UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 





 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



For the quarterly period ended March 31 , 201 6  

OR





 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 001-16317  

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)





 

 



 

 

DELAWARE

 

95-4079863

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)



 

 

717 TEXAS AVENUE , SUITE 2900

HOUSTON, TEXAS

 

77002

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

(713) 236-7400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 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       No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, 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       No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):





 

 

 

 

Large accelerated filer

 

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

 

Smaller reporting company



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes       No  

The total number of shares of common stock, par value $0.04 per share, outstanding as of May 6 , 201 6   was 19 , 586 , 187 .

1

 


 

 

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

FOR THE THREE   MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 , 201 6  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 





 

 



 

 

 

 

Page



PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Consolidated Financial Statements

 



Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 201 5



Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three   months ended March 31 , 201 6 and 201 5



Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the three   months ended March 31 , 201 6 and 201 5



Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity (unaudited) for the three   months ended March 31, 201 6



Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

19 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

27 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

28



 

 



PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

28

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

28

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

28

Item 3.

Defaults upon Senior Securities

28

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

28

Item 5.

Other Information

29

Item 6.

Exhibits

29



All references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to the “Company”, “Contango”, “we”, “us” or “our” are to Contango Oil & Gas Company and its subsidiaries.

2

 


 

 





Item 1.   Consolidated Financial Statements

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except shares)









 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

March 31,

 

December 31,



 

2016

 

2015



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

(unaudited)

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

13,200 

 

 

20,504 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

856 

 

 

1,228 

Current derivative asset

 

 

2,696 

 

 

 —

Inventory

 

 

540 

 

 

540 

Total current assets

 

 

17,292 

 

 

22,272 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas and oil properties, successful efforts method of accounting:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved properties

 

 

1,194,095 

 

 

1,187,707 

Unproved properties

 

 

12,452 

 

 

16,439 

Other property and equipment

 

 

1,081 

 

 

1,081 

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

(842,854)

 

 

(826,022)

Total property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

364,774 

 

 

379,205 

OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in affiliates

 

 

14,262 

 

 

14,222 

Other

 

 

906 

 

 

1,057 

Total other non-current assets

 

 

15,168 

 

 

15,279 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

397,234 

 

$

416,756 



 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

30,065 

 

$

36,358 

Current asset retirement obligations

 

 

4,444 

 

 

4,603 

Total current liabilities

 

 

34,509 

 

 

40,961 

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

 

112,182 

 

 

115,446 

Asset retirement obligations

 

 

22,830 

 

 

22,506 

Total non-current liabilities

 

 

135,012 

 

 

137,952 

Total liabilities

 

 

169,521 

 

 

178,913 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.04 par value, 50  million shares authorized, 24,677,584 shares issued and 19,393,001 shares outstanding at March 31, 2016, 24,636,936 shares issued and 19,381,146 shares outstanding at December 31, 2015

 

 

975 

 

 

974 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

241,025 

 

 

239,524 

Treasury shares at cost ( 5,284,583 shares at March 31, 2016 and 5,255,790 shares at December 31, 2015)

 

 

(127,988)

 

 

(127,760)

Retained earnings

 

 

113,701 

 

 

125,105 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

227,713 

 

 

237,843 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

397,234 

 

$

416,756 





The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements









3

 


 

 



CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)  







 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended



 

March 31,



 

2016

 

2015



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

(unaudited)

REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and condensate sales

 

$

5,247 

 

$

10,694 

Natural gas sales

 

 

9,935 

 

 

16,823 

Natural gas liquids sales

 

 

2,400 

 

 

3,130 

Total revenues

 

 

17,582 

 

 

30,647 

EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

 

7,604 

 

 

9,911 

Exploration expenses

 

 

320 

 

 

4,483 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

16,545 

 

 

35,115 

Impairment and abandonment of oil and gas properties

 

 

1,851 

 

 

2,281 

General and administrative expenses

 

 

5,902 

 

 

7,828 

Total expenses

 

 

32,222 

 

 

59,618 

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain from investment in affiliates (net of income taxes)

