The FINANCIAL — Chesapeake Energy Corporation on May 5 reported financial and operational results for the 2016 first quarter. Highlights include:
Signed agreement to sell approximately 42,000 net acres prospective for the STACK play in Oklahoma for approximately $470 million; includes current production of 3,800 boe per day
2016 first quarter production averaged approximately 672,400 boe per day, an increase of 1% year over year, adjusted for asset sales
Improved 2016 first quarter cost performance leads to lower full-year 2016 production expense and GP&T expense guidance
Financial strategy remains focused on maximizing liquidity and liability management; company reiterates target of $1.2 to $1.7 billion total gross proceeds from asset divestitures by year-end
Doug Lawler, Chesapeake’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Chesapeake is delivering on all four of the focus points for 2016 that we stated in February: maximizing liquidity, optimizing our portfolio, increasing cash flow and reducing debt. We are pleased this morning to announce approximately $500 million of incremental asset sales above the $700 million we announced in late February. The STACK acreage sale we are announcing today accelerates value from a portion of our undeveloped acreage that currently generates very little cash flow, giving us the ability to enhance current liquidity. This transaction contributes substantially to achieving our previously announced target of an incremental $500 million to $1 billion of asset sales by year-end. We anticipate subsequent divestitures during the second and third quarters.
“Our cash costs continue to decline, and we remain sharply focused on improving our margins through continued progress with our midstream and downstream partners. As a result, we have recognized incremental improvements in both our production expense and our total gathering, processing and transportation expenses and revised our 2016 guidance accordingly. Additionally, since January 1, 2016, we have reduced debt that matures or can be put to us in 2017 by approximately $282 million. Our recently amended revolving credit facility agreement gives us sufficient liquidity and capacity to pursue additional reductions of our near-term maturities as opportunities arise.”
2016 First Quarter Results
For the 2016 first quarter, Chesapeake reported a net loss available to common stockholders of $964 million, or $1.44 per fully diluted share. The primary driver of the net loss was a noncash impairment of the carrying value of Chesapeake’s oil and natural gas properties of approximately $853 million, largely resulting from decreases in the trailing 12-month average first-day-of-the-month oil and natural gas prices as of March 31, 2016, compared to December 31, 2015. Adjusting for items that are typically excluded by securities analysts, including the impairment discussed above, the 2016 first quarter adjusted net loss available to common stockholders was $120 million, or $0.10 per fully diluted share. Reconciliations of financial measures calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles to adjusted measures that are typically calculated by securities analysts are provided on pages 10 – 12 of this release.
Chesapeake’s 2016 first quarter revenues declined by 39% year over year, primarily due to a decrease in the average realized commodity prices received for its production. Revenue declines due to lower commodity prices were partially offset by improvements to the company’s production expenses and general and administrative (G&A) expenses. Average daily production for the 2016 first quarter of approximately 672,400 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) increased 1%, adjusted for asset sales, and consisted of approximately 95,700 barrels (bbls) of oil, 3.036 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas and 70,700 bbls of natural gas liquids (NGL).
Chesapeake’s cash expenses continue to decline due to its focus on cost discipline. Average production expenses during the 2016 first quarter were $3.36 per boe, a decrease of 31% from the 2015 first quarter. G&A expenses (including stock-based compensation) during the 2016 first quarter were $0.79 per boe, a decrease of 13% from the 2015 first quarter. Sequentially, the company’s 2016 first quarter production expenses per boe and G&A expenses per boe (including stock-based compensation) declined 7% and 23%, respectively, compared to the 2015 fourth quarter. As a result of the company’s cost reductions, Chesapeake has lowered its full-year 2016 guidance for production expenses, according to Chesapeake Energy Corporation.
As of March 31, 2016, Chesapeake’s debt principal balance was approximately $9.4 billion, including approximately $367 million of borrowings outstanding on the company’s $4.0 billion revolving credit facility, compared to $9.7 billion as of December 31, 2015, and $11.5 billion as of March 31, 2015. Since January 1, 2016, the company retired its 3.25% Senior Notes due March 15, 2016, and has repurchased or exchanged approximately $282 million of debt due or putable in 2017 at an average discount of approximately 39%.
In April, Chesapeake amended its $4.0 billion revolving credit facility maturing in 2019 to reaffirm its borrowing base, restructure financial covenants and increase its ability to issue secured debt. Under the new amendment, Chesapeake agreed to pledge additional assets as collateral. As part of the amendment, the next scheduled borrowing base redetermination review has been postponed until June 2017. Letters of credit issued under the credit facility were approximately $619 million as of March 31, 2016, which included a $461 million supersedeas bond supporting the company’s appeal of the judgment issued in 2015 with respect to the company’s 2019 Notes litigation.
Asset Divestitures Update
In 2016, Chesapeake has closed or has under signed sales agreements approximately $1.2 billion in gross proceeds from asset divestitures, or approximately $950 million in net proceeds after certain related repurchases of Volumetric Production Payment (VPP) obligations are met. Transactions signed since February 2016 include the sale of a portion of the company’s acreage and producing properties in its STACK play in northern Oklahoma for approximately $470 million to Newfield Exploration Company (NYSE: NFX). Included in the sale are approximately 42,000 net acres and 400 producing wells which are currently producing 3,800 boe per day (approximately 55% liquids), net to Chesapeake. Substantially all of the company’s announced asset divestitures are expected to close by the end of the third quarter. For the expected $950 million in net proceeds currently closed or signed in 2016, the net impact to the company’s production is projected to be a reduction of approximately 35,000 boe per day (approximately 60% natural gas).
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