UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x | QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011 | |
o | TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to |
Commission file number 001-34378
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM
HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)
Nevada | 87-0638750 | |
(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (IRS Employer identification No.) |
445 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022
(Address of principal executive offices)
(212) 307-3568
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Indicated by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerate filer, an accelerate filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | o | Accelerated filer | x | ||
Non-accelerated filer | o | Smaller reporting company | o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
Number of shares of common stock outstanding as of May 4, 2011: 35,454,860
INDEX | ||
Page No. | ||
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION | ||
Item 1. | Financial Statements | 3 |
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – March 31, 2011 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2010 (Audited) | 3 | |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income - three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 (Unaudited) | 4 | |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 (Unaudited) | 5 | |
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2011 (Unaudited) | 6 | |
Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 22 |
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk | 31 |
Item 4 | Controls and Procedures | 33 |
PART II OTHER INFORMATION | ||
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings | 35 |
Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 35 |
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 35 |
Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities | 35 |
Item 4. | (Removed and Reserved) | 35 |
Item 5. | Other Information | 35 |
Item 6. | Exhibits | 36 |
SIGNATURES | 37 |
1
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
On one or more occasions, we may make forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q regarding our assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events. Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “targets,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are only our predictions and involve numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those listed below and those business risks and factors described elsewhere in this report and our other Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings.
Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed. We caution that while we make such statements in good faith and believe such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in records and other data available from third parties, we cannot assure you that our projections will be achieved. Factors that may cause such differences include but are not limited to:
· | Our expectation of continued growth in the demand for our oil; |
· | Our expectation that we will have adequate liquidity from cash flows from operations; |
· | A variety of market, operational, geologic, permitting, labor and weather related factors; and |
· | The other risks and uncertainties which are described below under “RISK FACTORS,” including, but not limited to, the following: |
§ | Unanticipated conditions may cause profitability to fluctuate; and |
§ | Decreases in purchases of oil by our customer will adversely affect our revenues. |
We have attempted to identify, in context, certain of the factors that we believe may cause actual future experience and results to differ materially from our current expectation regarding the relevant matter or subject area. In addition to the items specifically discussed above, our business and results of operations are subject to the uncertainties described under the caption “Risk Factors” which is a part of the disclosure included in Item 2 of this Report entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
From time to time, oral or written forward-looking statements are also included in our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A, press releases, analyst and investor conference calls, and other communications released to the public. Although we believe that at the time made, the expectations reflected in all of these forward-looking statements are and will be reasonable, any or all of the forward-looking statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, our reports on Forms 10-K and 8-K, our Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A and any other public statements that are made by us may prove to be incorrect. This may occur as a result of inaccurate assumptions or as a consequence of known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, certain of which are beyond our control, will be important in determining our future performance. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from those that might be anticipated from forward-looking statements. In light of these and other uncertainties, you should not regard the inclusion of a forward-looking statement in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or other public communications that we might make as a representation by us that our plans and objectives will be achieved, and you should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. However, your attention is directed to any further disclosures made on related subjects in our subsequent annual and periodic reports filed with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A.
Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “NEP” refer specifically to China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries.
2
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES ("NEP") | ||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||||
As of | ||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | (Audited) | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 75,154,685 | $ | 60,974,007 | ||||
Accounts receivable | 21,983,502 | 24,142,762 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 1,434,878 | 434,094 | ||||||
VAT tax recoverable | 142,292 | - | ||||||
Total Current Assets | 98,715,357 | 85,550,863 | ||||||
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT | ||||||||
Oil properties, net | 40,873,145 | 41,892,288 | ||||||
Fixed assets, net | 14,345,467 | 14,767,538 | ||||||
Oil properties under construction | 235,317 | 61,482 | ||||||
Total Property and Equipment | 55,453,929 | 56,721,308 | ||||||
LAND USE RIGHTS, NET | 601,371 | 606,983 | ||||||
GOODWILL | 1,645,589 | 1,645,589 | ||||||
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS | 5,855,909 | 5,975,231 | ||||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 162,272,155 | $ | 150,499,974 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 4,513,255 | $ | 4,156,349 | ||||
Other payables and accrued expenses | 1,100,009 | 801,867 | ||||||
Income tax and other taxes payable | 6,630,706 | 5,076,074 | ||||||
Due to a related party | 15,267 | 15,124 | ||||||
Due to an unrelated party | 1,500,000 | 1,300,000 | ||||||
Due to a stockholder | 2,739,111 | 2,662,035 | ||||||
Total Current Liabilities | 16,498,348 | 14,011,449 | ||||||
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Warrants | 9,582,572 | 13,956,515 | ||||||
Total Long-term Liabilities | 9,582,572 | 13,956,515 | ||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 26,080,920 | 27,967,964 | ||||||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | - | - | ||||||
EQUITY | ||||||||
NEP Stockholders' Equity | ||||||||
Common stock ($0.001 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized, | ||||||||
29,604,860 shares issued and outstanding as of | ||||||||
March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010) | 29,605 | 29,605 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 50,296,030 | 50,070,524 | ||||||
Retained earnings | ||||||||
Unappropriated | 61,340,976 | 50,059,932 | ||||||
Appropriated | 2,837,647 | 2,837,647 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 8,903,779 | 7,618,515 | ||||||
Total NEP Stockholders' Equity | 123,408,037 | 110,616,223 | ||||||
Noncontrolling interests | 12,783,198 | 11,915,787 | ||||||
TOTAL EQUITY | 136,191,235 | 122,532,010 | ||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | $ | 162,272,155 | $ | 150,499,974 |
The accompanying footnotes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements
3
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES ("NEP") | ||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income | ||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 | ||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
REVENUE | ||||||||
Sales of crude oil | $ | 14,861,037 | $ | 16,646,495 | ||||
Drilling revenue | 6,889,498 | 12,281,798 | ||||||
Total Revenue | 21,750,535 | 28,928,293 | ||||||
COST OF REVENUE | ||||||||
Crude oil extraction costs | 2,224,789 | 1,219,243 | ||||||
Drilling costs | 2,737,171 | 4,511,289 | ||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization of oil properties | 1,482,594 | 1,611,105 | ||||||
Depreciation of drilling equipment | 492,665 | 477,439 | ||||||
Amortization of land use rights | 8,189 | 10,856 | ||||||
Government oil surcharge | 3,059,899 | 2,494,718 | ||||||
Total Cost of Revenue | 10,005,307 | 10,324,650 | ||||||
GROSS PROFIT | 11,745,228 | 18,603,643 | ||||||
OPERATING EXPENSES | ||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 746,311 | 1,525,026 | ||||||
Professional fees | 547,500 | 75,056 | ||||||
Depreciation of fixed assets | 79,021 | 95,380 | ||||||
Total Operating Expenses | 1,372,832 | 1,695,462 | ||||||
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS | 10,372,396 | 16,908,181 | ||||||
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) | ||||||||
Other income | 14,399 | - | ||||||
Other expense | (3,216 | ) | (37,972 | ) | ||||
Interest expense | - | (23,572 | ) | |||||
Interest income | 53,704 | 23,162 | ||||||
Change in fair value of warrants | 4,373,943 | 10,840,918 | ||||||
Total Other Income, net | 4,438,830 | 10,802,536 | ||||||
NET INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 14,811,226 | 27,710,717 | ||||||
Income tax expense | (2,662,772 | ) | (4,600,070 | ) | ||||
NET INCOME | 12,148,454 | 23,110,647 | ||||||
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (867,411 | ) | (1,365,262 | ) | ||||
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NEP COMMON STOCKHOLDERS | 11,281,043 | 21,745,385 | ||||||
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | ||||||||
Total other comprehensive income | 1,285,264 | 64,274 | ||||||
Less: foreign currency translation gain attributable to noncontrolling interests | - | (1,068,998 | ) | |||||
Foreign currency translation gain (loss) attributable to NEP common stockholders | 1,285,264 | (1,004,724 | ) | |||||
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NEP COMMON STOCKHOLDERS | $ | 12,566,307 | $ | 20,740,661 | ||||
Net income per share | ||||||||
- basic | $ | 0.38 | $ | 0.75 | ||||
- diluted | $ | 0.36 | $ | 0.69 | ||||
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year | ||||||||
- basic | 29,604,860 | 28,870,641 | ||||||
- diluted | 31,357,383 | 31,302,781 |
The accompanying footnotes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements
4
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES ("NEP') | ||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | ||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 | ||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 12,148,454 | $ | 23,110,647 | ||||
Adjusted to reconcile net income to cash provided by | ||||||||
operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization of oil properties | 1,482,594 | 1,611,105 | ||||||
Depreciation of drilling equipment | 492,665 | 477,439 | ||||||
Depreciation of fixed assets | 79,021 | 95,380 | ||||||
Amortization of land use rights | 8,189 | 10,856 | ||||||
Amortization of stock option compensation | - | 218,280 | ||||||
Change in fair value of warrants | (4,373,943 | ) | (10,840,918 | ) | ||||
Stock-based compensation for employee service | 224,750 | 808,000 | ||||||
Gain on disposal of fixed assets | (14,399 | ) | - | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities | ||||||||
(Increase) decrease in: | ||||||||
Accounts receivable | 2,159,260 | (5,841,903 | ) | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (841,045 | ) | (1,151,644 | ) | ||||
Value added tax recoverable | (142,292 | ) | - | |||||
Deferred tax assets | 119,322 | (143,032 | ) | |||||
Increase (decrease) in: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | 356,906 | (1,529,606 | ) | |||||
Other payables and accrued expenses | 298,142 | 11,750 | ||||||
Income tax and other taxes payable | 1,554,632 | 3,255,578 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 13,552,256 | 10,091,932 | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
Addition to oil properties | (201,527 | ) | (703 | ) | ||||
Addition of fixed assets | (243,711 | ) | (42,533 | ) | ||||
Reduction of oil properties under construction | - | (10,403 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets | 17,620 | - | ||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (427,618 | ) | (53,639 | ) | ||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
Repayment of secured debenture | - | (10,500,000 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock warrants and options | - | 3,311,741 | ||||||
Increase in amount due to a stockholder | 77,076 | 2,406,456 | ||||||
Advance from an unrelated party | 200,000 | - | ||||||
Decrease in amount due to a related company | - | (117,003 | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 277,076 | (4,898,806 | ) | |||||
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE ON CASH | 778,964 | 366,326 | ||||||
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 14,180,678 | 5,505,813 | ||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 60,974,007 | 28,693,132 | ||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD | $ | 75,154,685 | $ | 34,198,945 | ||||
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: | ||||||||
Cash paid during the period for: | ||||||||
Income tax expense | $ | 2,662,772 | $ | 5,310,620 | ||||
Interest expense | $ | - | $ | - |
The accompanying footnotes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements
5
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 1.--BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.