 

 

40 

 

 

558 

Interest expense

 

 

(878)

 

 

(695)

Gain on derivatives, net

 

 

4,204 

 

 

 —

Other expense

 

 

(40)

 

 

(5)

Total other income (expense)

 

 

3,326 

 

 

(142)

NET LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

 

(11,314)

 

 

(29,113)

Income tax benefit (provision)

 

 

(90)

 

 

10,549 

NET LOSS

 

$

(11,404)

 

$

(18,564)

NET LOSS PER SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.60)

 

$

(0.98)

Diluted

 

$

(0.60)

 

$

(0.98)

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

19,079 

 

 

18,939 

Diluted

 

 

19,079 

 

 

18,939 



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

4

 


 

 





CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)  







 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended



 

March 31,



 

2016

 

2015



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

(unaudited)

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(11,404)

 

$

(18,564)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

16,545 

 

 

35,115 

Impairment of natural gas and oil properties

 

 

1,872 

 

 

2,305 

Exploration expenses

 

 

(58)

 

 

3,216 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 —

 

 

(10,455)

Gain from investment in affiliates

 

 

(40)

 

 

(858)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

1,699 

 

 

1,140 

Unrealized gain on derivative instruments

 

 

(2,696)

 

 

 —

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in accounts receivable and other receivables

 

 

6,971 

 

 

3,465 

Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses

 

 

372 

 

 

(2,577)

Decrease in accounts payable and advances from joint owners

 

 

(5,458)

 

 

(16,791)

Increase (decrease) in other accrued liabilities

 

 

175 

 

 

(2,030)

Decrease in income taxes receivable, net

 

 

368 

 

 

200 

Other

 

 

(18)

 

 

(1)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

$

8,328 

 

$

(5,835)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas and oil exploration and development expenditures

 

$

(4,836)

 

$

(35,262)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(4,836)

 

$

(35,262)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings under credit facility

 

$

45,167 

 

$

122,039 

Repayments under credit facility

 

 

(48,431)

 

 

(80,935)

Purchase of treasury stock

 

 

(228)

 

 

(7)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

$

(3,492)

 

$

41,097 

NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

 

$

 —

 

$

 —



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements



5

 


 

 





CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands, except number of shares)

 







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total



 

Common Stock

 

Paid-in

 

Treasury

 

Retained

 

Shareholders’



 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Stock

 

Earnings

 

Equity



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

(unaudited)

Balance at December 31, 2015

 

19,381,146 

 

$

974 

 

$

239,524 

 

$

(127,760)

 

$

125,105 

 

$

237,843 

Treasury shares at cost

 

(28,793)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(228)

 

 

 —

 

 

(228)

Restricted shares activity

 

40,648 

 

 

 

 

(1)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Stock-based compensation

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

1,502 

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

1,502 

Net loss

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(11,404)

 

 

(11,404)

Balance at March 31, 2016

 

19,393,001 

 

$

975 

 

$

241,025 

 

$

(127,988)

 

$

113,701 

 

$

227,713 



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

6

 


 

 



CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. Organization and Business

Contango Oil & Gas Company (collectively with its subsidiaries, “Contango” or the “Company”) is a Houston, Texas based, independent oil and natural gas company. The Company’s business is to maximize production and cash flow in order to explore, develop, exploit , produce and acquire crude oil and natural gas properties in the onshore Texas Gulf Coast and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States.

The following table lists the Company’s primary producing areas as of March 31, 2016:



 

 

Location

 

Formation

Gulf of Mexico

 

Offshore Louisiana - water depths less than 300 feet

Madison and Grimes counties, Texas

 

Woodbine (Upper Lewisville)

Zavala and Dimmit counties, Texas

 

Buda / Austin Chalk

Weston County, Wyoming

 

Muddy Sandstone

Texas Gulf Coast

 

Conventional formations

Sublette County, Wyoming

 

Jonah Field (1)

(1)

Through a 37% equity investment in Exaro Energy III LLC (“Exaro”).  Production associated with this investment is not included in the Company’s reported production results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 .

