment, the Brazilian Petroleum Law created new institutions, including the ANP, to regulate and control activities in the sector. As part of this mandate, the ANP is responsible for licensing concession rights for the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas in Brazil’s sedimentary basins through a transparent and competitive bidding process. The ANP has conducted 12 bidding rounds for exploration concessions since 1999. Most recently, in November 2013, the twelfth round was conducted; 240 blocks in 13 sectors of seven basins were offered, of which 72 were awarded. Of these 72 blocks, we were awarded two new concessions (the PN-T-597 Concession in the Parnaíba Basin in the State of Maranhão and the SEAL-T-268 Concession in the Sergipe Alagoas Basin in the State of Alagoas). Our winning bids are subject to confirmation of qualification requirements. See “—Our operations—Operations in Brazil” and “Item 3. Key information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—The PN-T-597 concession is subject to an injunction and may not close” for more information.
In order to participate in the auction process a company must have proven experience in oil and gas exploration and production activities, be legally constituted under the laws of their home country and undertake that, in the event that they are successful in bidding, the company will constitute a company with its headquarters and management in Brazil, organized under Brazilian law, and have the determined (specific for each bidding round) minimum net equity. If all requirements are met, the company will be considered qualified to bid and make offers for the bidding areas within its category.
Environmental issues
The identification and definition of the concessions to be offered is based on the availability of geological and geophysical data indicating the presence of hydrocarbons. Also, in order to protect the environment, the ANP, the IBAMA and the state environmental agencies analyze all the areas prior to deciding which concessions to offer in licensing rounds. The requirement levels for environmental licensing for the various concessions to be auctioned are then published, allowing the future concessionaire to include environmental considerations in determining what projects to pursue. These environmental guidelines are revised and updated with every ANP bidding round.
Consortium
The oil and natural gas industry is characterized in Brazil by the presence of several companies acting through consortium agreements, or unincorporated joint ventures, in order to share the risks of exploration, development and production activities. Terms of those agreements are set out by the ANP and the actual risk sharing agreement is reflected in joint operating agreements.
Taxation
Introduction. The Brazilian Petroleum Law introduced significant modifications and benefits to the taxation of oil and natural gas activities. The main component of petroleum taxation is the government take, comprised of license fees, fees payable in connection with the occupation or title of areas, royalties and a special participation fee. The introduction of the Brazilian Petroleum Law presents certain tax benefits primarily with respect to indirect taxes. Such indirect taxes are very complex and can add significantly to project costs. Direct taxes are mainly corporate income tax and social contribution on net profit.
Government take. With the effectiveness of the Brazilian Petroleum Law and the regulations promulgated by the ANP, concessionaires are required to pay the Brazilian federal government the following:
| · | rent for the occupation or retention of areas; |
| · | special participation fee; and |
| · | royalties on production. |
The minimum value of the license fees is established in the bidding rules for the concessions, and the amount is based on the assessment of the potential, as conducted by the ANP. The license fees must be paid upon the
execution of the concession contract. Additionally, concessionaires are required to pay a rental fee to landowners varying from 0.5% to 1.0% of the respective hydrocarbon production.
The special participation fee is an extraordinary charge that concessionaires must pay in the event of obtaining high production volumes and/or profitability from oil fields, according to criteria established by applicable regulation, and is payable on a quarterly basis for each field from the date on which extraordinary production occurs. This participation rate, whenever due, may reach up to 40% of net revenues depending on (i) volume of production and (ii) whether the block is onshore, shallow water or deep water. Under the Brazilian Petroleum Law and applicable regulations issued by the ANP, the special participation fee is calculated based upon quarterly net revenues of each field, which consist of gross revenues calculated using reference prices published by the ANP (reflecting international prices and the exchange rate for the period) less:
| · | investment in exploration; |
| · | depreciation adjustments and applicable taxes. |
The ANP is responsible for determining monthly minimum prices for petroleum produced in concessions for purposes of royalties payable with respect to production. Royalties generally correspond to a percentage ranging between 5% and 10% applied to reference prices for oil or natural gas, as established in the relevant bidding guidelines (edital de licitação) and concession agreement. In determining the percentage of royalties applicable to a particular concession, the ANP takes into consideration, among other factors, the geological risks involved and the production levels expected.
Relevant Tax Aspects on Upstream Activities. The special customs regime for goods to be used in the oil and gas activities in Brazil, REPETRO, aims primarily at reducing the tax burden on companies involved in exploring and extracting oil and natural gas, through the total suspension of federal taxes due on the importation of equipment (platforms, subsea equipment, among others), under leasing agreements, subject to the compliance with applicable legal requirements. The period in which the goods are allowed to remain in Brazil under the REPETRO regime may vary depending on the importer, but usually corresponds to the duration of the contract executed between the Brazilian company and the foreign entity, or the period for which the company was authorized to exploit or produce oil and gas.
In 2007, the legislation regarding the State Value Added Tax—ICMS imposed taxation on the import of equipment into Brazil under the REPETRO regime was significantly changed by ICMS Convention No. 130/2007. This regulation allows each State to grant the ICMS tax calculation basis reduction (generating a tax burden of 7.5% with the recoverability of credits or 3%, without the recoverability of credits) for goods purchased under the REPETRO regime for the production phase and the total exemption or ICMS tax calculation basis reduction (generating a tax burden of 1.5%, without the recoverability of credits) for the exploration phase. In order to be in force, the ICMS Convention No. 130/07 must be included in each state’s legislation.
For example, currently, based on Convention No. 130/2007 , the state of Rio de Janeiro grants tax calculation basis reduction for the exploitation (generating a tax burden of 7.5%, with the recoverability of credits or 3%, without the recoverability of credits) and production of oil and gas (generating a tax burden of 1.5%, without the recoverability of credits). For production activities, the legislation used to grant an exemption of ICMS, which was recently changed to a tax calculation basis reduction, according to Resolution Sefaz No. 631, dated May 14th, 2013.
It is important to mention that before the enactment of the Convention No. 130/2007, the State of Rio de Janeiro has attempted to impose ICMS on production activities, based on State Law No. 4,117, dated June, 27, 2003, which was regulated by Decree No. 34,761, dated February 3, 2004, and was subsequently suspended by Decree No. 34,783 of February 4, 2004 for an undetermined period of time. Nevertheless, the State of Rio de Janeiro may choose to enforce the law at any time. Also, the constitutionality of this law is currently being challenged by the Public Ministry in the Supreme Court (ADI 3,019-RJ).
Pursuant to the Brazilian Petroleum Law and subsequent legislation, the federal government enacted Law No. 10,336/01, to impose the Contribution for Intervention in the Economic Sector, or CIDE, an excise tax payable by producers, blenders and importers on transactions with some of oil and fuel products, which is imposed at a flat amount based on the specific quantities of each product. Currently, the CIDE rates are zero, based on Decree No. 7,764/2012.
Argentina
Oil and gas industry
Argentina is the second-largest producer of natural gas and the fourth-largest producer of crude oil in Central and South America, according to the BP Statistical Review. The country is a leading producer and consumer of natural gas in South America, and has a globally significant unconventional oil and gas resource base. Production of both oil and natural gas throughout the last years has been dropping as a result of the maturing of the production fields and lack of investment. In 2012, the country’s natural gas production reached 1331 bcf, with oil production at 242.4 mmbbl.
In response to the economic crisis of 2001 and 2002, the Argentine government, pursuant to the Public Emergency Law (Law No. 25,561), established export taxes on certain hydrocarbon products. In subsequent years, in order to satisfy growing domestic demand and abate inflationary pressures, this law was supplemented by constraints on domestic prices, export restrictions and subsidies on imports of natural gas and diesel, among other measures. As a result, local prices for oil and natural gas products had remained significantly below those prevalent in neighboring countries and international commodity exchanges.
After declining during the economic crisis of 2001 and 2002, Argentina’s real gross domestic product, or GDP, grew at a compounded average growth rate, or CAGR, of 8.4% from 2003 to 2008. Although the growth rate decelerated to 0.9% in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis, it recovered in 2010 and 2011, growing at an annual rate of 9.2% and 8.9%, respectively, according to the International Monetary Fund. In 2012, the GDP growth rate dropped to 1.9% as a reflex of the Brazilian slowdown spillover effect over to its regional trading partners, especially Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. In Argentina, widespread import and exchange controls also affected business confidence and investment.
Argentina’s consumption of oil and natural gas
Source: BP Statistical Review
Driven by economic expansion and stable domestic prices, energy consumption has increased significantly from 2002 to 2012, with demand for oil and gas increasing from 331.7 mboe in 2002 to 518.9 mboe in 2012. Argentine natural oil and gas consumption grew at a CAGR of approximately 4.6% during this period, according to the BP Statistical Review. In recent years, demand has outpaced energy supply (in 2012, the deficit reached 42.5 mboe). As a result of this increasing demand and the maturing of local reserves the country’s production surplus has shifted toward a deficit. Still, according to the BP Statistical Review, Argentina’s R/P ratio is at 10.2x.
Argentina’s production of oil and natural gas (mmboe)
Source: BP Statistical Review
Regulation of the oil and gas industry
Under Argentine law, the federal executive branch establishes the federal policy applicable to the exploration, exploitation, refining, transportation and marketing of liquid hydrocarbons, but the licensing and enforcement of exploration and production activities has been transferred from the federal government to provincial governments.
Regulatory entities
The principal authorities that regulate the activities in Argentina are the Secretariat of Energy and the Strategic Planning and Coordination Committee for the National Hydrocarbon Investment Plan, at the federal level, and a local enforcement authority at each province (typically a secretariat of energy or hydrocarbons board).
Regulatory framework
From the 1920s to 1989, the Argentine public sector dominated the upstream segment of the Argentine oil and gas industry and the midstream and downstream segment of the business.
In 1989, Argentina enacted certain laws aimed at privatizing the majority of its state-owned companies and issued a series of presidential decrees (namely, Decrees No. 1055/89, 1212/89 and 1589/89, or the Oil Deregulation Decrees, relating specifically to deregulation of energy activities). The Oil Deregulation Decrees eliminated restrictions on imports and exports of crude oil, deregulated the domestic oil industry, and effective January 1, 1991, the prices of oil and petroleum products were also deregulated. In 1992, Law No. 24,145, referred to as the Privatization Law, privatized YPF and provided for transfer of hydrocarbon reservoirs from the Argentine government to the provinces, subject to the existing rights of the holders of exploration permits and production concessions.
In October 2004, the Argentine Congress enacted Law No. 25,943, creating a new state-owned energy company, Energía Argentina S.A., or ENARSA. The corporate purpose of ENARSA is the exploration and exploitation of solid, liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons; the transport, storage, distribution, commercialization and industrialization of these products; as well as the transportation and distribution of natural gas, and the generation, transportation, distribution and sale of electricity. Moreover, Law No. 25,943 granted ENARSA all offshore areas located beyond 12 nautical miles from the coastline up to the outer boundary of the continental shelf that were vacant at the time of the effectiveness of this law (i.e., November 3, 2004).
On May 3, 2012, the Argentine Congress passed the Hydrocarbons Sovereignty Act. This law declared achieving self-sufficiency in the supply of hydrocarbons, as well as in the exploitation, industrialization, transportation and sale of hydrocarbons, a national public interest and a priority for Argentina. In addition, the law expropriated 51% of the share capital of YPF, the largest Argentine oil company, from Repsol, the largest Spanish oil company.
On July 28, 2012, Presidential Decree 1277/2012, which regulated the Hydrocarbon Sovereignty Law, was released, establishing that the Strategic Planning and Coordination Committee for the National Hydrocarbon Investment Plan must be in charge of the sector’s reference prices. The decree introduced important changes to the rules governing Argentina’s oil and gas industry. The decree repeals certain articles of Deregulation Decrees passed during 1989 relating to free marketability of hydrocarbons at negotiated prices, the deregulation of the oil and gas industry, freedom to import and export hydrocarbons and the ability to keep proceeds from export sales in foreign bank accounts. The repeal of these articles appears to formalize certain rules such as price controls and the repatriation of export sales proceeds, which has been in fact required by the government over the last several years.
In addition, the decree created the Strategic Planning and Coordination Committee for the National Hydrocarbon Investment Plan, charged with developing investment plans for the country to increase production and reserves and to make Argentina more energy self-sufficient. The decree also requires oil and gas companies, refiners and transporters of hydrocarbon products to submit annual investment plans for approval by the commission. The decree empowers the commission to issue fines and sanctions, including concession termination, for companies that do not comply with its requirements. Finally, the Strategic Planning and Coordination Committee for the National Hydrocarbon Investment Plan is also charged with the responsibility of assuring the reasonableness of hydrocarbon prices in the domestic market and that such prices allow companies to generate a reasonable profit margin.
Domain and Jurisdiction of hydrocarbons resources
After a constitutional reform enacted in 1994, eminent domain over hydrocarbon resources lying in the territory of a provincial state is now vested in such provincial state, while eminent domain over hydrocarbon resources lying offshore on the continental platform beyond the jurisdiction of the coastal provincial states is vested in the federal state
Thus, oil and gas exploration permits and exploitation concessions are now granted by each provincial government. A majority of the existing concessions were granted by the federal government prior to the enactment of Law No. 26,197 and were thereafter transferred to the provincial states.
Regulation of exploration and production activities
The Argentine oil and gas industry is regulated by Law No. 17,319, referred to as the Hydrocarbons Law, which was adopted in 1967 and amended by Law No. 26,197 in 2007, which established the general legal framework for the exploration and production of oil and gas. In turn, Law No. 24,076, referred to as the Natural Gas Law, enacted in 1992, established the regulatory framework for natural gas transportation and distribution utilities and the trading of natural gas. In addition, certain concurrent hydrocarbons laws were enacted by some provincial states. In Argentina, eminent domain over hydrocarbon resources lying in the territory of a provincial state is now vested in such provincial state, while eminent domain over hydrocarbon resources lying offshore on the continental platform beyond the jurisdiction of the coastal provincial states is vested in the federal state.
The Hydrocarbons Law authorizes the granting of hydrocarbon exploration permits made up of up to 3 exploration sub-periods for an aggregate term not exceeding 9 years (for onshore blocks) and 12 years (for offshore blocks) plus certain extensions. The relinquishment of 50% of the exploration acreage at the end of each exploration sub-period is mandatory. Upon a commercial discovery, the holder of such exploration permits is entitled to apply for and obtain an exploitation concession to exploit such discovery for a term of 25 years. Such exploitation concession can be extended for an additional term of 10 years as part of a concession renegotiation process with the incumbent provincial states. Article 59 of the Hydrocarbons Law provides that the concessionaire shall pay to the state a monthly royalty of 12% of the net production of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons at the well head, which may be reduced to as low as 5% depending on the productivity, conditions and locations of the wells. Royalties are generally paid in cash at the same price received by the producer at the well head, unless the government gives proper notice of its intention to receive payment in kind. Also, past the initial 25-year term of a concession, an incremental royalty is generally required by the incumbent provincial state as part of the renegotiation to grant the 10-year extension to a concession. Because individual provinces are in charge of licensing and overseeing the exploration and exploitation process, there is some variance between individual provinces in terms of the regulations and royalty requirements for concessionaires. Holders of exploration permits and exploitation concessions must also pay an annual surface fee that is based on acreage of land held and which varies depending on the phase (exploration or production) of the operation.
Regulation of refining and petrochemical activities
Refining and petrochemical activities in Argentina have historically been governed by free enterprise and private refineries have coexisted with state-owned refineries.
Until 1989, crude oil production, whether extracted by YPF or by private companies operating under service contracts, was delivered to YPF, and the Secretariat of Energy distributed the same among the refining companies according to quotas. Natural gas production was until then also delivered to YPF and to the then existing state-owned Gas del Estado SE utility company.
The Oil Deregulation Decrees issued in 1989 deregulated the hydrocarbons industry and granted to the holders of hydrocarbon permits and concessions the right to freely dispose of the hydrocarbons lifted by them at free market conditions, and abrogated the previous quota allocation system.
After the economic crisis of 2001 and 2002, hydrocarbons refiners and producers were prompted by the Argentine Government to enter into a series of tripartite agreements whereby the prices of crude oil and certain byproducts were capped or regulated. A series of other measures was also adopted, affecting the downstream segment of the industry.
Regulation of transportation activities
Exploitation concessionaires have the exclusive right to obtain a transportation concession for the transport of oil and gas from the provincial states or the federal government, depending on the applicable jurisdiction. Such transportation concessions include storage, ports, pipelines and other fixed facilities necessary for the transportation of oil, gas and by-products. Transportation facilities with surplus capacity must transport third parties’ hydrocarbons on an open-access basis, for a fee which is the same for all users on similar terms. As a result of the privatizations of YPF and Gas del Estado, a few common carriers of crude oil and natural gas were chartered and continue to operate to date.
Taxation
Exploitation concessionaires are subject to the general federal and provincial tax regime. The most relevant federal taxes are the income tax (35%), the value added tax (21%) and a tax on assets. The most relevant provincial taxes are the turnover tax (1% to 3%) and stamp tax. In 2002, in response to the economic crisis, the federal government adopted new taxes on oil and gas products, including export taxes ranging from 5% for by-products to 45% for crude oil. Despite that, under certain incentives programs established in 2008 (namely, the Oil Plus Program and the Refining Plus Program created by Presidential Decree 2014/2008), oil and gas companies increasing their oil reserves and production and refining companies increasing their production would be granted tax rebate certificates to be credited against the payment of the export taxes. However, the Oil Plus Program and the Refining Plus Program were suspended for certain companies in February 2012 and subsequently amended and reinstated in June 2012.
Certain tax benefits apply to exploration programs in association with ENARSA. Also, certain foreign exchange and regulatory benefits apply to E&P programs in association with YPF qualifying for such benefits. Argentina has also implemented certain tax incentives to promote infrastructure and capital goods investments, including oil and gas production and transportation, including advanced reimbursement of value added tax and accelerated income tax depreciation.
We are an exempted company incorporated pursuant to the laws of Bermuda. We operate and own our assets directly and indirectly through a number of subsidiaries.
The following chart shows our main corporate structure as of the date of this annual report.
| Property, plant and equipment |
See “—B. Business Overview—Title to properties”
Not applicable.
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto, the Rio das Contas Financial Statements included elsewhere in this annual report, as well as the information presented under “Item 3. Key Information—A. Selected financial data” and “Item 3. Key Information—A. Selected financial data—Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data.”
The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth in “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors” and “Forward-looking statements.”
Factors affecting our results of operations
We describe below the year-to-year comparisons of our historical results and the analysis of our financial condition. Our future results could differ materially from our historical results due to a variety of factors, including the following:
Discovery and exploitation of reserves
Our results of operations depend on our level of success in finding, acquiring (including through bidding rounds) or gaining access to oil and natural gas reserves. While we have geological reports evaluating certain proved, contingent and prospective resources in our blocks, there is no assurance that we will continue to be successful in the exploration, appraisal, development and commercial production of oil and natural gas. The calculation of our geological and petrophysical estimates is complex and imprecise, and it is possible that our future exploration will not result in additional discoveries, and, even if we are able to successfully make such discoveries, there is no certainty that the discoveries will be commercially viable to produce. We have been able to successfully develop our assets through drilling, with 70%, or 106, of the 152 exploratory, appraisal and development wells that we drilled from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2013 becoming productive wells.
For the year ended December 31, 2013, we drilled 39 new wells 17 in Chile and 22 in Colombia) in blocks in which we have working interests and/or economic interests. We made total capital expenditures of US$228.0 million (US$145.7 million, US$82.1 million and US$0.2 million in Chile, Colombia and Argentina, respectively) for the year 2013, consisting of US$133.3 million related to exploration, including approximately 1,350 sq. km. in 3D seismic surveys (more than 1,100 in Chile, mainly related to the blocks located in Tierra del Fuego and over 250 in Colombia)
In March 2014 we invested US$140 million in Brazil, subject to certain adjustments, to acquire Rio das Contas, which we financed through the incurrence of a loan of US$70.5 million and cash on hand.
In 2014, we expect our total capital expenditures, excluding the purchase price for our Rio das Contas acquisition, to be between US$220 million to US$250 million, of which approximately 62%, 32% and 5% will be in Chile, Colombia and Brazil, respectively. These capital expenditures will include the drilling of 50 to 60 new wells (approximately 40% of which we expect will be exploratory wells), as well as workovers, seismic surveys and new facility construction. In Brazil, we expect our capital expenditures will consist of between US$5 million to US$7.5 million to finance in part the construction of a gas compression plant in the Manatí Field we acquired as part of the Rio das Contas acquisition and approximately US$0.45 million in license fee payments to the ANP relating to our Round 12 concessions, with the remainder for seismic surveys in exploration blocks in the Potiguar and Recôncavo Basins.
Our results of operations will be adversely affected in the event that our estimated oil and natural gas asset base does not result in additional reserves that may eventually be commercially developed. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will acquire new exploration blocks or gain access to exploration blocks that contain reserves. Unless we succeed in exploration and development activities, or acquire properties that contain new reserves, our anticipated reserves will continually decrease, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Oil and gas revenue and international prices
Our revenues are derived from the sale of our oil and natural gas production, as well as of condensate derived from the production of natural gas. Our oil and natural gas prices are driven by the international prices of oil and methanol (for our Chilean gas production), respectively, which are denominated in U.S. dollars. The price realized for the oil we produce is linked to WTI and Brent, U.S. dollar denominated international benchmarks. The price realized for the natural gas we produce in Chile is linked to the international price of methanol, which is settled in the international markets in U.S. dollars. The market price of these commodities is subject to significant fluctuation and has historically fluctuated widely in response to relatively minor changes in the global supply and demand for oil and natural gas, market uncertainty, economic conditions and a variety of additional factors.
For example, from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013, NYMEX WTI crude oil contracts prices ranged from a low of US$64.78 per bbl to a high of US$113.39 per bbl, Henry Hub natural gas average monthly spot prices ranged from a low of US$1.82 per mmbtu to a high of US$7.51 per mmbtu, US Gulf methanol spot barge prices ranged from a low of US$324.61 per metric ton to a high of US$530.71 per metric ton and Brent spot prices ranged from a low of US$67.18 per barrel to a high of US$128.14 per barrel. We have historically not hedged our production to protect against fluctuations in the international oil prices.
Additionally, the oil and gas we sell may be subject to certain discounts. For instance, in Chile, the price of oil we sell to ENAP is based on WTI minus certain marketing and quality discounts based on, among other things, API and mercury content. Mercury content can vary depending on the geology and features in each field. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, these discounts resulted in average price deductions of US$13.11 per bbl and US$9.35 per bbl, respectively, and realized prices of US$84.3 per bbl and US$85.4 per bbl, respectively. Furthermore, the price formula also considers adjustments for differences between the WTI and Brent at certain price levels.
We have a long-term gas supply contract with Methanex. The price of the gas sold under this contract is determined based on a formula that takes into account various international prices of methanol, including US Gulf methanol spot barge prices, methanol spot Rotterdam prices and spot prices in Asia. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—A substantial or extended decline in oil, natural gas and methanol prices may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.” As of the date of this annual report, we had not entered into any derivative arrangements or contracts to mitigate the impact on our results of operations of fluctuations in commodity prices.
In Colombia, the price of oil we sell is based on Brent, adjusted for certain marketing and quality discounts based on, among other things, API, viscosity, sulfur, delivery point and water content, as well as on certain transportation costs (including pipeline costs and trucking costs). The delivery points for our production range from the well head to the port of export (Coveñas), depend on the client: if sales are made via pipeline, the delivery point is usually the pipeline injection point, whereas for direct export sales, the most frequent delivery point is the well head . As a result, our average realized price for the year ended December 31, 2013 was US$80.3 per bbl. Our oil sales contracts in Colombia are short-term agreements and do not commit the parties to a minimum volume, and are subject to the ability of either party to receive or deliver the production, as applicable.
If the market prices of WTI, Brent and methanol had fallen by 10% as compared to actual prices during the year, with all other variables held constant, after-tax profit for the year ended December 31, 2013 would have been lower by US$21.2 million (US$18.8 million in 2012).
In Brazil, prices for gas produced in the Manatí Field are based on a long-term off-take contract with Petrobras. For the year ended December 31, 2013, Rio das Contas’s average sale price was US$38.2/boe. The price of gas sold under this contract is denominated in reais and is adjusted annually for inflation pursuant to the Brazilian General Market Price Index (Índice Geral de Preços—Mercado), or IGPM.
Production costs
Our production costs consist primarily of expenses associated with the production of oil and gas, the most significant of which are gas plant leasing, facilities and wells maintenance (including pulling works), labor costs, contractor and consultant fees, chemical analysis, royalties and products, among others. As commodity prices increase, our production costs may increase. We have historically not hedged our costs to protect against fluctuations.
Availability and reliability of infrastructure
Our business depends on the availability and reliability of operating and transportation infrastructure in the areas in which we operate. Prices and availability for equipment and infrastructure, and the maintenance thereof, affect our ability to make the investments necessary to operate our business, and thus our results of operations and financial condition. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—Our inability to access needed equipment and infrastructure in a timely manner may hinder our access to oil and natural gas markets and generate significant incremental costs or delays in our oil and natural gas production.”
In order to mitigate the risk of unavailability of operating and transportation infrastructure, we have invested in the construction of plant and pipeline infrastructure to produce, process and store hydrocarbon reserves and to transport them to market. In the Fell Block, for example, we have constructed over 120 km of pipeline and a gas plant with a processing and compression capacity of 35.3 mmcfpd. We also constructed an oil treatment plant with a processing capacity of 9,500 bopd to service oil produced in the Fell Block, which became operative in November 2013 and which, following a test period, we expect will be operated at full capacity by the end of November 2014.
Production levels
Our oil and gas production levels are heavily influenced by our drilling results, our acquisitions and, to a lesser extent, oil and natural gas prices. Since being awarded 100% of the working interest in the Fell Block in 2006, and through December 31, 2013, we have drilled 95 exploratory, appraisal and development wells in the Fell Block, with 73%, or 69, of such wells becoming productive. Production at the Fell Block has increased from 3,292 boepd in 2008 to 6,962 boepd as of December 31, 2013. Since acquiring our Colombian operations and through December 31, 2013, 46 exploratory, appraisal and development wells have been drilled in blocks in which we have working interests and/or economic interests, with 70% of such wells becoming productive. Production in our Colombian operations has increased from 2,965 boepd for the month of April 30, 2012 (the first full month following our Colombian acquisitions) to 6,491 boepd for the year ended December 31, 2013.
We expect that fluctuations in our financial condition and results of operations will be driven by the rate at which production volumes from our wells decline. As initial reservoir pressures are depleted, oil and gas production from a given well will decline over time. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—Unless we replace our oil and natural gas reserves, our reserves and production will decline over time. Our business is dependent on our continued successful identification of productive fields and prospects and the identified locations in which we drill in the future may not yield oil or natural gas in commercial quantities.”
Contractual obligations
In order to protect our exploration and production rights in our license areas, we must make and declare discoveries within certain time periods specified in our various special contracts, E&P Contracts and concession agreements. The costs to maintain or operate our license areas may fluctuate or increase significantly, and we may not be able to meet our commitments under these agreements on commercially reasonable terms or at all, which may force us to forfeit our interests in such areas. If we do not succeed in renewing these agreements, or in securing new ones, our ability to grow our business may be materially impaired. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks relating to our business—Under the terms of some of our various CEOPs, E&P Contracts and concession agreements, we are obligated to drill wells, declare any discoveries and file periodic reports in order to retain our rights and establish development areas. Failure to meet these obligations may result in the loss of our interests in the undeveloped parts of our blocks or concession areas.”
Administrative costs
Our administrative costs increased by US$10.6 million, or 59%, from 2011 to 2012, a significant portion of which was attributable to our acquisitions of Winchester, Luna and Cuerva in the first quarter of 2012. Our administrative costs for the year ended December 31, 2013 increased by US$17.8 million, or 61.8%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2012. This increase was primarily due to (i) higher corporate expenses related to our growth strategy and new business efforts, (2) increased staff costs in Colombia, and (iii) the start-up of our operations in Tierra del Fuego, Chile. Furthermore, we expect administrative costs to increase as a result of our Brazil Acquisitions, and as a result of becoming a publicly traded company in the United States. Public company costs include expenses associated with our annual and quarterly reporting, investor relations, registrar and transfer agent fees, incremental insurance costs and accounting and legal services.
Acquisitions
Our results of operations are significantly affected by our past acquisitions. We generally incorporate our acquired business into our results of operations at or around the date of closing, such as our Colombian acquisitions in 2012 and our recently acquired Rio das Contas (which we closed on March 31, 2014), which limits the comparability of the period including such acquisitions with prior periods. See “Item 3. Key Information—A. Selected financial data—Unaudited Condensed Combined Pro Forma Financial Data” for a pro forma analysis of our financial condition and results of operations.
As described above, part of our strategy is to acquire and consolidate assets in Latin America. We intend to continue to selectively acquire companies, producing properties and concessions. As with our historical acquisitions, any future acquisitions could make year-to-year comparisons of our results of operations difficult. We may also incur substantial debt, issue additional equity securities or use other funding sources to fund future acquisitions.
Functional and presentational currency
Our Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in U.S. dollars, which is our functional and presentational currency. Items included in the financial information of each of our entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates, or the functional currency, which is the U.S. dollar in each case, except for our Brazil operations, including our recent Rio das Contas acquisition, where the functional currency is the real.
Geographical segment reporting
We divide our business into four geographical segments—Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina—that correspond to our principal jurisdictions of operation. Activities not falling into these four geographical segments are reported under a separate corporate segment that primarily includes certain corporate administrative costs not attributable to another segment. As of December 31, 2013, our Chilean segment contributed US$157.5 million, or 46.5%, of our revenues, our Colombian segment contributed US$179.3 million, or 53.0%, of our revenues and our Argentine segment contributed US$1.5 million, or 0.5%, of our revenues. On a pro forma basis, our Brazil Acquisitions represented 12.5% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013.
In the description of our results of operations that follow, our “Other” operations reflect our non-Chilean and non-Colombian operations, primarily consisting of our Argentine, Brazilian (mainly related to the start-up of our operations in such country) and corporate head office operations.
Description of principal line items
The following is a brief description of the principal line items of our statement of income.
Net revenue
Net revenue includes the sale of crude oil, condensate and natural gas net of value-added tax, or VAT, and discounts related to the sale (such as API and mercury adjustments) and overriding royalties due to the ex-owners of oil and gas properties where the royalty arrangements represent a retained working interest in the property. Revenue is recognized when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer, the associated costs and amount of revenue can be estimated reliably, recovery of the consideration is probable, and there is no continuing management involvement with the goods.
Production costs
For a description of our production costs, see “—Factors affecting our results of operations.”
Capitalized costs of proved oil and natural gas properties are depreciated on a licensed-area-by-licensed-area basis, using the unit of production method, based on commercial proved and probable reserves as calculated under the Petroleum Resources Management System methodology promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the World Petroleum Council, or the PRMS, which differs from SEC reporting guidelines pursuant to which certain information in the forepart of this annual report is presented. The calculation of the “unit of production” depreciation takes into account estimated future discovery and development costs. Changes in reserves and cost estimates are
recognized prospectively. Reserves are converted to equivalent units on the basis of approximate relative energy content.
Exploration costs
Exploration costs consist of geosciences costs, including wages and salaries and share-based compensation not subject to capitalization, impairment losses, write-offs of unsuccessful exploration efforts, geological consultancy costs and costs relating to independent reservoir engineer studies. In particular, upon completion of the evaluation phase, a prospect is either transferred to oil and gas properties if it contains reserves, or is charged as exploration costs in the period in which the determination is made. See “—Critical accounting policies and estimates—Oil and gas accounting.”
Administrative costs
Administrative costs consist of corporate costs such as director fees and travel expenses, new project evaluations and back-office expenses principally comprised of wages and salaries, share-based compensation, consultant fees and other administrative costs, including certain costs relating to acquisitions.
Selling expenses
Selling expenses consist primarily of transportation and storage costs.
Financial results, net
Financial results, net consists of financial income offset by financial expenses. Financial income includes interest received from bank time deposits and the effect of exchange rate differences. Financial expenses principally include interest expense not subject to capitalization, bank charges, the effect of exchange rate differences and the unwinding of long-term liabilities.
Profit for the period attributable to owners of the Company
Profit for the period attributable to owners of the Company consists of profit for the year less non-controlling interest.
