EXHIBIT 99.1
Gasco
- ------
Energy
For Immediate Release on Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Gasco Energy Announces Third Quarter 2009
Financial and Operational Results
DENVER, November 3, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gasco Energy (NYSE Amex: GSX)
today reported financial and operating results for the quarter ended September
30, 2009.
Third Quarter Financial Results
For the third quarter 2009, Gasco reported a net loss attributable to common
shareholders of $2.9 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, as compared to net
income attributable to common shareholders of $21.0 million, or $0.17 per
diluted share, for the same period in 2008. Included in the third quarter 2009
results are derivative losses of $1.6 million attributed to hedge effect, which
are comprised of an unrealized loss of $2.6 million partially offset by a
realized gain of $1.0 million. Included in the third quarter 2008 results are
derivative gains of $17.1 million attributed to hedge effect.
The Company reported oil and gas sales for the third quarter 2009 of $3.6
million, as compared to $9.7 million for the same period in 2008. The 63%
quarter-over-quarter decrease in oil and gas sales is primarily attributed to a
59% decrease in prices received for sales of the Company's natural gas and a 42%
decrease in prices received for oil volumes, combined with a 14% decrease in
production quarter-over-quarter. Gathering and processing revenues from Gasco's
midstream assets were $0.9 million for the third quarter 2009, as compared to
$1.2 million in the prior-year period. Total revenues for the third quarter 2009
were $4.4 million, as compared to $11.2 million in the prior-year period.
Gasco's average realized gas price including the effect of realized derivative
gains and losses was $4.06 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas (Mcf) for the
third quarter of 2009, as compared to $7.74 per Mcf for the third quarter of
2008. The Company's risk management activities increased its average gas price
by $1.05 per Mcf during the third quarter of 2009, and by $0.36 per Mcf during
the 2008 period. Prior to the impact of hedges, the Company's average price
received for its natural gas production during the third quarter of 2009 was
approximately $3.01 per Mcf, as compared to $7.38 per Mcf in the prior-year
period.
The average realized oil price was $57.53 per barrel for the third quarter of
2009, a 42% decrease from the $98.43 per barrel received during the third
quarter of 2008. Gasco does not hedge its crude oil volumes.
Unit Cost Comparisons - LOE / DD&A / G&A
Lease operating expense (LOE) for the third quarter 2009 decreased to $0.9
million from $1.2 million in the same period in 2008. On a per-unit basis, LOE
was $0.85 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (Mcfe) in the third
quarter 2009, as compared to $1.00 per Mcfe in the prior-year period. The
decrease in per-unit LOE quarter-over-quarter is attributed to reduced
production taxes ($0.23 per Mcfe lower) offset by increased operating expenses
($0.08 per Mcfe higher). The 28% decrease in total LOE in the third quarter 2009
is attributed to reduced chemical costs in well treatments, decreased workover
expense and to sharply lower commodity prices on which production taxes are
based.
Depletion, depreciation and amortization (DD&A) was $1.0 million for the third
quarter 2009, as compared to $1.7 million for the same period in 2008. On a
per-unit basis, DD&A for the third quarter 2009 was $0.94 per Mcfe, as compared
to $1.40 in the 2008 period. The 42% lower third quarter 2009 DD&A is attributed
to a decrease in the depletable base during 2009 due to impairment charges
incurred by the Company in 2009.
1
The Company reported general and administrative (G&A) expense of $1.9 million in
the third quarter 2009, versus $2.1 million in the same period in 2008, a 12%
decline quarter-over-quarter. On a per-unit basis, total G&A expense for third
quarter 2009 was $1.78 per Mcfe, as compared to $1.73 per Mcfe for the same
period in 2008. G&A expense for the third quarter 2009 includes $0.5 million of
non-cash, stock-based compensation expense, or, on a per-unit basis, $0.48 per
Mcfe, as compared to the prior-period total of $0.7 million, or $0.58 per Mcfe.
Gathering operations expense in the third quarter 2009 decreased to $0.5 million
from $1.0 million in the 2008 reporting period.