Additionally, the Company has (i) operated properties producing from various conventional formations in various counties along the Texas Gulf Coast; (ii ) operated producing properties in the Denver Julesburg Basin (“DJ Basin”) in Weld and Adams counties in Colorado, which the Company believes may also be prospective in the Niobrara Shale oil play; and (i ii ) operated producing properties in the Haynesville Shale, Mid Bossier and James Lime formations in East Texas.  

Due to the current challenging commodity price environment , the Company intends to focus its 2016 capital program   on: (i) the preservation of its healthy financial position, including limiting its overall capital expenditure budget to a minimal amount ; (ii) focusing drilling expenditures, if any, on strategic projects; (iii) identification of opportunities for cost efficiencies in all areas of its operations; and (iv) continuing to identify new r esource potential opportunities, internally and , where appropriate,   through acquisition. The Company will continuously monitor the commodity price environment, stability and forecast, and, if warranted, make adjustments to its drilling strategy as the year progresses.

The following table lists the primary area to which the Company   has allocated drilling capital for 20 16 :





 

 

Location

 

Formation

Weston County, Wyoming

 

Muddy Sandstone

In addition, we have allocated some geological and geophysical and leasehold capital to Madison and Grimes counties, Texas and Weston County, Wyoming.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accounting policies followed by the Company are set forth in the notes to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 201 5 (the “201 5 Form 10-K”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Please refer to the notes to the financial statements included in the 201 5   Form 10-K for additional details of the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. No material item s included in those notes have changed except as a result of normal transactions in the interim or as disclosed within this report.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC , including instructions to Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the unaudited consolidated financial statements have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The consolidated financial statements

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should be read in conjunction with the 201 5   Form 10-K. The consolidated results of operations for the three   months ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 201 6 .

The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Contango Oil & Gas Company and its subsidiaries, after elimination of all material intercompany balances and transactions. All wholly-owned subsidiaries are consolidated. Republic Exploration LLC (“REX”), a p artially-owned oil and gas explor ation and development affiliate which is not controlled by the Company ,   w as proportionately consolidated prior to its dissolution as of December 31, 2015 .   The investment in Exaro by our wholly-owned subsidiary, Contaro Company (“Contaro”) is accounted for using the equity method of accounting, and therefore, the Company does not include its share of individual operating results , reserves   or production in those reported for the Company’s consolidated results.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Pursuant to GAAP, when circumstances indicate that proved properties may be impaired, the Company compares expected undiscounted future cash flows on a field by field basis to the unamortized capitalized cost of the asset. If the estimated future undiscounted cash flows based on the Company’s estimate of future reserves, natural gas and oil prices , operating costs and production levels from oil and natural gas reserves, are lower than the unamortized capitalized cost, then the capitalized cost is reduced to fair value. The factors used to determine fair value include, but are not limited to, estimates of proved and probable reserves, future commodity prices, the timing of future production and capital expenditures and a discount rate commensurate with the risk reflective of the lives remaining for the respective oil and gas properties . Additionally, the Company may use appropriate market data to determine fair value.   The Company recognized approximately   $ 0 . 7   million for impairment of proved properties for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 . Substantially all of the non-cash impairment charge in the quarter ended March 31, 2016 is directly related to the decline in commodity prices and the resulting impact on estimated future net cash flows from associated reserves. The Company recognized a $2.0 million impairment of small marginal proved properties for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 .  

Unproved properties are reviewed quarterly to determine if there has been impairment of the carrying value, with any such impairment charged to expense in the period.   The Company recognized impairment expense of approximately $ 1 . 1 million   for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 ,   related to partial impairment of certain unproved properties due primarily to the sustained low commodity price environment and expiring leases ;   s ubstantially all  o f   which is related to unproved lease cost amortization of the Elm Hill project in Fayette and Gonzales counties Texas.   The Company recognized impairment expense of approximately $0.2 million for the quarter ended March 31 , 201 5 , related to partial impairment of certain unproved properties due to expiring leases.