2014 Drilling and Work Program
In March 2014, we invested US$140 million in Brazil, subject to certain adjustments, to acquire Rio das Contas, which we financed through the incurrence of a loan of US$70.5 million and cash on hand.
In 2014, we expect our total capital expenditures, excluding the purchase price for our Rio das Contas acquisition, to be between US$220 million to US$250 million. These capital expenditures will include the drilling of a total 50 to 60 new wells (approximately 40% of which we expect will be exploratory wells), as well as workovers, seismic surveys and new facility construction. We expect that approximately 62% of our total capital expenditures for 2014 will be incurred in Chile, which will include the drilling of approximately 32 to 37 wells, as well as workovers, seismic surveys and new facility construction, including oil pipelines. We expect that approximately 32% of our total capital expenditures for 2014 will be incurred in Colombia, which will include the drilling of approximately 18 to 23 wells, as well as workovers and new facility construction, mainly related to civic works, production facilities in the Tua and Tigana fields and improvements to the Taro Taro and Max field facilities. Finally, we expect that approximately 5% of our total capital expenditures for 2014 will be incurred in Brazil, which will consist of between US$5 million to US$7.5 million to finance in part the construction of a gas compression plant in the Manatí Field after the Rio das Contas acquisition and approximately US$0.45 million in license fee payments to the ANP relating to our Round 12 concessions, with the remainder for seismic surveys in exploration blocks in the Potiguar and Recôncavo Basins.
Critical accounting policies and estimates
We prepare our Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with IFRS and the interpretations of the IFRS Interpretations Committee, or the IFRIC, as adopted by the IASB. The preparation of the financial statements requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We continually evaluate these
estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates.
An accounting policy is considered critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time such estimate is made, and if different accounting estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the financial statements. We believe that the following accounting policies represent critical accounting policies as they involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity in their application and require us to make significant accounting estimates. The following descriptions of critical accounting policies and estimates should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes and other disclosures included elsewhere in this annual report.
Business combinations
Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the fair market value of the assets acquired, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred or assumed on the date of completion of the acquisition. Acquisition costs incurred are expensed and included in administrative expenses. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair market values at the acquisition date. The excess of the cost of acquisitions over fair market value of a company’s share of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If the cost of the acquisition is less than a company’s share of the net assets required, the difference is recognized directly in the statement of income.
The determination of fair value of identifiable acquired assets and assumed liabilities means that we are to make estimates and use valuation techniques, including independent appraisers. The valuation assumptions underlying each of these valuation methods are based on available updated information, including discount rates, estimated cash flows, market risk rates and other data. As a result, the process of identification and the related determination of fair values require complex judgments and significant estimates.
Cash flow estimates for impairment assessments
Cash flow estimates for impairment assessments require assumptions about two primary elements: future prices and reserves. Estimates of future prices require significant judgments about highly uncertain future events. Historically, oil and natural gas prices have exhibited significant volatility. Our forecasts for oil and natural gas revenues are based on prices derived from future price forecasts among industry analysts, as well as our own assessments. Estimates of future cash flows are generally based on assumptions of long-term prices and operating and development costs.
The process of estimating reserves requires significant judgments and decisions based on available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data. The estimation of economically recoverable oil and natural gas reserves and related future net cash flows was performed based on the D&M Reserves Report. Such estimates incorporate many factors and assumptions including:
| · | expected reservoir characteristics based on geological, geophysical and engineering assessments; |
| · | future production rates based on historical performance and expected future operating and investment activities; |
| · | future oil and natural gas prices and quality differentials; |
| · | anticipated effects of regulation by governmental agencies; and |
| · | future development and operating costs. |
Our management believes these factors and assumptions are reasonable based on the information available at the time we prepare our estimates. However, these estimates may change substantially as additional data from ongoing development activities and production performance becomes available and as economic conditions impacting oil and natural gas prices and costs change.
Oil and gas accounting
Oil and gas exploration and production activities are accounted for in accordance with the successful efforts method on a field by field basis. We account for exploration and evaluation activities in accordance with IFRS 6, Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources, capitalizing exploration and evaluation costs until such time as the economic viability of producing the underlying resources is determined. Costs incurred prior to obtaining legal rights to explore are expensed immediately to the income statement.
Exploration and evaluation costs may include: license acquisition, geological and geophysical studies (i.e., seismic), direct labor costs and drilling costs of exploratory wells. No depreciation and/or amortization are charged during the exploration and evaluation phase. Upon completion of the evaluation phase, the prospects are either transferred to oil and gas properties or charged to expense (exploration costs) in the period in which the determination is made, depending whether they have found reserves. If not developed, exploration and evaluation assets are written off after three years, unless it can be clearly demonstrated that the carrying value of the investment is recoverable. All field development costs are considered construction in progress until they are finished and capitalized within oil and gas properties, and are subject to depreciation once complete. Such costs may include the acquisition and installation of production facilities, development drilling costs (including dry holes, service wells and seismic surveys for development purposes), project-related engineering and the acquisition costs of rights and concessions related to proved properties.
Workovers of wells made to develop reserves and/or increase production are capitalized as development costs. Maintenance costs are charged to income when incurred.
Capitalized costs of proved oil and gas properties and production facilities and machinery are depreciated on a licensed area by licensed area basis, using the unit of production method, based on commercial proved and probable reserves. The calculation of the “unit of production” depreciation takes into account estimated future finding and development costs, and is based on current year-end unescalated price levels. Changes in reserves and cost estimates are recognized prospectively. Reserves are converted to equivalent units on the basis of approximate relative energy content.
Oil and gas reserves for purposes of our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements are determined in accordance with PRMS, and were estimated by D&M, independent reserves engineers.
Depreciation of the remaining property, plant and equipment assets (i.e., furniture and vehicles) not directly associated with oil and gas activities has been calculated by means of the straight line method by applying such annual rates as required to write-off their value at the end of their estimated useful lives. The useful lives range between three and 10 years.
Asset retirement obligations
Obligations related to the plugging and abandonment of wells once operations are terminated may result in the recognition of significant liabilities. We record the fair value of the liability for asset retirement obligations in the period in which the wells are drilled. When the liability is initially recognized, the cost is also capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value at each reporting date, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the estimated useful life of the related asset. Estimating the future abandonment costs is difficult and requires management to make assumptions and judgments because most of the obligations will be settled after many years. Technologies and costs are constantly changing, as are political, environmental, health, safety and public relations considerations. Consequently, the timing and future cost of dismantling and abandonment are subject to significant modification. Any change in the variables underlying our assumptions and estimates can have a significant effect on the liability and the related capitalized asset and future charges related to the retirement obligations. The present value of future costs necessary for well plugging and abandonment is calculated for each area on the basis of cash flows discounted at an average interest rate applicable to our company’s indebtedness. The liability recognized is based upon estimated future abandonment costs, wells subject to abandonment, time to abandonment, and future inflation rates.
Share-based payments
We provide several equity-settled, share-based compensation plans to certain employees and third-party contractors, composed of payments in the form of share awards and stock options plans.
Fair value of the stock option plans for employee or contractor services received in exchange for the grant of the options is recognized as an expense. The total amount to be expensed over the vesting period, which is the period over which all specified vesting conditions are to be satisfied, is determined by reference to the fair value of the options granted calculated using the Black-Scholes model. Determining the total value of our share-based payments requires the use of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected life of the stock options, estimated forfeitures and the price volatility of the underlying shares. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of share-based payment represent management’s best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment.
Non-market vesting conditions are included in assumptions in respect of the number of options that are expected to vest. At each balance sheet date, we revise our estimates of the number of options that are expected to vest. We recognize the impact of the revision to original estimates, if any, in the statement of income, with a corresponding adjustment to equity.
The fair value of the share awards payments is determined at the grant date by reference of the market value of the shares and recognized as an expense over the vesting period.
When options are exercised, we issue new common shares. The proceeds received net of any directly attributable transaction costs are credited to share capital (nominal value) and share premium when the options are exercised.
Taxation
The computation of our income tax expense involves the interpretation of applicable tax laws and regulations in many jurisdictions. The resolution of tax positions taken by us, through negotiations with relevant tax authorities or through litigation, can take several years to complete and in some cases it is difficult to predict the ultimate outcome.
In addition, we have tax-loss carry-forwards in certain taxing jurisdictions that are available to offset against future taxable profit. However, deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the unused tax losses can be utilized. Management judgment is exercised in assessing whether this is the case.
To the extent that actual outcomes differ from management’s estimates, taxation charges or credits may arise in future periods.
Recent accounting pronouncements
See note 2.1.1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements beginning on page F-1 to this annual report.
Results of operations
The following discussion is of certain financial and operating data for the periods indicated. You should read this discussion in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this annual report.
We acquired Winchester and Luna on February 14, 2012 and Cuerva on March 27, 2012. Accordingly, our results for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 are not fully comparable with prior periods. For accounting purposes, the results of operations of Winchester, Luna and Cuerva were consolidated into our financial statements beginning on January 31, 2012, January 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively. See Note 34 to our Annual Consolidated Financial Statements.
In addition, our Consolidated Financial Statements will not be fully comparable with our consolidated financial statements prepared for any period following the date upon which we fully consolidate Rio das Contas into our operations for accounting purposes, which will occur in the second quarter of 2014. See “Presentation of Financial and Other Information.”
Year ended December 31, 2013 compared to year ended December 31, 2012
The following table summarizes certain of our financial and operating data for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
| | For the year ended December 31, | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Revenue | | | | | | | | | |
Net oil sales | | | 315,435 | | | | 221,564 | | | | 42 | % |
Net gas sales | | | 22,918 | | | | 28,914 | | | | (21 | )% |
Net revenue | | | 338,353 | | | | 250,478 | | | | 35 | % |
Production costs | | | (179,643 | ) | | | (129,235 | ) | | | 39 | % |
Gross profit | | | 158,710 | | | | 121,243 | | | | 31 | % |
Gross margin (%)(1) | | | 47 | % | | | 48 | % | | | (1 | )% |
Exploration costs | | | (16,254 | ) | | | (27,890 | ) | | | (42 | )% |
Administrative costs | | | (46,584 | ) | | | (28,798 | ) | | | 62 | % |
Selling expenses | | | (17,252 | ) | | | (24,631 | ) | | | (30 | )% |
Other operating income/(expense) | | | 5,344 | | | | 823 | | | | 549 | % |
Operating profit | | | 83,964 | | | | 40,747 | | | | 106 | % |
Financial income | | | 4,893 | | | | 892 | | | | 449 | % |
Financial expenses | | | (38,769 | ) | | | (17,200 | ) | | | 125 | % |
Bargain purchase gain on acquisition of subsidiaries | | | - | | | | 8,401 | | | | — | |
Profit before income tax | | | 50,088 | | | | 32,840 | | | | 53 | % |
Income tax | | | (15,154 | ) | | | (14,394 | ) | | | 5 | % |
Profit for the year | | | 34,934 | | | | 18,446 | | | | 89 | % |
Non-controlling interest | | | 12,922 | | | | 6,567 | | | | 97 | % |
Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company | | | 22,012 | | | | 11,879 | | | | 85 | % |
Net production volumes | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Oil (mbbl) | | | 4,056 | | | | 2,513 | | | | 61 | % |
Gas (mcf) | | | 5,263 | | | | 8,346 | | | | (37 | )% |
Total net production (mboe) | | | 4,933 | | | | 3,904 | | | | 26 | % |
Average net production (boepd) | | | 13,517 | | | | 11,292 | | | | 20 | % |
Average realized sales price | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Oil (US$ per bbl) | | | 81.9 | | | | 90.5 | | | | (10 | )% |
Gas (US$ per mmcf) | | | 5.0 | | | | 4.0 | | | | 25 | % |
Average unit costs per boe (US$) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating cost | | | 19.0 | | | | 16.8 | | | | 13 | % |
Royalties and other | | | 3.5 | | | | 2.9 | | | | 21 | % |
Production costs(2) | | | 22.5 | | | | 19.7 | | | | 14 | % |
Depreciation | | | 13.9 | | | | 13.4 | | | | 4 | % |
Total production cost | | | 36.4 | | | | 33.1 | | | | 10 | % |
Exploration costs | | | 3.3 | | | | 7.1 | | | | (54 | )% |
Administrative costs | | | 9.4 | | | | 7.4 | | | | 27 | % |
Selling expenses | | | 3.5 | | | | 6.3 | | | | (44 | )% |
(1) | Gross margin is defined as total revenue minus production costs, divided by total revenue. |
(2) | Calculated pursuant to FASB ASC 932. |
The following table summarizes certain financial and operating data.
| | For the year ended December 31, | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$) | |
Net revenue | | | 157,491 | | | | 179,324 | | | | 1,538 | | | | 338,353 | | | | 149,927 | | | | 99,501 | | | | 1,050 | | | | 250,478 | |
Gross profit/(loss) | | | 89,906 | | | | 67,612 | | | | 1,192 | | | | 158,710 | | | | 84,133 | | | | 39,304 | | | | (2,194 | ) | | | 121,243 | |
Depreciation | | | (30,471 | ) | | | (39,406 | ) | | | (323 | ) | | | (70,200 | ) | | | (28,734 | ) | | | (21,050 | ) | | | (3,533 | ) | | | (53,317 | ) |
Impairment and write-off | | | (7,704 | ) | | | (3,258 | ) | | | - | | | | (10,962 | ) | | | (18,490 | ) | | | (5,147 | ) | | | (1,915 | ) | | | (25,552 | ) |
Net revenue
For the year ended December 31, 2013, crude oil sales were our principal source of revenue, with 93% and 7% of our total revenue from crude oil and gas sales, respectively. The following chart shows the change in oil and natural gas sales from the year ended December 31, 2012 to the year ended December 31, 2013.
| | For the year ended December 31, | |
| | | | | | |
Consolidated | | (in thousands of US$) | |
Sale of crude oil | | | 315,435 | | | | 221,564 | |
Sale of gas | | | 22,918 | | | | 28,914 | |
Total | | | 338,353 | | | | 250,478 | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
By country | | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | 157,491 | | | | 149,927 | | | | 7,564 | | | | 5 | % |
Colombia | | | 179,324 | | | | 99,501 | | | | 79,823 | | | | 80 | % |
Other | | | 1,538 | | | | 1,050 | | | | 488 | | | | 46 | % |
Total | | | 338,353 | | | | 250,478 | | | | 87,875 | | | | 35 | % |
Net revenue increased 35%, from US$250.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 to US$338.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily as a result of an increase in volumes of crude sales by 55%. Sales of crude oil in operated blocks increased to 3,800 mbbl in the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to 2,448 mbbl in the year ended December 31, 2012, and resulted in net revenue of US$315.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to US$221.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, partially offset by decreases in sales of gas from US$28.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 to US$22.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
The increase in 2013 net revenue of US$87.8 is mainly explained by:
| · | an increase of US$79.8 million in oil sales in Colombia |
| · | an increase of US$13.6 million in oil sales in Chile, |
partially offset by a decrease of US$6.0 million in gas deliveries in Chile.
Net revenue attributable to our operations in Chile for the year ended December 31, 2013 was US$157.5 million, a 5% increase from US$149.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, principally due to (1) increased sales of crude oil of 1,592 mbbl for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to 1,415 mbbl for the year ended December 31, 2012 (an increase of 12.5%) due to the continuing development in the Tobifera formation, and (2) decreased average realized prices per barrel of crude oil from US$85.4 per barrel for the year December 31, 2012 to
US$84.3 per barrel for the year ended December 31, 2013 (a decrease of US$1.1 per barrel or a total of 1.3%). The decrease in the average realized price per barrel was partly attributable to quality discounts in the year ended December 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in 2012. The net increased sales of crude oil were partially offset by a US$6.0 million reduction in gas sales mainly driven by a decrease of 37% in production in the year ended December 31, 2013, partially compensated by higher average gas prices. The contribution to our net revenue during such years from our operations in Chile was 47% and 60%, respectively.
Net revenue attributable to our operations in Colombia for the year ended December 31, 2013 was US$179.3 million, compared to US$99.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, representing 53% and 40% of our total consolidated sales. Such amounts were primarily due to increased sales of crude oil in operated blocks, from 1,087 mbbl for the year ended December 31, 2012 to 2,185 mbbl for the year ended December 31, 2013, an increase of 101%. This increase resulted from (i) the incorporation of an additional three months of Cuerva’s results in the year ended December 31, 2013 and the incorporation of an additional month of Winchester and Luna’s operations (the revenues for the corresponding period that were not included in the year ended December 31, 2012 amounted to US$23.8 million) as compared to the same period in 2012, and (ii) the development of the Max and Tua fields and our discoveries of the Tarotaro field in the Llanos 34 Block and the Potrillo field in the Yamú Block. This was partially offset by a decrease in the average realized prices per barrel of crude oil from US$97.1 per barrel to US$80.3 per barrel, primarily due to the fact that in 2013 we started selling part of our oil production at well-head with higher commercial discounts, as opposed to transporting it to different delivery points, which led to lower selling expenses that offset the lower selling prices.
Production costs
The following table summarizes our production costs for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
| | For the year ended December 31, | | | | | | % Change from prior | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Consolidated (including Chile, Colombia and Argentina) | | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | | | | | | | |
Depreciation | | | (68,579 | ) | | | (52,307 | ) | | | 31 | % |
Royalties | | | (17,239 | ) | | | (11,424 | ) | | | 51 | % |
Staff costs | | | (14,202 | ) | | | (14,171 | ) | | | 0 | % |
Transportation costs | | | (11,392 | ) | | | (7,211 | ) | | | 58 | % |
Well and facilities maintenance | | | (20,662 | ) | | | (9,385 | ) | | | 120 | % |
Consumables | | | (14,855 | ) | | | (9,884 | ) | | | 50 | % |
Equipment rental | | | (7,139 | ) | | | (5,936 | ) | | | 20 | % |
Other costs | | | (25,575 | ) | | | (18,917 | ) | | | 35 | % |
Total | | | (179,643 | ) | | | (129,235 | ) | | | 39 | % |
| | Year ended December 31, | | | | |
| | 2013 | | | 2012 | | | | |
| | Chile | | | Colombia | | | Chile | | | Colombia | |
By country | | (in thousands of US$) | | | | |
Depreciation | | | (29,287 | ) | | | (39,233 | ) | | | (28,120 | ) | | | (20,964 | ) |
Royalties | | | (7,384 | ) | | | (9,661 | ) | | | (7,088 | ) | | | (4,164 | ) |
Staff costs | | | (6,508 | ) | | | (8,988 | ) | | | (8,560 | ) | | | (7,432 | ) |
Transportation costs | | | (6,456 | ) | | | (4,733 | ) | | | (5,986 | ) | | | (1,045 | ) |
Well and facilities maintenance | | | (8,163 | ) | | | (12,105 | ) | | | (6,290 | ) | | | (2,850 | ) |
Consumables | | | (1,891 | ) | | | (12,886 | ) | | | (2,717 | ) | | | (7,090 | ) |
Equipment rental | | | - | | | | (7,139 | ) | | | — | | | | (5,936 | ) |
Other costs | | | (7,896 | ) | | | (16,967 | ) | | | (7,033 | ) | | | (10,716 | ) |
Total | | | (67,585 | ) | | | (111,712 | ) | | | (65,794 | ) | | | (60,197 | ) |
Production costs increased 39%, from US$129.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 to US$179.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to the addition of US$51.5 million in such costs from our Colombian operations.
In our Chilean operations, production costs increased by 2.7%, due to the change in revenue mix from gas to oil, which has higher production costs than gas, and due to an increase in our oil production. In the year ended December 31, 2013, in Chile, operating costs per boe increased to US$12.2 per boe from US$10.7 per boe in 2012. In the year ended December 31, 2013, the revenue mix for Chile was 85.5% oil and 14.5% gas, whereas for the same period in 2012 it was 80.7% oil and 19.3% gas.
Operating costs in Colombia increased 79.1%, to US$62.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to an increase in production and deliveries the region and also to the incorporation of an additional three months of Cuerva’s results in the year ended December 31, 2013 and the incorporation of an additional month of Winchester and Luna’s operations in Colombia (operating costs for the corresponding period that were not included in the year ended December 31, 2012 amounted to US$14.2 million). However, operating costs per boe in Colombia decreased to US$26.5 per boe for the year ended December 31, 2013 from US$34.0 per boe for the year ended December 31, 2012, due to the fact that increased production generated improved fixed cost absorption, which positively impacted the production costs per boe.
Gross profit
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | 89,906 | | | | 84,133 | | | | 5,773 | | | | 7 | % |
Colombia | | | 67,612 | | | | 39,304 | | | | 28,308 | | | | 72 | % |
Other | | | 1,192 | | | | (2,194 | ) | | | 3,386 | | | | 154 | % |
Total | | | 158,710 | | | | 121,243 | | | | 37,467 | | | | 31 | % |
Gross profit increased 31%, from US$121.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 to US$158.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, as a result of (i) increased sales and production in Colombia, (ii) the incorporation of an additional three months of Cuerva’s results in the year ended December 31, 2013 and the incorporation of an additional month of Winchester and Luna’s operations in Colombia (gross profit for the corresponding period that was not included in the year ended December 31, 2012 amounted to US$9.4 million) and (iii) increased net revenues in our Chilean operations. As a result, gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2013 was 47%, which represented a slight decrease of 3% as compared to the gross margin for the year ended
December 31, 2012. Gross profit per boe increased 4%, to US$32.2 per barrel for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Gross profit attributable to our operations in Chile for the year ended December 31, 2012 was US$89.9 million, a 7% increase from US$84.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The contribution to our gross profit during such years from our operations in Chile was 57% and 69%, respectively.
Gross profit attributable to our operations in Colombia for the year ended December 31, 2012 was US$67.6 million a 72% increase from US$39.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The contribution to our gross profit during such years from our operations in Colombia was 43% and 32%, respectively.
Exploration costs
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | (9,758 | ) | | | (20,452 | ) | | | 10,694 | | | | (52 | )% |
Colombia | | | (3,341 | ) | | | (5,528 | ) | | | 2,187 | | | | (40 | %) |
Other | | | (3,155 | ) | | | (1,910 | ) | | | 1,245 | | | | 65 | % |
Total | | | (16,254 | ) | | | (27,890 | ) | | | 11,636 | | | | (42 | )% |
Exploration costs decreased 42%, from US$27.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 to US$16.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily as the result of the decrease in recognition of write-offs of unsuccessful efforts in an amount of US$14.6 million.
The 2013 charge in write-off of unsuccessful efforts corresponds to the cost of five unsuccessful exploratory wells: two in Chile (one in Fell Block and one in Tranquilo Block) and three in Colombia (one well in Cuerva Block and one well in each of the non-operated blocks, Arrendajo and Llanos 32). The 2012 charge in write-off of unsuccessful efforts corresponds to the costs of eight unsuccessful exploratory wells: five in Chile (two in Fell Block, two in Otway Block and the remaining in Tranquilo Block) and three in Colombia (one well in Cuerva Block, one well in Arrendajo Block and the remaining in Llanos 17 Block). The 2012 charge also includes the loss generated by the relinquishment of an area in the Del Mosquito Block in Argentina.
Administrative costs
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | (16,420 | ) | | | (10,879 | ) | | | (5,541 | ) | | | 51 | % |
Colombia | | | (16,409 | ) | | | (7,393 | ) | | | (9,016 | ) | | | 121 | % |
Other | | | (13,755 | ) | | | (10,526 | ) | | | (3,229 | ) | | | 31 | % |
Total | | | (46,584 | ) | | | (28,798 | ) | | | 17,786 | | | | 62 | % |
Administrative costs increased 62%, from US$28.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 to US$46.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily as a result of an increase in costs in: (1) our Chilean operations, from US$10.9 million in the year ended December 31,2012 to US$16.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2013, mainly due to the startup of our operations in Tierra del Fuego; (2) increased staff and other costs in Colombia, and (3) higher corporate expenses related to our growth strategy and new business efforts.
Selling expenses
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | (4,062 | ) | | | (5,327 | ) | | | 1,265 | | | | (24 | )% |
Colombia | | | (12,677 | ) | | | (18,953 | ) | | | 6,276 | | | | (33 | )% |
Other | | | (513 | ) | | | (351 | ) | | | 162 | | | | (46 | )% |
Total | | | (17,252 | ) | | | (24,631 | ) | | | 7,379 | | | | (30 | )% |
Selling expenses decreased 30%, from US$24.6 million for year ended December 31, 2012 to US$17.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to the change in the delivery point for certain of our production in our Colombian operations. In our Chilean operations, selling expenses were 24% lower compared to prior year, primarily as a result of the impact of the DOP penalty we paid to Methanex in 2012, described in “— Business— Marketing and Delivery Commitments,” partially offset by the increase in oil deliveries in Chile.
Operating profit (loss)
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | 63,110 | | | | 47,915 | | | | 15,195 | | | | 32 | % |
Colombia | | | 38,811 | | | | 8,499 | | | | 30,312 | | | | 357 | % |
Other | | | (17,957 | ) | | | (15,667 | ) | | | (2,290 | ) | | | 15 | % |
Total | | | 83,964 | | | | 40,747 | | | | 43,217 | | | | 106 | % |
We recorded an operating profit of US$84.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, a 106% increase from US$40.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to the incorporation of an additional three months of Cuerva’s results and an increase in production and deliveries in Colombia in the year ended December 31, 2013 and the incorporation of an additional month of Winchester and Luna’s operations in Colombia. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2013, in Chile, we recognized a gain amounting to US$3.2 million in other operating income related to the reversal of certain provisions previously recorded that, based on the view of our management and legal advisors, were extinguished as the statute of limitations was reached.
Financial results, net
Financial loss increased 108% to US$33.9 million, due to the accelerated amortization of debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the redemption of the Notes due 2015 in an amount of US$8.6 million following the issuance of the Notes due 2020 in February 2013, the incorporation of an additional three months of Cuerva’s results in the year ended December 31, 2013 and the incorporation of an additional month of Winchester and Luna’s operations in Colombia into our results and higher interest expenses generated by the issuance of the Notes due 2020 in an amount of US$12.1 million, partially offset by interest income due to increased cash and cash equivalents.
Profit before income tax
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | 49,965 | | | | 42,272 | | | | 7,693 | | | | 18 | % |
Colombia | | | 31,049 | | | | 11,223 | | | | 19,826 | | | | 177 | % |
Other | | | (30,926 | ) | | | (20,655 | ) | | | (10,271 | ) | | | 50 | % |
Total | | | 50,088 | | | | 32,840 | | | | 17,248 | | | | 53 | % |
For the year ended December 31, 2013, we recorded a profit before income tax of US$50.1 million, an increase of 53% from US$32.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to the incorporation of an additional three months of Cuerva’s results in the year ended December 31, 2013 and the incorporation of an
additional month of Winchester and Luna’s operations in Colombia into our results and to increases in production and deliveries in Colombia, and, to a lesser extent, higher profits from our Chilean operations, partially offset by the occurrence of two non-recurring events: (1) accelerated amortization of debt issuance costs described above; and (2) the comparative effect of a bargain purchase gain on acquisition of subsidiaries of US$8.4 million as a result of the acquisitions of Winchester and Luna recorded in the year ended December 31, 2012.
Income tax
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | (4,121 | ) | | | (11,349 | ) | | | 7,228 | | | | (64 | )% |
Colombia | | | (17,870 | ) | | | (4,976 | ) | | | (12,894 | ) | | | 259 | % |
Other | | | 6,837 | | | | 1,931 | | | | 4,906 | | | | 254 | % |
Total | | | (15,154 | ) | | | (14,394 | ) | | | (760 | ) | | | 5 | % |
Income tax increased 5%, from US$14.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 to US$15.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, as a result of our increased results of operations in Chile and Colombia. Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2013 was 30% as compared to 44% in the year ended December 31, 2012 due to lower charges from deferred income taxes in the year ended December 31, 2013 mainly resulting from the effect of currency translation on tax base in Colombia and Chile, compensated by an increase in current taxes resulting from higher profits in Chile and Colombia and the impact of tax loss carry forwards recorded in Colombia.
Profit for the year
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | 45,844 | | | | 30,923 | | | | 14,921 | | | | 48 | % |
Colombia | | | 13,179 | | | | 6,247 | | | | 6,932 | | | | 111 | % |
Other | | | (24,089 | ) | | | (18,724 | ) | | | (5,365 | ) | | | 29 | % |
Total | | | 34,934 | | | | 18,446 | | | | 16,488 | | | | 89 | % |
For the year ended December 31, 2013, we recorded a profit of US$34.9 million, a 89% increase from US$18.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, as a result of the reasons described above.
Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company
Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company increased by 85% to US$22.0 million, for the reasons described above. Profit attributable to non-controlling interest increased by 97% to US$12.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 as compared to the prior year due to the incorporation of an additional three months of Cuerva’s results in the year ended December 31, 2013 and the incorporation of an additional month of Winchester and Luna’s operations in Colombia and an increase in non-controlling interest resulting from LGI’s acquisition of a 20% equity interest in our Colombian operations.
Year ended December 31, 2012 compared to year ended December 31, 2011
The following table summarizes certain of our financial and operating data for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.
| | For the year ended December 31, | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Revenue | | | | | | | | | |
Net oil sales | | | 221,564 | | | | 73,508 | | | | 201 | % |
Net gas sales | | | 28,914 | | | | 38,072 | | | | (24 | )% |
Net revenue | | | 250,478 | | | | 111,580 | | | | 124 | % |
Production costs | | | (129,235 | ) | | | (54,513 | ) | | | 137 | % |
Gross profit | | | 121,243 | | | | 57,067 | | | | 112 | % |
Gross margin (%)(1) | | | 48 | % | | | 51 | % | | | (3 | )% |
Exploration costs | | | (27,890 | ) | | | (10,066 | ) | | | 177 | % |
Administrative costs | | | (28,798 | ) | | | (18,169 | ) | | | 59 | % |
Selling expenses | | | (24,631 | ) | | | (2,546 | ) | | | 867 | % |
Other operating income/(expense) | | | 823 | | | | (502 | ) | | | 264 | % |
Operating profit | | | 40,747 | | | | 25,784 | | | | 58 | % |
Financial income | | | 892 | | | | 162 | | | | 451 | % |
Financial expenses | | | (17,200 | ) | | | (13,678 | ) | | | 26 | % |
Bargain purchase gain on acquisition of subsidiaries | | | 8,401 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Profit before income tax | | | 32,840 | | | | 12,268 | | | | 168 | % |
Income tax | | | (14,394 | ) | | | (7,206 | ) | | | 100 | % |
Profit for the year | | | 18,446 | | | | 5,062 | | | | 264 | % |
Non-controlling interest | | | 6,567 | | | | 5,008 | | | | 31 | % |
Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company | | | 11,879 | | | | 54 | | | | 21,898 | % |
Net production volumes | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Oil (mbbl) | | | 2,513 | | | | 916 | | | | 174 | % |
Gas (mcf) | | | 8,346 | | | | 11,135 | | | | (25 | )% |
Total net production (mboe) | | | 3,904 | | | | 2,771 | | | | 41 | % |
Average net production (boepd) | | | 11,292 | | | | 7,593 | | | | 49 | % |
Average realized sales price | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Oil (US$ per bbl) | | | 90.5 | | | | 83.8 | | | | 8 | % |
Gas (US$ per mmcf) | | | 4.0 | | | | 3.9 | | | | 2 | % |
Average unit costs per boe (US$) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating cost | | | 16.8 | | | | 8.6 | | | | 95 | % |
Royalties and other | | | 2.9 | | | | 1.7 | | | | 71 | % |
Production costs(2) | | | 19.7 | | | | 10.3 | | | | 91 | % |
Depreciation | | | 13.4 | | | | 9.3 | | | | 44 | % |
Total production cost | | | 33.1 | | | | 19.7 | | | | 68 | % |
Exploration costs | | | 7.1 | | | | 3.6 | | | | 97 | % |
Administrative costs | | | 7.4 | | | | 6.6 | | | | 12 | % |
Selling expenses | | | 6.3 | | | | 0.9 | | | | 600 | % |
(1) | Gross margin is defined as total revenue minus production costs, divided by total revenue. |
(2) | Calculated pursuant to FASB ASC 932. |
The following table summarizes certain financial and operating data.
| | For the year ended December 31, | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$) | |
Net revenue | | | 149,927 | | | | 99,501 | | | | 1,050 | | | | 250,478 | | | | 110,103 | | | | — | | | | 1,477 | | | | 111,580 | |
Gross profit/(loss) | | | 84,133 | | | | 39,304 | | | | (2,194 | ) | | | 121,243 | | | | 56,888 | | | | — | | | | 179 | | | | 57,067 | |
Depreciation | | | (28,734 | ) | | | (21,050 | ) | | | (3,533 | ) | | | (53,317 | ) | | | (25,297 | ) | | | — | | | | (1,111 | ) | | | (26,408 | ) |
Impairment and write-off | | | (18,490 | ) | | | (5,147 | ) | | | (1,915 | ) | | | (25,552 | ) | | | (5,919 | ) | | | — | | | | (1,344 | ) | | | (7,263 | ) |
Net revenue
For the year ended December 31, 2012, crude oil sales were our principal source of revenue, with 88% and 12% of our total revenue from crude oil and gas sales, respectively. The following chart shows the increase in oil and natural gas sales from the year ended December 31, 2011 to the year ended December 31, 2012.
| | For the year ended December 31, | |
| | | | | | |
Consolidated | | (in thousands of US$) | |
Sale of crude oil | | | 221,564 | | | | 73,508 | |
Sale of gas | | | 28,914 | | | | 38,072 | |
Total | | | 250,478 | | | | 111,580 | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
By country | | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | 149,927 | | | | 110,103 | | | | 39,824 | | | | 36 | % |
Colombia | | | 99,501 | | | | — | | | | 99,501 | | | | — | |
Other | | | 1,050 | | | | 1,477 | | | | (427 | ) | | | (29 | )% |
Total | | | 250,478 | | | | 111,580 | | | | 138,898 | | | | 124 | % |
Net revenue increased 124%, from US$111.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 to US$250.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily as a result of the acquisition of Luna and Winchester in February 2012 and Cuerva in March 2012 in Colombia, which increased our volumes of crude sales by 41.5%, and increases in sales of crude oil in Chile. Sales of crude oil increased to 2,448 mbbl in the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to 864 mbbl in the year ended December 31, 2011, and resulted in net revenue of US$221.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to US$73.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, partially offset by decreases in sales of gas from US$38.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 to US$28.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.