In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments consisting only of normal recurring accruals considered necessary to present fairly the Company's financial position as of March 31, 2011, the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.
These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
NOTE 2.--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Organization and description of business
China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited (“China North East Petroleum”, “North East Petroleum,”, “NEP”, the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) was incorporated in Nevada on August 20, 1999 under the name of Draco Holding Corporation (“Draco”). On May 17, 2004, the Company’s name changed from Draco Holdings Corporation to China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited.
On July 26, 2006, the Company entered into a Joint Venture Agreement (the “JV Agreement”) with a principal stockholder and a related party, hereafter referred to as the “Related Parties,” to acquire oil and gas properties for the exploration of crude oil in the People's Republic of China (“PRC”). Pursuant to the JV Agreement, the Company and the Related Parties are obligated to contribute $1 million and $121,000, respectively, to the registered capital of Song Yuan North East Petroleum Technical Service Co., Ltd. (“Song Yuan Technical”), and the Company and the Related Parties will each share 90% and 10% respectively of the equity and profit interests of Song Yuan Technical.
On June 1, 2005, Song Yuan Technical acquired from third parties a 100% equity interest of LongDe Oil & Gas Development Co. Ltd. (“LongDe”) for $120,773 in cash. LongDe is engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil in the Jilin Oil Region of the PRC.
On January 26, 2007, Song Yuan Technical acquired 100% of the equity of Song Yuan City Yu Qiao Oil and Gas Development Limited Corporation (“Yu Qiao”) for 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock having a fair value of $3,100,000. Yu Qiao is engaged in the extraction and production of crude oil in Jilin Province (Jilin Oil Region), the PRC and operates 3 oilfields with a total exploration area of 39.2 square kilometers. Pursuant to a 20-year exclusive Cooperative Exploration Contract (the “Oil Lease”) which was entered into on May 28, 2002 with PetroChina Group, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of PRC (“PetroChina”), the Company has the right to explore, develop and extract oil at the Qian’an Oilfield Zone 112 (“Qian’an 112”), Daan 34 Oilfield (“Da 34”) and Gudian 31 Oilfield (“Gu 31”) area.
6
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 2.--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
On September 25, 2009, Song Yuan Technical entered into a Share Transfer Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the stockholders (“Selling Stockholders”) of Song Yuan Tiancheng Drilling Engineering Co., Ltd. (“Tiancheng”). Pursuant to the Agreement, Song Yuan Technical acquired all of the Selling Stockholders’ interest in Tiancheng for $13,000,000 (the “Purchase Price”) for 100% equity interest in Tiancheng held by the Selling Stockholders. The Purchase Price is payable in two installments. The first installment of $6,500,000 was due within 15 days from the date of execution of the Agreement and the second installment of $6,500,000 was due within 15 days after the completion of the registration of the transfer of title of 95% of the equity interest in Tiancheng while the local Industry and Commerce Bureau established a trust to hold 5% of the equity interest in Tiancheng by one of the Selling Stockholders for Song Yuan Technical. The trust is established in order to comply with certain laws of the PRC. Tiancheng is principally engaged in providing contract drilling services to customers for exploration of crude oil in the PRC.
North East Petroleum, Song Yuan Technical, LongDe, Yu Qiao and Tiancheng are hereinafter collectively referred to as (the “Company”).
The Company is a petroleum exploitation, development and production company engaged in locating and developing hydrocarbon resources, primarily in the Jilin Province of the PRC. Our principal business strategy is to enhance stockholder value by using technologies new to a specific area to generate and develop high-potential exploitation resources in this area. Our principal business is the acquisition of leasehold interests in petroleum rights, and the exploitation and development of properties subject to these leases. We are currently focusing our drilling efforts in the Songyuan City region of Jilin Province, PRC. Also, the Company is providing contract drilling services through its Tiancheng subsidiary to customers for exploration of crude oil in the PRC.
Principles of consolidation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2011and 2010 include the unaudited financial statements of North East Petroleum and its 90% owned subsidiaries, Song Yuan Technical, LongDe, Yu Qiao and Tiancheng. The noncontrolling interests represent the noncontrolling shareholders’ 10% ownership interest of Song Yuan Technical, and by extension, the subsidiaries of Song Yuan Technical - LongDe, Yu Qiao and Tiancheng.
All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of estimates
The preparation of the financial statements for the Company in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
The Company’s financial statements are based on a number of significant estimates, including oil reserve quantities, which are the basis for the calculation of depreciation, depletion and amortization of oil properties, timing and costs associated with its retirement obligations, estimates of the fair value of derivative instruments, impairment of goodwill, impairments of unproved and proved oil properties and impairment of fixed assets.
7
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 2.--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Fair value of financial instruments
The Company has adopted a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosures of fair value measurement in order to enhance disclosures related to fair value measures of financial instruments. The three levels are defined as follow:
-- | Level 1 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. | |
-- | Level 2 inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the assets or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instruments. | |
-- | Level 3 inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value. |
The financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of the fair value of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2011 are summarized as follows:
Fair value measurement using inputs | ||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Derivative instruments − Warrants | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 9,582,572 | ||||||
Total | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 9,582,572 |
The Company determines the fair value of warrants under the Black-Scholes-Merton option model using inputs that are derived from observable and unobservable data and are therefore considered Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 9 for further information.
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and tax payables approximate their fair values due to the short maturities of these instruments.
8
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 2.--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Foreign currency translation and other comprehensive income
Except for North East Petroleum, which maintains its accounting records in its functional currency of the United States dollar (“US$”or “$”), all other subsidiaries of the Company maintain their accounting records in their functional currency of the Chinese Renminbi (“RMB”). For subsidiaries whose functional currencies are other than the US dollar, all assets and liabilities accounts were translated at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date; stockholder's equity is translated at the historical rates and items in the statement of operations and statements of cash flows are translated at the average rate for the year. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are included in accumulated other comprehensive the statement of stockholders’ equity. The resulting translation gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred. Accumulated other comprehensive income in the condensed consolidated balance sheets amounted to $8,903,779 and $7,618,515 as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. The balance sheet amounts, with the exception of equity at March 31, 2011, were translated at 6.5501 RMB to $1.00 USD. The average translation rates applied to income statement amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 were 6.5713 RMB to $1.00 USD and 6.8409 RMB to $1.00 USD, respectively.
No representation is made that RMB amounts have been, or would be, converted into US$ at the above rates. Although the Chinese government regulations allow for conversion of RMB for current account transactions, significant restrictions still remain. Hence, such translations should not be construed as representation that the RMB could be converted into US$ at that rate or any other rate.
The value of RMB against US$ and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions, any significant revaluation of RMB may materially affect the Company’s financial condition in terms of US$ reporting.
Cash and concentration of risk
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents for statement of cash flows purposes. Cash includes cash on hand and demand deposits in accounts maintained with state owned banks within the PRC and with banks in the United States.
The Company’s cash equivalents are exposed to credit risk. The Company maintains balances at financial institutions which, from time to time, may exceed Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured limits for the banks located in the United States. Balances at financial institutions or state owned banks within the PRC are not covered by insurance. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had deposits exposed to credit risk totaling $75,054,685 and $60,874,007, respectively. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes that the risk of loss for cash held in bank is remote.
Substantially all of the Company’s operations are carried out in the PRC. Accordingly, the Company’s business, financial conditions and results of operations may be influenced by the political, economic and legal environments in that country, and by the general state of that country’s economy. The Company’s operations in the PRC are subject to the specific considerations and significant risks not typically associated with companies in the United States. These include risks associated with, among others, the political, economic and legal environments and foreign currency exchange. The Company’s results may be adversely affected by changes in governmental policies with respect to laws and regulations, anti-inflationary measures, currency conversion and remittance abroad, and rates and methods of taxation, among other things.
9
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 2.--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Revenue recognition
Our oil production business records revenue from the sales of oil when delivery to the customer (PetroChina) has occurred and title has transferred.
Pursuant to oil lease agreements entered into in 2002 and 2003 with PetroChina, each with twenty year terms, the Company is entitled to 80% of the Company’s oil production for the first ten years and 60% of the Company’s oil production for the remaining ten years. The Company receives payments for the net physical volume of oil delivered (either 80% or 60% by volume, depending upon the lease terms that are current at that point and time). The Company only records revenue for the production that the Company is entitled to.
Our oilfield services business, Tiancheng, records revenue from the sale of services that are generally sold based upon purchase orders or contracts with the customer that include fixed or determinable prices and that do not include rights of return or other similar provisions or other significant post-delivery obligations. Revenue for services is recognized as the services are rendered and when collectability is reasonably assured. Rates for services are typically priced on a per day, per meter drilled, per man hour or similar basis. In certain situations, revenue is generated from transactions that may include multiple services under one contract or agreement. Revenue from these arrangements is recognized as each service is delivered based on its relative fair value.
Accounts receivables and allowance for doubtful accounts
The Company bills PetroChina on a monthly basis, at month-end, for the oil that was delivered to PetroChina during that month. We receive payment from PetroChina approximately 10 to 20 days following the end of each month for crude oil sales. We receive payment in full for the prior month, less a holdback in the first and second months of each calendar quarter for the amount of oil surcharge tax (if any) due to the PRC government for the respective month’s oil sales. These oil surcharge tax holdbacks are paid to the Company with the normal monthly payment for the third month of each quarter, and therefore are timed to be received by us shortly before we are responsible for remitting the quarterly oil surcharge tax to the PRC government. Therefore, the amount we show as accounts receivable at the end of each reporting period will include the amounts due to us for sales in the prior month, as well as lesser amounts due from the two preceding months equal to the amount of oil surcharge tax payable by us.
Accounts receivable is stated at cost. The Company provides for doubtful accounts for trade accounts that are overdue more than twelve months. There were no allowances for doubtful accounts as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
Major customers
Our oil production business has only one customer – PetroChina’s Jilin Refinery branch, located in Song Yuan City, Jilin Province, PRC. Pursuant to our lease agreements with PetroChina, we are unable to sell our oil production to any other customer.
Our oilfield drilling business has one primary customer (PetroChina) but also serves other independent oil production companies located in Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces in the PRC.