Net Loss Per Common Share

Basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing the net   loss attributable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net   loss per common share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. Potential dilutive securities, including unexercised stock options and unvested restricted stock, have not been considered when their effect would be antidilutive. For the quarter ended March 31 , 201 6 ,   116,461 stock options and 284,528 restricted shares were excluded from dilutive shares due to the loss for the period. For the quarter ended March 31, 2015 ,   1 29,852   stock options and 456,528 restricted shares were excluded from dilutive shares due to the loss for the period .  

Subsidiary Guarantees

Contango Oil & Gas Company, as the parent company (the “Parent Company”), has filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC to register, among other securities, debt securities that the Parent Company may issue from time to time. Any such debt securities would likely be guaranteed on a full and unconditional basis by each of the Company’s current subsidiaries and any future subsidiaries specified in any future prospectus supplement (each a “Subsidiary Guarantor”) .   Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors is wholly-owned by the Parent Company, either directly or indirectly. The Parent Company has no assets or operations independent of the Subsidiary Guarantors, and there are no significant restrictions upon the ability of the Subsidiary Guarantors to distribute funds to the Parent Company. The Parent Company has one wholly-owned subsidi ary that is inactive and not a Subsidiary G uarantor. Finally, the Parent Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries do not have restricted assets that exceed 25% of net assets as of the most recent fiscal year end that may not be transferred to the Parent Company in the form of loans, advances or cash dividends by such subsidiary without the consent of a third party.



Recent Accounting Pronouncements  

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09: Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (ASU 2016-09). ASU 2016-09 is part of an initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. The areas of simplification in ASU 2016-09 involve several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. For public entities, ASU 2016-09 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years; early application is

8

 


 

 

permitted. The Company will continue to assess the impact this may have on its financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02: Leases (Topic 842) (ASU 2016-02). The main objective of ASU 2016-02 is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The main difference between previous GAAP and Topic 842 is the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases. ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 further defines a lease as a contract that conveys the right to control the use of identified property, plant, or equipment for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control over the use of the identified asset means that the customer has both (1) the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefit from the use of the asset and (2) the right to direct the use of the asset. ASU 2016-02 requires disclosures by lessees and lessors to meet the objective of enabling users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. In transition, lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. For public entities, ASU 2016-02 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years; early application is permitted. The Company will continue to assess the impact this may have on its financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

In January 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01: Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (ASU 2016-01). The main objective of ASU 2016-01 is enhancing the reporting model for financial instruments to provide users of financial statements with more decision-useful information. The amendments in ASU 2016-01 make targeted improvements to GAAP by: (i) requiring equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (ii) simplifying the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment; (iii) exempting all non-public business entities from disclosing fair value information for financial instruments measured at amortized cost; (iv) eliminating requirement for public business entities to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet: (v) requiring public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; (vi) requiring separate presentation in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument- specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments; (vii) requiring separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset; and (viii) clarifying that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. For public entities, ASU 2016-01 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years; early application is permitted. The provisions of this accounting update are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Further, management is closely monitoring the joint standard-setting efforts of the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board. There are a large number of pending accounting standards that are being targeted for completion in 2016 and beyond. Because these pending standards have not yet been finalized, management is not able to determine the potential future impact that these standards will have, if any, on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

3 . Fair Value Measurements

Pursuant to A ccounting S tandards C odification 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820), the Company's determination of fair value incorporates not only the credit standing of the counterparties involved in transactions with the Company resulting in receivables on the Company's consolidated balance sheets, but also the impact of the Company's nonperformance risk on its own liabilities. ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy assigns the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). Level 2 measurements are inputs that are observable for assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly, other than quoted prices included within Level 1. The Company utilizes market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable. The Company classifies fair value balances based on the observability of those inputs.

The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value as of March 31, 2016 .   As required by ASC 820, a financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company's assessment of the

9

 


 

 

significance of a particular input to the fair valu e measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. There have been no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3.