The increase in 2012 net revenue is explained by:
| · | an increase of US$142.2 million in oil deliveries (including US$99.5 million in oil deliveries from Colombia); |
| · | an increase of US$6.0 million from the realized price for oil sold; and |
| · | an increase of US$1.1 million from the realized price of gas sold, |
partially offset by a decrease of US$10.2 million in gas deliveries.
Net revenue attributable to our operations in Chile for the year ended December 31, 2012 was US$149.9 million, a 36% increase from US$110.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, principally due to (1) increased sales of crude oil of 1,415 mbbl for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to 864 mbbl for the year ended December 31, 2011 (an increase of 63.8%) following the discovery of the Konawentru x1 well, which was put into production in June 2012, and also other discoveries made in the Tobifera formation, and (2) an increased average realized prices per barrel of crude oil from US$83.8 per barrel for the year December 31, 2011 to US$85.4 per barrel for the year ended December 31, 2012 (an increase of US$1.6 per barrel or a total of 1.9%). The increase in the average realized price per barrel was partly attributable to US$1.0 per barrel less in quality discounts in the year ended December 31, 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011. The increased sales of crude oil were partially offset by a US$9.2 million reduction in gas sales. The contribution to our net revenue during such years from our operations in Chile was 60% and 99%, respectively.
Net revenue attributable to our operations in Colombia for the year ended December 31, 2012 was US$99.5 million. Our Colombian operations contributed 39.7% to our net revenue, resulting from sales of crude oil.
Production costs
The following table summarizes our production costs for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.
| | For the year ended December 31, | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Consolidated (including Chile, Colombia and Argentina) | | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Depreciation | | | (52,307 | ) | | | (25,844 | ) | | | 102 | % |
Royalties | | | (11,424 | ) | | | (4,843 | ) | | | 136 | % |
Staff costs | | | (14,171 | ) | | | (6,015 | ) | | | 136 | % |
Transportation costs | | | (7,211 | ) | | | (2,541 | ) | | | 184 | % |
Well and facilities maintenance | | | (9,385 | ) | | | (5,080 | ) | | | 85 | % |
Consumables | | | (9,884 | ) | | | (1,687 | ) | | | 486 | % |
Equipment rental | | | (5,936 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
Other costs | | | (18,917 | ) | | | (8,503 | ) | | | 122 | % |
Total | | | (129,235 | ) | | | (54,513 | ) | | | 137 | % |
| | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
By country | | (in thousands of US$) | |
Depreciation | | | (28,120 | ) | | | (20,964 | ) | | | (24,958 | ) | | | — | |
Royalties | | | (7,088 | ) | | | (4,164 | ) | | | (4,634 | ) | | | — | |
Staff costs | | | (8,560 | ) | | | (7,432 | ) | | | (6,802 | ) | | | — | |
Transportation costs | | | (5,986 | ) | | | (1,045 | ) | | | (2,427 | ) | | | — | |
Well and facilities maintenance | | | (6,290 | ) | | | (2,850 | ) | | | (4,817 | ) | | | — | |
Consumables | | | (2,717 | ) | | | (7,090 | ) | | | (1,626 | ) | | | — | |
Equipment rental | | | — | | | | (5,936 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
Other costs | | | (7,033 | ) | | | (10,716 | ) | | | (7,951 | ) | | | — | |
Total | | | (65,794 | ) | | | (60,197 | ) | | | (53,215 | ) | | | — | |
Production costs increased 137%, from US$54.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 to US$129.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to the addition of US$60.2 million in such costs from our Colombian operations.
In our Chilean operations, production costs increased by 23.6%, due to the change in revenue mix from gas to oil, which has higher production costs than gas, and due to an increase in our oil production. In the year ended December 31, 2012, in Chile, operating expenditures per boe increased to US$10.3 per boe from US$8.3 per boe in 2011. In the year ended December 31, 2012, the revenue mix for Chile was 80.7% oil and 19.3% gas, whereas for the same period in 2011 it was 65.4% oil and 34.6% gas.
In our Colombian operations, 34.8% of our production costs were related to depreciation charges, 6.9% to royalties, 11.7% to consumables and 9.9% to equipment rental for the year ended December 31, 2012. In the year ended December 31, 2012, in Colombia, operating expenditures were US$30.4 per boe.
Gross profit
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | 84,133 | | | | 56,888 | | | | 27,245 | | | | 48 | % |
Colombia | | | 39,304 | | | | — | | | | 39,304 | | | | — | |
Other | | | (2,194 | ) | | | 179 | | | | (2,373 | ) | | | (1,325 | )% |
Total | | | 121,243 | | | | 57,067 | | | | 64,176 | | | | 112 | % |
Gross profit increased 112%, from US$57.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 to US$121.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, as a result of our Colombian acquisitions and increased revenues in our Chilean operations.
As a result, gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2012 was 48%, which represented a decrease of 3% as compared to the gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Gross profit per boe increased 49%, from US$20.6 for the year ended December 31, 2011 to US$30.7 for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Gross profit attributable to our operations in Chile for the year ended December 31, 2012 was US$84.1 million, a 48% increase from US$56.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. The contribution to our gross profit during such years from our operations in Chile was 69% and 100%, respectively.
Gross profit attributable to our operations in Colombia for the year ended December 31, 2012 was US$39.3 million. The contribution to our gross profit during such period was 32%.
Exploration costs
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | (20,452 | ) | | | (7,486 | ) | | | (12,966 | ) | | | 173 | % |
Colombia | | | (5,528 | ) | | | — | | | | (5,528 | ) | | | — | |
Other | | | (1,910 | ) | | | (2,580 | ) | | | 670 | | | | (26 | )% |
Total | | | (27,890 | ) | | | (10,066 | ) | | | 17,824 | | | | 177 | % |
Exploration costs increased 177%, from US$10.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 to US$27.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily as the result of a 173% increase in exploration costs in Chile, which represented 73% of our exploration costs in 2012. In 2012, we recorded write-offs relating to five of our Chilean wells (two in the Fell Block, two in the Otway Block and one in the Tranquilo Block) and three of our Colombian wells (one in the Cuerva Block, one in the Arrendajo Block and one in the Llanos 17 Block) for a total of US$23.6 million, as compared to write-offs in respect of three of our Chilean wells for a total of US$5.9 million in 2011; and a loss of US$1.9 million generated by our voluntary relinquishment of exploration acreage in the Del Mosquito Block in Argentina in 2012, recorded in our Other operations, compared to a write-off in respect of charges from assets relating to the Del Mosquito Block in the amount of US$1.3 million in 2011. See Note 11 to our Annual Consolidated Financial Statements. The incorporation of our Colombian operations into our results resulted in a US$5.5 million (including US$5.1 million in write-offs described above) increase in our exploration costs for 2012.
Administrative costs
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | (10,879 | ) | | | (6,396 | ) | | | (4,483 | ) | | | 70 | % |
Colombia | | | (7,393 | ) | | | — | | | | (7,393 | ) | | | — | |
Other | | | (10,526 | ) | | | (11,773 | ) | | | 1,247 | | | | 11 | % |
Total | | | (28,798 | ) | | | (18,169 | ) | | | (10,629 | ) | | | 59 | % |
Administrative costs increased 59%, from US$18.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 to US$28.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, as a result of (1) an increase in costs in our Chilean and other operations due to higher costs relating to analyzing new business developments and expansion, including our Colombian acquisitions and our Brazil Acquisitions, amounting to US$2.9 million during 2012, as compared to US$1.7 million during 2011, (2) consultant fees amounting to US$5.1 million during 2012, as compared to US$1.9 million during 2011, and (3) the incorporation of our Colombian operations into our results.
Selling expenses
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | (5,327 | ) | | | (2,231 | ) | | | (3,096 | ) | | | 139 | % |
Colombia | | | (18,953 | ) | | | — | | | | (18,953 | ) | | | — | |
Other | | | (351 | ) | | | (315 | ) | | | (36 | ) | | | 11 | % |
Total | | | (24,631 | ) | | | (2,546 | ) | | | (22,085 | ) | | | 867 | % |
Selling expenses increased 867%, from US$2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 to US$24.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily due to higher transportation costs in 2012 in connection with our Colombian operations, in an amount of US$18.9 million. In our Chilean operations, selling expenses were US$3.1 million, or 139%, higher compared to the prior year, primarily as a result of (1) a DOP penalty payment in the amount of US$1.7 million to Methanex as a result of our failure to meet our minimum volume delivery requirements under the Methanex Gas Supply Agreement for each of the months of April through September of 2012 and (2) an increase of US$1.4 million that was primarily due to higher oil sales volumes in Chile.
Operating profit (loss)
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | 47,915 | | | | 39,425 | | | | 8,490 | | | | 22 | % |
Colombia | | | 8,499 | | | | — | | | | 8,499 | | | | — | |
Other | | | (15,667 | ) | | | (13,641 | ) | | | (2,026 | ) | | | 15 | % |
Total | | | 40,747 | | | | 25,784 | | | | 14,963 | | | | 58 | % |
Operating profit increased 58.0%, primarily due to the incorporation of our Colombian operations into our results and a 22% increase in our Chilean operations in the year ended December 31, 2012 as compared to the prior year, which was partially offset by the operating loss in Other.
Financial results, net
Financial loss increased 21% to US$16.3 million, primarily due to the incurrence of a US$37.5 million loan to partly finance our Colombian acquisitions, and an increase in exchange difference of US$0.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 as compared to US$2.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2012, mainly due to the strengthening of the Chilean peso against the U.S. dollar, from Ch$ 519.2 as of December 31, 2011 to Ch$ 478.6 as of December 31, 2012, which negatively affected our liability net position in local currency related to tax payables.
Profit before income tax
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | 42,272 | | | | 26,649 | | | | 15,623 | | | | 59 | % |
Colombia | | | 11,223 | | | | — | | | | 11,223 | | | | — | |
Other | | | (20,655 | ) | | | (14,381 | ) | | | (6,274 | ) | | | 44 | % |
Total | | | 32,840 | | | | 12,268 | | | | 20,572 | | | | 168 | % |
For the year ended December 31, 2012, we recorded a profit before income tax of US$32.8 million, an increase of 168% from US$12.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily due to the incorporation of our Colombian operations into our results and a bargain purchase gain on acquisition of subsidiaries of US$8.4 million as a result of the acquisitions of Winchester and Luna in the year ended December 31, 2012.
Income tax
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | (11,349 | ) | | | (7,194 | ) | | | (4,155 | ) | | | 58 | % |
Colombia | | | (4,976 | ) | | | — | | | | (4,976 | ) | | | — | |
Other | | | 1,931 | | | | (12 | ) | | | 1,943 | | | | 16,192 | % |
Total | | | (14,394 | ) | | | (7,206 | ) | | | (7,188 | ) | | | 100 | % |
Income tax increased 100%, from US$7.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 to US$14.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, as a result of the incorporation of our Colombian operations into our results and a 58% increase in income tax in our Chilean operations, consistent with the improved profitability of our Chilean operations, offset by the recognition of a deferred tax asset of US$1.9 million resulting from expenses generated at our Chilean holding company. Our effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 was 59% and 44%, respectively, due in part to a non-recurring tax exempted bargain purchase gain on acquisition of subsidiaries.
Profit for the year
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$, except for percentages) | |
Chile | | | 30,923 | | | | 19,455 | | | | 11,468 | | | | 59 | % |
Colombia | | | 6,247 | | | | — | | | | 6,247 | | | | — | |
Other | | | (18,724 | ) | | | (14,393 | ) | | | (4,331 | ) | | | 30 | % |
Total | | | 18,446 | | | | 5,062 | | | | 13,384 | | | | 264 | % |
For the year ended December 31, 2012, we recorded a profit of US$18.4 million, a 264% increase from US$5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of the reasons described above.
Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company
Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company increased for the reasons described above. Profit attributable to non-controlling interest increased by 31% to US$6.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 as compared to the prior year due to increased profit in our Chilean operations.
| Liquidity and capital resources |
Overview
Our financial condition and liquidity is and will continue to be influenced by a variety of factors, including:
· | our ability to generate cash flows from our operations; |
· | our capital expenditure requirements; |
· | the level of our outstanding indebtedness and the interest we are obligated to pay on this indebtedness; and |
· | changes in exchange rates which will impact our generation of cash flows from operations when measured in U.S. dollars, and, upon the completion of our Brazil Acquisitions, the real. |
Our principal sources of liquidity have historically been contributed shareholder equity, debt financings and cash generated by our operations in the Fell Block, and, since our acquisitions of Winchester and Luna in the first quarter of 2012, cash generated by our operations in our blocks in Colombia.
We have a proven ability to raise capital. Since 2005 to 2013, we have raised more than US$109.5 million in equity offerings at the holding company level and more than US$557 million through debt arrangements with multilateral agencies such as the IFC, gas prepayment facilities with Methanex, international bond issuances and bank financings, described further below, which have been used to fund our capital expenditures program and acquisitions and to increase our liquidity.
We have also raised US$173.3 million to date through our strategic partnership with LGI following the sale of minority interests in our Colombian and Chilean operations.
We initially funded our 2012 expansion into Colombia through a US$37.5 million loan, cash on hand and a subsequent sale of a minority interest in our Colombian operations to LGI. We subsequently restructured our outstanding debt in February 2013, by issuing US$300.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes due 2020, a portion of the proceeds of which we used to prepay the US$37.5 million loan and to redeem all of our outstanding Notes due 2015. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Significant Agreements—Argentina—Agreements with LGI.”
In February 2014, we commenced trading on the NYSE and raised US$98 million (before underwriting commissions and expenses), including the over allotment option granted to and exercised by the underwriters, through the issuance of 13,999,700 common shares.
In March 2014, we borrowed US$70.5 million pursuant to a five-year term variable interest secured loan, secured by the benefits GeoPark receives under the Purchase and Sale Agreement for Natural Gas with Petrobras, equal to six-month LIBOR + 3.9% to finance part of the purchase price of our Rio das Contas acquisition, and funded the remaining amount with cash on hand.
We believe that our cash and cash equivalents on hand, and cash from operations will be adequate to meet our capital expenditure requirements, and liquidity needs for the foreseeable future.
Capital expenditures
We have funded our capital expenditures with proceeds from equity offerings, credit facilities, debt issuances and pre-sale agreements, as well as through cash generated from our operations. We expect to incur substantial expenses and capital expenditures as we develop our oil and natural gas prospects and acquire additional assets.
In the year ended December 31, 2012, we made total capital expenditures of US$303.5 million, which consisted of investments of US$105.3 million relating to the purchase price for our acquisitions of Winchester, Luna and Cuerva in Colombia and other investments of US$198.2 million, including the drilling of 45 new wells and seismic surveys registered, principally in our Tierra del Fuego Blocks. In the year ended December 31, 2011, our total capital expenditures amounted to US$98.7 million, all of which was used in exploration, development and production activities, including US$57.9 million for the drilling of development wells and facilities and US$39.5 million for the drilling of exploratory wells and seismic studies.
In the year ended December 31, 2013, we made total capital expenditures of US$228.0 million (US$145.7 million, US$82.1 million and US$0.2 million in Chile, Colombia and Argentina, respectively), consisting of US$133.3 million related to exploration. 39 new wells were drilled (17 in Chile and 22 in Colombia) in blocks in which we have working interests and/or economic interests. In addition to the above, in 2013 we completed
approximately 1,350 sq. km. in 3D seismic surveys (more than 1,100 sq. km in Chile, mainly related to the blocks located in Tierra del Fuego and over 250 sq. km in Colombia)
In March 2014 we invested US$140 million in Brazil, subject to certain adjustments, to acquire Rio das Contas, which we financed through the incurrence of a loan of US$70.5 million and cash on hand.
In 2014, we expect our total capital expenditures, excluding the purchase price for our Rio das Contas acquisition, to be between US$220 million to US$250 million. These capital expenditures will include the drilling of a total of 50 to 60 new wells (approximately 40% of which we expect will be exploratory wells), as well as workovers, seismic surveys and new facility construction. We expect that approximately 62% of our total capital expenditures for 2014 will be incurred in Chile, which will include the drilling of approximately 32 to 37 wells, as well as workovers, seismic surveys and new facility construction, including oil pipelines. We expect that approximately 32% of our total capital expenditures for 2014 will be incurred in Colombia, which will include the drilling of approximately 18 to 23 wells, as well as workovers and new facility construction, mainly related to civil works, production facilities in the Tua and Tigana fields and improvements to the Taro Taro and Max fields facilities. Finally, we expect that approximately 5% of our total capital expenditures for 2014 will be incurred in Brazil, which will consist of between US$5 million to US$7.5 million to finance in part the construction of a gas compression plant in the Manatí Field we acquired as part of our Rio das Contas acquisition and approximately US$0.45 million in license fee payments to the ANP relating to our Round 12 concessions, with the remainder for seismic surveys in exploration blocks in the Potiguar and Recôncavo Basins.
In budgeting for our future activities, we have relied on a number of assumptions, including, with regard to our discovery success rate, the number of wells we plan to drill, our working interests in our prospects, the costs involved in developing or participating in the development of a prospect, the timing of third-party projects and our ability to obtain needed financing in respect to any further acquisitions and the availability of both suitable equipment and qualified personnel. These assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, political, economic, regulatory, environmental and competitive uncertainties, conditions in the financial markets, contingencies and risks, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. In addition, we opportunistically seek out new assets and acquisition targets to complement our existing operations, and have financed such acquisitions in the past through the incurrence of additional indebtedness, including additional bank credit facilities, equity issuances or the sale of minority stakes in certain operations to our partners. We may need to raise additional funds more quickly if one or more of our assumptions prove to be incorrect or if we choose to expand our hydrocarbon asset acquisition, exploration, appraisal or development efforts more rapidly than we presently anticipate, and we may decide to raise additional funds even before we need them if the conditions for raising capital are favorable. The ultimate amount of capital that we will expend may fluctuate materially based on market conditions, our continued production, decisions by the operators in blocks where we are not the operator, the success of our drilling results and future acquisitions. Our future financial condition and liquidity will be impacted by, among other factors, our level of production of oil and natural gas and the prices we receive from the sale thereof, the success of our exploration and appraisal drilling program, the number of commercially viable oil and natural gas discoveries made and the quantities of oil and natural gas discovered, the speed with which we can bring such discoveries to production and the actual cost of exploration, appraisal and development of our oil and natural gas assets.
Cash flows
The following table sets forth our cash flows for the periods indicated:
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$) | |
Cash flows provided by (used in) | | | | | | | | | |
Operating activities | | | 140,094 | | | | 131,802 | | | | 68,763 | |
Investing activities | | | (221,299 | ) | | | (303,507 | ) | | | (101,276 | ) |
Financing activities | | | 164,018 | | | | 26,375 | | | | 131,739 | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | | | 82,813 | | | | (145,330 | ) | | | 99,226 | |
Cash flows provided by operating activities
For the year ended December 31, 2013, cash provided by operating activities was US$140.1 million, a 6.3% increase from US$131.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. This increase is mainly driven by higher production and revenues that we obtained during 2013, partially offset by higher associated costs.
For the year ended December 31, 2012, cash provided by operating activities was US$131.8 million, a 92% increase from US$68.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. This increase was principally due to increased cash generated in our operations and the incorporation of US$20.8 million in operating cash flows from our Colombian operations into our results.
Cash flows used in investing activities
For the year ended December 31, 2013, cash used in investing activities was US$221.3 million, a 27.1% decrease from US$303.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. This decrease was primarily related to our Colombian acquisitions, which occurred in the first quarter of 2012. This amount was only partially offset by an increase of US$29.8 million in capital expenditures relating to the drilling of 39 new wells (17 in Chile and 22 in Colombia) and seismic surveys and facilities construction, as compared to the drilling of 35 wells (15 in Chile and 20 in Colombia) for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Cash used in investing activities increased by US$202.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2012, from US$101.3 million in 2011 to US$303.5 million in 2012. This increase includes US$105.3 million related to the purchase price for our Colombian operations (net of cash acquired); the remaining increase is primarily explained by increased drilling activities in 2012 (20 wells in Chile and 24 in Colombia) as compared to 23 new wells in 2011.
Cash flows provided by financing activities
Cash provided by financing activities was US$164.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to cash provided by financing activities of US$26.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. This change was principally the result of cash received in the 2013 period from the issuance of US$300.0 million of our Notes due 2020 and an increase of US$36.6 million in cash from LGI pertaining principally to its investment in our Colombian and Chilean operations. These were partially offset by the early redemption of our Notes due 2015 and the repayment of the Banco Itaú BBA Credit Agreement, in an aggregate amount of US$175.0 million.
Cash provided by financing activities was US$26.4 million and US$131.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. This decrease was principally the result of a US$129.5 million reduction in proceeds from transactions relating to non-controlling interest, resulting from LGI’s acquisition of a 20% interest for US$148 million, of which US$142 million was collected in 2012, in our Chilean operations in the year ended December 31, 2011. In the year ended December 31, 2012, LGI contributed US$12.5 million in cash provided by financing activities pursuant to its direct investment in our Chilean operations. The US$129.5 million decrease was only partly offset by cash provided through the incurrence of a US$37.5 million loan to partly finance our Colombian acquisitions.
Indebtedness
As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had total outstanding indebtedness of US$317.1 million and US$193.0 million, respectively, as set forth in the table below.
| | | |
| | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$) | |
Methanex Gas Prepayment Agreement | | | — | | | | 8,036 | |
BCI Loans(1) | | | 2,143 | | | | 7,859 | |
Bond GeoPark Fell SpA (Notes due 2015) (2) | | | — | | | | 129,452 | |
Bond GeoPark Latin America Agencia en Chile (Notes due 2020) | | | 299,912 | | | | — | |
Banco Itaú BBA Credit Agreement | | | — | | | | 37,685 | |
Banco de Chile (4) | | | 15,002 | | | | — | |
Overdrafts (5) | | | 30 | | | | 10,000 | |
Total(3) | | | 317,087 | | | | 193,032 | |
(1) | Includes BCI Mortgages and BCI Letters of Credit (each as defined herein). |
(2) | On December 2, 2010, we issued US$133.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes due 2015. The notes were fully redeemed with the proceeds from the issuance of our Notes due 2020. |
(3) | Does not include US$8.5 million outstanding as of December 31, 2013 under a subordinated line of credit extended by LGI to GeoPark Colombia S.A.S. in December 2012. See Note 28 of our Consolidated Financial Statements. |
(4) | Short-term financing obtained in December 2013 and fully repaid in January 2014. |
(5) | We have been granted credit lines for over US$76 million as of December 31, 2013. |
On March 28, 2014, we incurred US$70.5 million pursuant to the Rio das Contas Credit Facility to finance the Rio das Contas acquisition.
Our material outstanding indebtedness as of December 31, 2013 is described below.
Notes due 2020
General
On February 11, 2013, we issued US$300.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2020. The Notes due 2020 mature on February 11, 2020 and bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.50% and a yield of 7.625% per annum. Interest on the Notes due 2020 is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 11 and August 11 of each year.
Ranking
The Notes due 2020 constitute senior obligations of Agencia, secured by a first lien on certain collateral (as described below). The Notes due 2020 rank equally in right of payment with all senior existing and future obligations of Agencia (except those obligations preferred by operation of Bermuda and Chilean law, including, without limitation, labor and tax claims); effectively senior to all unsecured debt of Agencia and GeoPark Latin America, to the extent of the value of the collateral; senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated indebtedness of Agencia and GeoPark Latin America; and effectively junior to any future secured obligations of Agencia and its subsidiaries (other than additional notes issued pursuant to the indenture governing the Notes due 2020) to the extent secured by assets constituting with a security interest on assets not constituting collateral, in each case to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such obligations.
Guarantees
The Notes due 2020 are guaranteed unconditionally on an unsecured basis by us, all of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, and any subsidiary that guarantees any of our debt, subject to certain exceptions.
Collateral
The notes are secured by a first-priority perfected security interest in certain collateral, which consists of: 80% of the equity interests of each of GeoPark Chile and GeoPark Colombia held by Agencia, and loans of the net proceeds of the Notes due 2020 made by Agencia to each of GeoPark Fell and GeoPark Llanos SAS. Except for certain immaterial subsidiaries and other exceptions, GeoPark and Agencia are also required to pledge the equity interests of our subsidiaries.
The Notes due 2020 are also secured on a first-priority basis by intercompany loans, disbursed to subsidiaries, in an aggregate amount at any one time that does not exceed US$300.0 million.
Optional redemption
At any time prior to February 11, 2017, we may, at our option, redeem any of the Notes due 2020, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Notes due 2020 plus an applicable “make-whole” premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including, additional amounts), if any, as such term is defined in the indenture governing the Notes due 2020, if any, to the redemption date.
At any time and from time to time on or after February 11, 2017, we may, at our option, redeem all or part of the Notes due 2020, at the redemption prices, expressed as percentages of principal amount, set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including additional amounts), if any, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on February 11 of the years indicated below:
Year | | | |
2017 | | | 103.750 | % |
2018 | | | 101.875 | % |
2019 and after | | | 100.000 | % |
In addition, at any time prior to February 11, 2016, we may, at our option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes due 2020 (including any additional notes) at a redemption price of 107.50% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including additional amounts) if any to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings; provided that: (1) Notes due 2020 in an aggregate principal amount equal to at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes due 2020 issued on the first issue date remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and (2) the redemption must occur within 90 days of the date of the closing of such equity offering.
Change of control
Upon the occurrence of certain events constituting a change of control, we are required to make an offer to repurchase all outstanding Notes due 2020, at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus any accrued and unpaid interest (including any additional amounts payable in respect thereof) thereon to the date of purchase.
Covenants
The Notes due 2020 contain customary covenants, which include, among others, limitations on: the incurrence of debt and disqualified or preferred stock, restricted payments (including restrictions on our ability to pay dividends), incurrence of liens, transfer, prepayment or modification of certain collateral, guarantees of additional indebtedness, the ability of certain subsidiaries to pay dividends, asset sales, transactions with affiliates, engaging in certain businesses, and merger or consolidation with or into another company. In the event the Notes due 2020 receive investment-grade ratings from at least two of the following rating agencies, Standard & Poor’s Rating Group, Fitch Inc. and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and no default has occurred or is continuing under the indenture governing the Notes due 2020, certain of these restrictions, including, among others, the limitations on incurrence of debt and disqualified or preferred stock, restricted payments (including restrictions on our ability to pay dividends), the ability of certain subsidiaries to pay dividends, asset sales and certain transactions with affiliates will no longer be applicable.
Events of default
Events of default under the indenture governing the Notes due 2020 include: the nonpayment of principal when due; default in the payment of interest, which continues for a period of 30 days; failure to make an offer to purchase and thereafter accept tendered notes following the occurrence of a change of control or as required by certain covenants in the indenture governing the Notes due 2020; default in the performance or breach of the covenants contained in the indenture, the notes, or the security documents in relation thereto that continues for a period of 60 consecutive days after written notice to Agencia; cross payment default relating to debt with a principal amount of US$15.0 million or more, and cross-acceleration default following a judgment for US$15.0 million or more; bankruptcy and insolvency events; invalidity or denial or disaffirmation of a guarantee of the notes; and failure to maintain a perfected security interest in any collateral having a fair market value in excess of US$15.0 million,
among others. The occurrence of an event of default would permit or require the principal of and accrued interest on the Notes due 2020 to become or to be declared due and payable.
BCI Mortgage Loan
In October 2007, in connection with our acquisition of a facility to establish an operational base in the Fell Block, we executed a mortgage loan granted by the Banco de Crédito e Inversiones, or BCI, a Chilean private bank, which we refer to as the BCI Mortgage Loan. The loan was granted in Chilean pesos and is repayable over a period of eight years. The interest rate under this loan is fixed at 6.6%. As of December 31, 2013, the aggregate outstanding amount under the BCI Mortgage Loan was US$0.2 million.
BCI Letter of Credit
During the last quarter of 2011, we obtained five short-term letters of credit from BCI, or, collectively, the BCI Letters of Credit, to commence operations in our Tierra del Fuego blocks. Each of the BCI Letters of Credit contains a pledge by us to BCI of the seismic equipment acquired to start the operations in these new blocks. The BCI Letters of Credit expired and were fully paid by us on February 14, 2014, and the applicable interest rate ranges from 4.5% to 5.45%. As of December 31, 2013, the aggregate outstanding amount under the BCI Letters of Credit was US$1.9 million.
LGI Line of Credit
In December 2012, in connection with its investment in GeoPark Colombia, LGI granted as a credit line to Winchester (now GeoPark Colombia S.A.S.), or the LGI Line of Credit, of up to US$12.0 million, to be used for the acquisition, development and operation of oil and gas assets in Colombia. In December 2015, the principal amount of any outstanding amounts shall become immediately due and payable. GeoPark Colombia S.A.S. may also, in its sole discretion, choose to make repayments of the principal amounts outstanding on the last business day of March, June, September and December of each year until December 2015. The applicable interest rate is 8.00% per annum and any accrued interest is payable on a quarterly basis. As of December 31, 2013, the aggregate outstanding amount under the LGI Line of Credit was US$8.5 million. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Significant Agreements—Agreements with LGI.”
Rio das Contas Credit Facility
We financed our Rio das Contas acquisition in part through our Brazilian subsidiary’s entrance into a US$70.5 million credit facility (the “Rio das Contas Credit Facility”) with Itau BBA International plc, which is secured by the benefits GeoPark receives under the Purchase and Sale Agreement for Natural Gas with Petrobras. The facility matures five years from March 28, 2014, which was the date of disbursement and bears interest at a variable interest rate equal to the six-month LIBOR + 3.9%. The facility agreement includes customary events of default, and subject our Brazilian subsidiary to customary covenants, including the requirement that it maintain a ratio of net debt to EBITDA of up to 3.5x the first two years and up to 3.0x thereafter. The credit facility also limits the borrower’s ability to pay dividends if the ratio of net debt to EBITDA is greater than 2.5x. We have the option to prepay the facility in whole or in part, at any time, subject to a pre-payment fee to be determined under the contract.
| Research and development, patents and licenses, etc. |
See “Item 4. Information on the Company——B. Business Overview” and “Item 4. Information on the Company——B. Business Overview—Title to Properties.”