Nine-Month Period
Gasco reported a net loss attributable to common shareholders for the
nine-months ended September 30, 2009 of $50.6 million, or $0.47 per diluted
share, as compared to net income attributable to common shareholders of $15.8
million, or $0.14 per diluted share for the prior-year period. Included in the
nine-month 2009 results are derivative gains of $0.7 million attributed to hedge
effect, which are comprised of an unrealized gain of $12.8 million partially
offset by a realized loss of $12.1 million. Included in the 2009 period's
operating expenses are non-cash charges of $41.0 million related to the
impairment of the carrying value of oil and gas properties. Included in the 2008
results are net derivative gains of $5.7 million, attributed to hedge effect.
Oil and gas sales for the first nine months of 2009 were $11.2 million, as
compared to $30.7 million for the same period in 2008, a decrease of 64%. The
decrease in oil and gas sales during the first nine months of 2009 as compared
to the prior-year period is primarily attributed to a 63% decrease in prices
received for sales of the Company's natural gas and a 54% decrease in prices
received for oil volumes.
For the first nine months of 2009, total revenues were $14.3 million, as
compared to $35.1 million in the same period in 2008, a decrease of 59%. For the
first nine months of 2009, gathering system revenues accounted for $2.7 million
as compared to $3.2 million during 2008. Gathering income was $0.8 million for
2009's nine-month period, as compared to $0.5 million in the same period in
2008.
Gasco's average realized gas price for the nine-month period 2009, including the
effect of realized derivative gains and losses, was $6.86 per Mcf, as compared
to $7.70 per Mcf in 2008. The Company's risk management activities increased its
average gas price by $3.89 per Mcf during the first nine months of 2009 and
decreased its average gas price by $0.42 during the 2008 period. Prior to the
impact of hedges, the Company's average price received for its natural gas
production during the nine-month period 2009 was approximately $2.97 per Mcf, as
compared to $8.12 per Mcf in the prior-year period.
The average realized oil price was $42.67 per barrel for the nine-month period
2009, a 54% decrease from the $92.97 per barrel received in 2008. Gasco does not
hedge its crude oil volumes.
At September 30, 2009, cash and cash equivalents were $12.3 million.
Long-term debt was $34.5 million at September 30, 2009, as compared to $31.0
million at December 31, 2008. The Company currently has a $250 million credit
facility with JPMorgan, of which $35.0 million is available for borrowing
capacity and $34.5 million is drawn in borrowing and $0.5 million is drawn in
letters of credit.
Gasco's total assets at September 30, 2009 were $104.3 million, as compared to
$153.9 million at year-end 2008. Net cash provided by operating activities for
the first nine months of 2009 was $16.5 million as compared to $19.4 million for
the same period in 2008.
Production Volumes
Cumulative net production for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 was 1,044
MMcfe, as compared to the prior-year net production of 1,220 MMcfe. For the
nine-month period, Gasco produced 3,485 MMcfe, as compared to 3,610 MMcfe in
2008's nine-month period.
Risk Management
Gasco's swap agreements for 2009 through March 2011 are included below. At
recent production levels, approximately 50% of Gasco's net production volumes
were hedged through the following instruments:
2
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gasco 2009 - March 2011 Swap Agreements
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed Price Floating Price Gasco
Agreement Type Remaining Term Quantity Counterparty Payer Payer (a)
- -------------------------- -------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
Swap (b) 10/09 - 12/09 6,500 MMBtu per day $4.418 / MMBtu NW Rockies
- -------------------------- -------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
Swap (b) 1/10 - 12/10 3,500 MMBtu per day $4.418 / MMBtu NW Rockies
- -------------------------- -------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
Swap 1/10 - 3/11 3,000 MMBtu per day $4.825 / MMBtu NW Rockies
- -------------------------- -------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
Swap (b) 1/11 - 3/11 2,000 MMBtu per day $4.418 / MMBtu NW Rockies
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Northwest Pipeline Rocky Mountains -- Inside FERC first-of-month index price
(b) Weighted average price for the entire period from June 2009 through March
2011
Other News
Gasco is in discussions with prospective buyers to sell its Utah gathering
system and related processing assets. The system gathers all of Gasco's Utah
natural gas production as well as some third-party volumes. Simultaneous with
any sale of these assets, Gasco will enter into a multi-year agreement with the
new owner/operator to continue to gather all current and future production from
the Company's acreage west of the Green River in the Uinta Basin. For the first
nine months of 2009, gathering operations contributed operating income
(gathering revenue less gathering expense) of $0.8 million. A further
announcement is expected if and when a final agreement is reached, although
there can be no assurance that the Company will reach agreement with any
potential buyers.