Fair value information for financial assets and liabilities was as follows as of March 31, 2016 (in thousands):





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Total

 

Fair Value Measurements Using



 

Carrying Value

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

Derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity price contracts - assets

 

$

2,696 

 

$

 —

 

$

2,696 

 

$

 —

Commodity price contracts - liabilities

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

Derivatives listed above are recorded in “ Current derivative asset on the Company’s consolidated balance s heet and include swaps that are carried at fair value. The Company records the net change in the fair value of these positions in " Gain (l oss ) on derivatives, net" in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. The Company is able to value the assets and liabilities based on observable market data for similar instruments, which resulted in the Company reporting its derivatives as Level 2. This observable data includes the forward curves for commodity prices based on quoted markets prices and implied volatility factors related to changes in the forward curves. As of December 31, 201 5 , there were no outstanding commodity price contracts. See Note 4 - "Derivative Instruments" for additional discussion of derivatives.

As of March 31, 2016 , the Company's derivative contracts were with major financial institutions with investment grade credit ratings which are believed to have minimal credit risk. As such, the Company is exposed to credit risk to the extent of nonperformance by the counterparties in the derivative contracts discussed above; however, the Company does not anticipate such nonperformance.

Estimates of the fair value of financial instruments are made in accordance with the requirements of ASC 825, Financial Instruments. The estimated fair value amounts are determined at discrete points in time based on relevant market information. These estimates involve uncertainties and cannot be determined with precision. The estimated fair value of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature. The estimated fair value of the Company's credit f acility with the Royal Bank of Canada and other lenders (the “RBC Credit Facility”) approximates carrying value because the facility interest rate approximates current market rates and is re set at least every three months. See Note 8 - "Long-Term Debt" for further information.

Impairments

Contango tests proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment when events and circumstances indicate a decline in the recoverability of the carrying value of such properties, such as a downward revision of the reserve estimates or lower commodity prices. The Company estimates the undiscounted future cash flows expected in connection with the oil and gas properties on a field by field basis and compares such future cash flows to the unamortized capitalized costs of the properties. If the estimated future undiscounted cash flows are lower than the unamortized capitalized cost, the capitalized cost is reduced to its fair value. The factors used to determine fair value include, but are not limited to, estimates of proved and probable reserves, future commodity prices, the timing of future production and capital expenditures and a discount rate commensurate with the risk reflective of the lives remaining for the respective oil and gas properties. Additionally, the Company may use appropriate market data to determine fair value. Because these significant fair value inputs are typically not observable, impairments of long-lived assets are classified as a Level 3 fair value measure.

Asset Retirement Obligations

The initial measurement of asset retirement obligations at fair value is calculated using discounted cash flow techniques and based on internal estimates of future retirement costs associated with oil and gas properties. The factors used to determine fair value include, but are not limited to, estimated future plugging and abandonment costs and expected lives of the related reserves .

4. Derivative Instruments

The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations, such as commodity price risk. Derivative contracts are typically utilized to hedge the Company's exposure to price fluctuations and reduce the variability in the Company's cash flows associated with anticipated sales of future oil and natural gas production. The Company typically hedges a substantial, but varying, portion of anticipated oil and natural gas production for future periods. The Company believes that these derivative arrangements, although not free of risk, allow it to achieve a more predictable cash flow and to reduce exposure to commodity price fluctuations. However, derivative arrangements limit the benefit of increases in the prices of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales. Moreover, because its derivative arrangements apply only to a portion of its production, the Company’s strategy provides only partial protection against declines in commodity prices. Such arrangements may expose the

10

 


 

 

Company to risk of financial loss in certain circumstances. The Company continuously reevaluates its hedging programs in light of changes in production, market conditions and commodity price forecasts.

As of March 31, 2016 , the Company’s natural gas derivative positions consisted of “ swaps”.  Swaps are designed so that the Company receives or makes payments based on a differential between fixed and variable prices for crude oil and natural gas .  

It is the Company's policy to enter into derivative contracts only with counterparties that are creditworthy institutions deemed by management as competent and competitive market makers. The Company does not post collateral, nor is exposed to potential margin calls, under any of these contracts as they are secured under the RBC Credit Facility. See Note 8 - "Long-Term Debt" for further information regarding the RBC Credit Facility.