For a discussion of Trend information, see “—A. Operating Results—Factors affecting our results of operations.”
| Off-balance sheet arrangements |
We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2012 or as of December 31, 2013.
| Tabular disclosure of contractual obligations |
In accordance with the terms of our concessions, we are required to make royalty payments (1) in connection with crude oil and gas production in Argentina, to the Provinces of Santa Cruz and Mendoza, equivalent to 12% on estimated value at well head, (2) in connection with crude oil and gas production in Chile, to the Chilean government, equivalent to approximately 5% of crude oil production and 3% of gas production, and (3) in connection with crude oil production in Colombia, to the Colombian government, equivalent to 8%.
The table below sets forth our committed cash payment obligations as of December 31, 2013.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in thousands of US$) | |
Debt obligations(1) | | | 317,087 | | | | 26,630 | | | | 98 | | | | — | | | | 290,359 | |
Operating lease obligations(2) | | | 157,023 | | | | 68,817 | | | | 56,556 | | | | 31,145 | | | | 505 | |
Pending investment commitments(3) | | | 87,488 | | | | 44,428 | | | | 43,060 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Asset retirement obligations | | | 24,166 | | | | — | | | | 11,644 | | | | 448 | | | | 12,074 | |
Total contractual obligations | | | 585,764 | | | | 139,875 | | | | 111,358 | | | | 31,593 | | | | 302,938 | |
(1) | Includes current borrowings and non-current borrowings. |
(2) | Reflects the future aggregate minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating lease agreements. |
(3) | Includes capital commitments in Isla Norte, Campanario and Flamenco Blocks in Chile, nine concessions in Brazil and the Llanos 62 and Llanos 17 Blocks in Colombia, which are our only remaining material commitments. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Our operations—Operations in Colombia.” |
On March 28, 2014, we incurred US$70.5 million pursuant to the Rio das Contas Credit Facility to finance the Rio das Contas acquisition.
See “Forward-Looking Statements.”
| Directors and senior management |
Board of directors
The board of directors of GeoPark is composed of seven members. At every annual general meeting one third of the Directors shall retire from office. From the date of the annual general meeting following the effective date of the listing of our Common Shares on the NYSE, our Directors shall hold office for such term as the Shareholders may determine or, in the absence of such determination, until the next annual general meeting or until their successors are elected or appointed or their office is otherwise vacated. The term for the current directors expires on the date of our next annual shareholders’ meeting, to be held in 2014.
The current members of the board of directors were appointed at a shareholders’ meeting held on July 30, 2013. The table below sets forth certain information concerning our current board of directors.
| | | | | | |
Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy | | Chairman and Director | | 65 | | 2002 | |
James F. Park | | Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Chairman and Director | | 58 | | 2002 | |
Carlos Gulisano | | Director | | 63 | | 2010 | (3) |
Juan Cristóbal Pavez (1)(2) | | Director | | 44 | | 2008 | |
Peter Ryalls (1)(2) | | Director | | 63 | | 2006 | |
Steven J. Quamme (1) | | Director | | 53 | | 2011 | |
Pedro Aylwin | | Director, Director of Legal and Governance | | 54 | | 2003 | |
(1) | Member of the Audit committee. |
(2) | Independent director under SEC Audit Committee rules. |
(3) | Carlos Gulisano joined the Company in 2002 as an advisor. |
Biographical information of the members of our board of directors is set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the current business addresses for our directors is Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles 179, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.
Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy has been our Chairman and a member of our board of directors since he co-founded the company in 2002. Following his graduation from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in government (1970) and law (1973), Mr. O’Shaughnessy was engaged in the practice of law in Minnesota. Mr. O’Shaughnessy has been active in the oil and gas business over his business career, starting in 1976 with Lario Oil and Gas Company, where he served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. He later formed the Globe Resources Group, a private venture firm whose subsidiaries provided seismic acquisition and processing, well rehabilitation services, sophisticated logistical operations and submersible pump works for Lukoil in Russia during the 1990s. In 2010 Mr. O’Shaughnessy founded Lario Logistics, a U.S. midstream company which owns and operates the Bakken Oil Express, serving oil producers and service providers in the Bakken Oil play. In addition to his oil and gas activities Mr. O’Shaughnessy is also engaged in investments in banking, wealth management, desktop software, computer and network security, and green clean technology. Over the past 25 years, Mr. O’Shaughnessy has also served on a number of non-profit boards of directors, including the Board of Economic Advisors to the Governor of Kansas, the I.A. O’Shaughnessy Family Foundation, the Wichita Collegiate School, the Institute for Humane Studies, The East West Institute and The Bill of Rights Institute. Mr. O’Shaughnessy is a member of the Intercontinental Chapter of Young Presidents Organization and World Presidents’ Organization.
James F. Park has served as our Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our board of directors since co-founding the Company in 2002. He has extensive experience in all phases of the upstream oil and gas business, with a strong background in the acquisition, implementation and management of international joint ventures in North America, South America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. He holds a degree in geophysics from the University of California at Berkeley and has worked as a research scientist in earthquake and tectonic studies. In 1978, Mr. Park joined Basic Resources International Limited, an oil and gas exploration company, which pioneered the development of commercial oil and gas production in Central America. As a senior executive of Basic Resources
International Limited, Mr. Park was closely involved in the development of grass-roots exploration activities, drilling and production operations, surface and pipeline construction and crude oil marketing and transportation, and with legal and regulatory issues, and raising substantial investment funds. He remained a member of the board of directors of Basic Resources International Limited until the company was sold in 1997. Mr. Park is also a member of the board of directors of Energy Holdings. Mr. Park has also been involved in oil and gas projects in California, Louisiana, Argentina, Yemen and China. Mr. Park has lived in Argentina and Chile since 2002.
Carlos Gulisano has been a member of our board of directors since June 2010. Dr. Gulisano holds a bachelor’s degree in geology, a post-graduate degree in petroleum engineering and a PhD in geology from the University of Buenos Aires and has authored or co-authored over 40 technical papers. He is a former adjunct professor at the Universidad del Sur, a former thesis director at the University of La Plata, and a former scholarship director at CONICET, the national technology research council, in Argentina. Dr. Gulisano is a respected leader in the fields of petroleum geology and geophysics in South America and has over 30 years of successful exploration, development and management experience in the oil and gas industry. In addition to serving as an advisor to GeoPark since 2002 and as Managing Director from February 2008 until June 2010, Dr. Gulisano has worked for YPF, Petrolera Argentina San Jorge S.A. and Chevron San Jorge S.A. and has led teams credited with significant oil and gas discoveries, including those in the Trapial field in Argentina. He has worked in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile and the United States. Mr. Gulisano is also an independent consultant on oil and gas exploration and production.
Juan Cristóbal Pavez has been a member of our board of directors since August 2008. He holds a degree in commercial engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and a MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has worked as a research analyst at Grupo CB and later as a portfolio analyst at Moneda Asset Management. In 1998, he joined Santana, an investment company, as Chief Executive Officer. At Santana he focused mainly on investments in capital markets and real estate. While at Santana, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Laboratorios Andrómaco, one of Santana’s main assets. In 1999, Mr. Pavez co-founded Eventures, an internet company. Since 2001, he has served as Chief Executive Officer at Centinela, a company with a diversified global portfolio of investments, with a special focus in the energy industry, through the development of wind parks and run-of-the-river hydropower plants. Mr. Pavez is also a board member of Grupo Security, Vida Security and Hidroelétrica Totoral. Over the last few years he has been a board member of several companies, including Quintec, Enaex, CTI and Frimetal.
Peter Ryalls has been a member of our board of directors since April 2006. He holds a master’s degree in petroleum engineering from Imperial College in London. Mr. Ryalls has worked for Schlumberger Limited in Angola, Gabon and Nigeria, as well as for Mobil North Sea. He has also worked for Unocal Corporation where he held increasingly senior positions, including as Managing Director in Aberdeen, Scotland, and where he developed extensive experience in offshore production and drilling operations. In 1994, Mr. Ryalls represented Unocal Corporation in the Azerbaijan International Operating Company as Vice President of Operations and was responsible for production, drilling, reservoir engineering and logistics. In 1998, Mr. Ryalls became General Manager for Unocal in Argentina. He also served as Vice President of Unocal’s Gulf of Mexico onshore oil and gas business and as Vice President of Global Engineering and Construction, where he was responsible for the implementation of all major capital projects ranging from deep water developments in Indonesia and the Gulf of Mexico to conventional oil and gas projects in Thailand. Mr. Ryalls is also an Independent Petroleum Consultant advising on international oil and gas development projects both onshore and offshore.
Steven J. Quamme has been a member of our board of directors since June 2011. He has 25 years of experience as a fund manager, securities and corporate lawyer, and investment banker. Mr. Quamme holds a B.A. in economics from Northwestern University and a J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law, where he is a member of the Law School Board. Mr. Quamme is a member of the board of directors of Cartica Management, LLC, as well as the board of trustees of The Potomac School and of the Sibley Memorial Hospital Foundation. He has previously served as a member of the boards of directors of Equivest Finance, Milestone Merchant Partners, LLC, Kerrco Inc., Atlantic Entertainment Group, Rausch Industries, Rompetrol, and Einstein Noah Bagel Corp, LP. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Quamme served as the Chief Operating Officer of Breeden Partners, a corporate governance fund. From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Quamme also served as Senior Managing Director of Richard C. Breeden & Co., a professional services firm, which focuses on corporate governance and crisis management. In 2000, Mr. Quamme founded Milestone Merchant Partners, a merchant bank based in Washington D.C., where he served as its CEO until 2005. Mr. Quamme is presently a co-founder and Senior Managing Director of Cartica Management, a registered investment advisor focused on emerging markets and a GeoPark shareholder.
Pedro Aylwin has served as a member of our board of directors since July 2013 and as our Director of Legal and Governance since April 2011. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Aylwin worked for us as an advisor on governance and legal matters. Mr. Aylwin holds a degree in law from the Universidad de Chile and an LLM from the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Aylwin has extensive experience in the natural resources sector. Mr. Aylwin is also a partner at the law firm of Aylwin Abogados in Santiago, Chile, where he represented mining, chemical and oil and gas companies in numerous transactions. From 2006 until 2011, he served as Lead Manager and General Counsel at BHP Billiton, Base Metals, where he was in charge of legal and corporate governance matters on BHP Billiton’s projects, operations and natural resource assets in South America, North America, Asia, Africa and Australia. Mr. Aylwin is also a member of the board of directors of Egeda España.
Executive officers
Our executive officers are responsible for the management and representation of our company. The table below sets forth certain information concerning our executive officers.
| | | | | | |
James F. Park | | Chief Executive Officer and Director | | 58 | | 2002 |
Andrés Ocampo | | Chief Financial Officer | | 36 | | 2010 |
Augusto Zubillaga | | Managing Director of Operations | | 44 | | 2006 |
Pedro Aylwin Chiorrini | | Director of Legal and Governance | | 54 | | 2003 |
Gerardo Hinterwimmer | | Director for Argentina | | 57 | | 2003 |
Salvador Harambour | | Director for Chile | | 53 | | 2009 |
Marcela Vaca | | Director for Colombia | | 45 | | 2012 |
Dimas Coelho | | Director for Brazil | | 57 | | 2013 |
Carlos Murut | | Director of Development Geology | | 57 | | 2006 |
Salvador Minniti | | Director of Exploration | | 59 | | 2007 |
Jose Díaz | | Director of Operations | | 59 | | 2013 |
Horacio Fontana | | Director of Drilling | | 56 | | 2008 |
Ruben Marconi | | Director of Health, Safety & Environment | | 69 | | 2008 |
Agustina Wisky | | Director of People | | 37 | | 2002 |
Guillermo Portnoi | | Director of Administration and Finance | | 39 | | 2006 |
Pablo Ducci | | Director of Capital Markets | | 34 | | 2012 |
Biographical information of the members of our executive officers is set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the current business addresses for our executive officers is Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles 179, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.
Andrés Ocampo has served as our Chief Financial Officer since November 2013. He previously served as our Director of Growth and Capital (from January 2011 through October 2013), and has been with our company since July 2010. Mr. Ocampo graduated with a degree in Economics from the Universidad Católica Argentina. He has more than 12 years of experience in business and finance. Before joining our company, Mr. Ocampo worked at Citigroup and served as Vice President Oil & Gas and Soft Commodities at Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank.
Augusto Zubillaga has served as our Managing Director of Operations since January 2012. He previously served as our Production Director. He is a petroleum engineer with 19 years of experience in production, engineering, well completions, corrosion control, reservoir management and field development. He has a degree in petroleum engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Zubillaga worked for Petrolera Argentina San Jorge S.A. and Chevron San Jorge S.A. At Chevron San Jorge S.A., he led multi-disciplinary teams focused on improving production, costs and safety, and was the leader of the Asset Development Team, which was responsible for creating the field development plan and estimating and auditing the oil and gas reserves of the Trapial field in Argentina. Mr. Zubillaga was also part of a Chevron San Jorge S.A. team that was responsible for identifying business opportunities and working with the head office on the establishment of best business practices. He has authored several industry papers, including papers on electrical submersible pump optimization, corrosion control, water handling and intelligent production systems.
Gerardo Hinterwimmer has served as our Director for Argentina since April 2012. He previously served as our Geosciences Director. He holds a degree in geology from Universidad Nacional de la Plata. He is a development geologist in Argentina and an expert in the Magallanes Austral Basin, with over 25 years of experience working for international and major oil companies, including YPF S.A., Schlumberger Limited, Petrolera Argentina San Jorge S.A. and Chevron San Jorge S.A. Mr. Hinterwimmer has experience in studying and evaluating unconventional volcanic clastic reservoirs in the Austral Basin and has been credited with commercial oil and gas discoveries in the Austral and Neuquen Basins. He is the author of numerous technical papers and is an editor of the reference manual on productive reservoirs in Argentina. He has also contributed to the development of recent geological-oriented technology introduced by Schlumberger Limited in South America.
Salvador Harambour has served as our Director for Chile since 2009. He is an oil and gas manager with more than 27 years of experience in the energy industry. He holds a degree in geology from the Universidad de Chile and an MsC on basin analysis from the University of London. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Harambour spent 24 years at ENAP, beginning in 1985 as Field Geologist. In 1993, he joined Sipetrol and worked as Exploration Geologist on several Latin American and European ventures. In 2003, he joined ENAP Sipetrol Argentina, and in 2005, he was appointed General Manager of ENAP Sipetrol in Argentina, until he joined GeoPark in 2009.
Marcela Vaca has been our Director for Colombia since August 2012. Ms. Vaca holds a degree in law from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia, a Master’s Degree in commercial law from the same university and an LLM from Georgetown University. She has served in the legal departments of a number of companies in Colombia, including Empresa Colombiana de Carbon Ltda (which later merged with INGEOMINAS), and from 2000 to 2003, she served as Legal and Administrative Manager at GHK Company Colombia. Prior to joining our company in 2012, Ms. Vaca served for nine years as General Manager of the Hupecol Group where she was responsible for supervising all areas of the company as well as managing relationships with Ecopetrol, ANH, the Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Colombian Ministry of Environment and other governmental agencies. At the Hupecol Group, Ms. Vaca was also involved in the structuring of the Hupecol Group’s asset development and sales strategy.
Dimas Coelho has served as our Director for Brazil since February 2013. He is a geologist and geophysicist with over 30 years of experience in hydrocarbons exploration. From 1981 to 2011, Dr. Coelho served for Petrobras in numerous capacities, including as Petroleum Exploration Manager (from 2001 to 2004 and from 2006 to 2010), in which role he was responsible for the planning, management and execution of the exploration programs in the exploration blocks in Brazil’s Santos Basin, and as Joint Venture Project Manager (in 2011), in which role he was responsible for the coordination of Petrobras’s functional areas to support Petrobras’s work programs in the Santos Basin. In 2012, he served as Executive Vice President of Exploration at Panoro, where he oversaw the functional workflow for Panoro Energy ASA’s exploration assets in Brazil. Dr. Dimas holds a degree in geology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, an MSc degree in geophysics (seismic processing) from the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, a Ph.D. in geology (Numerical Basin Modelling) from Cornell University and an MBA in general administration from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Carlos Murut has been our Director of Development Geology since January 2012. He previously served as our Development Manager. Mr. Murut holds a master’s degree in petroleum geology from the University of Buenos Aires where he also undertook postgraduate studies in reservoir engineering, specializing in field exploitation. Mr. Murut has over 30 years of experience working for international and major oil companies, including YPF S.A., Tecpetrol S.A., Petrolera Argentina San Jorge S.A. and Chevron San Jorge S.A.
Salvador Minniti has been our Director of Exploration since January 2012. He previously served as our Exploration Manager. He holds a bachelor degree in geology from National University of La Plata and has a graduate degree from the Argentine Oil and Gas Institute in oil geology. Mr. Minniti has over 30 years of experience in oil exploration and has worked with YPF S.A., Petrolera Argentina San Jorge S.A. and Chevron Argentina.
Jose Díaz has been our Director of Operations since January 2013. Mr. Díaz holds a degree in petroleum engineering from Cuyo National University, Argentina, has taken executive business classes at IAE Business School, and pursued graduate studies in oil and gas law and project management at University of Buenos Aires School of Law and Alta Dirección Escuela de Negocios, respectively. He has over 30 years of experience in upstream operations as a petroleum engineer, including more than 15 years in managerial positions. This experience includes positions at international and major oil companies, including OEA S.A., Chevron San Jorge S.A., ChevronTexaco and Petrolera El Trebol S.A.
Horacio Fontana has been our Director of Drilling since March 2012. He previously served as our Engineer Manager. He holds a degree in civil engineering from Rosario National University and is also a graduate from the Argentine Oil and Gas Institute, National University of Buenos Aires, with a specialty in field exploitation and a concentration in drilling. Mr. Fontana has over 25 years of drilling experience including at major Argentine companies like YPF S.A. and Petrolera Argentina San Jorge-Chevron.
Ruben Marconi has been our Director of Health, Safety and Environment since March 2012. He previously served as our Drilling Director. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Rosario University and was a YPF scholar at the University of Buenos Aires where he graduated in oil engineering with a concentration in exploitation. Mr. Marconi has over 40 years of field logistics and safety experience with ChevronTexaco, Chevron Mid Continent Business Unit and Chevron Argentina.
Agustina Wisky has worked with our Company since it was founded in November 2002, and has served as our Director of People since 2012. Mrs. Wisky is a public accountant, and also holds a degree in human resources from the Universidad Austral—IAE. She has 13 years of experience in the oil industry. Before joining our company, Mrs. Wisky worked at AES Gener and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Guillermo Portnoi has been our Director of Administration and Finance since 2011 and has worked for us since June 2006. Mr. Portnoi is a public accountant and holds an MBA from Universidad Austral—IAE. He has more than 10 years of experience in the oil industry. Before joining our company, Mr. Portnoi worked at Pluspetrol, Río Alto and PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he counted several major oil companies as his clients.
Pablo Ducci has served as our Director of Capital Markets since 2012. Mr. Ducci holds a bachelor’s degree in science and economics from Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and a master’s degree in business administration from Duke University. From 2004 to 2009, Mr. Ducci worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst and Corporate Finance Associate with Celfin Capital. In 2010, he worked as a Summer Associate for Anka Funds, and from 2011 to 2012, he served as Vice President of Development for Falabella Retail.
Executive compensation
For the year ended December 31, 2013, the aggregate compensation accrued or paid to the members of our board of directors (including our executive directors) for services in all capacities was approximately US$4.6 million. Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy, James F. Park and Pedro Aylwin are our executive directors. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the aggregate compensation accrued or paid to the members of our senior management (excluding our executive directors) for services in all capacities was approximately US$6.8 million.
Executive directors’ contracts
It is our policy that executive directors have contracts of an indefinite term providing for a maximum of one-year’s notice in writing of termination at any time.
Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy has a service contract with our company that provides for him to act as Executive Chairman at an annual salary of US$250,000. James F. Park has a service contract with our company that provides for him to act as Chief Executive Officer at an annual salary of US$500,000. The payment of a bonus to Mr. O’Shaughnessy or Mr. Park is at our discretion. Our agreements with Mr. O’Shaughnessy and Mr. Park contain covenants that restrict them, for a period of 12 months following termination of employment, from soliciting senior employees of our company and, for a period of six months following the termination of employments, from being involved in any competing undertaking. Pedro Aylwin, who was appointed as an executive director in July 2013, has a service contract with our company that provides for him to act as Director of Legal and Governance.
The following chart summarizes payments made to our executive directors for the year ended December 31, 2013.
| | |
| | | | |
Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy | | US$250,000 | | US$150,000 |
James F. Park | | US$500,000 | | US$300,000 |
Non-executive directors’ contracts
Our non-executive directors are paid an annual fee of GBP35,000, which is payable quarterly in arrears. At our option, the fee paid to our non-executive directors can be paid through the issuance of new common shares and/or cash. In addition, the Chairmen of the Audit Committee, the Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee are paid an additional annual fee of GBP5,750 each. The termination of the employment relationship does not entitle non-executive directors to any financial compensation. The following chart summarizes payments made to our non-executive directors for the year ended December 31, 2013.
| | | | |
| | Non-executive directors’ fees | | | | Fees paid in common shares (in number of common shares) |
Sir Michael R. Jenkins(1) | | GBP4,375 | | GBP1,437.5 | | 1,712 |
Juan Cristóbal Pavez(2) | | GBP17,500 | | GBP5,750 | | 2,906 |
Christian Weyer(3) | | GBP17,240 | | GBP1,437.5 | | — |
Peter Ryalls | | GBP17,500 | | — | | 2,906 |
Carlos Gulisano | | GBP35,000 | | GBP2,875 | | — |
Steven J. Quamme | | GBP17,500 | | GBP2,875 | | 2,906 |
(1) | Audit Committee Chairman (until his death on March 31, 2013). Steven J. Quamme succeeded Sir Michael R. Jenkins as Audit Committee Chairman. |
(2) | Remuneration Committee Chairman (since September 24, 2012). |
(3) | Nomination Committee Chairman (until his resignation on April 15, 2013). Carlos Gulisano succeeded Christian Weyer as Nomination Committee Chairman. |
Pension and retirement benefits
We do not maintain any defined benefit pension plans or any other retirement programs for our employees or directors.
Performance-Based Employee Long-Term Incentive Program
We have established the Performance-Based Employee Long-Term Incentive Program in order to align the interests of our management, employees and key advisors with those of our shareholders. In November 2007, our shareholders voted to authorize the board of directors to use up to a maximum of 12% of our issued share capital for the purposes of the Performance-Based Employee Long-Term Incentive Program. The shareholders also authorized the board of directors to implement the Performance-Based Employee Long-Term Incentive Program and to determine specific conditions and broadly defined guidelines for the program.
IPO award program and Executive Stock Option Plan
On admission to AIM, our executive directors, management and key employees received options to purchase common shares of the Company granted under the Executive Stock Option Plan. The options became fully vested in May 2008 and expired in May 2013.
The program included 896,834 common shares, all of which have already been issued.
Other common share awards to executive directors, management and key employees
The following table sets forth the other common share awards to our executive directors, management and key employees since 2008 through April 15, 2014.
Number of underlying common shares awarded | | % of issued common share capital | | | | | | | | |
976,211(1) | | approximately 2.2 | | December 15, 2008 | | US$0.001 | | December 15, 2012 | | December 15, 2018 |
1,000,000(2) | | approximately 2.0 | | December 15, 2010 | | US$0.001 | | December 15, 2014 | | December 15, 2020 |
500,000(3) | | approximately 1.1 | | December 15, 2011 | | US$0.001 | | December 15, 2015 | | December 15, 2021 |
500,000(4) | | approximately 1.1 | | December 15, 2012 | | US$0.001 | | December 15, 2016(5) | | December 15, 2022 |
500,000(6) | | approximately 1.1 | | June 30, 2013 | | US$0.001 | | December 31, 2015 | | December 31, 2019 |
(1) | Dr. Carlos Gulisano holds 100,000 of such awards. |
(2) | As of the date of this annual report, there are 164,400 awards that will not vest due to the relevant employees having left the Company before the vesting date. |
(3) | As of the date of this annual report, there are 6,000 awards that will not vest due to the relevant employees having left the Company before the vesting date. |
(4) | As of the date of this annual report, there are 64,000 awards that will not vest due to the relevant employees having left the Company before the vesting date. |
(5) | Certain programs contemplate different vesting dates, in each case before December 15, 2016. |
(6) | The common shares will be awarded under this program provided certain minimum financial and operational targets are met through 2015. |
In addition to the awards described above under our Performance-Based Employee Long-Term Incentive Program, on August 31, 2011, we granted an aggregate award of 90,000 common shares at an exercise price of US$0.001 to certain of our former employees, of which 30,000 vested in 2012 and the remaining 60,000 vested in September 2013. In addition, on November 23, 2012, we granted awards of common shares at an exercise price of US$0.001 to each of James F. Park (450,000 common shares) and Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy (270,000 common shares), in each case with a vesting date of November 23, 2015.
Value Creation Plan
In July 2013, our remuneration committee established the “Value Creation Plan,” or VCP, to give our executive officers and key management members the opportunity to share in a percentage of the value created for shareholders in excess of a pre-determined share price target at the end of a performance period. Under the VCP, if as of December 31, 2015, our share price (defined as the average trading price of our common shares on the NYSE for the month of December 2015) exceeds US$13.66, VCP participants will receive an aggregate payment equal to 10% of the excess above the market capitalization threshold generated by this share price (assuming that the share capital of the Company has remained at the same level as applicable at the time of grant of the VCP: 43,495,585 shares). The award will be paid in common shares under our Performance-Based Employee Long-Term Incentive Program. The award will vest 50% on December 31, 2015, and the remaining 50% on December 31, 2016. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the total number of common shares granted pursuant to this plan shall not exceed 5% of the issued share capital of the Company. Additionally, the share price (and number of common shares outstanding) used to calculate if the market capitalization threshold has been met is subject to adjustment for any stock splits.
Potential dilution resulting from Performance-Based Employee Long-Term Incentive Program
The percentage of total share capital that could be awarded to our executive directors, management and key employees under the Performance-Based Employee Long-Term Incentive Program would represent approximately 12% of our issued common shares. However, as of the date of this annual report, we have awarded approximately 8.5% of our current total issued share capital (not including shares that may be issued under the VCP program).
Employee Benefit Trust
Our directors, senior management and key employees who have received option awards or common share awards under our Performance-Based Employee Long-Term Incentive Program and our Executive Stock Option Plan authorize the Company to deposit any common shares they have received under these programs in our Employee Benefit Trust, or EBT. The EBT is held to facilitate holdings and dispositions of those common shares by the participants thereof. Under the terms of the EBT, each participant is entitled to receive any dividends we may pay which correspond to their common shares held by the trust, according to instructions sent by the Company to the trust administrator. The trust provides that Mr. James F. Park is entitled to vote all the common shares held in the trust.
Share Repurchase Program
On October 29, 2013, we put into place an irrevocable, non-discretionary share purchase program for the purchase of up to 400,000 of our common shares, or the Purchase Program, for the account of our Employee Benefit Trust, or the EBT. The Purchase Program was in effect through December 31, 2013, and was managed by BTG Pactual Chile International Limited and Oriel Securities Limited. The common shares purchased under the Purchase Program will be used to satisfy future awards under our employee long-term incentive programs. See “—Executive compensation.”
In November 2013, we purchased an aggregate of 50,000 common shares at a purchase price between 5.40 and 5.45 GBP for the account of the EBT pursuant to the Purchase Program.
Overview
Our board of directors is responsible for establishing our strategic goals, ensuring that the necessary resources are in place to achieve these goals and reviewing our management and financial performance. Our board of directors directs and monitors the company in accordance with a framework of controls, which enable risks to be assessed and managed through clear procedures, lines of responsibility and delegated authority. Our board of directors also has responsibility for establishing our core values and standards of business conduct and for ensuring that these, together with our obligations to our shareholders, are understood throughout the company.
Board composition
Our bye-laws and board resolutions provide that the board of directors consist of a minimum of three and a maximum of nine members. All of our directors were elected at our annual shareholders’ meeting held on July 30, 2013, and their term expires on the date of our next annual shareholders’ meeting, to be held in 2014. The board of directors meets at least on a quarterly basis.
Committees of our board of directors
Our board of directors has established an Audit Committee, a Remuneration Committee and a Nomination Committee. The composition and responsibilities of each committee are described below. Members serve on the Audit Committee for a period of three years. For the Remuneration and Nomination Committees, members serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our board of directors. In the future, our board of directors may establish other committees to assist with its responsibilities.
Audit committee
The Audit Committee is composed of three directors: Mr. Peter Ryalls, Mr. Juan Cristóbal Pavez and Mr. Steven J. Quamme (who serves as Chairman of the committee). We have determined that Mr. Peter Ryalls and Mr. Juan Cristóbal Pavez are independent, as such term is defined under SEC rules applicable to foreign private issuers. In accordance with NYSE rules, we expect to have a fully independent audit committee within one year of listing.
The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include: (a) approving our financial statements; (b) reviewing financial statements and formal announcements relating to our performance; (c) assessing the independence, objectivity and effectiveness of our external auditors; (d) making recommendations for the appointment, re-appointment and
removal of our external auditors and approving their remuneration and terms of engagement; (e) implementing and monitoring policy on the engagement of external auditors supplying non-audit services to us; (f) obtaining, at our expense, outside legal or other professional advice on any matters within its terms of reference and securing the attendance at its meetings of outsiders with relevant experience and expertise if it considers it necessary; and (g) reviewing our arrangements for our employees to raise concerns about possible wrongdoing in financial reporting or other matters and the procedures for handling such allegations, and ensuring that these arrangements allow proportionate and independent investigation of such matters and appropriate follow-up action.
Remuneration committee
The Remuneration Committee is composed of three directors. The members of the remuneration committee are Mr. Juan Cristóbal Pavez (who serves as Chairman of the committee), Mr. Peter Ryalls and Mr. Steve J. Quamme.
The Remuneration Committee meets as required during the year, and its specific responsibilities include: (a) determining, in conjunction with the board of directors, the remuneration policy for the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman, our executive directors and other members of executive management; (b) reviewing the performance of our executive directors and members of executive management; and (c) reviewing the design of the share incentive plans that are submitted for approval to the board of directors and our shareholders. No member of the Remuneration Committee participates in any discussion about his or her own remuneration.
Nomination committee
The Nomination Committee is composed of three directors. The members of the Nomination Committee are Mr. Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy, Mr. Carlos Gulisano (who serves as Chairman of the committee) and Mr. Pedro Aylwin.
The Nomination Committee meets as required and its responsibilities include: (a) reviewing the structure, size and composition of the board of directors and making recommendations to the board of directors in respect of any required changes; (b) identifying, nominating and submitting for approval by the board of directors candidates to fill vacancies on the board of directors as and when they arise; (c) making recommendations to the board of directors with respect to the membership of the Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee in consultation with the chairman of each committee; (d) reviewing outside directorships/commitments of non-executive directors; and (e) succession planning for directors and senior executives.
Liability insurance
We maintain liability insurance coverage for all of our directors and officers, the level of which is reviewed annually.
As of December 31, 2013, we had approximately 404 employees, of which 193 were located in Chile, 109 were located in Colombia, 98 were located in Argentina and four were located in Brazil. This represented an increase of 14% from December 31, 2012, which increase was largely attributable to the growth of our Colombian operations and new operations in our Tierra del Fuego Blocks.
The following table sets forth a breakdown of our employees by geographic segment for the periods indicated.
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Chile | | | 193 | | | | 163 | | | | 104 | |
Colombia | | | 109 | | | | 98 | | | | — | |
Argentina | | | 98 | | | | 92 | | | | 84 | |
Brazil | | | 4 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total | | | 404 | | | | 353 | | | | 188 | |
From time to time, we also utilize the services of independent contractors to perform various field and other services as needed. As of December 31, 2013, 11 of our employees were represented by labor unions or covered by collective bargaining agreements. We believe that relations with our employees are satisfactory.
As of the date of this annual report, members of our board of directors and our senior management held as a group 28,497,744 of our common shares and 49.25% of our outstanding share capital.