10
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 2.--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Long-lived asset
Long-lived assets held and used by the Company are reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. For purposes of evaluating the recoverability of long-lived assets, when undiscounted future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover an asset’s carrying amount, the asset is written down to its fair value. The long-lived assets of the Company, which are subject to evaluation, consist of plant and equipment, and its oil properties.
There were no impairment of oil properties for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Oil properties
The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for oil properties. As the Company currently maintains oil operations in only one country (the PRC), the Company has only one cost center. All costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration, and development of properties (including costs of surrendered and abandoned leaseholds, delay lease rentals, dry holes and overhead related to exploration and development activities) and the fair value of estimated future costs of site restoration, dismantlement, and abandonment activities are capitalized.
Investments in unproved properties are not depleted pending determination of the existence of proved reserves. Unproved reserves are assessed periodically to ascertain whether impairment has occurred. Unproved properties whose costs are individually significant are assessed individually by considering the primary lease terms of the properties, the holding periods of the properties, and geographic and geologic data obtained relating to the properties. Where it is not practicable to assess individually the amount of impairment of properties for which costs are not individually significant, such properties are grouped for purposes of assessing impairment. The amount of impairment assessed is added to the costs to be amortized, or is reported as a period expense, as appropriate.
Under the full cost method of accounting, a ceiling test is performed each quarter. The full cost ceiling test is an impairment test to determine a limit, or ceiling, on the book value of oil properties. That limit is basically the after tax present value of the estimated future net cash flows from proved crude oil reserves, excluding future cash outflows associated with settling asset retirement obligations that have been accrued on the balance sheet; using an average price over the prior 12-month period held flat for the life of production plus the lower of cost or fair market value of unproved properties. If net capitalized costs of crude oil properties exceed the ceiling limit, we must charge the amount of the excess to earnings as an expense reflected in additional accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization. This is called a “ceiling limitation write-down.” No impairment loss was recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Gain or loss is not recognized on the sale of oil properties unless the sale significantly alters the relationship between capitalized costs and estimated proved oil reserves attributable to a cost center.
Depletion of proved oil properties is computed on the unit-of-production method, whereby capitalized costs, as adjusted for future development costs and asset retirement obligations, net of salvage, are amortized over the total estimated proved reserves.
11
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 2.--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Income taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) ASC 740-10. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company provides valuation allowances against the net deferred tax asset for amounts that are not considered more likely than not to be realized.
A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded.
Deferred tax is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method in respect of temporary differences arising from differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax basis used in the computation of assessable tax profit. In principle, deferred tax liabilities are recognized for all taxable temporary differences, and deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilized. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realized or the liability is settled. Deferred tax is charged or credited in profit or loss, except when it is related to items credited or charged directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Company intends to settle its current tax asset and liabilities on a net basis. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company’s deferred tax assets amounted to $5,855,909 and $5,975,231, respectively.
Value added tax
Sales revenue represents the invoiced value of oil, net of a value-added tax (“VAT”). All of the Company’s oil that is sold in the PRC is subject to a Chinese VAT at a rate of 17% on the gross sales price. This VAT may be offset by VAT paid by the Company on investment and operating costs associated with oil production. The Company records its net VAT payable or VAT recoverable balance in the financial statements.
12
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 2.--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Stock-based compensation
The Company follows ASC 718. This statement requires a company to measure the cost of services provided by employees in exchange for an award of equity instruments to be based on the grant-date fair value of the award. That cost will be recognized over the period during which services are received. Stock compensation for stock granted to non-employees has been determined in accordance with ASC 718 and ASC 505-50, as the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measured.
Income per share
Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to the common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. The shares of restricted common stock granted to certain officers and employees of the Company are included in the computation of basic net income per share only after the shares become fully vested. Diluted net income per common share includes both the vested and unvested shares of restricted stock and the potential dilution that could occur upon exercise of the options to acquire common stock computed using the treasury stock method which assumes that the increase in the number of shares is reduced by the number of shares which could have been repurchased by the Company with the proceeds from the exercise of the options (which were assumed to have been made at the average market price of the common shares during the reporting period).
Goodwill
Goodwill is measured as the excess of the sum of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree, and the fair value of the acquirer’s previously held equity interest in the acquiree (if any) over the net of the acquisition-date amounts of the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. If, after assessment, the Company’s interest in the fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets exceeds the sum of the consideration transferred, the amount of any noncontrolling interests in the acquiree and the fair value of the acquirer’s previously held interest in the acquiree (if any), the excess is recognized immediately in profit or loss as a bargain purchase gain. The impairment test requires allocating goodwill and all other assets and liabilities to assigned reporting units. The fair value of each reporting unit is estimated and compared to the net book value of the reporting unit. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is less than the net book value, including goodwill, then the goodwill is written down to the implied fair value of the goodwill through a charge to expense. The annual impairment test, which we conduct as of December 31 each year, requires us to estimate the fair values of our own assets and liabilities. Because quoted market prices are not available for our reporting units, the fair values of the reporting units are estimated using various valuation methodologies. Therefore, considerable judgment is required to assess goodwill for impairment. At March 31, 2011, the fair value of goodwill arising from our acquisition of Tiancheng exceeds its carrying value.
Segments
The Company operates in two segments: oil production and oilfield services (well drilling). Segment disclosure is presented in Note 11, “Segments.”
13
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 2.--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Environmental costs
The PRC has adopted extensive environmental laws and regulations that affect the operations of the oil and gas industry. The outcome of environmental liabilities under proposed or future environmental legislation cannot be reasonably estimated at present, and could be material. Under existing legislation, however, management believes that there are no probable and estimated liabilities that will have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Company. Hence no reserves have been set up for environmental costs.
Asset retirement obligation
ASC 410-20 requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred with a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Subsequent to initial measurement, the asset retirement liability is required to be accreted in each period to its present value. Capitalized costs are depleted as a component of the full cost pool using the unit-of-production method. Pursuant to our Oil Lease agreements with PetroChina, which terminate in 2022 and 2023, we do not recognize any asset retirement obligations, because at the end of the lease term we are obligated to hand over to PetroChina all of the physical assets we have erected on the lease properties, include all wells, facilities and equipment.
Recent accounting pronouncements
In December 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued amended guidance to clarify the acquisition date that should be used for reporting pro-forma financial information for business combinations. If comparative financial statements are presented, the pro-forma revenue and earnings of the combined entity for the comparable prior reporting period should be reported as though the acquisition date for all business combinations that occurred during the current year had been completed as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period. The amendments in this guidance became effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2011. There was no impact in the consolidated financial results as the amendments relate only to additional disclosures.
In December 2010, the FASB issued amendments to the guidance on goodwill impairment testing. The amendments modify Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In making that determination, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that impairment may exist. The amendments were effective January 1, 2011 and did not have a material impact in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In January 2011, the FASB temporarily deferred the disclosures regarding troubled debt restructurings which were included in the disclosure requirements about the credit quality of financing receivables and the allowance for credit losses which was issued in July 2010. In April 2011, the FASB issued additional guidance and clarifications to help creditors in determining whether a creditor has granted a concession, and whether a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties for purposes of determining whether a restructuring constitutes a troubled debt restructuring. The new guidance and the previously deferred disclosures are effective July 1, 2011 applied retrospectively to January 1, 2011. Prospective application is required for any new impairments identified as a result of this guidance. These changes are not expected to have a material impact in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In January 2010, the FASB issued additional disclosure requirements for fair value measurements which the company included in its interim and annual financial statements in 2010. Certain disclosure requirements relating to fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were deferred until January 1, 2011. These new requirements did not have an impact in the consolidated financial results as they relate only to additional disclosures.
14
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 3.--OIL PROPERTIES
The following is a summary of oil properties as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
March 31, 2011 (Unaudited) | December 31, 2010 (Audited) | |||||||
Oil properties, proved | $ | 105,062,057 | $ | 104,049,854 | ||||
Intangible mining rights | 13,445 | 13,445 | ||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment | (64,202,357 | ) | (62,171,011 | ) | ||||
Oil properties, net | $ | 40,873,145 | $ | 41,892,288 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was $1,482,594 and $1,611,105, respectively.
As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company’s full cost pool did not exceed the ceiling limitation, based on average oil prices in the prior 12-month period. Therefore, the Company did not record any additional impairment expense related to our oil properties for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
NOTE 4.—FIXED ASSETS
The following is a summary of fixed assets as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
March 31, 2011 (Unaudited) | December 31, 2010 (Audited) | |||||||
Buildings | $ | 1,845,234 | $ | 1,824,990 | ||||
Furniture, fixtures and equipment | 317,374 | 314,412 | ||||||
Motor vehicles | 1,656,378 | 1,641,660 | ||||||
Drilling equipment | 16,648,754 | 16,493,389 | ||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation | (6,122,273 | ) | (5,506,913 | ) | ||||
Fixed assets, net | $ | 14,345,467 | $ | 14,767,538 |
Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was $571,686 and $572,819, respectively.
15
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 5.--NET INCOME PER SHARE
The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators used in computing basic and diluted net income per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||
Numerator: | ||||||||
Net income attributable to NEP common stockholders | ||||||||
used in computing basis net income per share | $ | 11,281 | $ | 21,745 | ||||
Net income attributable to NEP common stockholders | ||||||||
used in computing diluted net income per share | $ | 11,281 | $ | 21,745 | ||||
Denominator: | ||||||||
Shares used in the computation of basic net income per share | ||||||||
(weighted average common stock outstanding) | 29,605 | 28,871 | ||||||
Dilutive potential common stock: | ||||||||
Options and warrants | 1,752 | 2,432 | ||||||
Shares used in the computation of diluted net income per share | 31,357 | 31,303 | ||||||
Basic net income per share | $ | 0.38 | $ | 0.75 | ||||
Diluted net income per share | $ | 0.36 | $ | 0.69 |
For the three months ended March 31, 2011, 100,000 options and 2,650,000 warrants were included in the calculation under the treasury stock method as they were dilutive.
For the three months ended March 31, 2010, 100,000 options and 4,039,899 warrants were included in the calculation under the treasury stock method as they were dilutive.
NOTE 6.--COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
(A) Employee benefits
The full time employees of LongDe, Yu Qiao and Tiancheng are entitled to employee benefits including medical care, welfare subsidies, unemployment insurance and pension benefits through a Chinese government mandated multi-employer defined contribution plan. The Company is required to accrue for those benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ salaries and make contributions to the plans out of the amounts accrued for medical and pension benefits. The Chinese government is responsible for the medical benefits and the pension liability to be paid to these employees. The Company did not accrue any liabilities for compensated absences earned for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, because the amount cannot be reasonably estimated.