The Company has elected not to designate any of its derivative contracts for hedge accounting. Accordingly, derivatives are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets as assets or liabilities, with the changes in the fair value included in the consolidated statements of operations for the period in which the change occurs. The Company records the net change in the mark-to-market valuation of these derivative contracts, as well as all payments and receipts on settled derivative contracts, in " Gain (l oss ) on derivatives, net" on the consolidated statements of operations.

The following swaps were in place at March 31 , 201 6 (fair value in thousands):









 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity

 

Period

 

Derivative

 

Volume/Month

 

Price/Unit (1)

 

Fair Value

Natural Gas

 

Apr 2016 - Jul 2016

 

Swap

 

1,300,000 MMBtu

 

$2.53

 

 

2,665 

Natural Gas

 

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016

 

Swap

 

250,000 MMBtu

 

$2.53

 

 

212 

Natural Gas

 

Nov 2016 - Dec 2016

 

Swap

 

1,300,000 MMBtu

 

$2.53

 

 

(181)



 

 

 

Total net fair value of derivative instruments

 

$

2,696 



(1)

Commodity price derivatives based on Henry Hub NYMEX natural gas prices .



The following summarizes the fair value of commodity derivatives outstanding on a gro ss and net basis as of March 31 ,   201 6 (in thousands):



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Gross

 

Netting   (1)

 

Total

Assets

 

$

2,961 

 

$

(265)

 

$

2,696 

Liabilities

 

$

(265)

 

$

265 

 

$

 —



(1)

Represents counterparty netting under agreements governing such derivatives.

As of December 31, 201 5 , the Company did not have any outstanding derivative positions.

The following table summarizes the effect of derivative contracts on the c onsolidated s tatements of o perations for the quarter ended March 31 , 201 6   (in thousands):





 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

 

Three Months Ended



 

 

March 31, 2016

Crude oil contracts

 

 

$

 —

Natural gas contracts

 

 

 

1,508 

Realized gain (loss)

 

 

$

1,508 



 

 

 

 

Crude oil contracts

 

 

$

 —

Natural gas contracts

 

 

 

2,696 

Unrealized gain

 

 

$

2,696 

Gain (loss) on derivatives, net

 

 

$

4,204 



There were no gains or losses related to derivative instruments for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

11

 


 

 

In April 2016, the Company entered into the following financial derivative contracts with a member of its bank group:





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity

 

Period

 

Derivative

 

Volume/Month

 

Put Price/Unit

 

Call Price/Unit

Natural Gas

 

Jan 2017 - Jul 2017

 

Collar

 

400,000 MMBtu

 

$2.65

 

$3.00

Natural Gas

 

Aug 2017 - Oct 2017

 

Collar

 

200,000 MMBtu

 

$2.65

 

$3.00

Natural Gas

 

Nov 2017 - Dec 2017

 

Collar

 

400,000 MMBtu

 

$2.65

 

$3.00

A costless collar consists of a purchased put option and a sold call option , which establishes a minimum and maximum price , respectively, that the Company will receive for the volumes under the contr act .

5. Stock-Based Compensation

During the quarter ended March 31, 2016 , the Company had a stock-based compensation program in effect which allows for stock options and/or restricted stock to be awarded to officers, directors, consultants and employees. This program includes (i) the Company's Amended and Restated 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2009 Plan”); and (ii) the Crimson 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan” or "Crimson Plan"), which e xpired on February 25, 2015.

Effective September 1, 2015, all employees and board members entered into a salary replacement program (the “Salary Replacement Program”) which is expected to continue through December 31, 2016. The Salary Replacement Program reduces all office employees’ base salary by 10% and all board of director retainer and committee chairman fees by 10% and replaces annually the portion of the salary/fees being reduced with common stock in a number of shares commensurate with the salary/fees reduction amount.

