VAALCO ENERGY INC /DE/ (Form: 8-K, Received: 04/27/2020 08:31:29)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest reported): April 22, 2020

VAALCO Energy, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware	001-32167	76-0274813
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

9800 Richmond Avenue, Suite 700 Houston, Texas		77042
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 623-0801

Not Applicable

(Former Name or former address if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:


☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.10	EGY	New York Stock Exchange
Common Stock, par value $0.10	EGY	London Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933(§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 3.01Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

On April 22, 2020, VAALCO Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) was notified by the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) that the average closing price of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.10 per share (the “Common Stock”), over the prior 30 consecutive trading days was below $1.00 per share, which is the minimum average closing price required to maintain listing on the NYSE under Section 802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.

As required by the NYSE, the Company plans to notify the NYSE of its intent to cure the deficiency and restore its compliance with the NYSE continued listing standards. Ordinarily, the Company would have a period of six months following the receipt of the notice to regain compliance. However, pursuant to rule filing SR-NYSE-2020-36, which became immediately effective on April 21, 2020, the NYSE is providing for a longer period of time to regain compliance by tolling the applicable compliance period through June 30, 2020 for companies that have been identified as below compliance with certain continued listing requirements, including the requirement to maintain an average closing price of a security of not less than $1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. As a result, the Company has until January 1, 2021 to regain compliance.

In order to regain compliance, on the last trading day in any calendar month, the Common Stock must have (i) a closing price of at least $1.00 per share and (ii) an average closing price of at least $1.00 per share over the 30 consecutive trading-day period ending on the last trading day of such month. If the Company is unable to regain compliance, the NYSE will initiate procedures to suspend and delist the Common Stock.

The notice has no immediate impact on the listing of the Common Stock, which will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE during this period, subject to the Company’s compliance with the other listing requirements of the NYSE. The Common Stock will continue to trade under the symbol “EGY,” but will have an added designation of “.BC” to indicate the status of the Common Stock as “below compliance.”

If the Common Stock ultimately was to be delisted for any reason, it could negatively impact the Company by (i) reducing the liquidity and market price of the Company’s Common Stock; (ii) reducing the number of investors willing to hold or acquire the Common Stock, which could negatively impact the Company’s ability to raise equity financing; (iii) limiting the Company’s ability to use a registration statement to offer and sell freely tradable securities, thereby preventing the Company from accessing the public capital markets; and (iv) impairing the Company’s ability to provide equity incentives to its employees.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On April 24, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing the receipt of a notice of noncompliance from the NYSE and that the Company is currently exploring all of its options for regaining compliance. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.

The information in Item 7.01 of this report (including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto) is being furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 and shall not be deemed to be filed for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits


Exhibit No.		Description of Exhibit
99.1		Press release, dated April 24, 2020, issued by VAALCO Energy, Inc. (furnished herewith pursuant to Item 7.01).

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to 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 hereunto duly authorized.


	VAALCO Energy, Inc.
	(Registrant)


Date: April 27, 2020
	By:	/s/ Jason Doornik
	Name:	Jason Doornik
	Title:	Chief Accounting Officer and Controller

Exhibit 99.1

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. RECEIVES CONTINUED LISTING STANDARD NOTICE FROM NYSE

HOUSTON – April 24, 2020 – VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY; LSE: EGY) (“VAALCO” or the “Company”) today announced that on April 22, 2020, the Company was notified by the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) that the price of the Company’s common stock has fallen below the NYSE’s continued listing standards. The NYSE requires that the average closing price of a listed company’s common stock not be less than $1.00 per share for a period of over 30 consecutive trading days.

Under the NYSE rules, VAALCO can regain compliance if on the last trading day in any calendar month the common stock has (i) a closing price of at least $1.00 per share and (ii) an average closing price of at least $1.00 per share over the 30 consecutive trading-day period ending on the last trading day of such month. As required by the NYSE, the Company plans to notify the NYSE of its intent to cure the deficiency and restore its compliance with the NYSE continued listing standards. The Company is committed to working with the NYSE to regain compliance and maintain the listing of its common stock. The Company has until January 1, 2021 to regain compliance with the NYSE’s continued listing standards under recently adopted rules by the NYSE that permit listed companies additional time to regain compliance due to the current economic environment.

The notice has no immediate impact on the listing of the common stock, which will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE during this period, subject to the Company’s compliance with the other listing requirements of the NYSE. The NYSE notification does not affect VAALCO’s business operations, its Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements or its listing on the London Stock Exchange.

About VAALCO

VAALCO, founded in 1985, is a Houston, USA based, independent energy company with production, development and exploration assets in the West African region.

The Company is an established operator within the region, holding a 31.1% working interest in the Etame Marin Block, located offshore Gabon, which to date has produced over 114 million barrels of crude oil and of which the Company is the operator.

For Further Information

VAALCO Energy, Inc. (General and Investor Enquiries)	+00 1 713 623 0801
Website:	www.vaalco.com





Al Petrie Advisors (US Investor Relations)	+00 1 713 543 3422
Al Petrie / Chris Delange

Buchanan (UK Financial PR)	+44 (0) 207 466 5000
Ben Romney / Kelsey Traynor / James Husband	VAALCO@buchanan.uk.com

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning 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 that address activities, events, plans, expectations, objectives or developments that VAALCO expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements regarding well results, wells anticipated to be drilled and placed on production, future levels of drilling and operational activity and associated expectations, future levels of revenues, the implementation of the Company's business plans and strategy, prospect evaluations, prospective resources and reserve growth, the Company’s ability to regain compliance with the NYSE’s continued listing standards and the continued trading of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE, as well as statements including the words "believe," "expect," "plans" and words of similar meaning. These statements are based on assumptions made by VAALCO based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Actual future results, including project plans and schedules and resource recoveries could differ materially due to changes in market conditions affecting the oil and gas industry or long-term oil and gas price levels, political or regulatory developments, reservoir performance, the outcome of future exploration and development efforts, technical or operating factors, inflation, general economic conditions, the Company's success in discovering, developing and producing reserves, production and sales differences due to timing of liftings, decisions by future lenders, the risks associated with liquidity, lack of availability of goods, services and capital, environmental risks, drilling risks, foreign regulatory and operational risks, and regulatory changes. There are no assurances the Company can develop probable or possible reserves, or that if developed, probable reserves will become producing reserves to the level of estimates.

These and other risks are further described in VAALCO's annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) which can be reviewed at http://www.sec.gov, or which can be received by contacting VAALCO at 9800 Richmond Avenue, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77042, (713) 623-0801. VAALCO disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.