(B) Commitments
The Company leases office space from a stockholder, as well as land and office space from third parties under four operating leases which expire on September 20, 2023, January 20, 2015, February 1, 2012 and November 1, 2013, respectively.
16
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 6.--COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (continued)
As of March 31, 2011, the Company has outstanding commitments with respect to operating leases, which are due as follows:
Period/year ending December 31, | ||||
2011 | $ | 37,006 | ||
2012 | 48,649 | |||
2013 | 43,696 | |||
2014 | 14,708 | |||
2015 | 7,449 | |||
Thereafter | 1,465 | |||
Total | $ | 152,973 |
(C) Legal proceedings
The Company is involved in six legal actions, three of which are securities class actions and three of which are shareholder derivative actions, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company and certain officers and directors. The three class actions assert claims under the federal securities laws and the three derivative actions assert common law claims based on breach of duty.
The six actions are: (1) Rosado v. China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited, et al., 10 CV 4577 (MGC), filed June 11, 2010; (2) Weissmann v. China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited, et al., 10 CV 4775 (MGC), filed June 18, 2010; (3) Moore v. China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited, et al., 10 CV 5263 (MGC), filed July 9, 2010; (4) Strickland v. Hongjun, et al., 10 CV 5445 (MGC), filed July 19, 2010; (5) Drobner v. Hongjun, et al., 10 CV 6193 (MGC), filed August 23, 2010; and (6) Nicoln v. Hongjun, et al., 10 CV 6344 (MGC), filed August 24, 2010.
The three securities class actions were consolidated as In re China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited Securities Litigation, 10 CV 4577 (MGC). A consolidated class action complaint was filed on January 14, 2011 adding new defendants Ralph E. Davis Associates, Robert C. Bruce, Edward M. Rule, Li Jing Fu, and Yu Li Guo. On March 22, 2010, the Company, on behalf of itself and the Individual Defendants, filed a motion to dismiss. Oral argument on the motion to dismiss is currently scheduled for May 12, 2011.
An amended shareholder derivative complaint was filed on February 22, 2011. On April 20, 2011, the Company filed a motion to dismiss. Oral argument on the motion to dismiss is currently scheduled for May 19, 2011.
NOTE 7.--REGISTRATION PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS
In conjunction with the March 5, 2009 modification of a Company’s secured debenture issued on February 28, 2008 and the original issuance of the secured debenture, the Company entered into two Registration Rights Agreements which cover stock to be issued underlying warrants associated with both the modification and the issuance of the secured debenture. These Registration Rights Agreements provided for financial penalties in certain circumstances, including (i) if the registration statement covering the shares of common stock underlying the Original Warrants was not declared effective within 180 days of the date of the Registration Rights Agreement or (ii) after effectiveness, the registration statement ceased to remain continuously effective for more than 10 consecutive calendar days or more than 30 calendar days in any 30 calendar day period. The financial penalty equalled 1% of the aggregate purchase price paid for the Original Warrants subject to the registration rights up to a maximum of 10% of the principal amount of the debenture.
On March 12, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with the investor (“Harmony Agreement”) pursuant to which, the investor agreed to waive all penalties incurred under the Registration Rights Agreement in the amount of $1,163,333 and to relieve the Company from any further obligations to register securities on behalf of the investor. In consideration for the waiver, the Company agreed to lower the exercise price of two tranches of warrants (totaling 500,000 warrants) issued to the investor in 2009 from $2.00 and $2.35, respectively to $0.01 and 100,000 warrants issued in 2008 from $2.35 to $0.01 (collectively referred as the “Lotusbox Warrants”). The investor was also granted the right to cashless exercise the Lotusbox Warrants. As a result of signing the Harmony Agreement, the Investor and the Company mutually released each other from all claims and liabilities, known or unknown, either may have against the other based on or arising under the Note Redemption and Termination Agreement dated January 11, 2010 and the two related warrant agreements dated March 28, 2010, including but without limitation with respect to any penalties for alleged failure to register securities on behalf of the investor .
17
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 8.--STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Stock options
During 2010, the Company granted its employees 80,000 common stock options qualified under the Company’s 2006 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (the “2006 Plan”). As of March 31, 2011, stock options granted under the 2006 Plan to purchase 550,000 shares of its Common Stock (the “Options”) at an exercise price from $2.94 to $5.50 per share were outstanding. With respect to 240,000 of the outstanding stock options, 25% vest upon grant and 25% vest every three months thereafter, and these stock options with an expiration date of ten years after the grant date if unexercised at that time. With respect to 310,000 of the outstanding stock options, 50% vest upon grant and 50% vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, with an expiration date of ten years after the grand date if unexercised at that time.
The 2006 Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 2,500,000 common stock equivalents (stock options, restricted stock, stock grants). As of March 31, 2011, the Company had 220,000 remaining share equivalents available for grant under the 2006 Plan. The Company settles employee stock option exercises with newly issued common stock.
The fair value of stock options granted was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option model with the following assumptions:
Expected | Expected | Dividend | Risk Free | Grant Date | |
Life | Volatility | Yield | Interest Rate | Fair Value | |
5 years | 258%-316% | -% | 1.47%-3.42% | $2.94-$5.50 | |
- | Dividend Yield: The expected dividend yield is zero. The Company has not paid a dividend and does not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. | ||||
- | Risk Free Interest Rate: Risk-free interest rate of 1.47%-3.42% was used. The risk-free interest rate was based on U.S. Treasury yields with a remaining term that corresponded to the expected term of the option calculated on the granted date. | ||||
- | Expected Life: Because the Company has no historical share option exercise experience to estimate future exercise patterns, the expected life was determined using the simplified method (the mid-point) as these awards meet the definition of "plain-vanilla.” |
Stock compensation expense is recognized based on awards expected to vest. There was no estimated forfeiture as the Company has a short history of issuing options. ASC 718-10 requires forfeiture to be estimated at the time of grant and revised in subsequent periods, if necessary, if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.
As of March 31, 2011, the total unamortized compensation expense related to stock based compensation was $1,499,597 and will be amortized over the next three years.
18
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 8.--STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (continued)
The following is a summary of the stock option activity:
Number of Options Outstanding | Weighted- Average Exercise Price | |||||||
Balance, December 31, 2010 | 180,000 | $ | 4.32 | |||||
Granted | - | - | ||||||
Forfeited | - | - | ||||||
Exercised | - | - | ||||||
Balance, March 31, 2011 | 180,000 | $ | 4.32 | |||||
Exercisable as of March 31, 2011 | 100,000 | $ | 3.38 |
The following is a summary of the status of options outstanding as of March 31, 2011:
Exercise Price | Outstanding Options Number | Average Remaining Contractual Life | Average Exercise Price | Exercisable Options Number | Weighted Average Exercise Price | |||||
$4.05 | 40,000 | 7.17 years | $4.05 | 40,000 | $4.05 | |||||
$2.94 | 60,000 | 8.17 years | $2.94 | 60,000 | $2.94 | |||||
$5.50 | 80,000 | 9.23 years | $5.50 | - | $5.50 | |||||
180,000 | 100,000 |
NOTE 9.--STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Warrants
The Company’s outstanding warrants as of March 31, 2011 are as follows:
Date of issue | Expiration date | Exercise price | Outstanding Warrants | |||||||
Warrant 1 | February 28, 2008 | February 28, 2013 | $ | 2.35 | 2,000,000 | |||||
Warrant 2 | April 29, 2009 | April 29, 2013 | $ | 2.65 | 50,000 | |||||
Warrant 3 | September 15, 2009 | March 15, 2012 | $ | 6.00 | 698,261 | |||||
Warrant 4 | September 10, 2009 | September 10, 2014 | $ | 6.00 | 80,000 | |||||
Warrant 5 | December 11, 2009 | September 9, 2014 | $ | 8.10 | 58,910 | |||||
Warrant 6 | December 17, 2009 | June 17, 2011 | $ | 8.10 | 392,728 | |||||
Warrant 7 | February 28, 2008 | February 28, 2013 | $ | 0.01 | 100,000 | |||||
Warrant 8 | March 5, 2009 | March 5, 2013 | $ | 0.01 | 500,000 | |||||
Total: | 3,879,899 |
The Company treats these warrants as liabilities under ASC 815-40 and accordingly records the warrants at fair value with changes in fair values recorded in the profit or loss until such time as the warrants are exercised or expired. The fair values were $12,793,182 at December 31, 2010 and $9,582,572 at March 31, 2011. As of March 31, 2011, included in the warrant liabilities, was an accrued penalty to an investor as a result of the Company's failure to file a registration statement in the amount of $1,163,333 which was resolved on March 12, 2011 (See Note 7). For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded a gain of $4,373,943 and $10,840,918, respectively, in changes in the fair value of the warrants in profit or loss.