Seventh Amendment to Credit Agreement
On October 30, 2009, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries as guarantors,
the lenders party thereto (the "Lenders") and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as
administrative agent, entered into the Seventh Amendment to Credit Agreement
(the "Seventh Amendment"), amending that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of
March 29, 2006 (as amended by the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth
Amendments thereto, and as further amended by this Seventh Amendment, the
"Credit Agreement"). Pursuant to the Seventh Amendment, the Credit Agreement was
amended, among other things, to revise the definition of "Redetermination Date"
with respect to scheduled redeterminations for the year ended December 31, 2009
to be on or about May 1 and November 30 of such year thereby delaying the
scheduled mid-year redetermination originally scheduled to occur on or about
November 1, 2009. Therefore, the scheduled mid-year redetermination of the
borrowing base pursuant to Section 3.02 of the Credit Agreement will occur on or
about November 30, 2009. With respect to any Scheduled Redeterminations in
subsequent years, however, the Redetermination Date continues to be on or about
May 1 and November 1 of each such year. Under the terms of the Credit Agreement,
in addition to the scheduled redeterminations, the Company is permitted to
request a special redetermination of the borrowing base once between each
scheduled redetermination and the Lenders are permitted to request a special
redetermination of the borrowing base once between each scheduled
redetermination.
Pursuant to the Seventh Amendment, should there be a borrowing base deficiency
after the scheduled redetermination on or about November 30, 2009, the Company
will have 30 days to eliminate such deficiency.
The foregoing description of the Seventh Amendment does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of
such agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Company's filing
on Form 10-Q dated November 3, 2009 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Q309 Results Conference Call
A conference call with investors, analysts and other interested parties is
scheduled for 11:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 to discuss third
quarter 2009 financial and operating results. You are invited to listen to the
call which will be broadcast live over the Internet.
Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Time: 11:00 a.m. EST
10:00 a.m. CST
9:00 a.m. MST
8:00 a.m. PST
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Call: (866) 392-4171 (US/Canada) and (706) 634-6345 (International),
Passcode / Conference ID #: 37293242
Internet: Live and rebroadcast over the Internet: log on to
http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=63332 or to
http://www.gascoenergy.com
Replay: Available through Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at (800) 642-1687
(US/Canada) and (706) 645-9291 (International) using passcode
37293242 and for 30 days at http://www.gascoenergy.com
About Gasco Energy
Denver-based Gasco Energy, Inc. is natural gas and petroleum exploitation,
development and production company engaged in locating and developing
hydrocarbon resources, primarily in the Rocky Mountain region. Gasco's principal
business is the acquisition of leasehold interests in petroleum and natural gas
rights, either directly or indirectly, and the exploitation and development of
properties subject to these leases. Gasco currently focuses its drilling efforts
in the Riverbend Project located in the Uinta Basin of northeastern Utah,
targeting the Wasatch, Mesaverde, Blackhawk, Mancos, Dakota and Morrison
formations. To learn more, visit http://www.gascoenergy.com.
Contact for Gasco Energy, Inc.: Investor Relations: 303-483-0044
Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements set forth in this press release relate to management's future
plans, objectives and expectations. Such statements are forward-looking within
the meanings of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements
other than statements of historical facts included in this press release,
including, without limitation, statements regarding Gasco's future financial
position, potential resources, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and
plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking
statements. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified
by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect,"
"intend," "project," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," or "continue" or the
negative thereof or similar terminology. Although any forward-looking statements
contained in this press release are to the knowledge or in the judgment of the
officers and directors of Gasco, believed to be reasonable, there can be no
assurances that any of these expectations will prove correct or that any of the
actions that are planned will be taken. Forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Gasco's actual performance
and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any
projection, estimate or forecasted result. Some of the key factors that may
cause actual results to vary from those Gasco expects include inherent
uncertainties in interpreting engineering and reserve or production data;
operating hazards; delays or cancellations of drilling operations because of
weather and other natural and economic forces; fluctuations in oil and natural
gas prices in response to changes in supply; competition from other companies
with greater resources; environmental and other government regulations; defects
in title to properties; increases in the Company's cost of borrowing or
inability or unavailability of capital resources to fund capital expenditures;
fluctuations in natural gas and oil prices; pipeline constraints; overall demand
for natural gas and oil in the United States; changes in general economic
conditions in the United States; our ability to manage interest rate and
commodity price exposure; changes in the Company's borrowing arrangements; the
condition of credit and capital markets in the United States; our ability to
complete a sale of our gas gathering system and related assets; and other risks
described under "Risk Factors" in Item 1 of the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed with the SEC on March 4, 2009
and under "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009 filed with the SEC on August
4, 2009.