The following table shows the share ownership of each member of our board of directors and senior management as of the date of this annual report.
| | | | | Percentage of outstanding common shares | |
Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy(1) | | | 7,533,907 | | | | 13.02 | |
James F. Park(2) | | | 7,441,269 | | | | 12.86 | |
Steven J. Quamme(3) | | | 9,699,161 | | | | 16.76 | |
Juan Cristóbal Pavez(4) | | | 2,887,130 | | | | 4.99 | |
Carlos Gulisano | | | 117,281 | | | | 0.20 | |
Pedro Aylwin | | | 131,431 | | | | 0.23 | |
Peter Ryalls | | | 45,451 | | | | 0.08 | |
Augusto Zubillaga | | | * | | | | * | |
Gerardo Hinterwimmer | | | * | | | | * | |
Salvador Harambour | | | * | | | | * | |
Marcela Vaca | | | * | | | | * | |
Dimas Coelho | | | * | | | | * | |
Carlos Murut | | | * | | | | * | |
Salvador Minniti | | | * | | | | * | |
Jose Díaz | | | * | | | | * | |
Horacio Fontana | | | * | | | | * | |
Ruben Marconi | | | * | | | | * | |
Agustina Wisky | | | * | | | | * | |
Guillermo Portnoi | | | * | | | | * | |
Andrés Ocampo | | | * | | | | * | |
Pablo Ducci | | | * | | | | * | |
Sub-total senior management ownership of less than 1% | | | 642,114 | | | | 1.11 | |
Total | | | 28,497,744 | | | | 49.25 | |
* | Indicates ownership of less than 1% of outstanding common shares. |
(1) | Held directly and indirectly through GP Investments LLP, Vidacos Nominees Limited and Globe Resources Group Inc., all of which are controlled by Mr. O’Shaughnessy. 922,482 of these common shares have been pledged pursuant to lending arrangements. |
(2) | Held by Energy Holdings, LLC, which is controlled by James F. Park, a member of our Board of Directors. The number of common shares held by Mr. Park does not reflect the 822,702 common shares held as of the date of this annual report in the employee benefit trust described under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Employee Benefit Trust.” Although Mr. Park has voting rights with respect to all the common shares held in the trust, Mr. Park disclaims beneficial ownership over those common shares. 498,915 of these common shares have been pledged pursuant to lending arrangements. |
(3) | Held through certain private investment funds managed and controlled by Cartica Management, LLC. The common shares reflected as being held by Mr. Quamme include 8,189 common shares held by him personally. Mr. Steven Quamme, one of our principal shareholders and a member of our board of directors, is the Senior Managing Director of Cartica Management, LLC, and therefore may be deemed to have voting and investment power over the common shares of GeoPark held by Cartica Management, LLC. |
(4) | Held through Socoservin Overseas Ltd, which is controlled by Juan Cristóbal Pavez. The common shares reflected as being held by Mr. Pavez include 9,326 common shares held by him personally. |
The following table presents the beneficial ownership of our common shares as of the date of this annual report.
| | | | | Percentage of outstanding common shares | |
Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy(1) | | | 7,533,907 | | | | 13.02 | |
James F. Park(2) | | | 7,441,269 | | | | 12.86 | |
Steven J. Quamme(3) | | | 9,699,161 | | | | 16.76 | |
IFC Equity Investments(4) | | | 3,456,594 | | | | 5.97 | |
Moneda A.F.I.(5) | | | 2,598,650 | | | | 4.49 | |
Juan Cristóbal Pavez(6) | | | 2,887,130 | | | | 4.99 | |
Other shareholders | | | 24,246,904 | | | | 41.90 | |
Total | | | 57,863,615 | | | | 100.0 | % |
(1) | Held directly and indirectly through GP Investments LLP, Vidacos Nominees Limited and Globe Resources Group Inc. 922,482 of these common shares have been pledged pursuant to lending arrangements. |
(2) | Held by Energy Holdings, LLC, which is controlled by James F. Park, a member of our Board of Directors. The number of common shares held by Mr. Park does not reflect the 822,702 common shares held as of the date of this annual report in the employee benefit trust described under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Employee Benefit Trust.” Although Mr. Park has voting rights with respect to all the common shares held in the trust, Mr. Park disclaims beneficial ownership over those common shares. 498,915 of these common shares have been pledged pursuant to lending arrangements. |
(3) | Held through certain private investment funds managed and controlled by Cartica Management, LLC. The common shares reflected as being held by Mr. Quamme include 8,189 common shares held by him personally. Mr. Steven Quamme, one of our principal shareholders and a member of our board of directors, is the Senior Managing Director of Cartica Management, LLC, and therefore may be deemed to have voting and investment power over the common shares of GeoPark held by Cartica Management, LLC. |
(4) | IFC Equity Investments voting decisions are made through a portfolio management process which involves consultation from investment officers, credit officers, managers and legal staff. |
(5) | Held through various funds managed by Moneda A.F.I. (Administradora de Fondos de Inversión), an asset manager. |
(6) | Held through Socoservin Overseas Ltd, which is controlled by Juan Cristóbal Pavez. The common shares reflected as being held by Mr. Pavez include 9,326 common shares held by him personally. |
Principal shareholders do not have any different or special voting rights in comparison to any other common shareholder.
Prior to our initial public offering on the NYSE in February of 2014, our principal shareholders were Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy (17.18%), James F. Park (16.32%), Cartica Management, LLC (11.36%), IFC Equity Investments, (7.88%) and Moneda A.F.I (5.11%).
On February 12, 2014, we completed our initial public offering and listed our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange. In the initial public offering, we issued 13,999,700 common shares (including the overallotment option granted to and exercised by the underwriters). Pursuant to the offering, 5,927,571 shares were issued to certain of our principal shareholders, as follows: James F. Park purchased 285,000 common shares, Cartica Management, LLC purchased 4,714,000 common shares, and Moneda purchased 928,571 common shares, as reflected in the table above.
| Related party transactions |
We have entered into the following transactions with related parties:
LGI Chile Shareholders’ Agreements
In 2010, we formed a strategic partnership with LGI to acquire and develop jointly upstream oil and gas projects in Latin America. In 2011, LGI acquired a 20% equity interest in GeoPark Chile and a 14% equity interest in GeoPark TdF, for a total consideration of US$148.0 million, plus additional equity funding of US$18.0 million through 2014. On May 20, 2011, in connection with LGI’s investment in GeoPark Chile, we and LGI entered into the LGI Chile Shareholders’ Agreements, setting forth our and LGI’s respective rights and obligations in connection with LGI’s investment in our Chilean oil and gas business. Specifically, the LGI Chile Shareholders’ Agreements provide that the boards of each of GeoPark Chile and GeoPark TdF will consist of four directors; as long as LGI holds at least 5% of the voting shares of GeoPark Chile or GeoPark TdF, as applicable, LGI has the right to elect one director and such director’s alternate, while the remaining directors, and alternates, are elected by us. Additionally, the agreements require the consent of LGI or its appointed director in order for GeoPark Chile or GeoPark TdF, as applicable, to be able to take certain actions, including, among others: making any decision to terminate or permanently or indefinitely suspend operations in or surrender our blocks in Chile (other than as required under the terms of the relevant CEOP for such blocks); selling our blocks in Chile to our affiliates; making any change to the dividend, voting or other rights that would give preference to or discriminate against the shareholders of these companies; entering into certain related party transactions; and creating a security interest over our blocks in Chile (other than in connection with a financing that benefits our Chilean subsidiaries). The LGI Chile Shareholders’ Agreements also provide that: (i) if LGI or either Agencia or GeoPark Chile decides to sell its shares in GeoPark Chile or GeoPark TdF, as applicable, the transferring shareholder must make an offer to sell those shares to the other shareholder before selling them to a third party; and (ii) any sale to a third party is subject to tag-along and drag-along rights, and the non-transferring shareholder has the right to object to a sale to the third-party if it considers such third-party to be not of a good reputation or one of our direct competitors. We and LGI also agreed to vote our common shares or otherwise cause GeoPark Chile or GeoPark TdF, as applicable, to declare dividends only after allowing for retentions to meet anticipated future investments, costs and obligations. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Significant agreements—Agreements with LGI—LGI Chile Shareholders’ Agreements.”
LGI Colombia Agreements
On December 18, 2012, we, Agencia, GeoPark Colombia and LGI entered into the LGI Colombia Shareholders’ Agreement and a subscription share agreement, pursuant to which LGI acquired a 20% interest in GeoPark Colombia. Further, on January 8, 2014, following an internal corporate reorganization of our Colombian operations, GeoPark Colombia Coöperatie U.A. and GeoPark Latin America entered into a new members’ agreement with LGI, or the LGI Colombia Members’ Agreement, that sets out substantially similar rights and obligations to the LGI Colombia Shareholders’ Agreement in respect of our oil and gas business in Colombia. We refer to the LGI Colombia Shareholders’ Agreement and the LGI Colombia Members’ Agreement collectively as the LGI Colombia Agreements. The LGI Colombia Agreements provide that the board of GeoPark Colombia will consist of four directors; as long as LGI holds at least 14% of GeoPark Colombia, LGI has the right to elect one director and such director’s alternate, while the remaining directors, and alternates, are elected by us. Additionally, the LGI Colombia Agreements require the consent of LGI or the LGI appointed director for GeoPark Colombia to be able to take certain actions, including, among others: making any decision to terminate or permanently or indefinitely suspend operations in or surrender our blocks in Colombia (other than as required under the terms of the relevant concessions for such blocks); creating a security interest over our blocks in Colombia; approving of GeoPark Colombia’s annual budget and work programs and the mechanisms for funding any such budget or program; entering into any borrowings other than those provided in an approved budget or incurred in the ordinary course of business to finance working capital needs; granting any guarantee or indemnity to secure liabilities of parties other than those of our Colombian subsidiaries; changing the dividend, voting or other rights that would give preference to or discriminate against the shareholders of GeoPark Colombia; entering into certain related party transactions; and disposing of any material assets other than those provided for in an approved budget and work program. The LGI Colombia Agreements also provide that: (i) if either we or LGI decide to sell our respective shares in GeoPark Colombia, the transferring shareholder must make an offer to sell those shares to the other shareholder before selling those shares to a third party; and (ii) any sale to a third party is subject to tag-along and drag-along rights, and the non-transferring shareholder has the right to object to a sale to the third-party if it
considers such third-party to be not of a good reputation or one of our direct competitors. We and LGI also agreed to vote our common shares or otherwise cause GeoPark Colombia to declare dividends only after allowing for retentions for approved work programs and budgets, capital adequacy and tied surplus requirements of GeoPark Colombia, working capital requirements, banking covenants associated with any loan entered into by GeoPark Colombia or our other Colombian subsidiaries and operational requirements. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Significant agreements—Agreements with LGI—LGI Colombia Agreements.”
LGI Stand-by Letters of Credit
In 2011, in connection with LGI’s acquisition of a 20% equity interest in GeoPark Chile and a 14% equity interest in GeoPark TdF for US$148.0 million.
LGI provided to GeoPark TdF standby letters of credit for an amount of US$31.6 million (corresponding to its pro rata share in GeoPark TdF) and for an additional amount of US$52.3 million (or the additional amount), resulting in an aggregate of US$84.0 million in standby letters of credit, or the LGI Stand-by Letters of Credit, to partially secure the US$101.4 million performance bond required by the Chilean government to guarantee GeoPark TdF’s obligations with respect to the first period’s minimum work program under the Tierra del Fuego CEOPs. The remaining US$17.4 million was provided by GeoPark. All costs and liabilities regarding the additional amount shall be paid by GeoPark. GeoPark has already applied to the Ministry of Energy for an aggregate reduction of approximately US$35 million in the amount owed on the performance bond because minimum work obligations imposed by the terms of the bond have been met.
The LGI Stand-by Letters of Credit initially expired on March 31, 2013, and were renewed until May 18, 2016, and the applicable interest rate is 1.5%. As of December 31, 2013, the aggregate outstanding amount attributable to GeoPark’s share under the LGI Stand-by Letters of Credit was US$52.3 million.
IFC Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement
On February 7, 2006, in order to finance the exploration, development and exploitation of our blocks in Chile and Argentina and the acquisition of additional exploration, development and exploitation blocks in Latin America, we, IFC and Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy and James F. Park, as Lead Investors, entered into an agreement, or the IFC Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement, pursuant to which IFC agreed to subscribe and pay for 2,507,161 of our common shares, representing approximately 10.5% of our then-outstanding common shares, at an aggregate subscription price of US$10.0 million (or approximately US$3.99 per common share).
We agreed, for so long as IFC is a shareholder in the company, among other things, to: ensure that our operations are in compliance with certain environmental and social guidelines; appoint and maintain a technically qualified individual to be responsible for the environmental and social management of our activities; maintain certain forms of insurance coverage, including coverage for public liability and director’s and officer’s liability reasonably acceptable to IFC, and in respect of certain of our operations; not undertake certain prohibited activities; and ensure that no prohibited payments are made by us or on our or the Lead Investors’ behalf, in respect of our operations.
We also agreed to provide to IFC, within 30 days of the end of the first half of the year, copies of our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the period (prepared under IFRS), a report on our capital expenditures for the period, a comprehensive report on the progress of the exploration, development and exploitation of our blocks in Latin America and a statement of all related party transactions during the period, with a certification by a company officer that these were on an arm’s-length basis; within 90 days of the end of our fiscal year, copies of our audited consolidated financial statements for the year (prepared under IFRS), a management letter from our auditors in respect of our financial control procedures, accounting and management information systems and any litigation, an annual monitoring report confirming compliance with national or local requirements and the environmental and social requirements mandated by the agreement, a report indicating any payments in the year to any governmental authority in connection with the documents governing our Chilean and Argentine blocks and certificates of insurance, with a certificate of our insurer confirming that effectiveness of our policies and payment of all applicable premiums; within 45 days before each fiscal year begins, a proposed annual business plan and budget for the upcoming year; within 3 days after its occurrence, notification of any incident that had or may reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the environment, health or safety; copies of notices, reports or other communications between us and our board of directors or shareholders; and, within five days of receipt thereof,
copies of any reports, correspondence, documentation or notices from any third-party, governmental authority or state-owned company that could reasonably be expected to materially impact our operations. Mr. O’Shaughnessy and Mr. Park have also agreed to procure that shareholders holding 51% of our common shares cause us to comply with the covenants above.
Executive Directors’ Service Agreements
We have entered into service contracts with certain of our executive directors. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Executive compensation—Executive directors’ contracts.”
| Interests of Experts and Counsel |
Not applicable.
| Consolidated statements and other financial information |
Financial statements
See “Item 18. Financial Statements,” which contains our audited financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Legal proceedings
From time to time, we may be subject to various lawsuits, claims and proceedings that arise in the normal course of business, including employment, commercial, environmental, safety and health matters. For example, from time to time, we receive notice of environmental, health and safety violations. It is not presently possible to determine whether any such matters will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
In Brazil, GeoPark Brazil is currently a party to a legal proceeding related to the concession agreement of Block PN-T-597 that the ANP initially awarded to GeoPark Brazil in the 12th oil and gas bidding round. As a result of a class action filed by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, an injunction was issued by a Brazilian Federal Court against the ANP, the Federal Government and GeoPark Brazil on December 13, 2013. Due to the injunction GeoPark Brazil could not proceed to execute the concession agreement, and cannot do so until the injunction is lifted. According to the terms of the Court’s injunction, the ANP will first need to take certain actions, such as conducting studies that prove that drilling unconventional resources will not contaminate the dams and aquifers in the region. On February 21, 2014, GeoPark Brazil requested that the board of the ANP suspend the execution of the concession agreement (which entails delivery of the financial guarantee and performance guarantee and payment of the signing bonus) for six months with a possible extension of an additional six months, or until a firm court decision is reached that does not prevent GeoPark Brazil from entering into the concession agreement. On April 16, 2014, the ANP’s Board enacted a resolution stating that all proceedings related to the award of the concession of Block PN-T-597 to GeoPark Brazil were suspended.
Dividends and dividend policy
Holders of common shares will be entitled to receive dividends, if any, paid on the common shares.
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common shares. We intend to retain all of our future earnings, if any, generated by our operations for the development and growth of our business. Accordingly, we do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common shares in the foreseeable future. Because we are a holding company with no direct operations, we will only be able to pay dividends from our available cash on hand and any funds we receive from our subsidiaries. The terms of our indebtedness may restrict us from paying dividends, or restrict our subsidiaries from paying dividends to us.
Under the Bermuda Companies Act, we may not declare or pay a dividend if there are reasonable grounds for believing that we are, or would after the payment be, unable to pay our liabilities as they become due or that the realizable value of our assets would thereafter be less than our liabilities. We do not presently have any reasonable grounds for believing that, if we were to declare or pay a dividend on our common shares outstanding, we would thereafter be unable to pay our liabilities as they became due or that the realizable value of our assets would thereafter be less than our liabilities.
Additionally, any decision to pay dividends in the future, and the amount of any distributions, is at the discretion of our board of directors and our shareholders, and will depend on many factors, such as our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, prospects and other factors. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk factors—Risks related to our common shares—We have never declared or paid, and do not intend to pay in the foreseeable future, cash dividends on our common shares, and, consequently, your only opportunity to achieve a return on your investment is if the price of our stock appreciates” and “—We are a holding company dependent upon dividends from our subsidiaries, which may be limited by law and by contract from making distributions to us, which would affect our ability to pay dividends on the common shares,” as well as “Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum of association and bye-laws.”
A discussion of the significant changes in our business can be found under “Item 4. Information on the Company—A. History and development of the company—General—Recent Developments.”
| Offering and listing details |
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
On February 6, 2014 we completed our initial public offering and listed our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE. For information regarding the price history of our common shares, see “—A. Offering and listing details.”
Our common shares have been listed on the NYSE under the symbol “GPRK” since February 7, 2014. They were previously listed on the AIM under the symbol “GPK” until February 19, 2014, and, since 2009, have been admitted to trade on the Santiago Offshore Stock Exchange (Bolsa Off Shore de la Bolsa de Comercio de Santiago) in Chile. We intend to de-register from the Santiago Offshore Stock Exchange as soon as practicable.
The table below presents, for the periods indicated, the annual, quarterly and monthly high and low closing prices (in US$) of our common shares on the NYSE.
| | | |
| | | | | | | | Average daily trading volume | |
| | (US$ per share) | | (in shares) | |
Annual price history | | | | | | | | | |
2014 (from February 7 through April 25, 2014) | | | 8.40 | | | | 6.45 | | | | 69,138 | |
Quarterly price history | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2014 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1st Quarter (from February 7, 2014) | | | 8.10 | | | | 6.45 | | | | 78,469 | |
2nd Quarter (through April 25, 2014) | | | 8.40 | | | | 6.76 | | | | 50,477 | |
Monthly price history | | | | | | | | | | | | |
February 2014 (from February 7, 2014) | | | 8.05 | | | | 6.45 | | | | 133,375 | |
March 2014 | | | 8.10 | | | | 7.07 | | | | 39,250 | |
April 2014 (through April 25, 2014) | | | 8.40 | | | | 6.76 | | | | 50,477 | |
Source: Bloomberg
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
| Memorandum of association and bye-laws |
The following description of our memorandum of association and bye-laws does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified by reference to, all of the provisions of our memorandum of association and bye-laws.
General
We are an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of Bermuda with registration number 33273 from the Registrar of Companies. The rights of our shareholders will be governed by Bermuda law and by our memorandum of association and bye-laws. Bermuda company law differs in some material respects from the laws generally applicable to Delaware corporations. Below is a summary of some of those material differences.
Because the following statements are summaries, they do not discuss all aspects of Bermuda law that may be relevant to us and to our shareholders.
Share capital and bye-laws
Our share capital consists of common shares only. Our authorized share capital consists of 5,171,949,000 common shares of par value US$0.001 per share. As of the date of this annual report, there are 57,863,615 common shares outstanding. All of our issued and outstanding common shares are fully paid and nonassessable. We also have an employee incentive program, pursuant to which we have granted share awards to our senior management and certain key employees. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees.”
According to our bye-laws, if our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may, whether or not the Company is being wound-up, be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of the votes cast at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of the class at which meeting the necessary quorum shall be two persons at least holding or representing by proxy one-third of the issued shares of the class. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu therewith.
Our bye-laws give our board of directors the power to issue any unissued shares of the company on such terms and conditions as it may determine, subject to the terms of the bye-laws and any resolution of the shareholders to the contrary.
Common shares
Holders of our common shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of common shares. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any issued and outstanding preference shares, holders of common shares are entitled to receive such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments. Holders of common shares have no redemption, sinking fund, conversion, exchange or other subscription rights. In the event of our liquidation, the holders of common shares are entitled to share equally and ratably in our assets, if any, remaining after the payment of all of our debts and liabilities, subject to any liquidation preference on any outstanding preference shares.
Board composition
Our bye-laws provide that our board of directors will determine the size of the board, provided that it shall be not be composed of fewer than three directors. Our board of directors currently consists of seven directors.
Election and removal of directors
Our bye-laws preserve the staggered board provisions in effect prior to our delisting from AIM until the annual general meeting following the listing of the common shares on the NYSE. From and after the date of such annual general meeting, our directors shall hold office for such term as the shareholders shall determine or, in the absence of such determination, until the next annual general meeting or until their successors are elected or appointed or their office is otherwise vacated. Directors whose office has expired may offer themselves for re-election at each election of the directors.
Under our bye-laws, a director may be removed by a resolution adopted by 65% or more of the votes cast by shareholders who (being entitled to do so) vote in person or by proxy at any general meeting of the shareholders in accordance with the provisions of our bye-laws. Notice convened for the purpose of removing the director, containing a statement of the intention to do so, must be served on such director not less than 14 days before the meeting.
Any vacancy created by the removal of a director at a special general meeting may be filled at that meeting by the election of another director in his or her place or, in the absence of any such election, by the board of directors. Any other vacancy, including a newly created directorship, may be filled by our board of directors.
Proceedings of board of directors
Our bye-laws provide that our business shall be managed by or under the direction of our board of directors. Our board of directors may act by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at meetings of the board of directors shall be the presence of a majority of the board of directors from time to time.
Duties of directors
Under Bermuda common law, members of a board of directors owe a fiduciary duty to the Company to act in good faith in their dealings with or on behalf of the company, and to exercise their powers and fulfill the duties of their office honestly. This duty has the following essential elements: (1) a duty to act in good faith in the best interests of the company; (2) a duty not to make a personal profit from opportunities that arise from the office of director; (3) a duty to avoid conflicts of interest; and (4) a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended. The Bermuda Companies Act also imposes a duty on directors of a Bermuda company, to act honestly and in good faith, with a view to the best interests of the company, and to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. In addition, the Bermuda Companies Act imposes various duties on directors with respect to certain matters of management and administration of the company.
The Bermuda Companies Act provides that in any proceedings for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against any director, if it appears to a court that such officer is or may be liable in respect of the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, but that he has acted honestly and reasonably, and that, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including those connected with his appointment, he ought fairly to be excused for the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, that court may relieve him, either wholly or partly, from any liability on such terms as the court may think fit. This provision has been interpreted to apply only to actions brought by or on behalf of the company against the directors.
By comparison, under Delaware law, the business and affairs of a corporation are managed by or under the direction of its board of directors. In exercising their powers, directors are charged with a duty of care and a duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that directors act in an informed and deliberate manner and to inform themselves, prior to making a business decision, of all relevant material information reasonably available to them. The duty of care also requires that directors exercise care in overseeing the conduct of corporate employees. The duty of loyalty is the duty to act in good faith, not out of self-interest, and in a manner which the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the shareholders. A party challenging the propriety of a decision of a board of directors bears the burden of rebutting the presumptions afforded to directors by the “business judgment rule.” If the presumption is not rebutted, the business judgment rule attaches to protect the directors and their decisions. Where, however, the presumption is rebutted, the directors bear the burden of demonstrating the fairness of the relevant transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Delaware courts subject directors’ conduct to enhanced scrutiny in respect of defensive actions taken in response to a threat to corporate control and approval of a transaction resulting in a sale of control of the corporation.
Interested directors
Pursuant to our bye-laws, a director shall declare the nature of his interest in any contract or arrangement with the company as required by the Bermuda Companies Act. A director so interested shall not, except in particular circumstances set out in our bye-laws, be entitled to vote or be counted in the quorum at a meeting in relation to any resolution in which he has an interest, which is to his knowledge, a material interest (otherwise than by virtue of his interest in shares or debentures or other securities of or otherwise in or through the company). In addition, the director will not be liable to us for any profit realized from the transaction. In contrast, under Delaware law, such a contract or arrangement is voidable unless it is approved by a majority of disinterested directors or by a vote of shareholders, in each case if the material facts as to the interested director’s relationship or interests are disclosed or are known to the disinterested directors or shareholders, or such contract or arrangement is fair to the corporation as of the time it is approved or ratified. Additionally, such interested director could be held liable for a transaction in which such director derived an improper personal benefit.
Indemnification of directors and officers
Bermuda law provides generally that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors and officers against any loss arising from or liability which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise be imposed on them in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust except in cases where such liability arises from fraud or dishonesty of which such director or officer may be guilty in relation to the company.
Our bye-laws provide that we shall indemnify our officers and directors in respect of their actions and omissions, except in respect of their fraud or dishonesty, or to recover any gain, personal profit or advantage to which such director is not legally entitled, and (by incorporation of the provisions of the Bermuda Companies Act) that we may advance monies to our officers and directors for costs, charges and expenses incurred by our officers and directors in defending any civil or criminal proceeding against them on the condition that the officers and directors repay the monies if any allegation of fraud or dishonesty is proved against them provided, however, that, if the Bermuda Companies Act requires, an advancement of expenses shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking ,by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Bye-law or otherwise. Our bye-laws provide that the company and the shareholders waive all claims or rights of action that they might have, individually or in right of the company, against any of the company’s directors or officers for any act or failure to act in the performance of such director’s or officer’s duties, except in respect of any fraud or dishonesty.
Meetings of shareholders
Under Bermuda law, a company is required to convene the annual general meeting of shareholders each calendar year, unless the shareholders in a general meeting, elect to dispense with the holding of annual general meetings. Under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, a special general meeting of shareholders may be called by the board of directors or the chairman and may be called upon the requisition of shareholders holding not less than 10% of the paid-up capital of the company carrying the right to vote at general meetings of shareholders.
Our bye-laws provide that, at any general meeting of the shareholders, the presence in person or by proxy of two or more shareholders representing in excess of 50% of the total issued voting shares of the company shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business unless the company only has one shareholder, in which case such shareholder shall constitute a quorum. Unless otherwise required by law or by our bye-laws, shareholder action requires a resolution adopted by a majority of votes cast by shareholders at a general meeting at which a quorum is present.
Shareholder proposals
Under Bermuda law, shareholders holding at least 5% of the total voting rights of all the shareholders having at the date of the requisition a right to vote at the meeting to which the requisition relates or any group composed of at least 100 or more shareholders may require a proposal to be submitted to an annual general meeting of shareholders. Under our bye-laws, any shareholders wishing to nominate a person for election as a director or propose business to be transacted at a meeting of shareholders must provide (among other things) advance notice, as set out in our bye-laws. Shareholders may only propose a person for election as a director at an annual general meeting.
Shareholder action by written consent
Our bye-laws provide that, except for the removal of auditors and directors, any actions which shareholders may take at a general meeting of shareholders may be taken by the shareholders through the unanimous written consent of the shareholders who would be entitled to vote on the matter at the general meeting.
Amendment of memorandum of association and bye-laws
Our memorandum of association and bye-laws may be amended with the approval of a majority of our board of directors and by a resolution by a majority of the votes cast by shareholders who (being entitled to do so) vote in person or by proxy at any general meeting of the shareholders in accordance with the provisions of the bye-laws.
Business combinations
A Bermuda company may engage in a business combination pursuant to a tender offer, amalgamation, merger or sale of assets. The amalgamation or merger of a Bermuda company with another company generally requires the amalgamation or merger agreement to be approved by the company’s board of directors and by its shareholders. Shareholder approval is not required where (a) a holding company and one or more of its wholly-owned subsidiary companies amalgamate or merge or (b) two or more wholly-owned subsidiary companies of the same holding company amalgamate or merge. Under the Bermuda Companies Act (save for such “short-form amalgamations”), unless a company’s bye-laws provide otherwise, the approval of 75% of the shareholders voting at a meeting is required to approve the amalgamation or merger agreement, and the quorum for such meeting must be two persons holding or representing more than one-third of the issued shares of the company. Our bye-laws provide that an amalgamation or merger will require the approval of our board of directors and of our shareholders by a resolution adopted by 65% or more of the votes cast by shareholders who (being entitled to do so) vote in person or by proxy at any general meeting of the shareholders in accordance with the provisions of the bye-laws. Under Bermuda law, in the event of an amalgamation or merger of a Bermuda company with another company or corporation, a shareholder who is not satisfied that fair value has been offered for such shareholder’s shares may, within month of the notice of the shareholders meeting, apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda to appraise the value of those shares.
Under the Bermuda Companies Act, we are not required to seek the approval of our shareholders for the sale of all or substantially all of our assets. However, Bermuda courts will view decisions of the English courts as highly persuasive and English authorities suggest that such sales do require shareholder approval. Our bye-laws provide that the directors shall manage the business of the Company and may exercise all such powers as are not, by the Bermuda Companies Act or by these Bye-laws, required to be exercised by the Company in general meeting and may pay all expenses incurred in promoting and incorporating the company and may exercise all the powers of the Company including, but not by way of limitation, the power to borrow money and to mortgage or charge all or any part of the undertaking property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital of the Company and to issue debentures and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or any other persons.
Under Bermuda law, where an offer is made for shares of a company and, within four months of the offer, the holders of not less than 90% of the shares not owned by the offeror, its subsidiaries or their nominees accept such offer, the offeror may by notice require the non-tendering shareholders to transfer their shares on the terms of the offer. Dissenting shareholders do not have express appraisal rights but are entitled to seek relief (within one month of the compulsory acquisition notice) from the court, which has power to make such orders as it thinks fit. Additionally, where one or more parties hold not less than 95% of the shares of a company, such parties may, pursuant to a notice given to the remaining shareholders, acquire the shares of such remaining shareholders. Dissenting shareholders have a right to apply to the court for appraisal of the value of their shares within one month
of the compulsory acquisition notice. If a dissenting shareholder is successful in obtaining a higher valuation, that valuation must be paid to all shareholders being squeezed out.
Dividends and repurchase of shares
Pursuant to our bye-laws, our board of directors has the authority to declare dividends and authorize the repurchase of shares subject to applicable law. Under Bermuda law, a company may not declare or pay a dividend if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due or the realizable value of its assets would thereby be less than its liabilities. Under Bermuda law, a company cannot purchase its own shares if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is, or after the repurchase would be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due.
Shareholder suits
Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available to shareholders under Bermuda law. The Bermuda courts, however, would ordinarily be expected to permit a shareholder to commence an action in the name of a company to remedy a wrong to the company where the act complained of is alleged to be beyond the corporate power of the company or illegal, or would result in the violation of the company’s memorandum of association or bye-laws. Furthermore, consideration would be given by a Bermuda court to acts that are alleged to constitute a fraud against the minority shareholders or where an act requires the approval of a greater percentage of the company’s shareholders than that which actually approved it.
When the affairs of a company are being conducted in a manner which is oppressive or prejudicial to the interests of some part of the shareholders, one or more shareholders may apply under the Bermuda Companies Act for an order of the Supreme Court of Bermuda, which may make such order as it sees fit, including an order regulating the conduct of the company’s affairs in the future or ordering the purchase of the shares of any shareholders by other shareholders or by the company.
Access to books and records and dissemination of information
Members of the general public have a right to inspect the public documents of a company available at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda. These documents include the company’s memorandum of association and any amendments thereto. The shareholders have the additional right to inspect the bye-laws of the company, minutes of general meetings of shareholders and the company’s audited financial statements. The company’s audited financial statements must be presented at the annual general meeting of shareholders, unless the board and all the shareholders agree to the waiving of the audited financials. The company’s share register is open to inspection by shareholders and by members of the general public without charge. A company is required to maintain its share register in Bermuda but may, subject to the provisions of the Bermuda Companies Act, establish a branch register outside of Bermuda. Bermuda law does not, however, provide a general right for shareholders to inspect or obtain copies of any other corporate records.
Registrar or transfer agent
A register of holders of the common shares is maintained by Coson Corporate Services Limited in Bermuda, and a branch register is maintained in the United States by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., who serves as branch registrar and transfer agent.
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business overview—Significant agreements.”
Not applicable.