19
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 9.--STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (continued)
The Company estimates the fair value of these warrants using the Black-Scholes-Merton option model and the following assumptions:
March 31, 2011 | ||||
Market price and estimated fair value of common stock: | $ | 4.65 | ||
Exercise price: | $ | 0.01 - $8.10 | ||
Remaining contractual life (years): | 0.21 – 3.45 | |||
Dividend yield: | – | |||
Expected volatility: | 16.8%-341.7 | % | ||
Risk-free interest rate: | 0.09%-2.24 | % |
NOTE 10.--RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
a) | As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company owed a related party $15,267 and $15,124, respectively, which obligations are payable on demand. |
b) | As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company owed a stockholder $2,739,111 and $2,662,035, respectively, which obligations are unsecured, interest-free and payable on demand. |
c) | The Company paid a stockholder $3,501 and $3,511 for leased office space for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. |
NOTE 11.--SEGMENTS
The Company follows ASC 280 – Segment Reporting, which requires that companies disclose segment data based on how management makes decision about allocating resources to segments and evaluating their performance. The Company operates in two reportable segments; exploration and production of crude oil (“Crude oil”) and contract land drilling of oil wells (“Contract drilling”). The accounting policies of the segments are the same as described in the summary of significant accounting policies. The Company evaluates segment performance based on income from operations. All inter-company transactions between segments have been eliminated. As a result, the components of operating income for one segment may not be comparable to another segment. The following is a summary of the Company’s segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||
Revenue: | ||||||||
Crude oil | $ | 14,861 | $ | 16,646 | ||||
Contract drilling | 6,889 | 12,282 | ||||||
Total revenue | $ | 21,750 | $ | 28,928 | ||||
Gross profit: | ||||||||
Crude oil | $ | 8,094 | $ | 11,318 | ||||
Contract drilling | 3,651 | 7,285 | ||||||
Total gross profit | $ | 11,745 | $ | 18,603 | ||||
Income from operations: | ||||||||
Crude oil | $ | 6,803 | $ | 9,744 | ||||
Contract drilling | 3,569 | 7,164 | ||||||
Total income from operations | 10,372 | 16,908 | ||||||
Corporate and other | 4,439 | 10,803 | ||||||
Net income before income taxes | $ | 14,811 | $ | 27,711 |
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CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 12.--SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On April 21, 2011, the Company completed its acquisition of Sunite Right Banner Shengyuan Oil and Gas Technology Development Co. Limited (“Shengyuan”), a company organized and operating under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) in accordance with the Share Transfer Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2011, by and among the Company’s subsidiary, Song Yuan North East Petroleum Technical Services Co., Ltd. (“Songyuan Technical”) and the shareholders of Shengyuan, and in accordance with the Share Issuance Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2011 by and among the Company, Bellini Holdings Management Ltd., a company organized and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Bellini”) and the shareholders of Bellini. As a result of the Acquisition, Shengyuan is now a subsidiary of Songyuan Technical. Shengyuan has exclusive oilfield exploration and drilling rights to the Durimu oilfield in Inner Mongolia.
Pursuant to the terms of the Share Transfer Agreement and the Share Issuance Agreement, the Company, through its subsidiary Songyuan Yu Qiao Oil and Gas Development Co., Ltd., will pay the former Shengyuan shareholders cash in the amount of $10,686,900 (RMB 70,000,000) and the Company will issue to Bellini, a company owned by the former Shengyuan shareholders, a total of 5.8 million shares of the Company’s Common Stock.
On April 15, 2011, the Company issued 50,000 shares of common stock at $4.27 per share to its legal counsel The Crone Law Group for legal services rendered. The fair value of these common shares are recorded at $213,500.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to:
● | Deviations in and volatility of the market price of crude oil produced by us; | |
● | Uncertainties in the estimation of proved reserves and in the projection of future rates of production; | |
● | Timing and amount of production; | |
● | The availability of, and our ability to raise additional capital resources and provide liquidity to meet cash flow needs; | |
● | Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates; | |
● | Our ability to find, acquire, lease, develop, and produce from new properties; and | |
● | The other risks and uncertainties which are described below under “RISK FACTORS.” |
OVERVIEW OF OUR BUSINESS
Overview
We are engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil in Northern China. We have an arrangement with PetroChina to sell our crude oil production for use in the China marketplace. We currently operate 295 producing wells located in four oilfields in Northern China and have plans for additional drilling projects.
In particular, through two of our subsidiaries, Song Yuan City Yu Qiao Oil and Gas Development Co. Ltd. (“Yu Qiao”) and Chang Ling Longde Oil and Gas Development Co. Ltd. (“LongDe”), we have entered into binding sales agreements with the PetroChina Group, whereby we sell our crude oil production for use in the China marketplace.
We currently operate 4 oilfields located in Northern China, which include:
Details of Oil and Gas Properties and Activities
Field | Acreage | Producing wells # | Proven Reserves as of December 31, 2010 (bbls) | |||
Qian112 | 5,115 | 250 | 5,440,900 | |||
Da34 | 2,298 | 12 | 2,500 | |||
Gu31 | 1,779 | 12 | 16,500 | |||
He301 | 2,471 | 21 | 16,300 | |||
Total | 11,663 | 295 | 5,476,200 |
Additionally, through our subsidiary, Song Yuan Tiancheng Drilling Engineering Co. Ltd., we provide contract drilling and other oilfield services for state-owned and non-state-owned oil companies in Northern China.
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The flow chart illustrates our company’s organizational structure:
Organizational History
We were incorporated in the State of Nevada on August 20, 1999 under the name Draco Holding Corporation. On March 29, 2004, we executed an Agreement for Share Exchange with Hong Xiang Petroleum Group Limited, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Hong Xiang”), and the individual shareholders owning 100% of the outstanding common shares of Hong Xiang (the “Hong Xiang Shareholders”).
Pursuant to the Agreement for Share Exchange, we issued 18,700,000 shares of our common stock to the Hong Xiang Shareholders in exchange for all of the shares of capital stock of Hong Xiang owned by the Hong Xiang Shareholders at closing, and Hong Xiang became our wholly-owned subsidiary. On June 28, 2004, we changed our name to China North East Petroleum Holdings Ltd.
During 2004, we acquired a 100% ownership in Song Yuan City Hong Xiang Petroleum Technical Services Co., Ltd. (“Hong Xiang Technical”), and Hong Xiang Technical in turn acquired a 100% interest in Song Yuan City Yu Qiao Qianan Hong Xiang Oil and Gas Development Co., Ltd. (“Hong Xiang Oil Development”), which was engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil in the Jilin region of the PRC.
As a result of the Yu Qiao acquisition discussed below, all operations, assets and liabilities of the Company’s subsidiary Hong Xiang Oil Development were transferred to Yu Qiao on March 19, 2007. Since Hong Xiang Oil Development and Hong Xiang Technical were no longer necessary elements of the Company’s corporate structure, and they were liquidated and dissolved.
PetroChina Oil Leases
Pursuant to a 20-year exclusive Cooperative Oil Lease (the “Oil Lease”), entered into among PetroChina Group, Yu Qiao and the Company in May 2002, the Company has the right to explore, develop and produce oil at Qian’an 112 Oilfield. Pursuant to the Oil Lease, (i) PetroChina is entitled to 20% of the Company’s oil revenue for the first ten years of the Oil Lease term and 40% of the Company’s oil production for the remaining ten years of the Oil Lease term; and (ii) Yu Qiao is entitled to 2% of the Company’s oil production as a management fee. The payment of the management fee stopped following the acquisition of Yu Qiao by the Company in 2007.
In May 2003, LongDe entered into a 20-year contract with PetroChina Group. Pursuant to the contract, LongDe has the right to explore, develop and produce oil at the Hetingbao 301 oilfield in the PRC. In addition, pursuant to the contract between PetroChina and LongDe, PetroChina is entitled to 20% of LongDe’s output in the first ten years and 40% of LongDe’s output thereafter until the end of the contract.
As the controlling shareholder of Yu Qiao, the Company has the right to develop Qian’an 112 and other oil fields under the contracts that Yu Qiao has entered into with PetroChina. These oilfields include the Daan 34 oilfield and Gudian 31 oilfield in Jilin Province.
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Song Yuan Technical Joint Venture
On July 26, 2006, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement with Wang Hongjun (“Mr. Wang”), the president and a stockholder of the Company and Ju Guizhi (“Ms. Ju”), mother of Mr. Wang, to contribute to the increased registered capital of Song Yuan North East Petroleum Technical Service Co. Ltd. (“Song Yuan Technical”). The purpose of Song Yuan Technical is to acquire oil and gas properties and to engage in the exploration of crude oil in the PRC. On December 20, 2006, Mr. Wang transferred his interest (4.5%) in Song Yuan Technical to Ms. Ju and as a result, the Company owns a 90% equity interest in Song Yuan Technical, and Ms. Ju owns the remaining 10% equity interest in Song Yuan Technical.
Acquisition of LongDe
In order to comply with certain PRC laws relating to foreign entities’ ownership of oil and gas companies in the PRC, prior to March 17, 2008, Song Yuan Technical directly owned a 70% equity interest in LongDe, while Sun Peng and Ai Chang Shan, respectively, owned 10% and 20% of the equity interests in Long De in trust for Song Yuan Technical. On March 17, 2008, Song Yuan Technical acquired an additional 20% equity interest in LongDe, 10% from Sun Peng, and 10% from Ai Chang Shan. Accordingly, Song Yuan Technical now owns directly 90% of the equity interests in LongDe, with Ai Chang Shan holding the remaining 10% in trust for Song Yuan Technical. The acquisition of LongDe was made pursuant to the laws of the PRC. As a 90% owner of Song Yuan Technical, the Company effectively controls LongDe.
This beneficial ownership structure is governed by two trust agreements: (i) Trust Agreement dated October 8, 2006 by and between Song Yuan Technical and Ai Chang Shan, and (ii) Trust Agreement dated April 18, 2008 by and between Song Yuan Technical and Wang Hongjun. Pursuant to the first trust agreement, Ai Chang Shan holds 20% of the equity interest in Long De in trust for the benefit of Song Yuan Technical. On March 17, 2008, Ai Chang Shan entered into a transfer agreement whereby Ai Chang Shan transferred 10% of the equity interest of Long De held in trust pursuant to the trust agreement to Song Yuan Technical to be held directly by Song Yuan Technical. Currently under the trust agreement dated October 8, 2006, Ai Chang Shan holds 10% of the total equity interest of Long De in trust for the benefit of Song Yuan Technical. Pursuant to the second trust agreement, Wang Hongjun holds 10% of the total outstanding equity interest in LongDe in trust for the benefit of Song Yuan Technical.
Acquisition of Yu Qiao
The Company acquired a beneficial interest in 100% of the equity interest in Yu Qiao from Yu Qiao’s shareholders, Ms. Ju (70%), Meng Xiangyun (20%) and Wang Bingwu (10%) on January 26, 2007. In order to comply with PRC laws, which restrict ownership of oil and gas companies by foreign entities, following the acquisition, Meng Xiangyun and Wang Pingwu held 20% and 10% of the equity interest, respectively, in Yu Qiao in trust for the benefit of Song Yuan Technical.
On March 17, 2008, the trust agreement with Meng Xiangyun was cancelled and the 20% equity interest in Yu Qiao held in trust by Meng Xiangyun was transferred to Song Yuan Technical. As a result of the termination of the trust agreement and the transfer, Song Yuan Technical became the direct owner of the 20% equity interest in Yu Qiao held in trust by Meng Xiangyun.
On April 18, 2008, the 10% equity interest in Yu Qiao held by Wang Pingwu in trust was transferred to the Company’s President and Chairman, Wang Hongjun to hold in trust for the benefit of Song Yuan Technical.
Currently 90% of Yu Qiao is directly held by Song Yuan Technical and 10% of Yu Qiao is held in trust by Wang Hongjun for the benefit of Song Yuan Technical.
