FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SCOTT J. DUNCAN
FX Energy, Inc.
August 9, 2010
3006 Highland Drive, Suite 206
Salt Lake City, Utah 84106
(801) 486-5555 Fax (801) 486-5575
www.fxenergy.com
FX Energy Second Quarter Loss Widens After Non-Cash Charges;
But Sets First Half Records for Production, Revenues, Operating
Income and Cash Flow
Salt Lake City, August 9, 2010, – FX Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: FXEN) today announced a net loss of $(22.1) million, or $(0.51) per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Excluding a non-cash foreign currency exchange charge of $22.0 million, the Company would have recorde d a second quarter nominal loss of $(0.1) million, or $(0.00) per share. The results represent a significant improvement over the net loss, adjusted for foreign exchange gains, of $(2.7) million, or $(0.06) per share reported in the second quarter of 2009.
Increased Production and Prices Drive Revenues Higher
Higher second quarter production was the largest contributor to the Company’s improved second quarter results. Total net oil and gas production tripled to 1,009 million cubic feet equivalent (Mmcfe) during the second quarter of 2010, compared to 328 Mmcfe during the 2009 quarter. Total revenues more than doubled to $6.1 million during the second quarter of 2010 from $2.5 million during the same quarter of 2009. The production increase was due to natural gas production in P oland from the Company’s Roszkow well, which began producing in September 2009.
Oil prices increased 33% over the year, averaging $67.12 per barrel in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $50.45 per barrel in the same quarter of 2009. Gas prices during the second quarter of 2010 averaged $4.91 per Mcf, compared to $4.44 per Mcf during the same quarter of 2009, an increase of 11%. Zloty denominated gas prices were slightly lower in the 2010 second quarter than in the same quarter of 2009, but the quarter-to-quarter stronger Polish zloty resulted in increased U.S. dollar prices.
Clay Newton, FX’s Vice President Finance, remarked, “It is unfortunate that the non-cash charges for intercompany foreign exchange accounting continue to mask our significant progress. Nevertheless, our cash operating results and oil and gas production for the first half set several new positive records for us. Excluding these non-cash charges, our earnings per share would have been a positive $0.04 compared to a loss of $(0.16) for last year’s first half results. Our cash flow from operating activities rose a substantial $12.5 million. These very positive results are not just improving our operating statement, but our balance sheet as well. Our working capital jumped by 65% during the first half to $5.7 million, which enhances our ability to fund exploration.”
Six Month Results
The Company reported a net loss of $(21.2) million, or $(0.49) per share, for the first six months of 2010. Excluding non-cash foreign currency exchange losses of $(23.0) million, the Company would have recorded net income for the first six months of 2010 of $1.8 million, or $0.04 per share, compared to a net loss, adjusted for foreign exchange losses, of $(6.6) million, or $(0.16) per share reported in the first six months of 2009.
Oil and gas revenues for the 2010 first six months were more than double those recorded during the same period of 2009. The Company recognized oil and gas revenues of $11.5 million for the first six months of 2010, compared to $3.6 million for the same period of 2009. Total revenues for the first six months of 2010 were $12.3 million, compared to $4.2 million in the first six months of 2009. Natural gas production in Poland was 1,838 Mmcf during the first six months of 2010, compared to 516 Mmcf during the same period of 2009.
Oil prices increased 61% over the year, averaging $67.59 per barrel in the first half of 2010, compared to $42.08 per barrel in the same period of 2009. Gas prices during the first half of 2010 averaged $5.15 per Mcf, compared to $4.38 per Mcf during the same period of 2009, an increase of 18%. Zloty denominated gas prices were slightly lower in the 2010 first half than in the same period of 2009, but the stronger Polish zloty resulted in increased U.S. dollar prices.
Cash Flow and EBITDAX Set First Half Records; Non-cash Charges Continue to Vary
Net cash provided from operating activities of $5.0 million during the 2010 first half increased $12.5 million from the $(7.5) million of cash used in operating activities during the first half of 2009. The Company also reported record first half 2010 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, exploration expense, and other non-cash charges (EBITDAX)(1). EBITDAX during the first half of 2010 was $6.4 million, compared to $(1.0) million in the first half of 2009. At June 30, 2010, the Company’s cash and investments were $7.1 million, with working capital of $5.7 million.
The non-cash foreign exchange charges of $23.0 million and $6.7 million for the first half of 2010 and 2009, respectively, are included in other income and expense. The charges come primarily from recognition of gains and losses on intercompany loans from FX Energy, Inc., to FX Poland, its wholly-owned subsidiary. These are non-cash losses only, and could vary greatly depending upon future exchange rate fluctuations.