Any of these factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from
the results implied by these or any other forward-looking statements made by us
or on our behalf. We cannot assure you that our future results will meet our
expectations. When you consider these forward-looking statements, you should
keep in mind these factors. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking
statements attributable to the Company, or persons acting on its behalf, are
expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Our forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date made. The Company assumes no duty to update
or revise its forward-looking statements based on changes in internal estimates
or expectations or otherwise.
4
[Financial and Operational Tables Accompany this News Release]
The notes accompanying the financial statements are an integral part of the
consolidated financial statements and can be found in Gasco's filing on Form
10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30,2009 dated November 3, 2009.
5
GASCO ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
September 30, December 31,
2009 2008
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $12,341,405 $1,053,216
Accounts receivable
Joint interest billings 375,932 5,436,636
Revenue 2,159,440 3,827,950
Inventory 1,074,587 4,177,967
Derivative instruments - 8,855,947
Prepaid expenses 8,748 188,810
----------- -----------
Total 15,960,112 23,540,526
----------- ----------
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, at cost
Oil and gas properties (full cost method)
Proved properties 253,443,888 247,976,854
Unproved properties 39,329,656 39,314,406
Wells in progress - 644,688
Gathering assets 17,784,520 17,440,680
Facilities and equipment 6,377,952 8,549,928
Furniture, fixtures and other 371,674 371,605
------------ ------------
Total 317,307,690 314,298,161
Less accumulated depletion, depreciation, amortization and impairment (230,612,237) (185,585,582)
------------- -------------
Total 86,695,453 128,712,579
------------- ------------
OTHER ASSETS
Deposit 139,500 139,500
Note receivable 500,000 -
Deferred financing costs 1,025,127 1,492,903
--------- ---------
Total 1,664,627 1,632,403
----------- -------------
TOTAL ASSETS $104,320,192 $ 153,885,508
============ =============
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GASCO ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
(Unaudited)
September 30, December 31,
2009 2008
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable $ 548,861 $5,879,150
Revenue payable 2,279,605 3,840,985
Advances from joint interest owners - 612,222
Derivative instruments 1,543,019 -
Accrued interest 1,747,144 1,187,495
Accrued expenses 848,000 1,126,000
---------- ---------
Total 6,966,629 12,645,852
---------- ----------
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
5.5% Convertible Senior Notes 65,000,000 65,000,000
Long-term debt 34,544,969 31,000,000
Derivative instruments 1,671,059 -
Asset retirement obligation 1,231,899 1,150,179
Deferred rent expense 27,063 46,589
----------- ----------
Total 102,474,990 97,196,768
----------- ----------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Series B Convertible Preferred stock - $0.001 par value; 20,000 shares
authorized; zero shares outstanding - -
Common stock - $.0001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized;
107,802,498 shares issued and 107,728,798 outstanding as of
September 30, 2009 and 107,825,998 shares issued and 107,752,298
outstanding as of December 31, 2008 10,780 10,783
Additional paid-in capital 220,842,666 219,375,369
Accumulated deficit (225,844,578) (175,212,969)
Less cost of treasury stock of 73,700 common shares (130,295) (130,295)
------------- ------------
Total (5,121,427) 44,042,888
------------- -------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) $ 104,320,192 $ 153,885,508
============= =============
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GASCO ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
----------------------------------------
2009 2008
REVENUES
Gas $ 2,952,924 $8,457,980
Oil 602,737 1,210,047
Gathering 882,195 1,248,483
Rental income - 312,344
--------- ----------
Total 4,437,856 11,228,854
--------- ----------
OPERATING EXPENSES
Lease operating 887,594 1,224,416
Gathering operations 479,668 1,004,061