Acquisition of Tiancheng
On September 27, 2009, we acquired through Song Yuan Technical all of the beneficial ownership of all of the equity interest in Song Yuan Tiancheng Drilling Engineering Co., Ltd. or “Tiancheng.” In order to comply with certain PRC laws, 5% of the equity interest in Tiancheng is held in trust by one of the Tiancheng selling stockholders for the benefit of Song Yuan Technical, while the other 95% of the equity interest in Tiancheng is held directly by Song Yuan Technical. Tiancheng provides oil drilling services. Tiancheng currently has eight drilling teams with the same number of rigs in house, which include two 4,000 meters rig (~13,000 feet depth), one 3,500 meter rig (~11,500 feet depth), three 3,000 meters rigs (~9,800 feet depth) and two 2,000 meters rigs (~6,500 feet depth) respectively. Tiancheng has drilling contracts with PetroChina and other private oil companies to provide drilling and oilfield services.
Listing on the NYSE Amex LLC.
On June 15, 2009, the Company’s common stock commenced trading on the NYSE Amex LLC (“AMEX”). Upon trading on AMEX, the Company changed its ticker symbol from “CNEH.OB” to “NEP.”
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Oil Properties and Activities
As of March 31, 2011, the Company had a total of 295 producing wells, including 250 producing wells at the Qian’an 112 oilfield, 21 producing wells at the Hetingbao 301 oilfield, 12 producing wells at the Daan 34 oilfield and 12 producing wells at the Gudian 31 oilfield.
All of the Company’s crude oil production is sold to the PetroChina Group. The approximate distance of each of the Company’s oil fields from the Jilin Refinery is as follows: the Qian’an 112 oilfield is four kilometers away; the Hetingbao 301 oilfield is three kilometers away; the Daan 34 oilfield is fifteen kilometers away and the Gudian Oilfield 31 is thirty kilometers away.
PetroChina pays the Company a price per barrel equal to the monthly mean price calculated from the Mean of Platts Singapore (“MOPS”) daily price for sour, heavy Indonesian crude, as measured during the previous month. Platts is a leading global provider of energy and metals information that collects and publishes pricing data on a wide range of petroleum and non-petroleum commodity types. An independent provider, Platts serves the oil, natural gas, electricity, emissions, nuclear power, coal, petrochemical, shipping, and metals markets from 17 offices worldwide. Price paid to the Company is FOB at the local Jilin Province PetroChina oil storage depot. As the oil produced in China is heavy and sour, compared with light and sweet oil quoted as West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) and Brent, therefore, the oil price we receive from PetroChina generally is slightly discounted to the WTI or Brent price.
And the following table shows the MOPS China monthly oil price.
Month | Sale Price | |
RMB/Ton | USD/Bbl | |
Jan-10 | 3,670 | 73.5 |
Feb-10 | 3,820 | 76.5 |
Mar-10 | 3,586 | 71.8 |
Apr-10 | 3,761 | 75.3 |
May-10 | 4,054 | 81.1 |
Jun-10 | 3,873 | 77.5 |
Jul-10 | 3,615 | 72.4 |
Aug-10 | 3,599 | 72.0 |
Sep-10 | 3,660 | 73.3 |
Oct-10 | 3,693 | 73.9 |
Nov-10 | 3,909 | 78.2 |
Dec-10 | 4,019 | 80.4 |
Jan-11 | 4,333 | 90.1 |
Feb-11 | 4,553 | 94.7 |
Mar-11 | 4,831 | 100.5 |
(Note: data references to Wall Street Journal, and MOPS China price is exchanged from RMB to USD at the exchange rate of 6.7695 for 12 months moving average in 2010, and 6.5713 for 3 months moving average in 2011, respectively.)
As noted in the table above, compared with WTI prices, the MOPS China price generally has a slight discount due to the lower oil quality and there is also one-month time lag between the prices.
PetroChina pays the Company for crude oil sold monthly in arrears, on approximately the 15th day after the end of each month. The amount paid to the Company in the first two months of each calendar quarter is decreased by the amount of oil surcharge tax the Company will owe to the PRC government at the end of that calendar quarter. PetroChina holds those amounts back from the Company until the end of each calendar quarter, and then pays those amounts to the Company with the balance due for crude oil deliveries in the final month of the quarter. For this reason, the Accounts Receivable balance at the end of each quarter is larger than the prior month’s oil sales revenue, because it includes the oil surcharge tax amounts the Company owes for the first two months of the quarter.
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Operating Performance
Our operating performance is influenced by several factors, the most significant of which are the price we receive for our crude oil and the quantities of crude oil that we are able to produce. Global crude oil prices are the most important factor affecting the price that we receive for our crude oil production. The prices received for different grades of crude oil are based upon the world price of crude oil, which is then adjusted based upon the particular grade. Typically, light crude oil is sold at a premium, while heavy grades of crude (such as the type we produce from the four fields we operate) are discounted.
Our crude oil development and acquisition activities require substantial and continuing capital expenditures. Historically, the sources of financing to fund our capital expenditures have included:
● | Cash flow from operations; | |
● | Sales of equity securities; | |
● | Loans from shareholders and third parties; and | |
● | Extension of credit from our suppliers, including particularly our suppliers of well drilling and completion services. |
For the three months ended March 31, 2011 (the “Current Quarter”), the sale price we received for our crude oil production averaged $91.18 per barrel, compared with $73.16 per barrel for the three months ended March 31, 2010 (the “Comparable Quarter”).
Our oil producing activities are accounted for using the full cost method of accounting. Under this accounting method, we capitalize all costs incurred in connection with the acquisition of oil properties and the exploration for and development of oil reserves. These costs include lease acquisition costs, geological and geophysical expenditures, costs of drilling productive and non-productive wells (to date, all of the wells we have drilled have been productive wells), conversion of productive wells into production support infrastructure such as water-injection wells, and overhead expenses directly related to land and property acquisition and exploration and development activities. Proceeds from the disposition of oil properties are accounted for as a reduction in capitalized costs, with no gain or loss recognized unless a disposition involves a material change in the relationship between capitalized costs and reserves, in which case the gain or loss is recognized.
Depreciation of the capitalized costs of oil properties, including estimated future development costs, is based upon estimates of proved oil reserves and production. Unproved oil properties are not amortized, but are individually assessed for impairment. The cost of any impaired property is transferred to the balance of oil properties being depleted. Reserve values are calculated annually, at our fiscal year-end, by a third-party geological consulting company, and are estimated in accordance with ASC Topic 932, “Extractive Activities - Oil and Gas”, SEC Regulation S-K and Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the SEC’s Industry Guide 2.
Acquisition of Sunite Right Banner Shengyuan Oil and Gas Technology Development Co. Limited
On April 21, 2011, the Company completed its acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of Sunite Right Banner Shengyuan Oil and Gas Technology Development Co. Limited (“Shengyuan”), a company organized and operating under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) in accordance with the Share Transfer Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2011, by and among the Company’s subsidiary, Song Yuan North East Petroleum Technical Services Co., Ltd. (“Songyuan Technical”) and the shareholders of Shengyuan, and in accordance with the Share Issuance Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2011 by and among the Company, Bellini Holdings Management Ltd., a company organized and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Bellini”) and the shareholders of Bellini. As a result of the Acquisition, Shengyuan is now a subsidiary of Songyuan Technical. Shengyuan has exclusive oilfield exploration and drilling rights to the Durimu oilfield in Inner Mongolia.
The total purchase price for Shengyuan was valued at approximately $43.4 million consisting of RMB 70 million (approximately US$10.6 million) in cash and 5,800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Acquisition Shares”). The Acquisition Shares were issued pursuant to a Share Issuance Agreement by and among the Company, Bellini Holdings Management Ltd., a company organized and owned by the former Shengyuan Shareholders under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Bellini”), and the Shareholders dated January 19, 2011 (the “Share Issuance Agreement”). The Company expects that the cash consideration will be paid no later than May 16th by the Company’s subsidiary Song Yuan Yu Qiao Oil and Gas Development Co., Ltd.
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Production, Average Sales Prices, Production Costs, Drilling Depth and Drilling Wells Count
Our business operations are characterized by frequent, and sometimes significant, changes in the price we receive for the crude oil we produce and in the volumes of crude oil we produce. The following table shows selected operating data for the three and three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
Oil Output (Bbl) | 162,990 | 227,626 | ||||||
Avg. Sale Price ($/bbl) | $ | 91.18 | $ | 73.16 | ||||
Tiancheng Drilling Depth (m) | 45,327 | 86,311 | ||||||
Tiancheng Drilling Wells | 26 | 55 | ||||||
Oil Sales Revenue | $ | 14,861,037 | $ | 16,646,495 | ||||
Drilling Revenue | $ | 6,889,498 | $ | 12,281,798 | ||||
Cost of Revenue | ||||||||
Production Costs | 2,224,789 | 1,219,243 | ||||||
Drilling Cost | 2,737,171 | 4,511,289 | ||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization of oil properties and drilling equipment | 1,975,259 | 2,088,544 | ||||||
Amortization of land use rights | 8,189 | 10,856 | ||||||
Oil Surcharge | 3,059,899 | 2,494,718 | ||||||
Gross Profit | $ | 11,745,228 | $ | 18,603,643 |
(Note: Based on 7.315 bbls per ton as set by PetroChina in the current reporting period compared to 7.38 bbls per ton set by PetroChina for the 3 months ended March 31, 2010. The number of bbls per ton is determined by PetroChina and is subject to fluctuation based on a number of factors)
As shown in the above table, our revenue was impacted by both the reduction in oil production and a slow down in our contract drilling activity. With respect to our oil production segment, no new wells were drilled in the first quarter and the reduced oil output reflects the natural depletion of the existing wells. With respect to our contract drilling segment, drilling was impacted by the Chinese New Year holiday and the fact that the Company granted its Tiancheng drilling crews an extended holiday. The reduction in oil production was offset however, by the appreciation of oil prices in 2011 compared to 2010.
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The following table reflects the significant oil sale price fluctuation in China in the past 15 months.