Earnings Conference Call Today, Monday, August 9, 2010 at 4:30 PM. Eastern (2:30 PM. Mountain)
The Company will host a conference call and webcast today to discuss 2010 second quarter and first half results and update operational items at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Conference call information is as follows: US dial-in-number: 888-211-4495; International dial-in-number: 913-312-1389; Passcode: 6374864. Request: FX Energy, Inc. Conference Call.
The call will also be webcast live and interested parties may access the webcast through FX Energy’s homepage at www.fxenergy.com. For those that are unable to participate in the live call, a rebroadcast will be avai lable through the Company’s website for two weeks beginning one hour after the completion of the call.
About FX Energy
FX Energy is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with production in the US and Poland. The Company’s main exploration and production activity is focused on Poland’s Permian Basin where the gas-bearing Rotliegend sandstone is a direct analog to the Southern Gas Basin offshore England. The Company trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol FXEN. Website www.fxenergy.com.
(1) Explanation and Reco nciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, exploration expense, and other non-cash charges (EBITDAX) is a non-GAAP measure presented because of its acceptance as an indicator of an oil and gas exploration and production Company’s ability to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service debt. EBITDAX should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The table below reconciles EBITDAX with income from continuing operations as derived from the Company’s financial information.
| | | |
EBITDAX: | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, 2010 | | June 30, 2009 |
Net loss | $ (21,154) | | $ (13,314) |
Foreign exchange loss | 22,967 | | 6,680 |
Exploration expense | 1,525 | | 3,385 |
Depletion, depreciation and amortization | 1,106 | | 748 |
Interest expense, net | 296 | | 271 |
Other non-cash items | 1,708 | | 1,235 |
EBITDAX | $ 6,448 | | $ (995) |
______________________________
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees. For example, exploration, drilling, development, construction or other projects or operations may be subject to the successful completion of technical work; environmental, governmental or partner approvals; equipment availability, or other things that are or may be beyond the control of the Company. Operations that are anticipated, planned or scheduled may be changed, delayed, take longer than expected, fail to accomplish intended results, or not take place at all.
In carrying out exploration it is necessary to identify and evaluate risks and potential rewards. This identification and evaluation is informed by science but remains inherently uncertain. Subsurface features that appear to be possible traps may not exist at all, may be smaller than interpreted, may not contain hydrocarbons, may not contain the quantity or quality estimated, or may have reservoir conditions that do not allow adequate recovery to render a discovery commercial or profitable. Forward-looking statements about the size, potential or likelihood of discovery with respect to exploration targets are certainly not guarantees of discovery or of the actual presence or recoverability of hydrocarbons, or of the ability to produce in commercial or profitable quantities. Estimates of potential typically do not take into account all the risks of drilling and completion nor do they take into account the fact that hydrocarbon volumes are never 100% recoverable. Such estimates are part of the complex process of trying to measure and evaluate risk and reward in an uncertain industry .
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties outside FX Energy’s control. Actual events or results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional contingencies and uncertainties to which information respecting future events is subject, see FX Energy’s SEC reports or visit FX Energy’s website at www.fxenergy.com.
FX ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
| | | | | |
| June 30, | | December 31, |
| 2010 | | 2009 |
ASSETS | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 7,069 | | $ | 4,225 |
Receivables: | | | | | |
Accrued oil and gas sales | | 2,265 | | | 2,875 |
Other receivables | | 358 | | | 918 |
Inventory | | 241 | | | 232 |
Other current assets | | 159 | | | 394 |
Total current assets | | 10,092 | | | 8,644 |
| | | | | |
Property and equipment, at cost: | | | | | |
Oil and gas properties (successful efforts method) | | | | | |
Proved | | 27,584 | | | 32,700 |
Unproved | | 2,896 | | | 3,403 |
Other property and equipment | | 8,066 | | | 7,654 |
Gross property and equipment | | 38,546 | | | 43,757 |
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization | | (10,662) | | | (11,466) |
Net property and equipment | | 27,884 | | | 32,291 |
| | | | | |
Other assets: | | | | | |
Certificates of deposit | | 406 | | | 406 |
Loan fees | | 602 | | | 729 |
Total other assets | | 1,008 | | | 1,135 |
| | | | | |
Total assets | $ | 38,984 | ; | $ | 42,070 |
-Continued-
FX ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share data)
-Continued-