Depletion, depreciation, amortization and accretion 982,182 1,702,682
Loss on sale of assets, net 155,536 -
General and administrative 1,861,101 2,113,675
--------- ---------
Total 4,366,081 6,044,834
--------- ---------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense (1,420,025) (1,248,702)
Derivative gains (losses) (1,571,682) 17,099,899
Interest income 13,203 4,681
----------- ----------
Total (2,978,504) 15,855,878
----------- ----------
NET INCOME (LOSS) $ (2,906,729) $ 21,039,898
============= ============
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
BASIC $ (0.03) $ 0.20
========== ========
DILUTED $ (0.03) $ 0.17
========== ========
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING -
BASIC 107,546,398 107,499,883
=========== ===========
DILUTED 107,546,398 125,992,710
=========== ===========
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GASCO ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
-----------------------------------------
2009 2008
REVENUES
Gas $ 9,759,682 $ 27,760,412
Oil 1,414,385 2,985,582
Gathering 2,723,325 3,236,040
Rental income 366,399 1,095,469
---------- ----------
Total 14,263,791 35,077,503
---------- ----------
OPERATING EXPENSES
Lease operating 2,667,580 4,426,517
Gathering operations 1,962,364 2,701,404
Depletion, depreciation, amortization and accretion 4,659,283 7,323,481
Impairment 41,000,000 -
Contract termination fee 4,701,000 -
Loss on sale of assets, net 834,725 -
General and administrative 5,731,145 6,788,301
---------- ----------
Total 61,556,097 21,239,703
---------- ----------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense (4,080,213) (3,727,513)
Derivative gains 721,885 5,705,394
Interest income 19,025 25,492
----------- ----------
Total (3,339,303) 2,003,373
----------- ----------
NET INCOME (LOSS) $ (50,631,609) $ 15,841,173
============== ============
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
BASIC $ (0.47) $ 0.15
============= ==============
DILUTED $ (0.47) $ 0.14
============= ==============
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING -
BASIC 107,559,351 107,195,454
=========== ===========
DILUTED 107,559,351 109,561,398
=========== ===========
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GASCO ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
----------------------------------
2009 2008
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss) $(50,631,609) $15,841,173
Adjustment to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by
operating activities
Depletion, depreciation, amortization and impairment expense 45,577,788 7,251,087
Accretion of asset retirement obligation 81,495 72,394
Stock-based compensation 1,462,110 2,236,022
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, net 12,070,025 (7,153,561)
Amortization of deferred rent expense (19,526) (7,496)
Amortization of deferred financing costs 467,776 388,675
Loss on sale of assets, net 834,725 -
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable 6,729,214 (6,962)
Inventory 3,174,505 (1,686,240)
Prepaid expenses 180,062 242,370
Accounts payable (2,122,789) (3,415,980)
Revenue payable (1,561,380) 4,314,571
Accrued interest 559,649 949,351
Accrued expenses (278,000) 407,000
---------- ----------
Net cash provided by operating activities 16,524,045 19,432,404
---------- ----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Cash paid for furniture, fixtures and other (2,297) (73,814)
Cash paid for acquisitions, development and exploration (8,666,306) (29,465,037)
Proceeds from sale of assets 500,000 7,500,000
Decrease in advances from joint interest owners (612,222) (1,348,908)
----------- ------------
Net cash used in investing activities (8,780,825) (23,387,759)
----------- ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Borrowings under line of credit 13,000,000 19,000,000
Repayment of borrowings (9,455,031) (16,000,000)
Exercise of options to purchase common stock - 1,161,284
---------- ----------
Net cash provided by financing activities 3,544,969 4,161,284
---------- ----------
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 11,288,189 205,929
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
BEGINNING OF PERIOD 1,053,216 1,843,425
----------- ----------
END OF PERIOD $ 12,341,405 $2,049,354
============ ==========
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