Month | Sale Price | |
RMB/Ton | USD/Bbl | |
Jan-10 | 3,670 | 73.5 |
Feb-10 | 3,820 | 76.5 |
Mar-10 | 3,586 | 71.8 |
Apr-10 | 3,761 | 75.3 |
May-10 | 4,054 | 81.1 |
Jun-10 | 3,873 | 77.5 |
Jul-10 | 3,615 | 72.4 |
Aug-10 | 3,599 | 72.0 |
Sep-10 | 3,660 | 73.3 |
Oct-10 | 3,693 | 73.9 |
Nov-10 | 3,909 | 78.2 |
Dec-10 | 4,019 | 80.4 |
Jan-11 | 4,333 | 90.1 |
Feb-11 | 4,553 | 94.7 |
Mar-11 | 4,831 | 100.5 |
(Note: According to PetroChina, 1 Ton = 7.315 Bbls for the current reporting period in 2011, Exchange rate 1 USD = 6.5713 RMB for the current reporting period in 2011)
Contract Drilling Services
China North East Petroleum’s subsidiary, Tiancheng, founded in December 2007, provides contract drilling and other oilfield services for state-owned and non-state-owned oil companies in Northern China.
Tiancheng is one of the four private contract drilling and service companies that has been qualified and licensed to operate in PetroChina’s Jilin oilfield. Tiancheng has also been granted contracts to drill for PetroChina. Compared to the other three drilling companies operating in the Jilin oilfield, Tiancheng is the largest, in terms of the number of drilling rigs owned in house. Tiancheng was started with only two rigs at the end of 2007, and now has eight drilling teams with the same number of rigs, which include two 4,000 meters rig (capable drill down to ~13,000 feet depth), one 3,500 meter rig (~11,500 feet depth), three 3,000 meters rigs (~9,800 feet) and two 2,000 meters rigs (~6,500 feet) respectively.
Tiancheng enters into drilling contracts with PetroChina and other private oil companies to provide oilfield drilling services, and generates revenue based on the depth of each well drilled for clients. Clients will typically pay 30% of the total projected drilling costs as a down payment to start the drilling process, and pay the remaining balance within 12 months according to the specific contract term.
In the first three months of 2011, Tiancheng drilled 26 wells with a total drilling depth of 45,327 meters (~148,711 feet), representing revenue of $6,889,498. On April 28, 2011 Tiancheng entered into another drilling contract with PetroChina’s Jilin Oil and Gas Development LLC to drill another twenty (20) wells in 2011.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
Revenues. Revenues for the Current Quarter were $21,750,535 compared to $28,928,293 for the Comparable Quarter, a decrease of $7,177,758, or 25%. This decrease was mainly due to a decrease in revenue in both oil production and drilling services segments of the Company in the Current Quarter.
Crude oil ouput for the Current Quarter was 162,990 barrels compared to 227,626 barrels for the Comparable Quarter, a decrease of 28.4% and revenues from crude oil sales were $14,861,037 in the Current Quarter, compared to $16,646,495 in the Comparable Quarter. The decrease in production and revenue were mainly due to: (i) the fact that no additional wells were drilled in our Jilin field in the Current Quarter; and (ii) the natural depletion of each well in production; and (iii) the decrease in the number of bbls per ton as set by PetroChina to 7.315.
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In addition, the number of wells drilled and the total drilling depth achieved by our Tiancheng drilling subsidiary for the Current Quarter declined by 53% and 47% to 26 wells and 45,327 meters, respectively, compared to the Comparable Quarter of 55 wells and 86,311 meters. Drilling revenue in the Current Quarter was $6,889,498, a 44% decrease compared to $12,281,798 in the Comparable Quarter. The reason for the decrease in drilling activity was due to the fact that the Company granted its Tiancheng drilling crews an extended vacation over the Chinese New Year holidays in January and February in order to motivate its crews and boost morale in anticipation of increased drilling activities in 2011.
Cost of sales. Cost of sales only decreased slightly by 3%, from $10,324,650 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 to $10,005,307 for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The decrease in cost of sales resulted primarily from a reduction in drilling costs from $4,511,289 in the Comparable Quarter to $2,737,171 in the Current Quarter, due to reduced drilling activity in the Current Quarter; offset by both increased oil extraction costs and increased government oil surcharge respectively, mainly due to increased commodity and raw material prices. For the Current Quarter, the Company paid an oil surcharge of $3,059,899 to the PRC government compared to $2,494,718 paid for the Comparable Quarter. Under a regulation introduced in June 2006, a surcharge is imposed based on the selling price of crude oil as set forth in the table below.
Crude Price $/Bbl | Surcharge Rate | |
$40-45 | 20% | |
$45-50 | 25% | |
$50-55 | 30% | |
$55-60 | 35% | |
Above $60 | 40% |
For example, if the MOPS China oil price is $57 per barrel, the oil surcharge is $4.45 per barrel ($1+$1.25+$1.5+$0.7); if the oil price is $75 per barrel, the oil surcharge is $11.5 per barrel ($1+$1.25+$1.5+$1.75+$6).
Operating Expenses. Operating expenses totaled $1,372,832 for the Current Quarter, compared to $1,695,462 for the Comparable Quarter, a decrease of 19%. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in revenues.
Other Income (Expense). Other income for the Current Quarter was $4,438,830 compared to other income of $10,802,536 for the Comparable Quarter. This decrease was primarily the result of a change in fair value of warrants.
Net Income. Net income for the Current Quarter was $11,281,043 compared to $21,745,385 for the Comparable Quarter. The decrease in our net income was primarily due to decreased drilling income and crude oil production, also affected by a slight increase in oil extraction costs and government oil surcharges as discussed above. In addition, net income was affected by a decrease in the fair value of warrants.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We have historically financed our operations and capital expenditures through cash flows from operations, the issuance of secured debt and the issuance of new shares of our common stock. Our capital resources consist primarily of cash flows from our oil producing properties and oilfield drilling services operation. Our level of earnings and cash flows depend upon many factors, including the price we receive for crude oil we produce.
As of March 31, 2011, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $75,154,685, other current assets of $23,560,672 and current liabilities of $16,498,348. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, our primary sources of liquidity were $13,552,256 provided by operating activities. The cash balance of $75,154,685 represents an increase of $14,180,678 over our cash balance as of December 31, 2010.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $13,552,256 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $10,091,932 for the same period in 2010. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities was the result of a number of changes in our operating accounts. Cash from operating activities increased due to a decrease of accounts receivable of $2.1 million because of our rapid collection, and an increase of tax payable of $1.5 million.
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Net cash used in investing activities was $427,618 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to $53,639 for the same period in 2010. This increase is primarily due to additions to fixed assets and oil properties during the three-month period ended March 31, 2011.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2011 amounted to $277,076, including proceeds from a shareholder loan of $77,076 as well as an advance of $200,000 from an unrelated party. Net cash used in financing activities amounted to $4,898,806 for the same period in 2010, primarily included repayment of secured debenture of $10,500,000 to Lotusbox, offset by proceeds from shareholder loan of $2.4 million as well as $3.3 million proceeds from exercise of stock warrants and options.
The Company has paid for the development of its producing oil wells and oil wells under construction, along with its acquisition of an oil well drilling and servicing company, with cash from operations as well as by funds raised through the issuance of secured debt, common stock and warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock. The Company is continually evaluating opportunities to expand production and grow the Company’s operations. The Company may require additional resources to fully implement the Company’s business plan and growth strategy. Our ability to obtain additional capital to achieve certain of these expansion goals will depend on market conditions, national and global economies and other factors beyond its control. We cannot assure you that the Company will be able to implement or capitalize on various financing alternatives or otherwise obtain required capital, the need for which could be substantial given the Company’s business and development goals. However, the Company anticipates that cash flows from operations will be sufficient to fund continued development at the four oil fields it currently operates and to fund continued operations at its oil well drilling and servicing subsidiary.
Crude Oil Price Trends
Changes in crude oil prices significantly affect our revenues, financial condition and cash flows. Markets for crude oil have historically been volatile and we expect this trend to continue. Prices for crude oil typically fluctuate in response to relatively minor changes in supply and demand, market uncertainty, seasonal, economic, political and other factors beyond our control. Although we are unable to accurately predict the prices we receive for our oil, any significant or sustained decline in oil prices may materially adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity, ability to obtain future debt or equity financing and operating results.
Production Trends
Like all other oil exploration and production companies, we experience natural production declines at existing wells. We recognize that oil production from a given well naturally decreases over time and that a downward trend in our overall production could occur unless the natural declines are offset by additional production from new wells, investment in measures to increase the production from existing wells (such as CO 2 and water injection), or acquisitions of producing properties. If any production declines we experience are other than a temporary trend, and if we cannot economically replace our reserves, our results may be materially adversely affected and our stock price may decline. Our future growth will depend upon our ability to continue to add oil reserves in excess of our production at a reasonable cost.
We have achieved increased production and revenue from our four oilfields as a result of our significant investments in these areas. As of March 31, 2011, we have drilled 295 wells out of the 675 wells that we believe can be drilled in our four oilfields. We anticipate that we will continue to drill new wells and increase production in these areas. We are also actively seeking additional oil fields that we can lease and operate.
Operating Expense Trends
Costs associated with oil well drilling, improvement (e.g. fracturing and water injection), and maintenance in the northeastern Chinese oil fields where we operate have remained relatively constant over the past year. Similarly, service rates charged by oil field service companies have remained relatively constant over the past year. We are also generally somewhat buffered from changes in world oil prices due to the impact of the government oil surcharge tax. When prices rise, the amount of oil surcharge tax that we are required to pay increases; conversely price declines reduce the amount of oil surcharge tax. In the Current Quarter, the approximate amount of oil surcharge tax we paid was $3,059,899, as compared to $2,494,718 in the Comparable Quarter.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Proved Reserves. Proved oil and gas reserves, as defined by SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10(a) (2)(i), (2)(ii), (2)(iii), (3) and (4), are the estimated quantities of crude oil that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions, i.e., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made. Prices include consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by contractual arrangements, but not on escalations based upon future conditions.
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The Company’s estimates of proved reserves are made using available geological and reservoir data as well as production performance data. These estimates, made by the Company’s engineers, are reviewed annually and revised, either upward or downward, as warranted by additional data. Revisions are necessary due to changes in, among other things, reservoir performance, prices, economic conditions and governmental restrictions. Decreases in prices, for example, may cause a reduction in some proved reserves due to reaching economic limits sooner.