The following summary contains a description of certain Colombian and U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of preferred shares. The summary is based upon the tax laws of Colombia and regulations thereunder and on the tax laws of the United States and regulations thereunder as of the date hereof, which are subject to change.
Bermuda tax considerations
At the date of this annual report, there is no Bermuda income or profits tax, withholding tax, capital gains tax, capital transfer tax, estate duty or inheritance tax payable by us or by our shareholders in respect of our common shares. We have obtained an assurance from the Minister of Finance of Bermuda under the Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966 that, in the event that any legislation is enacted in Bermuda imposing any tax computed on profits or income, or computed on any capital asset, gain or appreciation or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, such tax shall not, until March 31, 2035, be applicable to us or to any of our operations or to our common shares, debentures or other obligations except insofar as such tax applies to persons ordinarily resident in Bermuda or is payable by us in respect of real property owned or leased by us in Bermuda. We pay annual Bermuda government fees.
Material U.S. federal income tax considerations
The following is a description of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders (as defined below) of owning and disposing of our common shares. This discussion is not a comprehensive description of all tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular person’s decision to acquire our common shares. This discussion applies only to a U.S. Holder that holds our common shares as capital assets for tax purposes. In addition, it does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant in light of the U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax and Medicare contribution tax consequences and differing tax consequences applicable to a U.S. Holder subject to special rules, such as:
| · | certain financial institutions; |
| · | a dealer or trader in securities who uses a mark-to-market method of tax accounting; |
| · | a person holding common shares as part of a straddle, wash sale or conversion transaction or entering into a constructive sale with respect to the common shares; |
| · | a person whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar; |
| · | a partnership or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| · | a tax-exempt entity, including an “individual retirement account” or “Roth IRA;” |
| · | a person that owns or is deemed to own 10% or more of our voting stock; |
| · | a person who acquired our shares pursuant to the exercise of an employee stock option or otherwise as compensation; or |
| · | a person holding common shares in connection with a trade or business conducted outside of the United States. |
If an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds common shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. Partnerships holding common shares and partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisers as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of their investment in our common shares.
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions, and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, all as of the date hereof, any of which is subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. U.S. Holders should consult their tax
advisers concerning the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of owning and disposing of our common shares in their particular circumstances.
A “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of our common shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is:
| · | a citizen or individual resident of the United States; |
| · | a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia; or |
| · | an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source. |
This discussion assumes that we are not, and will not become, a passive foreign investment company, as described below.
Taxation of distributions
Distributions paid on our common shares will generally be treated as dividends to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Because we do not maintain calculations of our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, it is expected that distributions will generally be reported to U.S. Holders as dividends. Dividends paid by qualified foreign corporations to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders may be taxable at favorable rates. A foreign corporation is treated as a qualified foreign corporation with respect to dividends paid on stock that is readily tradable on a securities market in the United States, such as the NYSE, which has approved the listing of our common shares for trading. Non-corporate U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers to determine whether the favorable rate will apply to dividends they receive and whether they are subject to any special rules that limit their ability to be taxed at this favorable rate.
A dividend generally will be included in a U.S. Holder’s income when received, will be treated as foreign-source income to U.S. Holders and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally available to U.S. corporations under the Code with respect to dividends paid by domestic corporations.
Sale or other taxable disposition of common shares
Subject to the passive foreign investment company rules described below, gain or loss realized on the sale or other taxable disposition of our common shares will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder held our common shares for more than one year. Long-term capital gain of a non-corporate U.S. Holder is generally taxed at preferential rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. The amount of the gain or loss will equal the difference between the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the common shares disposed of and the amount realized on the disposition. This gain or loss will generally be U.S.-source gain or loss for foreign tax credit purposes.
Passive foreign investment company rules
We believe that we were not a “passive foreign investment company,” or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for 2013, and we do not expect to be a PFIC in the foreseeable future. However, because the composition of our income and assets will vary over time, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for any taxable year. The determination of whether we are a PFIC is made annually and is based upon the composition of our income and assets (including the income and assets of, among others, entities in which we hold at least a 25% interest), and the nature of our activities.
If we were a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder held our common shares, gain recognized by a U.S. Holder on a sale or other disposition (including certain pledges) of our common shares would generally be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common shares. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the sale or other disposition and to any year before we became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations for that year, as appropriate, and an interest charge would be imposed. Further, to the extent that any distribution received by a U.S. Holder on its common shares exceeds 125% of the average of the annual distributions on the shares received during the preceding three years or the U.S. Holder’s holding period, whichever
is shorter, that distribution would be subject to taxation in the same manner as gain, as described immediately above. Certain elections may be available that would result in alternative treatments (such as mark-to-market treatment) of our common shares. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers to determine whether any of these elections would be available and, if so, what the consequences of the alternative treatments would be in their particular circumstances.
Information reporting and backup withholding
Payments of dividends and sales proceeds that are made within the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries generally are subject to information reporting and may be subject to backup withholding unless (1) the U.S. Holder is a corporation or other exempt recipient or (2) in the case of backup withholding, the U.S. Holder provides a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle it to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
Chilean tax on transfers of shares
In September 2012, Article 10 of the Chilean Income Tax Law Decree Law No. 824 of 1974, or the indirect transfer rules, were enacted, and impose taxes on the indirect transfer of shares, equity rights, interests or other rights in the equity, control or profits of a Chilean entity as well as transfers of other assets and property of permanent establishments or other businesses in Chile, or the Chilean Assets.
The indirect transfer rules apply to sales of shares of an entity:
| · | If such entity is an offshore holding company located in a black-listed tax haven jurisdiction as determined by Chilean tax law, or a black-listed jurisdiction, (such as Bermuda) that holds Chilean Assets; and either a Chilean resident holds 5% or more of such entity, or such entity’s rights to equity, control or profits, or 50% or more of such entity’s rights to equity or profits are held by residents in black-listed jurisdictions; or |
| · | the shares or rights transferred represent 10% or more of the offshore holding company (considering dispositions by related persons and over the preceding 12-month period) and the underlying Chilean Assets indirectly transferred, in the proportion indirectly owned by the seller, (a) are valued in an amount equal to or higher than UTA 210,000 (approximately US$200 million) (adjusted by the Chilean inflation unit of reference) or (b) represent 20% or more of the market value of the interest held by such seller in such offshore holding company. |
As a result of these rules, a capital gain tax of 35% will be applied by the Chilean tax authorities to the sale of any of our common shares if either of the above alternative are met. This rate might be subject to change in the short term. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Regulation of the oil and gas industry—Chile”
As of December 31, 2013, our Chilean Assets represented more than UTA 210,000 and represent more than 20% of our market value.
The 35% rate is calculated pursuant to one of the following methods, as determined by the seller:
| · | the sale price of the shares minus the acquisition cost of such shares, multiplied by the percentage or proportion of the part of the underlying Chilean Assets’ fair market value (which assets are deemed to be “indirectly transferred” by virtue of the sale of shares) to the fair market value of the shares of the seller; or |
| · | the portion of the sales price of the shares equal to the proportion of the fair market value of the underlying Chilean Assets, minus the corresponding proportion in the tax cost of such Chilean Assets for the corresponding holding entity. |
However, the seller may opt to be taxed as if the underlying Chilean Assets had been sold directly in which case a different set of tax rules may apply.
The tax is payable by the seller of the shares; however, the buyer shall make a provisional withholding unless the seller declares and pays the tax within the month following the sale, payment, remittance or it is credited into its account or is put at its disposal. Also, if the seller fails to declare and pay this tax, and the buyer has not complied with its withholding obligations, the Chilean tax authority (Servicio de Impuestos Internos) may charge such tax directly to any of them. In addition, the Chilean tax authority may require us, the seller, the buyer, or its representative in Chile, to file an affidavit with the information necessary to assess this tax.
Based on information available to us, (i) no Chilean resident holds 5% or more of our rights to equity, control or profits; or (ii) residents in black-listed jurisdictions hold 50% or more of our rights to equity, control or profits. Therefore, we do not believe the indirect transfer rules will apply to transfers of our common shares, unless the shares or rights transferred represent 10% or more of the company and the other conditions described above are met (considering dispositions by related persons and over the preceding 12-month period).
However, there can be no assurance that, at any time in the future, a Chilean resident will not hold 5% or more of our rights to equity, control or profits or that residents in black-listed jurisdictions will not hold 50% or more of our rights to equity, control or profits. If this were to occur, all sales of our common shares would be subject to the indirect transfer tax referred to above.
Our expectations regarding the indirect transfer rules are based on our understandings, analysis and interpretation of these enacted indirect transfer rules, which are subject to additional interpretation and rule-making by the Chilean authorities. As such, there is uncertainty relating to the application by Chilean authorities of the indirect transfer rules on us.
See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks related to our common shares—The transfer of our common shares may be subject to capital gains taxes pursuant to recently-enacted indirect transfer rules in Chile.”
| Dividends and paying agents |
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we are required to file reports and other information with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K. You may inspect and copy reports and other information filed with the SEC at the Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.
Not applicable.
We are exposed to a variety of market risks, including commodity price risk, interest rate risk, currency risk and credit (counterparty and customer) risk. The term “market risk” refers to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in interest rates, oil and natural gas prices and foreign currency exchange rates.
For further information on our market risks, please see Note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
| American Depositary Shares |
Not applicable.
No matters to report.
| Arrears and delinquencies |
No matters to report.
Not applicable.
| Disclosure Controls and Procedures |
As of December 31, 2013, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act). There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any disclosure controls and procedures system, including the possibility of human error and circumventing or overriding them. Even if effective, disclosure controls and procedures can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.
Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
| Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting |
This annual report does not include a report of management's assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting due to a transition period established by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for newly public companies, or an attestation report of the company’s registered public accounting firm.
| Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm |
Not applicable.
| Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting |
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
We have determined that Mr. Peter Ryalls and Mr. Juan Cristóbal Pavez are independent, as such term is defined under SEC rules applicable to foreign private issuers. In accordance with NYSE rules, we expect to have a fully independent audit committee within one year of listing. In addition, Mr. Steve Quamme and Mr. Juan Cristobal Pavez are regarded as audit committee financial experts.
We have adopted a code of conduct applicable to the board of directors and all employees. Since its effective date on September 24, 2012, we have not waived compliance with or amended the code of conduct.
Amounts billed by Price Waterhouse & Co. S.R.L. for audit and other services were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | (In US$ millions) | |
Audit fees | | | 0.81 | | | | 0.40 | |
Audit-related fees | | | 0.03 | | | | 0.59 | |
Tax fees | | | 0.26 | | | | 0.12 | |
Other fees paid | | | 0.33 | | | | 0.30 | |
Total | | | 1.43 | | | | 1.41 | |
Audit Fees
Audit fees are fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years. It includes the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements and other services that generally only the independent accountant reasonably can provide, such as comfort letters, statutory audits, consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Audit-Related Fees
Audit-related fees are fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our consolidated financial statements for fiscal years 2013 and 2012 and not reported under the previous category. These services would include, among others: accounting consultations and audits in connection with acquisitions, internal control reviews, attest services that are not required by statue or regulation and consultation concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.
Tax Fees
Tax fees are fees billed for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Following the listing of our common shares on the NYSE, the Audit Committee proposes the appointment of the independent auditor to the Board to be put to shareholders for approval at the Annual General meeting. The committee oversees the auditor selection process for new auditors and ensures key partners in the appointed firm are rotated in accordance with best practices. Also, following our NYSE listing, the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve the audit and non-audit fees and services performed by the Company’s auditors in order to assure that the provision of such services does not impair the audit firm’s independence.
All of the audit fees, audit-related fees and tax fees described in this item 16C have been approved by the Audit Committee.
Under NYSE and SEC rules for listed companies, we must comply with Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act (Listing Standards Relating to Audit Committees). Rule 10A-3 provides that we should establish an audit committee composed of members of the board of directors, meet the requirements specified in the listing standards, or appoint and establish a board of auditors or similar body to perform the role of the audit committee, in reliance on the general exemption of audit committees of foreign private issuers set forth in Rule 10A-3(c)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act.
We have determined that Mr. Peter Ryalls and Mr. Juan Cristóbal Pavez are independent, as such term is defined under SEC rules applicable to foreign private issuers. In accordance with NYSE rules, we expect to have a fully independent audit committee within one year of listing.
The following table reflects purchases of our common shares by or on behalf of us or by any affiliated purchaser in 2013.
| | Total number of common shares purchased | | | Average price paid per common share in GPB | | | Total number of common shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs | | | Maximum number (or approximate dollar value) of common shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs | |
January 1 to January 31 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
February 1 to February 28 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
March 1 to March 31 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
April 1 to April 30 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
May 1 to May 31 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
June 1 to June 30 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
July 1 to July 31 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
August 1 to August 31 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
September 1 to September 30 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
October 1 to October 31 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
November 1 to November 30 (1) | | | 50,000 | | | | 5.41 | | | | — | | | | — | |
December 1 to December 31 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total | | | 50,000 | | | | 5.41 | | | | — | | | | — | |
(1) | Purchased pursuant to the Purchase Program for the account of the EBT. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Share Repurchase Program” for a description. |
Not applicable.
Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE. We are therefore required to comply with certain of the NYSE’s corporate governance listing standards, or the NYSE Standards. As a foreign private issuer, we may follow our home country’s corporate governance practices in lieu of most of the NYSE Standards. Our corporate governance practices differ in certain significant respects from those that U.S. companies must adopt in order to maintain NYSE listing and, in accordance with Section 303A.11 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, a brief, general summary of those differences is provided as follows.
Director independence
The NYSE Standards require a majority of the membership of NYSE-listed company boards to be composed of independent directors. Neither Bermuda law, the law of our country of incorporation, nor our memorandum of association or bye-laws require a majority of our board to consist of independent directors.
Non-management directors’ executive sessions
The NYSE Standards require non-management directors of NYSE-listed companies to meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management. Our memorandum of association and bye-laws do not require our non-management directors to hold such meetings.
Committee member composition
The NYSE Standards require domestic NYSE-listed domestic companies to have a nominating/corporate governance committee and a compensation committee that are composed entirely of independent directors. Bermuda law, the law of our country of incorporation, does not impose similar requirements.
Independence of the compensation committee and its advisers
On January 11, 2013, the SEC approved NYSE listing standards that require that the board of directors of a domestic listed company consider two factors (in addition to the existing general independence tests) in the evaluation of the independence of compensation committee members: (i) the source of compensation of the director, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fees paid by the listed company, and (ii) whether the director has an affiliate relationship with the listed company, a subsidiary of the listed company or an affiliate of a subsidiary of the listed company. In addition, before selecting or receiving advice from a compensation consultant or other adviser, the compensation committee of a listed company will be required to take into consideration six specific factors, as well as all other factors relevant to an adviser’s independence. Compliance with the compensation committee member independence standards will be required by the earlier of a listed company’s first annual meeting after January 15, 2014 or October 31, 2014.
Foreign private issuers such as us will be exempt from these requirements if home country practice is followed. Bermuda law does not impose similar requirements, so we will not be required to implement the new NYSE listing standards relating to compensation committees of domestic listed companies. Most of the members of our remuneration committee are independent, and the charter of our remuneration committee does not require the remuneration committee to consider the independence of any advisers that assist them in fulfilling their duties.
Additional audit committee functions
The NYSE standards require that audit committees of domestic companies to serve a number of functions in addition to reviewing and approving the company’s financial statements, engaging auditors and assessing their independence, and obtaining the legal and other professional advice of experts when necessary. For instance, the NYSE Standards require that the audit committee meet independently with management in a separate session in order to maximize the effectiveness of the committee’s oversight function. In addition, audit committees must obtain and review a report by the independent auditors describing the firm’s internal quality-control procedures and any issues raised by these procedures. Finally, audit committees are responsible for designing and implementing an internal audit function that assesses the company’s risk management processes and systems of internal control on an ongoing basis.
Foreign private issuers such as us are exempt from these additional requirements if home country practice is followed. Bermuda law does not impose similar requirements, and consequently, our audit committee does not perform these additional functions.
Miscellaneous
In addition to the above differences, we are not required to: make our audit and compensation committees prepare a written charter that addresses either purposes and responsibilities or performance evaluations in a manner that would satisfy the NYSE’s requirements; acquire shareholder approval of equity compensation plans in certain cases; or adopt and make publicly available corporate governance guidelines.
We are incorporated under, and are governed by, the laws of Bermuda. For a summary of some of the differences between provisions of Bermuda law applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in Delaware and their shareholders, see “Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum of association and bye-laws.”
Not applicable.
We have responded to Item 18 in lieu of this item.
Financial Statements are filed as part of this annual report, see page F-1.
| | |
1.1 | | | Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
1.2 | | | Memorandum of Association (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
1.3 | | | Current bye-laws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
1.4 | | | Form of amended and restated bye-laws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
2.2 | | | Indenture, dated February 11, 2013, among GeoPark Chile Limited Agencia en Chile, GeoPark Limited, GeoPark Latin America Limited and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
2.3 | | | Share Pledge Agreement, dated February 11, 2013, among GeoPark Chile Limited Agencia en Chile, GeoPark Chile S.A., GeoPark Colombia S.A. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
2.4 | | | Intercompany Loan Pledge Agreement, dated February 11, 2013, among GeoPark Chile Limited Agencia en Chile, GeoPark Fell SpA., GeoPark Llanos SAS and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
2.5 | | | Supplemental Indenture, dated December 20, 2013, among GeoPark Latin America Limited Agencia en Chile, GeoPark Latin America Limited, GeoPark Limited, GeoPark Latin America Coöperatie U.A. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1/A (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on January 21, 2014). |
4.1 | | | Special Contract for the Exploration and Exploitation of Hydrocarbons, Fell Block, dated April 29, 1997, among the Republic of Chile, the Chilean Empresa Nacional de Petróleo (ENAP) and Cordex Petroleums Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.2 | | | Exploration and Production Contract regarding exploration for and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the La Cuerva Block, dated April 16, 2008, between the Colombian Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos and Hupecol Caracara LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.l2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.3 | | | Exploration and Production Contract regarding exploration for and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Llanos 34 Block, dated March 13, 2009, between the Colombian Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos and Unión Temporal Llanos 34 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.4 | | | Subscription and Shareholders Agreement, dated February 7, 2006, among the International Finance Corporation, GeoPark Holdings Limited, Gerald O’Shaughnessy and James F. Park (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.5 | | | Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated March 26, 2012, between Hupecol Cuerva Holdings LLC and GeoPark Llanos S.A.S. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.6 | | | Subscription Agreement, dated May 20, 2011, among LG International Corporation, GeoPark Chile Limited Agencia en Chile, GeoPark Chile S.A. and GeoPark Holdings Limited (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.7 | | | Shareholders’ Agreement, dated May 20, 2011, among LG International Corporation, GeoPark Chile Limited Agencia en Chile and GeoPark Chile S.A. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.8 | | | Subscription Agreement, dated December 18, 2012, among LG International Corporation, GeoPark Chile Limited Agencia en Chile, GeoPark Colombia S.A. and GeoPark Holdings Limited (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.9 | | | Shareholders’ Agreement, dated December 18, 2012, among LG International Corporation, GeoPark Chile Limited Agencia en Chile and GeoPark Colombia S.A. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.10 | | | Subordinated Loan Agreement, dated December 18, 2012, between LG International Corporation and Winchester Oil & Gas S.A. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.11 | | | Subscription Agreement, dated October 18, 2011, among LG International Corporation and GeoPark TdF S.A. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.12 | | | Shareholders’ Agreement, dated October 4, 2011, among LG International Corporation, GeoPark TdF S.A. and GeoPark Chile S.A. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.13 | | | Quota Purchase Agreement, dated May 14, 2013, between Panoro Energy do Brasil Ltda. and GeoPark Brazil Exploracão e Producão de Petróleo e Gás Ltda (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.14 | | | Purchase and Sale Agreement for Crude Oil and Condensate of Fell Block between Empresa Nacional del Petróleo (ENAP) and GeoPark Fell SpA (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 9, 2013). |
4.15 | | | Purchase and Sale Agreement for Natural Gas between GeoPark Chile Limited, Agencia en Chile and Methanex Chile S.A. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1/A (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on October 10, 2013).† |
4.16 | | | First Addendum and Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement for Natural Gas between GeoPark Chile Limited, Agencia en Chile and Methanex Chile S.A. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1/A (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on October 10, 2013).† |
4.17 | | | Second Addendum and Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement for Natural Gas between GeoPark Chile Limited, Agencia en Chile and Methanex Chile S.A. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1/A (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on September 26, 2013). |
4.18 | | | Third Addendum and Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement for Natural Gas between GeoPark Chile Limited, Agencia en Chile and Methanex Chile S.A. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1/A (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on October 10, 2013).† |
4.19 | | | Fourth Addendum and Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement for Natural Gas between GeoPark Chile Limited, Agencia en Chile and Methanex Chile S.A. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1/A (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on October 10, 2013).† |
4.20 | | | Members’ Agreement, dated January 8, 2014, among GeoPark Latin America Coöperatie U.A., GeoPark Colombia Coöperatie U.A. and LG International Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1/A (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on January 21, 2014). |
4.21 | | | Loan Agreement no. 4131, dated March 28, 2014, between Itau BBA International plc and GeoPark Brasil Exploracão e Produção de Petróleo e Gás Ltda.* |
8.1 | | | Subsidiaries of GeoPark Limited (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1/A (File No. 333-191068) filed with the SEC on February 6, 2014).* |
12.1 | | | Certification pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* |
12.2 | | | Certification pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* |
13.1 | | | Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* |
13.2 | | | Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* |
99.1 | | | Reserves Report of DeGolyer and MacNaughton for reserves in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Argentina as of December 31, 2013* |
* | Filed with this Annual Report on Form 20-F. |
† | Confidential treatment of certain provisions of these exhibits has been requested with the SEC. Omitted material for which confidential treatment has been requested has been filed separately with the SEC. |
The terms defined in this section are used throughout this annual report:
“appraisal well” means a well drilled to further confirm and evaluate the presence of hydrocarbons in a reservoir that has been discovered.
“API” means the American Petroleum Institute’s inverted scale for denoting the “light” or “heaviness” of crude oils and other liquid hydrocarbons.
“bbl” means one stock tank barrel, of 42 U.S. gallons liquid volume, used herein in reference to crude oil, condensate or natural gas liquids.
“bcf” means one billion cubic feet of natural gas.
“boe” means barrels of oil equivalent, with 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas being equivalent to one barrel of oil.
“boepd” means barrels of oil equivalent per day.
“bopd” means barrels of oil per day.
“British thermal unit” or “btu” means the heat required to raise the temperature of a one-pound mass of water from 58.5 to 59.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
“basin” means a large natural depression on the earth’s surface in which sediments generally brought by water accumulate.
“CEOP” (Contrato Especial de Operación) means a special operating contract the Chilean signs with a company or a consortium of companies for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon wells
“completion” means the process of treating a drilled well followed by the installation of permanent equipment for the production of natural gas or oil, or in the case of a dry hole, the reporting of abandonment to the appropriate agency.
“developed acreage” means the number of acres that are allocated or assignable to productive wells or wells capable of production.
“developed reserves” are expected quantities to be recovered from existing wells and facilities. Reserves are considered developed only after the necessary equipment has been installed or when the costs to do so are relatively minor compared to the cost of a well. Where required facilities become unavailable, it may be necessary to reclassify developed reserves as undeveloped.
“development well” means a well drilled within the proved area of an oil or gas reservoir to the depth of a stratigraphic horizon known to be productive.
“dry hole” means a well found to be incapable of producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities such that proceeds from the sale of such production exceed production expenses and taxes.
“E&P Contract” means exploration and production contract
“economic interest” means an indirect participation interest in the net revenues from a given block based on bilateral agreements with the concessionaires.
“economically producible” means a resource that generates revenue that exceeds, or is reasonably expected to exceed, the costs of the operation.
“exploratory well” means a well drilled to find and produce oil or gas in an unproved area, to find a new reservoir in a field previously found to be productive of oil or gas in another reservoir, or to extend a known reservoir. Generally, an exploratory well is any well that is not a development well, a service well, or a stratigraphic test well as those items are defined below.
“field” means an area consisting of a single reservoir or multiple reservoirs all grouped on or related to the same individual geological structural feature and/or stratigraphic condition. There may be two or more reservoirs in a field that are separated vertically by intervening impervious strata, or laterally by local geologic barriers, or by both. Reservoirs that are associated by being in overlapping or adjacent fields may be treated as a single or common operational field. The geological terms structural feature and stratigraphic condition are intended to identify localized geological features as opposed to the broader terms of basins, trends, provinces, plays, areas-of-interest, etc.
“formation” means a layer of rock which has distinct characteristics that differ from nearby rock.
“mbbl” means one thousand barrels of crude oil, condensate or natural gas liquids.
“mboe” means one thousand barrels of oil equivalent.
“mcf” means one thousand cubic feet of natural gas.
“Measurements” include:
| · | “m” or “meter” means one meter, which equals approximately 3.28084 feet; |
| · | “km” means one kilometer, which equals approximately 0.621371 miles; |
| · | “sq. km” means one square kilometer, which equals approximately 247.1 acres; |
| · | “bbl” “bo,” or “barrel of oil” means one stock tank barrel, which is equivalent to approximately 0.15898 cubic meters; |
| · | “boe” means one barrel of oil equivalent, which equals approximately 160.2167 cubic meters, determined using the ratio of 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil; |
| · | “cf” means one cubic foot; |
| · | “m,” when used before bbl, boe or cf, means one thousand bbl, boe or cf, respectively; |
| · | “mm,” when used before bbl, boe or cf, means one million bbl, boe or cf, respectively; |
| · | “b,” when used before bbl, boe or cf, means one billion bbl, boe or cf, respectively; and |
“metric ton” or “MT” means one thousand kilograms. Assuming standard quality oil, one metric ton equals 7.9 bbl.
“mmbbl” means one million barrels of crude oil, condensate or natural gas liquids.
“mmboe” means one million barrels of oil equivalent.
“mmbtu” means one million British thermal units.
“NYMEX” means The New York Mercantile Exchange.
“net acres” means the percentage of total acres an owner has out of a particular number of acres, or a specified tract. An owner who has a 50% interest in 100 acres owns 50 net acres.
“productive well” means a well that is found to be capable of producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities such that proceeds from the sale of the production exceed production expenses and taxes.
“prospect” means a potential trap which may contain hydrocarbons and is supported by the necessary amount and quality of geologic and geophysical data to indicate a probability of oil and/or natural gas accumulation ready to be drilled. The five required elements (generation, migration, reservoir, seal and trap) must be present for a prospect to work and if any of them fail neither oil nor natural gas will be present, at least not in commercial volumes.
“proved developed reserves” means those proved reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells and facilities and by existing operating methods.
“proved reserves” means estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be economically recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions, as well as additional reserves expected to be obtained through confirmed improved recovery techniques, as defined in SEC Regulation S-X 4-10(a)(2).
“proved undeveloped reserves” means are those proved reserves that are expected to be recovered from future wells and facilities, including future improved recovery projects which are anticipated with a high degree of certainty in reservoirs which have previously shown favorable response to improved recovery projects.
“reasonable certainty” means a high degree of confidence.
“recompletion” means the process of re-entering an existing wellbore that is either producing or not producing and completing new reservoirs in an attempt to establish or increase existing production.
“reserves” means estimated remaining quantities of oil and gas and related substances anticipated to be economically producible, as of a given date, by application of development projects to known accumulations. In addition, there must exist, or there must be a reasonable expectation that there will exist, a revenue interest in the production, installed means of delivering oil, gas, or related substances to market, and all permits and financing required to implement the project.
“reservoir” means a porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of producible oil and/or gas that is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is individual and separate from other reservoirs.
“royalty” means a fractional undivided interest in the production of oil and natural gas wells or the proceeds therefrom, to be received free and clear of all costs of development, operations or maintenance.
“service well” means a well drilled or completed for the purpose of supporting production in an existing field. Specific purposes of service wells include gas injection, water injection, steam injection, air injection, saltwater disposal, water supply for injection, observation, or injection for in-situ combustion.
“shale” means a fine grained sedimentary rock formed by consolidation of clay- and silt-sized particles into thin, relatively impermeable layers. Shale can include relatively large amounts of organic material compared with other rock types and thus has the potential to become rich hydrocarbon source rock. Its fine grain size and lack of permeability can allow shale to form a good cap rock for hydrocarbon traps.
“spacing” means the distance between wells producing from the same reservoir. Spacing is often expressed in terms of acres (e.g., 40-acre spacing, and is often established by regulatory agencies).
“spud” means the very beginning of drilling operations of a new well, occurring when the drilling bit penetrates the surface utilizing a drilling rig capable of drilling the well to the authorized total depth.
“stratigraphic test well” means a drilling effort, geologically directed, to obtain information pertaining to a specific geologic condition. Such wells customarily are drilled without the intention of being completed for hydrocarbon production. This classification also includes tests identified as core tests and all types of expendable holes related to hydrocarbon exploration. Stratigraphic test wells are classified as (i) exploratory-type, if not drilled in a proved area, or (ii) development-type, if drilled in a proved area.
“undeveloped reserves” are quantities expected to be recovered through future investments: (1) from new wells on undrilled acreage in known accumulation, (2) from deepening existing wells to a different (but known) reservoir, (3) from infill wells that will increase recover, or (4) where a relatively large expenditure (e.g., when compared to the cost of drilling a new well) is required to (a) recomplete an existing well or (b) install production or transportation facilities for primary or improved recovery projects.
“unit” means the joining of all or substantially all interests in a reservoir or field, rather than a single tract, to provide for development and operation without regard to separate property interests. Also, the area covered by a unitization agreement.
“wellbore” means the hole drilled by the bit that is equipped for oil or gas production on a completed well. Also called well or borehole.
“working interest” means the right granted to the lessee of a property to explore for and to produce and own oil, gas, or other minerals. The working interest owners bear the exploration, development, and operating costs on either a cash, penalty, or carried basis.
“workover” means operations in a producing well to restore or increase production.
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
| GEOPARK LIMITED |
| |
| |
| By: | /s/ James F. Park |
| | Name: | James F. Park |
| | Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chairman |
Date: April 30, 2014
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Audited Annual Consolidated Financial Statements—GeoPark Limited | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements—Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda. | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
The notes on pages 7 to 75 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 28 March 2014.
The notes on pages 7 to 75 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The notes on pages 7 to 75 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The notes on pages 7 to 75 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
On 30 July 2013 the shareholders approved the change of the Company’s name from GeoPark Holdings Limited to GeoPark Limited.
The principal activity of the Company and its subsidiaries (“the Group”) are exploration, development and production for oil and gas reserves in Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina. The Group has working interests and/or economic interests in 28 hydrocarbon blocks.
The Group was founded in 2002. The first acquisition was the purchase of AES Corporation’s upstream oil and natural gas assets in Chile and Argentina. Those assets included a non-operating working interest in the Fell Block in Chile, which at that time was operated by Empresa Nacional de Petróleo (“ENAP”), the Chilean state-owned hydrocarbon company, and operating working interests in the Del Mosquito, Cerro Doña Juana and Loma Cortaderal blocks in Argentina. In 2006, the Group was awarded a 100% operating working interest in the Fell Block by the Republic of Chile. In 2008 and 2009, the Group continued the growth in Chile by acquiring operating working interests in each of the Otway and Tranquilo blocks. In 2011, the Group was awarded operating working interests in each of the Isla Norte, Flamenco and Campanario blocks in Tierra del Fuego, Chile, and in 2012, the Group formalized and entered into special operation contracts (Contratos Especiales de Operación para la Exploración y Explotación de Yacimientos de Hidrocarburos) (each, a “CEOP”) with Chile for the exploitation and exploration of these blocks. In the first quarter of 2012, GeoPark extended its footprint to Colombia by acquiring three privately held Exploration and Production (“E&P”) companies, Winchester, La Luna and Cuerva, that includes working interests and/or economic interests in 10 blocks located in the Llanos, Magdalena and Catatumbo basins.
In May 2013, the Company has extended its footprint into Brazil since it has been awarded seven new licenses in the Brazilian Round 11 of which two are in the Reconcavo Basin in the State of Bahia and five are in the Potiguar Basin in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. In addition, in November 2013, the Company has also been awarded two new concessions in a new international bidding round, Round 12, in the Parnaíba Basin in the State of Maranhão and Sergipe Alagoas Basin in the State of Alagoas (see
Note 34).