Properties and Equipment. The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for exploration and development activities as defined by the SEC. Under this method of accounting, the costs of unsuccessful, as well as successful, exploration and development activities are capitalized as properties and equipment. This includes any internal costs that are directly related to exploration and development activities but does not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead or similar activities. Gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of oil properties is not recognized, unless the gain or loss would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil and natural gas attributable to a country. The application of the full cost method of accounting for oil properties generally results in higher capitalized costs and higher depreciation, depletion and amortization rates compared to the successful efforts method of accounting for oil properties.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In December 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued amended guidance to clarify the acquisition date that should be used for reporting pro-forma financial information for business combinations. If comparative financial statements are presented, the pro-forma revenue and earnings of the combined entity for the comparable prior reporting period should be reported as though the acquisition date for all business combinations that occurred during the current year had been completed as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period. The amendments in this guidance became effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2011. There was no impact in the consolidated financial results as the amendments relate only to additional disclosures.
In December 2010, the FASB issued amendments to the guidance on goodwill impairment testing. The amendments modify Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In making that determination, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that impairment may exist. The amendments were effective January 1, 2011 and did not have a material impact in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In January 2011, the FASB temporarily deferred the disclosures regarding troubled debt restructurings which were included in the disclosure requirements about the credit quality of financing receivables and the allowance for credit losses which was issued in July 2010. In April 2011, the FASB issued additional guidance and clarifications to help creditors in determining whether a creditor has granted a concession, and whether a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties for purposes of determining whether a restructuring constitutes a troubled debt restructuring. The new guidance and the previously deferred disclosures are effective July 1, 2011 applied retrospectively to January 1, 2011. Prospective application is required for any new impairments identified as a result of this guidance. These changes are not expected to have a material impact in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In January 2010, the FASB issued additional disclosure requirements for fair value measurements which the company included in its interim and annual financial statements in 2010. Certain disclosure requirements relating to fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were deferred until January 1, 2011. These new requirements did not have an impact in the consolidated financial results as they relate only to additional disclosures.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company’s primary market risks are attributable to fluctuations in oil prices and exchange rates. In addition, foreign-currency exchange-rate risk exists due to anticipated payments and receipts denominated in foreign currencies. These risks can affect revenues and cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities.
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Oil Price Risk
Our revenues, profitability and future growth depend substantially on prevailing prices for crude oil. We currently sell all of our oil production to one customer, PetroChina, and PetroChina pays the Company a price per barrel equal to the monthly mean price calculated from the Mean of Platts Singapore (“MOPS”) daily price for sour, heavy Indonesian crude, as measured during the previous month. Platts is an international commodity and trading company that collects and publishes pricing data on a wide range of petroleum and non-petroleum commodity types. The price paid to the Company is FOB at the local Jilin Province PetroChina oil storage depot. These prices also affect the amount of cash flow available for capital expenditures and our ability to borrow and raise additional capital. The lower prices may reduce the amount of crude oil that we can economically produce.
Foreign Currency-Exchange Risk
The reporting currency of the Company is the US dollar. The functional currency of Song Yuan Technical, LongDe, Yu Qiao and Tiancheng is the Chinese Renminbi (“RMB”).
For the subsidiaries whose functional currencies are other than the US dollar, all assets and liabilities accounts were translated at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date; stockholder's equity is translated at the historical rates and items in the statement of operations items and statement of cash flows are translated at the average rate for the year. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the statement of stockholders’ equity. The resulting translation gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred. Accumulated other comprehensive income in the condensed consolidated balance sheets amounted to $8,903,779 and $7,618,515 as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. The balance sheet amounts, with the exception of equity at March 31, 2011, were translated at 6.5501 RMB to $1.00 USD. The average translation rates applied to income statement amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 were 6.5713 RMB to $1.00 USD and 6.8409 RMB to $1.00 USD, respectively.
No representation is made that RMB amounts have been, or would be, converted into US$ at the above rates. Although the Chinese government regulations allow for conversion of RMB for current account transactions, significant restrictions still remain. Hence, such translations should not be construed as representation that the RMB could be converted into US$ at that rate or any other rate.
The value of RMB against US$ and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions, any significant revaluation of RMB may materially affect the Company’s financial condition in terms of US$ reporting.
Cash and concentration of risk
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents, for statement of cash flows purposes. Cash includes cash on hand and demand deposits in accounts maintained with state owned banks within the PRC and with banks in the United States.
The Company’s cash equivalents are exposed to concentration of credit risk. The Company maintains balances at financial institutions which, from time to time, may exceed Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured limits for the banks located in the United States. Balances at financial institutions or state owned banks within the PRC are not covered by insurance. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had deposits exposed to credit risk totaling $75,054,685 and $60,874,007, respectively. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes that the risk of loss for cash held in bank is remote.
Substantially all of the Company's operations are carried out in the PRC. Accordingly, the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced by the political, economic and legal environments in that country, and by the general state of that country’s economy. The Company's operations in the PRC are subject to specific considerations and significant risks not typically associated with companies in the United States. These include risks associated with, among others, the political, economic and legal environments and foreign currency exchange. The Company's results may be adversely affected by changes in governmental policies with respect to laws and regulations, anti-inflationary measures, currency conversion and remittance abroad, and rates and methods of taxation, among other things.
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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, as of March 31, 2011, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. This evaluation ("Evaluation") was performed by our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer in consultation with our accounting personnel. Based upon the Evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that as of March 31, 2011, our disclosure controls and procedures were not entirely effective.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, a system of internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance and may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Further, because of changes in conditions, effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting may vary over time.
A significant deficiency is a control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, that adversely affects the company’s ability to initiate, authorize, record, process, or report external financial data reliably in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles such that there is more than a remote likelihood that a misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements that is more than inconsequential will not be prevented or detected. An internal control material weakness is a significant deficiency, or combination of significant deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected.
Management of the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework and criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on the Company’s evaluation under the COSO framework, management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was not entirely effective as of March 31, 2011.
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Material Weakness
In connection with its evaluation, management has identified one material weakness as of March 31, 2011, which is described as follows: In the first quarter, the Company did not have a specific person tasked with verifying the crude oil selling price the Company charged on a per invoice basis.
This material weakness has not caused or contributed to a material misstatement of the Company’s financial statements.
Changes In Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
In 2011, the Company assigned specific personnel the responsibility of confirming the crude oil selling price on a per invoice basis.
In addition, we continue to implement remedial actions begun in 2010, including implementing formal and informal training programs, particularly with respect to the accounting for non-cash items, and we continue to use an outside consulting firm to assist us with the preparation and review of our financial statements and reports filed with the SEC. These changes continued to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting during the first quarter of 2011 or are reasonably likely to continue to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting. Additional process changes may be necessary in the future. Management continues to take actions necessary to address the resources, processes and controls related to these changes, while maintaining effective control over financial reporting.
Conclusion
Notwithstanding the material weakness reported above, the Company’s management believes that its consolidated financial statements included in this report fairly present, in all material respects, the Company’s financial conditions, results of operations and cash flow for the period presented and that this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements misleading, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made during the year covered in this report.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is involved in six legal actions, three of which are securities class actions and three of which are shareholder derivative actions, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company and certain officers and directors. The three class actions assert claims under the federal securities laws and the three derivative actions assert common law claims based on breach of duty.
The six actions are: (1) Rosado v. China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited, et al., 10 CV 4577 (MGC), filed June 11, 2010; (2) Weissmann v. China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited, et al., 10 CV 4775 (MGC), filed June 18, 2010; (3) Moore v. China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited, et al., 10 CV 5263 (MGC), filed July 9, 2010; (4) Strickland v. Hongjun, et al., 10 CV 5445 (MGC), filed July 19, 2010; (5) Drobner v. Hongjun, et al., 10 CV 6193 (MGC), filed August 23, 2010; and (6) Nicoln v. Hongjun, et al., 10 CV 6344 (MGC), filed August 24, 2010.
The three securities class actions were consolidated as In re China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited Securities Litigation, 10 CV 4577 (MGC). A consolidated class action complaint was filed on January 14, 2011 adding new defendants Ralph E. Davis Associates, Robert C. Bruce, Edward M. Rule, Li Jing Fu, and Yu Li Guo. On March 22, 2010, the Company, on behalf of itself and the Individual Defendants, filed a motion to dismiss. Oral argument on the motion to dismiss is currently scheduled for May 12, 2011.
An amended shareholder derivative complaint was filed on February 22, 2011. On April 20, 2011, the Company filed a motion to dismiss. Oral argument on the motion to dismiss is currently scheduled for May 19, 2011.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There has been no material change in the Company’s risk factors as previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2011.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
On April 21, 2011, the Company completed its acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of Sunite Right Banner Shengyuan Oil and Gas Technology Development Co. Limited (“Shengyuan”), a company organized and operating under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) in accordance with the Share Transfer Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2011, by and among the Company’s subsidiary, Song Yuan North East Petroleum Technical Services Co., Ltd. (“Songyuan Technical”) and the shareholders of Shengyuan, and in accordance with the Share Issuance Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2011 by and among the Company, Bellini Holdings Management Ltd., a company organized and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Bellini”) and the shareholders of Bellini. As a result of the Acquisition, Shengyuan is now a subsidiary of Songyuan Technical. Shengyuan has exclusive oilfield exploration and drilling rights to the Durimu oilfield in Inner Mongolia.
Pursuant to the terms of the Share Issuance Agreement, the Company issued to Bellini, a company owned by the former Shengyuan shareholders, a total of 5.8 million shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “Acquisition Shares”). The Acquisition Shares were issued pursuant to the provisions of Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). The Company did not engage in a distribution of this issuance in the United States. Each of the shareholders of Shengyuan represented that they were not “U.S. persons” as defined in Regulation S of the Act and that they were not acquiring the shares for the account or benefit of a U.S. person.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4.(REMOVED AND RESERVED)
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. | Description | |
31.1 | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
31.2 | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
32.1 | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
32.2 | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
99.1 | Drilling Contract entered into between Jilin Oil and Gas Development LLC and the Company, through its subsidiary Jilin Songyuan Tiancheng Drilling Engineering Co. Ltd. on April 28, 2011 |
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SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LTD. | |||
Date: May 10, 2011 | By: | /s/ Jingfu Li | |
Jingfu Li | |||
Acting Chief Executive Officer | |||
Principal Executive Officer |
Dated: May 10, 2011 | By: | /s/ Shaohui Chen | |
Shaohui Chen | |||
Acting Chief Financial Officer | |||
Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. | Description | |
31.1 | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
31.2 | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
32.1 | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
32.2 | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
99.1 | Drilling Contract entered into between Jilin Oil and Gas Development LLC and the Company, through its subsidiary Jilin Songyuan Tiancheng Drilling Engineering Co. Ltd. on April 28, 2011 |
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