On 7 February 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) declared effective the Company’s registration statement upon which 13,999,700 shares were issued at a price of US$ 7 per share, including over-allotment option. Gross proceeds from the offering totalled US$ 98 million. As a result, the Company commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol GPRK. Also its shares are authorized for trading on the Santiago Off-Shore Stock Exchange.
Subsequently, the Company listing cancellation on the AIM London Stock Exchange became effective on 19 February 2014.
These consolidated financial statements were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 28 March 2014.
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to the years presented, unless otherwise stated.
The consolidated financial statements of GeoPark Limited have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).
The consolidated financial statements are presented in thousands (US$ ´000) of United States Dollars and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand (US$'000), except where otherwise indicated.
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are disclosed in this note under the title “Accounting estimates and assumptions”.
Amendment to IAS 1, ‘Financial statement presentation’ regarding other comprehensive income. The main change resulting from these amendments is a requirement for entities to group items presented in ‘other comprehensive income’ (OCI) on the basis of whether they are potentially reclassifiable to profit or loss subsequently (reclassification adjustments).
IFRS 10, ‘Consolidated financial statements’ builds on existing principles by identifying the concept of control as the determining factor in whether an entity should be included within the consolidated financial statements of the parent company. The standard provides additional guidance to assist in the determination of control where this is difficult to assess.
IFRS 11, ‘Joint arrangements’ focuses on the rights and obligations of the parties to the arrangement rather than its legal form. There are two types of joint arrangements: joint operations and joint ventures. Joint operations arise where the investors have rights to the assets and obligations for the liabilities of an arrangement. A joint operator accounts for its share of the assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. Joint ventures arise where the investors have rights to the net assets of the arrangement; joint ventures are accounted for under the equity method. Proportional consolidation of joint arrangements is no longer permitted.
IFRS 12, ‘Disclosures of interests in other entities’ includes the disclosure requirements for all forms of interests in other entities, including joint arrangements, associates, structured entities and other off balance sheet vehicles.
IFRS 13, ‘Fair value measurement’, aims to improve consistency and reduce complexity by providing a precise definition of fair value and a single source of fair value measurement and disclosure requirements for use across IFRSs. The requirements, which are largely aligned between IFRSs and US GAAP, do not extend the use of fair value accounting but provide guidance on how it should be applied where its use is already required or permitted by other standards within IFRSs.
New standards, amendments and interpretations issued but not effective for the financial year beginning 1 January 2013 and not early adopted
IFRS 9, ‘Financial instruments’, addresses the classification, measurement and recognition of financial assets and financial liabilities. IFRS 9 was issued in November 2009 and October 2010. It replaces the parts of IAS 39 that relate to the classification and measurement of financial instruments. IFRS 9 requires financial assets to be classified into two measurement categories: those measured at fair value and those measured at amortised cost. The determination is made at initial recognition. The classification depends on the entity’s business model for managing its financial instruments and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the instrument. For financial liabilities, the standard retains most of the IAS 39 requirements.
The main change is that, in cases where the fair value option is taken for financial liabilities, the part of a fair value change due to an entity’s own credit risk is recorded in other comprehensive income rather than the income statement, unless this creates an accounting mismatch. The Group is yet to assess IFRS 9’s full impact and intends to adopt IFRS 9 no later than the accounting period beginning on or after
1 January 2015.
Amendment to IAS 32, ‘Financial instruments: Presentation’ on asset and liability offsetting. These amendments are to the application guidance in IAS 32, ‘Financial instruments: Presentation’, and clarify some of the requirements for offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities on the balance sheet. The Company has assessed IAS 32’s impact and concluded there will be no material impact on the Group.
Amendment to IAS 36, ‘Impairment of assets’ on recoverable amount disclosures. This amendment addresses the disclosure of information about the recoverable amount of impaired assets if that amount is based on fair value less costs of disposal. The Company has assessed IAS 36’s impact and concluded there will be no material impact on the Group.
IFRIC 21, ‘Levies’, is an interpretation of IAS 37, ‘Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets’. IAS 37 sets out criteria for the recognition of a liability, one of which is the requirement for the entity to have a present obligation as a result of a past event (known as an obligating event). The interpretation clarifies that the obligating event that gives rise to a liability to pay a levy is the activity described in the relevant legislation that triggers the payment of the levy. The Company has assessed IFRIC 21’s impact and concluded there will be no material impact on the Group.
There are no other IFRSs or IFRIC interpretations that are not yet effective that would be expected to have a material impact on the Group.
Management assessed the relevance of other new standards, amendments or interpretations not yet effective and concluded that they are not relevant to Group.
The Directors regularly monitor the Group's cash position and liquidity risks throughout the year to ensure that it has sufficient funds to meet forecast operational and investment funding requirements. Sensitivities are run to reflect latest expectations of expenditures, oil and gas prices and other factors to enable the Group to manage the risk of any funding short falls and/or potential loan covenant breaches.
Considering macroeconomic environment conditions, the performance of the operations, the US$ 300 million debt fund raising completed in February 2013, the proceeds from the registration statement with the SEC (see Note 1) and Group’s cash position, the Directors have formed a judgement, at the time of approving the financial statements, that there is a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue with its investment programme to increase oil and gas reserves, production and revenues and meeting all its obligations for the foreseeable future. For this reason, the Directors have continued to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the consolidated financial statements.
Subsidiaries are all entities (including structured entities) over which the group has control. The group controls an entity when the group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the group. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.
The Group applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred to the former owners of the acquiree and the equity interests issued by the Group. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date.
Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.
The excess of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the acquisition-date fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If the total of consideration transferred, non-controlling interest recognized and previously held interest measured is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired in the case of a bargain purchase, the difference is recognized directly in the income statement.
Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and its subsidiaries are eliminated. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred. Amounts reported in the financial statements of subsidiaries have been adjusted where necessary to ensure consistency with the accounting policies adopted by the Group.
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker. The chief operating decision-maker, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, has been identified as the strategic steering committee that makes strategic decisions. This committee consists of the CEO, COO, CFO and managers in charge of the Exploration, Development, Drilling, Operations, SPEED and Finance departments. This committee reviews the Group’s internal reporting in order to assess performance and allocate resources. Management has determined the operating segments based on these reports.
The consolidated financial statements are presented in US Dollars, which is the Group’s presentation currency.
Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group’s entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the “functional currency”). The functional currency of Group companies incorporated in Chile, Colombia and Argentina is the US Dollar, meanwhile for the Group Brazilian company the functional currency is the local currency, which is the Brazilian Real.
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at period end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Income.
The company has applied IFRS 11 to all joint arrangements as of 1 January 2013. Under IFRS 11 investments in joint arrangements are classified as either joint operations or joint ventures depending on the contractual rights and obligations each investor.
The Company has assessed the nature of its joint arrangements and determined them to be joint operations. The company combines its share in the joint operations individual assets, liabilities, results and cash flows on a line-by-line basis with similar items in its financial statements.
Revenue from the sale of crude oil and gas is recognised in the Statement of Income when risk transferred to the purchaser, and if the revenue can be measured reliably and is expected to be received. Revenue is shown net of VAT, discounts related to the sale and overriding royalties due to the ex-owners of oil and gas properties where the royalty arrangements represent a retained working interest in the property.
Production costs include wages and salaries incurred to achieve the net revenue for the year. Direct and indirect costs of raw materials and consumables, rentals and leasing, property, plant and equipment depreciation and royalties are also included within this account.
Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less depreciation, and impairment if applicable. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items; including provisions for asset retirement obligation.
Oil and gas exploration and production activities are accounted for in accordance with the successful efforts method on a field by field basis. The Group accounts for exploration and evaluation activities in accordance with IFRS 6, Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources, capitalizing exploration and evaluation costs until such time as the economic viability of producing the underlying resources is determined. Costs incurred prior to obtaining legal rights to explore are expensed immediately to the Consolidated Statement of Income.
Exploration and evaluation costs may include: license acquisition, geological and geophysical studies (i.e.: seismic), direct labour costs and drilling costs of exploratory wells. No depreciation and/or amortisation are charged during the exploration and evaluation phase. Upon completion of the evaluation phase, the prospects are either transferred to oil and gas properties or charged to expense (exploration costs) in the period in which the determination is made depending whether they have found reserves or not. If not developed, exploration and evaluation assets are written off after three years unless, it can be clearly demonstrated that the carrying value of the investment is recoverable.
A charge of US$ 10,962,000 has been recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Income within Exploration costs (US$ 25,552,000 in 2012 and US$ 5,919,000 in 2011) for write-offs in Argentina, Colombia and Chile (see Note 11).
All field development costs are considered construction in progress until they are finished and capitalised within oil and gas properties, and are subject to depreciation once complete. Such costs may include the acquisition and installation of production facilities, development drilling costs (including dry holes, service wells and seismic surveys for development purposes), project-related engineering and the acquisition costs of rights and concessions related to approved properties.
Work overs of wells made to develop reserves and/or increase production are capitalized as development costs. Maintenance costs are charged to income when incurred.
Capitalised costs of proved oil and gas properties and production facilities and machinery are depreciated on a licensed area by the licensed area basis, using the unit of production method, based on commercial proved and probable reserves. The calculation of the “unit of production” depreciation takes into account estimated future finding and development costs and is based on current year end unescalated price levels. Changes in reserves and cost estimates are recognised prospectively. Reserves are converted to equivalent units on the basis of approximate relative energy content.
Depreciation of the remaining property, plant and equipment assets (i.e. furniture and vehicles) not directly associated with oil and gas activities has been calculated by means of the straight line method by applying such annual rates as required to write-off their value at the end of their estimated useful lives. The useful lives range between 3 years and 10 years.
Depreciation is allocated in the Consolidated Statement of Income as production, exploration and administrative expenses, based on the nature of the associated asset.
An asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount (see Impairment of non-financial assets in
Note 2.12).
Provisions for asset retirement obligations, deferred income, restructuring obligations and legal claims are recognised when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events; it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation; and the amount has been reliably estimated. Restructuring provisions comprise lease termination penalties and employee termination payments.
Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the obligation using a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the obligation. The increase in the provision due to passage of time is recognised as interest expense.
The Group records the fair value of the liability for asset retirement obligations in the period in which the wells are drilled. When the liability is initially recorded, the Group capitalises the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value at each reporting period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the estimated useful life of the related asset. According to interpretations and application of current legislation and on the basis of the changes in technology and the variations in the costs of restoration necessary to protect the environment, the Group has considered it appropriate to periodically re-evaluate future costs of well-capping. The effects of this recalculation are included in the financial statements in the period in which this recalculation is determined and reflected as an adjustment to the provision and the corresponding property, plant and equipment asset.
Relates to contributions received in cash from the Group’s clients to improve the project economics of gas wells. The amounts collected are reflected as a deferred income in the balance sheet and recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Income over the productive life of the associated wells. The depreciation of the gas wells that generated the deferred income is charged to the Consolidated Statement of Income simultaneously with the amortisation of the deferred income.
Assets that are not subject to depreciation and/or amortisation (i.e.: exploration and evaluation assets) are tested annually for impairment. Assets that are subject to depreciation and/or amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.
An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use. For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows (cash-generating units), generally a licensed area. Non-financial assets other than goodwill that suffered impairment are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at each reporting date.
No asset should be kept as an exploration and evaluation asset for a period of more than three years, except if it can be clearly demonstrated that the carrying value of the investment will be recoverable.
All current lease contracts are considered to be operating leases on the basis that the lessor retains substantially all the risks and rewards related to the ownership of the leased asset. Payments related to operating leases and other rental agreements are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement on a straight line basis over the term of the contract. The Group's total commitment relating to operating leases and rental agreements is disclosed in Note 31.
Leases in which substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership are transferred to the lessee are classified as finance leases. Under a finance lease, the Company as lessor has to recognize an amount receivable equal to the aggregate of the minimum lease payments plus any unguaranteed residual value accruing to the lessor, discounted at the interest rate implicit in the lease.
Inventories comprise crude oil and materials.
Crude oil is measured at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Materials are measured at the lower of cost and recoverable amount. The cost of materials and consumables is calculated at acquisition price with the addition of transportation and similar costs. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.
The tax expense for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Income.
The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantially enacted at the balance sheet date in the countries where the Company’s subsidiaries operate and generate taxable income. The computation of the income tax expense involves the interpretation of applicable tax laws and regulations in many jurisdictions. The resolution of tax positions taken by the Group, through negotiations with relevant tax authorities or through litigation, can take several years to complete and in some cases it is difficult to predict the ultimate outcome.
Deferred income tax is recognised, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the consolidated financial statements. Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the balance sheet date and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability is settled.
In addition, the Group has tax-loss carry-forwards in certain taxing jurisdictions that are available to offset against future taxable profit. However, deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the unused tax losses can be utilized. Management judgment is exercised in assessing whether this is the case.
To the extent that actual outcomes differ from management’s estimates, taxation charges or credits may arise in future periods.
Deferred income tax liabilities are provided on taxable temporary differences arising from investments in subsidiaries and joint arrangements, except for deferred income tax liability where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference is controlled by the Group and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. The Group is able to control the timing of dividends from its subsidiaries and hence does not expect taxable profit. Hence deferred tax is recognized in respect of the retained earnings of overseas subsidiaries only if at the date of the statements of financial position, dividends have been accrued as receivable or a binding agreement to distribute past earnings in future has been entered into by the subsidiary.
Deferred tax liabilities are provided in full, with no discounting.
Financial assets are divided into the following categories: loans and receivables; financial assets at fair value through the profit or loss; available-for-sale financial assets; and held-to-maturity investments. Financial assets are assigned to the different categories by management on initial recognition, depending on the purpose for which the investments were acquired. The designation of financial assets is re-evaluated at every reporting date at which a choice of classification or accounting treatment is available.
All financial assets are recognised when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. All financial assets are initially recognised at fair value, plus transaction costs.
Derecognition of financial assets occurs when the rights to receive cash flows from the investments expire or are transferred and substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred. An assessment for impairment is undertaken at each balance sheet date.
Interest and other cash flows resulting from holding financial assets are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement when receivable, regardless of how the related carrying amount of financial assets is measured.
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. They are included in current assets, except for maturities greater than twelve months after the balance sheet date. These are classified as non-current assets. The Group’s loans and receivables comprise trade receivables, prepayments and other receivables and cash at bank and in hand in the balance sheet. They arise when the Group provides money, goods or services directly to a debtor with no intention of trading the receivables. Loans and receivables are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. Any change in their value through impairment or reversal of impairment is recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Income. All of the Group’s financial assets are classified as loan and receivables.
Non-current other financial assets include contributions made for environmental obligations according to a Colombian government request. For 2012, non-current other financial assets also relate to the cash collateral account required under the terms of the Bond issued in 2010. This investment was intended to guarantee interest payments and was recovered at repayment date (see Note 26).
Provision against trade receivables is made when objective evidence is received that the Group will not be able to collect all amounts due to it in accordance with the original terms of those receivables. The amount of the write-down is determined as the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows.
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts, if any, are shown within borrowings in the current liabilities section of the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.
Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of the business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less (or in the normal operating cycle of the business if longer). If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities.
Trade payables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Borrowings are obligations to pay cash and are recognised when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently stated at amortised cost; any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption value is recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Income over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method.
Direct issue costs are charged to the Consolidated Statement of Income on an accruals basis using the effective interest method.
The Group operates a number of equity-settled and cash-settled share-based compensation plans comprising share awards payments and stock options plans to certain employees and other third party contractors.
Share-based payment transactions are measured in accordance with IFRS 2.
Fair value of the stock option plan for employee or contractors services received in exchange for the grant of the options is recognised as an expense. The total amount to be expensed over the vesting period is determined by reference to the fair value of the options granted calculated using the Black-Scholes model.
Non-market vesting conditions are included in assumptions about the number of options that are expected to vest. At each balance sheet date, the entity revises its estimates of the number of options that are expected to vest. It recognises the impact of the revision to original estimates, if any, in the Consolidated Statement of Income, with a corresponding adjustment to equity.
The fair value of the share awards payments is determined at the grant date by reference of the market value of the shares and recognised as an expense over the vesting period.
When the options are exercised, the Company issues new shares. The proceeds received net of any directly attributable transaction costs are credited to share capital (nominal value) and share premium when the options are exercised.
For cash-settled share-based payment transactions, the Company measures the services acquired for amounts that are based on the price of the Company’s shares. The fair value of the liability incurred is measured using Geometric Brownian Motion method. Until the liability is settled, the Company is required to re-measure the fair value of the liability at each reporting date and at the date of settlement, with any changes in value recognized in profit or loss for the period.
The policy for managing these risks is set by the Board. Certain risks are managed centrally, while others are managed locally following guidelines communicated from the corporate office. The policy for each of the above risks is described in more detail below.
In Argentina, Colombia and Chile the functional currency is the US Dollar. The fluctuation of the local currencies of these countries against the US Dollar does not impact the loans, costs and revenues held in US Dollars; but it does impact the balances denominated in local currencies. Such is the case of the prepaid taxes.
In Chile, Colombia and Argentina subsidiaries most of the balances are denominated in US Dollars, and since it is the functional currency of the subsidiaries, there is no exposure to currency fluctuation except from receivables or payables originated in local currency mainly corresponding to VAT. The balances as of 31 December 2013 of VAT were credits for US$ 3,177,000 (US$ 3,624,000 in 2012) in Argentina, credits for US$ 5,288,000 (US$ 221,000 in 2012) in Chile and VAT payable for US$ 5,870,000 (US$ 2,418,000 in 2012) in Colombia.
The Group minimises the local currency positions in Argentina, Colombia and Chile by seeking to equilibrate local and foreign currency assets and liabilities. However, tax receivables (VAT) are very difficult to match with local currency liabilities. Therefore the Group maintains a net exposure to them.
Most of the Group's assets held in those countries are associated with oil and gas productive assets. Such assets in the oil and gas industry even in the local markets are usually settled in US Dollar equivalents.
During 2013, the Argentine Peso weakened by 33% (weakened by 16% and 8% in 2012 and 2011 respectively) against the US Dollar, the Chilean Peso weakened by 10% (strengthened by 8% in 2012 and weakened by 11% in 2011) and the Colombian Peso weakened by 9% (strengthened by 9% in 2012). If the Argentine Peso, the Chilean Peso and the Colombian Peso had each weakened an additional 5% against the US dollar, with all other variables held constant, post-tax profit for the year would have been higher by US$ 139,500 (lower by US$ 45,500 in 2012 and by US$ 41,000 in 2011 respectively).
During 2014, the Argentine Peso weakened by approximately 22% against the US Dollar. The Company estimates that this devaluation will not impact significantly the results of the Company.
In Brazil the functional currency is the local currency, which is the Brazilian Real. The fluctuation of the US Dollars against the Brazilian Real does not impact the loans, costs and revenues held in Brazilian Real; but it does impact the balances denominated in US Dollars. Such is the case of the cash at bank. Most of the balances are denominated in Brazilian Real, and since it is the functional currency of the Brazilian subsidiary, there is no exposure to currency fluctuation except from cash at bank held in US Dollars.
During 2013, the Brazilian Real weakened by 6% against the US Dollar. If the Brazilian Real had weakened an additional 5% against the US dollar, with all other variables held constant, post-tax profit for the year would have been higher by US$ 1,826,000.
The price realised for the oil produced by the Group is linked to WTI (West Texas Intermediate) and Brent, which is settled in the international markets in US dollars. The market price of these commodities is subject to significant fluctuation but the Board does not consider it appropriate to manage the Group’s risk to such fluctuation through futures contracts or similar because to do so would not have been efficiently economic at the achieved production levels.
In Chile, the oil price is based on WTI minus certain marketing and quality discounts such as, inter alia, API quality and mercury content; the price formula also includes adjustments for differences between the WTI and Brent at certain price levels. In Argentina, the oil price is also subject to the impact of the retention tax on oil exports defined by the Argentine government which limits the direct correlation to the WTI.
The Company has signed a long-term Gas Supply Contract with Methanex in Chile. The price of the gas under this contract is indexed to the international methanol price.
If the market prices of WTI, Brent and methanol had fallen by 10% compared to actual prices during the year, with all other variables held constant, post-tax profit for the year would have been lower by US$ 27,179,000 (US$ 18,784,000 in 2012 and US$ 9,501,000 in 2011).
The Board will consider adopting a hedging policy against commodity price risk, when deemed appropriate, according to the size of the business and market implied volatility.
The Group’s credit risk relates mainly to accounts receivable where the credit risks correspond to the recognised values. There is not considered to be any significant risk in respect of the Group’s major customers.
In Chile, most of gas production is sold to the local subsidiary of the Methanex Corporation, a Canadian public company (7% of total revenue, 12% in 2012 and 34% in 2011). All the oil produced in Chile is sold to ENAP (40% of total revenue, 48% in 2012 and 65% in 2011), the State owned oil and gas company. In Colombia, 21% of the oil we produced there, was sold to Hocol, a subsidiary of Ecopetrol, the Colombian Sate owned oil Company (11% of total revenue, 31% in 2012). The mentioned companies all have good credit standing and despite the concentration of the credit risk, the Directors do not consider there to be a significant collection risk.
See disclosure in Note 24.
The Group has strong support from its financial partners and maintains flexibility in adjusting the programme to ensure the development of the key properties.
During 2012, LGI made a capital subscription in GeoPark Colombia S.A. for an amount of US$ 14,920,000 for the 20% of the Colombian business. In addition, as part of the transaction,
US$ 5,000,000 was transferred directly to the Colombian subsidiary as a loan (see Note 34).
In addition, during 2013 the Company placed US$ 300 million notes (see Note 26) and on February 2014 collected US$ 98 million from the registration statement with the SEC (see Note 1).
The Group’s profit and operating cash flows are substantially independent of changes in market interest rates. The Group’s interest rate risk arises from long-term borrowings issued at variable rates, which expose the Group to cash flow to interest rate risk.
The Group does not face interest rate risk on its US$ 300,000,000 Notes which carry a fixed rate coupon of 7.50% per annum.
The Group analyses its interest rate exposure on a dynamic basis. Various scenarios are simulated taking into consideration refinancing, renewal of existing positions, alternative financing and hedging. Based on these scenarios, the Group calculates the impact on profit and loss of a defined interest rate shift. For each simulation, the same interest rate shift is used for all currencies. The scenarios are run only for liabilities that represent the major interest-bearing positions.
At 31 December 2012, if interest rates on currency-denominated borrowings had been 1% higher with all other variables held constant, post-tax profit for the year would have been US$ 160,866 lower (US$ 144,267 in 2011).
At 31 December 2013, the Group has no exposure to fluctuations in the interest rate, since its long-term borrowings were issued at fixed rate.
The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.
Consistent with others in the industry, the Group monitors capital on the basis of the gearing ratio. This ratio is calculated as net debt divided by total capital. Net debt is calculated as total borrowings (including ‘current and non-current borrowings’ as shown in the consolidated balance sheet) less cash at bank and in hand. Total capital is calculated as ‘equity’ as shown in the consolidated balance sheet plus net debt.
The Group’s strategy is to keep the gearing ratio within a 30% to 45% range.
Particularly, in 2011 the gearing ratio has been affected by the transactions with non-controlling interests,
by which the Group received proceeds of US$ 142,000,000.
Estimates and assumptions are used in preparing the financial statements. Although these estimates are based on management's best knowledge of current events and actions, actual results may differ from them. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
The key estimates and assumptions used in these consolidated financial statements are noted below:
Given the significant assumptions required and the possibility that actual conditions will differ, we consider the assessment of impairment to be a critical accounting estimate.
The process of estimating reserves is complex. It requires significant judgements and decisions based on available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data. The estimation of economically recoverable oil and natural gas reserves and related future net cash flows was performed based on the Reserve Report dated December 2013 prepared by DeGolyer and MacNaughton, an international consultancy to the oil and gas industry based in Dallas. It incorporates many factors and assumptions including:
Management believes these factors and assumptions are reasonable based on the information available to us at the time we prepare our estimates. However, these estimates may change substantially as additional data from ongoing development activities and production performance becomes available and as economic conditions impacting oil and gas prices and costs change.
The Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow shows the Group's cash flows for the year for operating, investing and financing activities and the change in cash and cash equivalents during the year.
Cash flows from operating activities are computed from the results for the year adjusted for non-cash operating items, changes in net working capital, and corporation tax. Tax paid is presented as a separate item under operating activities.
The following chart describes non-cash transactions related to the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow:
Cash flows from investing activities include payments in connection with the purchase and sale of property, plant and equipment, cash flows relating to the purchase and sale of enterprises to third
parties and cash flows from financial lease transactions. Cash flows from financing activities include changes in Shareholders’ equity, and proceeds from borrowings and repayment of loans. Cash and cash equivalents include bank overdraft and liquid funds with a term of less than three months.
Changes in working capital shown in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow are disclosed as follows:
Management has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the strategic steering committee that are used to make strategic decisions. The committee considers the business from a geographic perspective.
The strategic steering committee assesses the performance of the operating segments based on a measure of adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and certain non-cash items such as write-offs, impairments and share-based payments (Adjusted EBITDA). This measurement basis excludes the effects of non-recurring expenditure from the operating segments, such as impairments when it is the result of an isolated, non-recurring event. Interest income and expenses are not included in the result for each operating segment that is reviewed by the strategic steering committee. Other information provided, except as noted below, to the strategic steering committee is measured in a manner consistent with that in the financial statements.
Approximately 63% of capital expenditure was allocated to Chile (70% in 2012 and 95% in 2011) and 37% was allocated to Colombia (30% in 2012 and 0% in 2011).
A reconciliation of total Adjusted EBITDA to total profit before income tax is provided as follows:
Non-executive director fee includes a fee of £5,750 for holding a committee chairman position during the year.
During 2013 the abovementioned stock options were fully exercised by the Executive Directors.
In addition, Dr Carlos Gulisano holds the following interests in stock options and awards as a result of the services that he has previously provided to the Company:
The tax on the Group’s profit before tax differs from the theoretical amount that would arise using the weighted average tax rate applicable to profits of the consolidated entities as follows:
Under current Bermuda law, the Company is not required to pay any taxes in Bermuda on income or capital gains. The Company has received an undertaking from the Minister of Finance in Bermuda that, in the event of any taxes being imposed, they will be exempt from taxation in Bermuda until March 2035.
Income tax rates in those countries where the Group operates (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Chile) ranges from 15% to 35%.
The Group has significant tax losses available which can be utilised against future taxable profit in the following countries:
At the balance sheet date deferred tax assets in respect of tax losses in Argentina have not been recognised as there is insufficient evidence of future taxable profits before the statute of limitation of these tax losses causes them to expire.
The breakdown and movement of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of 31 December 2013, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:
As of 31 December 2013, the Group has pledged, as security for a mortgage obtained for the acquisition of the operating base in Chile, assets amounting to US$ 493,000 (US$ 692,000 in 2012 and US$ 638,000 in 2011). See Note 26.
On 25 August 2011 the exploratory period in the Fell Block ended. The exploration programme carried out during the exploration period enabled the Company to declare commerciality on approximately 84% of the total area of the Block. The remaining area not declared as commercial was relinquished, which did not generate any loss for the Group.
As of 31 December 2013, there were five exploratory wells that have been capitalised for a period over a year amounting to US$ 11,251,000 (nil in 2012) and six exploratory wells that have been capitalised for a period less than a year amounting to US$ 18,667,000 (US$ 27,165,000 in 2012).
The following chart illustrates main companies of the Group structure as of 31 December 2013:
Details of the subsidiaries and joint operations of the Company are set out below:
Trade receivables that are aged by less than three months are not considered impaired. As of 31 December 2013, trade receivables of US$ 1,143,393 (US$ 31,984 in 2012) were aged by more than 3 months, but not impaired. These relate to customers for whom there is no recent history of default. There are no balances due between 31 days and 90 days as of 31 December 2013 and 2012.
At 31 December 2013, the Group has no receivables for which exist impairment indicators. Therefore, the Group has no recognised any provision for receivables impairment.
The credit period for trade receivables is 30 days. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of receivable. The Group does not hold any collateral as security related to trade receivables.
The carrying value of trade receivables is considered to represent a reasonable approximation of its fair value due to their short-term nature.
The credit quality of financial assets that are neither past due nor impaired can be assessed by reference to external credit ratings (if available) or to historical information about counterparty default rates:
All trade receivables are denominated in US Dollars.
The table below analyses the Group’s financial liabilities into relevant maturity groupings based on the remaining period at the balance sheet to the contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows.
As of 31 December 2013 the outstanding common shares confer the following rights on the holder:
During 2013, the Company issued 10,430 (15,100 in 2012 and 12,028 in 2011) shares to Non-Executive Directors in accordance with contracts as compensation, generating a share premium of US$ 100,988 (US$ 142,492 in 2012 and US$ 130,733 in 2011). The amount of shares issued is determined considering the contractual compensation and the fair value of the shares for each relevant period.
On 29 October 2013, the Company put into place an irrevocable, non-discretionary share purchase program for the purchase of its common shares for the account of the EBT. This Purchase Program expired on 31 December 2013. The common shares purchased under the program will be used to satisfy future awards under the incentive schemes. During 2013, the Company purchased 50,000 common shares for a total amount of US$ 440,000.
The accounting treatment of the shares is in line with the Group’s policy on share-based payments.
During 2011, LGI acquired a 20% interest in GeoPark Chile S.A., the subsidiary that owns the Chilean assets for a total consideration of US$ 148,000,000.
During 2012, LGI acquired a 20% interest in GeoPark Colombia S.A., the subsidiary that owns the Colombian assets by making a capital contribution in GeoPark Colombia S.A. for an amount of US$ 14,920,000. In addition, as part of the transaction, US$ 5,000,000 was transferred directly to the Colombian subsidiary as a loan. The differences between total consideration and the net equity of the Companies as per the book value were recorded as Other Reserve in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity.
The fair value of these financial instruments at 31 December 2013 amounts to US$ 312,208,000 (US$ 190,188,000 in 2012). The fair values are based on cash flows discounted using a rate based on the borrowing rate of 7.81% (2012: 9.63%) and are within level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
The Notes, issued by the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary GeoPark Latin America Limited Agencia en Chile ("the Issuer"), were priced at 99.332% and carry a coupon of 7.50% per annum to yield 7.625% per annum. Final maturity of the notes will be 11 February 2020. The Notes are guaranteed by GeoPark Limited and GeoPark Latin America Cooperatie U.A. and are secured with a pledge of all of the equity interests of the Issuer in GeoPark Chile S.A. and GeoPark Colombia S.A. and a pledge of certain intercompany loans. Notes were rated single B by both Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings. The debt issuance cost for this transaction amounted to US$ 7,637,000.
The net proceeds of the notes were partially used to repay debt of approximately US$ 170 million, including the existing Regulation S Notes due 2015 and the Itaú loan. The remaining proceeds are being used to finance the Company’s expansion plans in the region. The transaction extended GeoPark's debt maturity significantly, allowing the Company to allocate more resources to its investment and inorganic growth programs in the coming years.
The average credit period (expressed as creditor days) during the year ended 31 December 2013 was 58 days (2012: 69 days)
The fair value of these short-term financial instruments is not individually determined as the carrying amount is a reasonable approximation of fair value.
The Group has established different stock awards programmes and other share-based payment plans to incentivise the Directors, senior management and employees, enabling them to benefit from the increased market capitalization of the Company.
Additionally, during 2013 the Company approved two new share-based compensation programs: i.) a stock awards plan oriented to Managers (non-Top Management) and key employees which qualifies as an equity-settled plan and ii.) a cash awards plan, oriented to all non-management employees which qualifies as a cash-settled plan.
Also during 2013, the Company approved a plan named Value creation plan (“VCP”) oriented to Top Management. The VCP establishes awards payables in a variable number of shares with some limitation, subject to certain market conditions, among others, reach certain stock market price for the Company share at vesting date. VCP has been classified as an equity-settled plan.
The awards that are forfeited correspond to employees that had left the Group before vesting date.
On 23 November 2012, the Remuneration Committee and the board of directors approved granting 720,000 options over ordinary shares of US$0.001 each to the Executive Directors. Options granted vest on the third anniversary of the date on which they are granted and have an exercise price of US$0.001.
As it is mentioned in Note 25, the Company granted 10,430 (15,100 in 2012 and 12,028 in 2011) shares for services rendered by the Non-Executive Directors of the Company. Fees paid in shares were directly expensed in the Administrative costs line in the amount of US$ 100,988 (US$ 142,492 in 2012 and US$ 130,745 in 2011).
In August 2011 the Company issued a total of 180,000 options over US$0.001 shares with an exercise price equal to their nominal value in consideration for certain consultancy services.
The Group has interests in nine joint operations, which are involved in the exploration of hydrocarbons in Chile and Colombia.
GeoPark is the operator of all of the Chilean blocks.
The following amounts represent the Company’s share in the assets, liabilities and results of the joint operations which have been consolidated line by line in the consolidated statement of financial position and statement of income:
Capital commitments are disclosed in Note 31 (b).
In Argentina, crude oil production accrues royalties payable to the Provinces of Santa Cruz and Mendoza equivalent to 12% on estimated value at well head of those products. This value is equivalent to final sales price less transport, storage and treatment costs.
In Argentina crude oil sales accrue private royalties payable to EPP Petróleo S.A. (2.5% on invoiced amount of crude oil obtained from wells at “Del Mosquito”, Province of Santa Cruz, Argentina) and to Occidental Petroleum Argentina INC, formerly Vintage Argentina Ltd. (8% on invoiced amount of crude oil obtained from wells at “Loma Cortaderal” and “Cerro Doña Juana”, Province of Mendoza, Argentina).
In Chile, royalties are payable to the Chilean Government. In the Fell Block, royalties are calculated at
5% of crude oil production and 3% of gas production. In the Flamenco Block, royalties are calculated at 5% of gas production.
As of 31 December 2013 the only remaining commitments in Chile are related to Tierra del Fuego blocks. The future investment commitments assumed by GeoPark outstanding are:
The investments made in the first exploratory period will be assumed 100% by GeoPark.
The Llanos 32 Block Consortium has committed to drill two exploratory wells between 2013 and 2014.
The Llanos 17 Block Consortium has committed to drill either two exploratory wells or one exploratory well and perform 3D seismic between 2013 and 2014. The joint operation estimates that the remaining commitment amounts to US$ 1,225,000 at GeoPark’s working interest (36.84%).
The Llanos 62 Block (100% working interest) has committed to drill two exploratory wells before August 2014. The remaining commitment amounts to US$ 3,000,000.
On 14 May 2013, the ANP awarded GeoPark seven new concessions in Brazil in an international bidding round, Round 11. For these seven concessions, GeoPark committed to invest a minimum of US$ 15,300,000 (including bonuses and work program commitment) during the first three years of the exploratory period for the concessions.
On 28 November 2013, the ANP awarded GeoPark two new concessions in a new international bidding round, Round 12. For these two concessions, GeoPark have committed to invest a minimum of US$ 4,000,000 (including bonus and work program commitments) during the first exploratory period (see
The Group leases various plant and machinery under non-cancellable operating lease agreements.
The Group also leases offices under non-cancellable operating lease agreements. The lease terms are between 2 and 3 years, and the majority of lease agreements are renewable at the end of the lease period at market rate.
During 2013 a total amount of US$ 19,110,000 (US$ 4,531,000 in 2012 and US$ 3,313,000 in 2011) was charged to the income statement and US$ 37,263,000 of operating leases were capitalised as Property, plant and equipment (US$ 32,706,000 in 2012 and US$ 28,132,000 in 2011).
The future aggregate minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:
The main shareholders of GeoPark Limited, a company registered in Bermuda, as of 31 December 2013, are:
There have been no other transactions with the Board of Directors, Executive Board, Executive officers, significant shareholders or other related parties during the year besides the intercompany transactions which have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements, the normal remuneration of Board of Directors and Executive Board and other benefits informed in Note 10.
Non-audit services relates to tax services for US$ 292,000 (US$ 121,000 in 2012 and US$ 123,000 in 2011) and due diligence and other services for US$ 45,000 (US$ 592,000 in 2012 and US$ 116,000 in 2011).
On 14 February 2012, GeoPark acquired two privately-held exploration and production companies operating in Colombia, Winchester Oil and Gas S.A. and La Luna Oil Company Limited S.A. (“Winchester Luna”). For accounting purposes, these acquisitions were computed as if they had occurred on 1 February 2012.
On 27 March 2012, a second acquisition occurred with the purchase of Hupecol Cuerva LLC (“Hupecol”), a privately-held company with two exploration and production blocks in Colombia. For accounting purposes, this acquisition was computed as if it had occurred on 1 April 2012.
In accordance with the acquisition method of accounting, the acquisition cost was allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based primarily upon their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. An income approach (being the net present value of expected future cash flows) was adopted to determine the fair values of the mineral interest. Estimates of expected future cash flows reflect estimates of projected future revenues, production costs and capital expenditures based on our business model.
Under the terms of the sale and purchase agreement entered into in 2012 in respect of the acquisition of Winchester Luna, the Company has to make certain payments to the former owners arising from the production and sale of hydrocarbons discovered by exploration wells drilled after 25 October 2011 on the working interests of the companies at that date. These payments which involve both, an earnings based measure and an overriding revenue royalty, equate to an estimated 4% carried interest on the part of the vendor.
The following table summarises the combined consideration paid for Winchester Luna and Hupecol, the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for these transactions:
The purchase price allocation above mentioned is final.
Acquisition-related costs have been charged to administrative expenses in the consolidated income statement for the year ended 31 December 2012.
On 12 March 2010, LGI and the Company agreed to form a new strategic partnership to jointly acquire and develop upstream oil and gas projects in Latin America.
During 2011, GeoPark and LGI entered into several agreements through which LGI acquires an equity interest in the Chilean Business of the Group.
In December 2012, LGI has also joined GeoPark’s operations in Colombia through the acquisition of a 20% interest in GeoPark Colombia S.A., a company that holds GeoPark’s Colombian assets and which includes interests in 10 hydrocarbon blocks. A capital contribution in GeoPark Colombia S.A. for an amount of US$ 14,920,000 was made in 2013. In addition, as part of the transaction, US$ 5,000,000 was transferred directly to the Colombian subsidiary as a loan.
In addition, in March 2013 GeoPark and LGI announced their agreement to extend their strategic alliance to build a portfolio of upstream oil and gas assets throughout Latin America through 2015.
Further, on 8 January 2014, following an internal corporate reorganization of our Colombian operations, GeoPark Colombia Coöperatie U.A. and GeoPark Latin America entered into a new members’ agreement with LGI, or the LGI Colombia Members’ Agreement, that sets out substantially similar rights and obligations to the LGI Colombia Shareholders’ Agreement in respect of our oil and gas business in Colombia.
GeoPark entered into Brazil with the acquisition of a ten percent working interest in the offshore Manati gas field ("Manati Field"), the largest natural gas producing field in Brazil. On May 14, 2013, GeoPark executed a stock purchase agreement ("SPA") with Panoro Energy do Brazil Ltda., the subsidiary of Panoro Energy ASA, ("Panoro"), a Norwegian listed company with assets in Brazil and Africa, to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of its wholly-owned Brazilian subsidiary, Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda ("Rio das Contas"), the direct owner of 10% of the BCAM-40 Block (the "Block"), which includes the shallow-depth offshore Manati Field in the Camamu-Almada basin.
The Manati Field is a strategically important, profitable upstream asset in Brazil and currently provides approximately 50% of the gas supplied to the northeastern region of Brazil and more than 75% of the gas supplied to Salvador, the largest city and capital of the northeastern state of Bahia. The field is largely developed with existing producing wells and an extensive pipeline, treatment and delivery infrastructure and is not expected to require significant future capital expenditures to meet current production estimates. Additional reserve development may be possible.
The Manati Field is operated by Petrobras (35% working interest), the Brazilian national company, largest oil and gas operator in Brazil and internationally-respected offshore operator. Other partners in the block include Queiroz Galvao Exploração e Produção (45% working interest) and Brasoil Manati Exploração Petrolífera S.A. (10% working interest).
GeoPark has agreed to pay a cash consideration of US$140 million at closing, which will be adjusted for working capital with an effective date of April 30, 2013. The agreement also provides for possible future contingent payments by GeoPark over the next five years, depending on the economic performance and cash generation of the Block. On 26 March 2014 the Brazilian National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency ("ANP") consented with the transaction. The closing of the acquisition occurred on March 31, 2014.
The Company afforded the acquisition from existing cash resources as of 31 December 2013 (see
On 14 May 2013, the Company has been awarded seven new licenses in the Brazilian Round 11 of which two are in the Reconcavo Basin in the State of Bahia and five are in the Potiguar Basin in the State of Rio Grande do Norte.
The licensing round was organized by the ANP and all proceedings and bids have been made public. On 17 September 2013, the winning bids were approved by the ANP.
For its winning bids on the seven blocks, GeoPark has committed to invest a minimum of US$ 15.3 million (including bonus and work program commitment) during the first 3 years of the exploratory period. The new blocks cover an area of approximately 54,850 acres.
On November 28, 2013, the ANP awarded GeoPark with two new concessions in a new international bidding round, Round 12, in the following basins:
• Sergipe Alagoas Basin in the State of Alagoas: SEAL-T-268 Concession.
In March 2012, the Company and Methanex signed a third addendum and amendment to the Gas Supply Agreement to incentivise the development of gas reserves. Through this new agreement, the Company completed the drilling of five new gas wells during 2012. Methanex contributed to the cost of drilling the wells in order to improve the project economics. The Company fulfilled all the commitments under this agreement.
The Agreement also includes monthly commitments for delivering certain volumes of gas and in case of failure; the Company could satisfy the obligation from future deliveries without penalty during a period of three months. As of 31 December 2012, the accrued penalty for under delivered volumes amount to
US$ 1.7 million which was recorded in Provisions for other liabilities in the Statement of Financial Position.
On August 30, 2013, the Company signed a fourth amendment to the Methanex Gas Supply Agreement, pursuant to which Methanex has committed, for a period of six months commencing September 15, 2013, to purchase an increased volume, in a total amount of 400,000 SCM/d per month (subject to reduction for deliveries above 200,000 SCM/d to Methanex or ENAP made between April 29 and September 15, 2013), at an additional price per month of US$ 1.50 per mmbtu for volumes in excess of 180,000 SCM/d, or an additional price per month of US$ 2.00 per mmbtu in any month in which we commit to deliver at least 500,000 SCM/d (subject to certain exceptions based on methanol prices). The amendment also provides for temporary DOP and TOP thresholds of 100% and 50%, respectively. As of 31 December 2013, the Company has fulfilled the delivery volume commitment.
In April 2013, the Company has started the exploration drilling in Tierra del Fuego in Chile in its partnership with Empresa Nacional de Petroleo de Chile ("ENAP") with the spudding of the Chercán 1 well on the Flamenco Block. Chercán 1 is the first of 21 exploratory wells on the Flamenco, Campanario and Isla Norte Blocks in Tierra del Fuego as part of an estimated US$ 100 million investment commitment during the First Exploration Period.
As of March 2014, 8 wells have been drilled and 1,500 sq km of 3D seismic have been carried out over the three blocks; which represent the total 3D seismic program commitment.
On 30 September 2013, the Company and Tecpetrol S.A. ("Tecpetrol") announced the formation of a new strategic alliance to jointly identify, study and potentially acquire upstream oil and gas opportunities in Brazil, with a specific focus on the Parnaiba, Sao Francisco, Reconcavo, Potiguar and Sergipe-Alagoas basins.
Tecpetrol is the oil and gas subsidiary of the Techint Group (a multinational oilfield and steel conglomerate) with an extensive track-record as an oil and gas explorer and operator with its portfolio of assets currently in Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela and the United States, and with a current net production of over 85,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
At 31 December 2013, there is no accounting impact of the creation of the alliance.
The following information is presented in accordance with ASC No. 932 “Extractive Activities - Oil and Gas”, as amended by ASU 2010 - 03 “Oil and Gas Reserves. Estimation and Disclosures”, issued by FASB in January 2010 in order to align the current estimation and disclosure requirements with the requirements set in the SEC final rules and interpretations, published on December 31, 2008. This information includes the Company’s oil and gas production activities carried out in Chile, Colombia and Argentina.
38 Supplemental information on oil and gas activities (unaudited – continued)
The following table presents the capitalized costs as at 31 December 2013, 2012 and 2011, for proved and unproved oil and gas properties, and the related accumulated depreciation as of those dates.
38 Supplemental information on oil and gas activities (unaudited – continued)
The breakdown of results of the operations shown below summarizes revenues and expenses directly associated with oil and gas producing activities for the years ended 31 December 2013, 2012 and 2011. Income tax for the years presented was calculated utilizing the statutory tax rates.
38 Supplemental information on oil and gas activities (unaudited – continued)
The Company believes that its estimates of remaining proved recoverable oil and gas reserve volumes are reasonable and such estimates have been prepared in accordance with the SEC Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting rules, which were issued by the SEC at the end of 2008.
The Company estimates its reserves at least once a year. The Company’s reserves estimation as of 31 December 2013, 2012 and 2011 was based on the DeGolyer and MacNaughton Reserves Report (the “D&M Reserves Report”). DeGolyer and MacNaughton prepared its proved oil and natural gas reserve estimates in accordance with Rule 4-10 of Regulation S–X, promulgated by the SEC, and in accordance with the oil and gas reserves disclosure provisions of ASC 932 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) relating to Extractive Activities—Oil and Gas (formerly SFAS no. 69 Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing Activities).
38 Supplemental information on oil and gas activities (unaudited – continued)
Reserves engineering is a subjective process of estimation of hydrocarbon accumulation, which cannot be accurately measured, and the reserve estimation depends on the quality of available information and the interpretation and judgment of the engineers and geologists. Therefore, the reserves estimations, as well as future production profiles, are often different than the quantities of hydrocarbons which are finally recovered. The accuracy of such estimations depends, in general, on the assumptions on which they are based.
The estimated GeoPark net proved reserves for the properties evaluated as of 31 December 2013, 2012 and 2011 are summarized as follows, expressed in thousands of barrels (Mbbl) and millions of cubic feet (MMcf):
38 Supplemental information on oil and gas activities (unaudited – continued)
38 Supplemental information on oil and gas activities (unaudited – continued)
Revisions refer to changes in interpretation of discovered accumulations and some technical / logistical needs in the area obliged to modify the timing and development plan of certain fields under appraisal and development phases.
38 Supplemental information on oil and gas activities (unaudited – continued)
Table 6 - Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows related to proved oil and gas reserves
The following table discloses estimated future net cash flows from future production of proved developed and undeveloped reserves of crude oil, condensate and natural gas. As prescribed by SEC Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting rules and ASC 932 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) relating to Extractive Activities – Oil and Gas (formerly SFAS no. 69 Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing Activities), such future net cash flows were estimated using the average first day- of-the-month price during the 12-month period for 2013, 2012 and 2011 and using a 10% annual discount factor. Future development and abandonment costs include estimated drilling costs, development and exploitation installations and abandonment costs. These future development costs were estimated based on evaluations made by the Company. The future income tax was calculated by applying the statutory tax rates in effect in the respective countries in which we have interests, as of the date this supplementary information was filed.
This standardized measure is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as an estimate of the market value of the Company’s reserves. The purpose of this information is to give standardized data to help the users of the financial statements to compare different companies and make certain projections. It is important to point out that this information does not include, among other items, the effect of future changes in prices, costs and tax rates, which past experience indicates that are likely to occur, as well as the effect of future cash flows from reserves which have not yet been classified as proved reserves, of a discount factor more representative of the value of money over the lapse of time and of the risks inherent to the production of oil and gas. These future changes may have a significant impact on the future net cash flows disclosed below. For all these reasons, this information does not necessarily indicate the perception the Company has on the discounted future net cash flows derived from the reserves of hydrocarbons.
38 Supplemental information on oil and gas activities (unaudited – continued)
Table 6 - Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows related to proved oil and gas reserves (continued)
Table 7 - Changes in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows from proved reserves
38 Supplemental information on oil and gas activities (unaudited – continued)
Table 7 - Changes in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows from proved reserves (continued)
Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda.
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda. (“Company”), which comprise the balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and the related income statements, statements of comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in conformity with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB); this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free of material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal controls relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda. at December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
Rio de Janeiro April 28, 2014.
Auditores Independentes S.S.
See accompanying notes.
See accompanying notes.
See accompanying notes.
Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda. (“Rio das Contas” or “Company”), with place of business at Praia de Botafogo 228, Rio de Janeiro, is engaged in the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas in BCAM-40 block, located in the Camamu-Almada basin.
On January 23, 2006, the units of interest comprising the Company’s capital were acquired by Norse Energy do Brasil Ltda. (current Panoro Energy do Brasil S.A. - “Panoro Brasil”) and by Coplex Petróleo do Brasil Ltda. (“Coplex”) at the ratio of 57% and 43%, respectively. Norse Brasil and Coplex, privately-held companies headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, were direct and indirect subsidiaries of Norse Energy Corp. A.S.A., a publicly-held company headquartered in Oslo, Norway.
On June 7, 2010, Norse Energy Corp. ASA concluded its spin-off process in which the companies related to operations held in Brazil were transferred to Panoro Energy ASA, a company established on April 28, 2010 through the merger of New Brazil Holding ASA and Pan-Petroleum Holdings Limited (PPHCL). Panoro Energy ASA was listed in the Oslo Stock Exchange, Norway on June 8, 2010.
On September 30, 2011, Coplex was merged into Panoro Energy do Brasil S.A., which became holder of 100% of Rio das Contas’ units of interest. At December 31, 2011, Panoro Energy do Brasil transferred one unit of interest in the amount of US$0.01 to Pan-Petroleum Holding BV.
The Manati field started its commercial operations on January 15, 2007. The field produces condensed and natural gas through six producing wells, which flow to a gas treatment station (Estação Geólogo Vandemir Ferreira) through a gas pipeline. The exploration license of BCAM-40 Block was relinquished back to Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency (ANP) in September 2009. In addition to the Manati field, the Company is the owner of Camarão Norte field, now under development, which is also within BCAM-40 block.
The Company currently has concession rights of exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the blocks as follows:
In accordance with the terms provided for in the concession agreements, should commercially exploitable oil be discovered, the Company shall be given the right to explore, develop and produce, for a 27- year period, crude oil and natural gas in any commercial fields enclosed within the limits of these blocks. There are no price restrictions for the sale of products arising from the exploration of these areas.
On May 14, 2013 Panoro Energy do Brazil Ltda entered into a preliminary agreement for the sale of its subsidiary Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda (Rio das Contas, the Company) to GeoPark Brazil Ltda (Geopark) for a total of $140 million.The transaction includes the sale of all shares of Rio das Contas to GeoPark, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of a third party oil and gas company, GeoPark Holdings Ltd. The consideration for the purchase of shares in Rio das Contas consists of an initial payment of USD140 million, adjusted for working capital to be determined between the parties with reference date of April 30, 2013 to be paid in cash at closing. In addition, a contingent earn-out will be paid in cash during the period of 5 years from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2017. The annual payments earn-out will be equal to 45% of annual net cash flow in excess of $25 million. The total earn-out is limited to $20 million. The closing of the transaction, among other conditions, must be approved by the Brazilian regulator ANP.
The financial statements of Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda. are the responsibility of management and were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
Issuance of the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 was authorized at the Executive Board meeting held on April 28, 2014.
The basic financial statements are stated in Brazilian reais, the currency of the country in which the Company is incorporated and operates. Transactions in foreign currency are translated to the functional currency at the exchange rate in effect on the date of each transaction. On the reporting dates, monetary assets and liabilities in foreign currency are translated to the functional currency at the closing exchange rate and the exchange variation gains and losses are recognized in the Income Statement. Non-monetary assets and liabilities acquired or contracted in foreign currency are translated as of the reporting dates based on the exchange rates in effect on the transaction dates and thus do not generate exchange variations.
Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda.
The translations of Brazilian real amounts into U.S. dollar amounts are included for the convenience of readers outside Brazil and have been made as follows:
Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rate as of the balance sheet date (R$2.3426 to US$1.00 as of December 31, 2013, and R$2.0435 to US$1.00 as of December 31, 2012). The equity accounts are translated by the historical rates. Income and expenses are translated at the average rate on a monthly basis. Gain or loss on translation is presented as a separate component of equity as an “Exchange reserve”. Such translations should not be construed as representations that the Brazilian real amounts could be converted into U.S. dollars at the above or any other rate.
An asset is recognized in the balance sheet when it is probable that future economic benefits will be generated on behalf of the Company and when its cost or value can be reliably measured.
A liability is recognized in the balance sheet when the Company has a legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event and it is probable that an outflow of funds will be required to settle it. Provisions are recorded reflecting the best estimates of the risk involved.
Assets and liabilities are classified as current when their realization or settlement is likable to occur within the subsequent twelve months. Otherwise, they are stated as non-current.
Cash equivalents are held by the Company in order to meet short-term cash obligations, rather than for investment or other purposes. Cash and cash equivalents include cash and bank deposits, which are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
These are stated at fair value. There is no allowance for doubtful accounts. Petrobras is the Company’s sole client.
Property and equipment in use are stated at acquisition, buildup or construction cost, valued at average acquisition cost, less accumulated depreciation.
Expenses with exploration, evaluation and development of production are accounted for through the successful efforts method of accounting.
Costs incurred prior to obtaining concessions and spending on geological and geophysical studies and surveys are recorded under the P&L.
Expenses with exploration and evaluation directly associated to the exploratory well are capitalized as expenses with exploration, until the drilling is completed and results thereto evaluated. These costs include costs with employee remuneration, material and fuel utilization, costs incurred with the rent of drilling rigs and other costs incurred with third parties.
In case commercially viable reserves are not discovered, the exploration well will be written-off to P&L. When reserves are discovered, the cost is still recorded under assets upon the conclusion of additional analyses regarding the commerciality of hydrocarbon reserves, which may include drilling other wells.
Exploration assets are subject to technical, commercial and financial reviews at least on an annual basis to confirm management's intention to develop and produce hydrocarbons in the area. In case the aforesaid intention is not confirmed, these costs are written-off to P&L. When reserves are identified and proved commercially viable and the development is authorized, exploratory expenses are transferred to “oil and gas assets”.
In the development phase, expenditure on the construction, installation or completion of infrastructure facilities (such as platform, pipelines and drilling of development wells, including delimitating wells or unsuccessful development wells) are capitalized within “oil and gas assets”.
Oil and gas assets are depreciated by the unit-of-production method, based on the ratio of oil and gas production of each field and the corresponding proven and developed reserves.
The field operator-member is responsible for the dismantling of production areas in accordance with the requirements of the regulatory organs and environment agencies, as provided for in the joint operation agreement for the field. The operator calculates and submits the estimated well abandonment costs for the review and approval of consortium members. The Company’s responsibility on the abandonment and dismantling of areas is limited to the provision and payment of amounts established thereto by the operator, in accordance with the interest percentage in the consortium. The estimated decommissioning costs reported by the operator are regularly reviewed, thereby reviewing the calculation of such amount, thus adjusting assets and liabilities balances at present value.
The provision amount equivalent to the amount reported by the member-operator for future obligations due to decommissioning and dismantling of areas is inflated until the expected decommissioning date, and then discounted to present value. The amount is recorded under property and equipment against noncurrent liabilities (provision for decommissioning costs) and is amortized by using the unit-of-production method in relation to proven and developed reserves, the amortization being an integral part of inventory costs. The provision is increased by the effect of the discount rate, against financial income.
Property and equipment, and other noncurrent and intangible assets are reviewed annually to identify evidence that may indicate impairment, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the book value may not be recoverable. Where applicable, the recoverable amount is calculated to check for impairment loss. When impairment evidence is found, it is recognized at the amount corresponding to the book value of assets exceeding its recoverable value, which is the higher of the fair value less cost to sell and the value in use of an asset. For evaluation purposes, assets are grouped at their lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows.
A provision for contingencies is set up for legal disputes, in which the outflow of funds is considered probable and a reasonable estimate is possible. The loss probability assessment includes the evaluation of available evidence, the hierarchy of laws, available case law, the most recent court rulings and their relevance to the legal system, as well as the assessment of the external advisors. The provisions are reviewed and adjusted in order to comply with changes made to the applicable statutes of limitation, tax audit conclusions or supplementary issues identified based on new subject matters or court decisions. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company, based on the opinion of its external legal advisors, did not present any provision, due to the inexistence of actions with probable loss.
The preparation of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) requires management to use professional judgment and estimates, and adopt assumptions that affect the amounts presented in revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities reported on the financial statements and corresponding notes.
Significant items subject to these estimates and assumptions include the economic useful life and the net book value of property and equipment and intangible assets, provision for contingencies, recoverability of assets and fair value of financial instruments. The use of estimates and judgments is complex and considers various assumptions and future projections and, therefore, the settlement of transactions may result in amounts different from those estimated. The Company reviews its estimates and assumptions on a three-month period or an annual basis.
Revenues from sales and services are subject to the following taxes and contributions, at the following statutory tax rates:
These charges are presented as sales deductions in the income statement.
Tax credits arising out of non-cumulative taxation of PIS/COFINS are recorded as a deduction from operating revenues and expenses in the income statement. Tax debts arising out of financial income and credits arising out of financial expenses are recorded as a deduction from said accounts in the income statement.
Taxation on profit comprises both income and social contribution taxes. Income tax is computed at a 15% rate, plus a surtax of 10% on taxable profit exceeding US$117 over 12 months, whereas social contribution tax is computed at a rate of 9% on taxable profit, both recognized on an accrual basis; therefore, additions to book income deriving from temporarily non-deductible expenses or exclusions from temporarily non-taxable revenues upon determination of current taxable profit generate deferred tax assets or liabilities. Prepaid or recoverable amounts are stated in current or noncurrent assets, based on their estimated realization.
Deferred income and social contribution taxes reflect income and social contribution tax losses and temporary differences between the assets and liabilities balances and tax bases, net of valuation allowance. These temporary differences will be used to reduce future tax profits. The Company annually reviews the balance of deferred income and social contribution tax assets in relation to taxable profit projection to maintain such assets by the expected realization value.
The Company is entitled to the reduction of 75% of the Income tax (Superintendency for the Development of the Northeast “SUDENE” - Tax incentive), calculated based on the profit from exploration and is conditioned to the installation infrastructure development in the area within SUDENE. The Company shall take advantage of the aforesaid benefit up to calendar year 2017. In accordance with Laws No. 11638/07 and No. 11941/09 and CPC 07 - Government Subsidies and Assistance, the amount corresponding to the incentive of SUDENE calculated as from the effectiveness of the Law (“transition date”) is accounted for in the P&L in the subsequent year for further allocation to profit reserve of tax incentives referring to article 195A of Law No. 6406/76, according to guideline of Law No.11941/09. The balance of this incentive may be used for capital increase purposes only.
Cash flow statements were prepared and are presented in accordance with the IAS 7 - Statement of Cash Flow.
Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda.
IAS 39 Novation of Derivatives and Continuation of Hedge Accounting – Amendments to IAS 39
Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda.
In September 2012, Rio das Contas and Petrobras S/A reached a resolution to the discussions over amounts improperly charged as expenses to the Manati consortium. The company received an amount of US$2,107, which it recorded as Other operating income.
Reconciliation of income taxes and the amount established by the effective rate for 2013 and 2012 are as follows.
Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda.
Income and social contribution taxes calculated and paid by the Company, in addition to the corresponding income tax return and accounting records are subject to the examination by tax authorities for variable statutes of limitation; after the respective periods are barred by statute, these are no longer subject to the review of authorities.
Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda.
According to Technical Pronouncement IAS 36, "Impairment of Assets", property and equipment items indicating that their recorded costs are higher than their impairment value (fair value) are reviewed to determine the necessity of provision to reduce their book value to realization value.
Management conducts an annual analysis of the corresponding operating and financial performance of its assets. In 2012 the Company registered impairment losses for the BCAM-40 field due to change of expectations on its production on the amount of US$1,211. In 2013 no impairment losses were registered.
Short-term investments are classified as available for sale and are broken down as follows:
Total production referring to Manati field for the year 2013 and 2012 was sold to Petrobras. Outstanding balance at December 31, 2013 totals US$ 9,546 (US$10,347 in 2012).
At December 31, 2013, the Company had accounts payable to Petrobras in the amount of US$634(US$ 675 in 2012) for operations in Manati field.
The balance of ICMS recoverable arises from the entry of items designated to permanent assets and has been settled in 48 months with the ICMS payable on gas sale. Other taxes and contributions will be offset with obligations payable of the same nature.
The clause of investment in Research and Development as set out in the concession contracts for exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas provides that the operator is obliged to conduct qualified research and development expenses equivalent to 1% (one per percent) of the gross revenue from production for this field. At December 31, 2013 the provision was of US$ 1,262 (US$1,170 in 2012)
Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda.
At December 31, 2013, the Company’s capital comprises 12,674,025,798 units of interest, distributed as follows
As provided for in Law No.11941/09, with reference to article 195A of Law 6406/76, the management of the subsidiary Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda. allocated to tax incentive reserve the amount inherent to tax incentive credits stated as income tax (income statement).
In 2010, the Company determined the deemed cost of its property and equipment in conformity with Technical Pronouncement IFRS 1 - First time adoption of international financial standards. At December 31, 2013, the deemed cost amount, net of tax effects, is US$6,423 (R$7,581 in 2012). In 2012, the amount of US$1,158 from that total was realized, net of the respective tax effects.
Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda.
The Articles of Organization do not confer mandatory minimum dividends to members. In 2013, a dividend distribution of US$16,675 was approved (US$ 23,803 in 2012).
For the year ended December 31, 2013, the total compensation (salaries and profit sharing) of the Company’s officers was US$134 (US$1,194 at December 31, 2012).
Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda.
As from the declaration of commerciality of its fields, the Company begins to set up a provision for abandonment or asset retirement obligation (ARO) at the end of the concession period. Such provision reflects the estimated expenditures to be incurred in the future, chiefly with respect to: (i) plugging of the wells; and (ii) removal of the lines and production equipment
In September 2013 the company concluded the abandonment of the discovery well BAS-128. With the operation, the company decided to reevaluate the abandonment costs of the remaining wells (08 in total) and therefore adjust the provision in the amount of US$3,762.
The Company conducted a valuation of financial assets and liabilities in relation to market values, based on available information and adequate valuation methodologies. However, interpretation of market data and selection of valuation methodologies require a considerable amount of judgment and estimates to calculate the most adequate realization value. Consequently, the estimates presented do not necessarily indicate the amounts that could be realized in the current market. The use of different market hypotheses and/or methodologies may have a significant impact on the estimated realization values.
The Company’s main financial liabilities may be classified as fair value through profit or loss or loans and financing, as shown below:
Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda.
The table below shows an analysis of financial instruments recognized at fair value, after initial recognition. These financial instruments are grouped in levels from 1 through 3, based on their fair value level:
At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had no financial instruments categorized in levels 2 or 3.
In the normal course of its operations, the Company is exposed to market risks such as interest rates and credit risk. These risks are monitored by management by using management and policy tools that are defined for each specific case.
Natural gas price is impacted by supply and demand issues. Factors influencing supply and demand include operational issues, natural disasters, climate changes, political instability, conflicts, economic conditions and decision taken by petroleum exporting countries. Price fluctuations may significantly impact the Company’s income and financial position. Additionally, the Company may have less influence and control on the behavior, performance, and cost of operations than it would have, if it were the operator.
The entire production of Manati field is sold to Petrobras through a long a long-term Gas Supply Contract. The price of the gas under this contract is indexed to IGPM (General Index of Market Prices) adjusted on a yearly basis.
The Company has obligations indexed to US dollars, principally due to ARO provision, for which there are no hedge instruments aiming to protect against unexpected fluctuations, if any.
This financial instrument specially refers to cash and cash equivalents and the Company’s accounts receivable. All Company’s operations are conducted with banks that are known for their liquidity, thereby minimizing risks thereto. Accounts receivable are principally concentrated in Petrobras, a good standing and sound company, thereby management does not expect to face difficulties regarding the realization of credits receivable.
In 2013 and 2012, the Company did not trade derivative financial instruments.
At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company has insurance coverage for its facilities and equipment with the following coverage:
As described on Note 1, Panoro Energy do Brazil Ltda entered into sale agreement for the sale of its subsidiary Rio das Contas Produtora de Petróleo Ltda to GeoPark Brasil Ltda. On March 27, 2014 ANP approved the acquisition and on March 31, 2014 all the shares of the Company were transferred to Geopark.