Stock Options

Under the fair value method of accounting for stock options, cash flows from the exercise of stock options resulting from tax benefits in excess of recognized cumulative compensation cost (excess tax benefits) are classified as financing cash flows. For the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 , there was no excess tax benefit recognized.

Compensation expense related to stock option grants are recognized over the stock option’s vesting period based on the fair value at the date the options are granted. The fair value of each option is estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes options-pricing model. No stock options were granted during the quarters ended March 31 , 201 6 or 201 5 .

During the quarter ended March 31, 2016 ,   no stock options were exercised and no   stock options were forfeited. During the quarter ended March 31 , 2 015 ,   no stock options were exercised and stock options for 82 shares of common stock were forfeited.

Restricted Stock

During the quarter ended March 31, 2016 , the Company granted 40,688 shares of restricted common stock under the 2009 Plan. Of these, 38,943 shares were granted to employees, which vest ed   immediately , and 1,745 shares were granted to directors, which vest ed   immediately ; all of which were granted pursuant to the Salary Replacement Program. The weighted average fair value of the restricted shares granted during the quarter ended March 31, 2016 , was $ 6 . 40 with a total fair value of approximately $ 0 . 3 million after adjustment for an estimated weighted average forfeiture rate of 0 . 0 % .   During the quarter ended March 31, 2016, 40 restricted shares were forfeited by former employees. The aggregate intrinsic value of restricted shares forfeited during the quarter ended March 31, 2016 was approximately $ 1 thousand. Approximately 0. 8 million shares remain available for grant under the 2009 Plan as of March 31 , 201 6 .

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company granted 241 , 121 shares of restricted common stock under the 2009 Plan   to newly hired and promoted employees as part of their overall compensation package , which vest over four years .   Additionally, t he Company issued the final 7, 030 shares of restricted stock under the 200 5 Plan to employees as part of their compensation package, which vest over four years. The weighted average fair value of the restricted shares granted during the quarter ended March 31, 20 15 , was $ 31 . 31 with a total fair value of approximately $ 7.8 million after adjustment for an estimated weighted average forfeiture rate of 5.2 % . During the quarter ended March 31, 20 15 ,   708 restricted shares were forfeited by former employees. The aggregate intrinsic value of restricted shares forfeited during the quarter ended March 31, 20 15 was approximately $ 34 thousand .

T he Company recognized approximately $ 1 . 7 million and $1.1 million in stock compensation expense during the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, for restricted shares granted to its officers, employees and directors.   As of March 31, 2016 , an additional $ 6 . 0 million of compensation expense remained to be recognized over the remaining weighted-average vesting period of 2 . 1 years.

12

 


 

 

Additionally, in April 2016, the Company granted 197,306 stock awards to employees under the 2009 Plan as part of their overall compensation package.

6. Other Financial Information

The following table provides additional detail for accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other, and accounts payable and accrued liabilit ies which are presented on the c onsolidated b alance s heets (in thousands):





 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

March 31, 2016

 

December 31, 2015

Accounts receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade receivable

 

$

5,356 

 

$

7,530 

Receivable for Alta Resources distribution

 

 

1,993 

 

 

1,993 

Joint interest billing

 

 

3,411 

 

 

7,366 

Income taxes receivable

 

 

2,516 

 

 

2,868 

Other receivables

 

 

606 

 

 

1,448 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

(682)

 

 

(701)

Total accounts receivable

 

$

13,200 

 

$

20,504 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid insurance

 

$

570 

 

$

900 

Other

 

 

286 

 

 

328 

Total prepaid expenses

 

$

856 

 

$

1,228 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royalties and revenue payable

 

$

15,418 

 

$

17,906 

Accrued exploration and development

 

 

2,436 

 

 

3,659 

Trade payables

 

 

5,177 

 

 

8,053 

Advances from partners

 

 

442 

 

 

950 

Accrued general and administrative expenses

 

 

2,907 

 

 

2,596 

Other accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

3,685 

 

 

3,194 

Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

30,065 

 

$

36,358 



Included in the table below is supplemental information about certain cash and non-cash transactions during the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and 201 5 (in thousands):



 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,



 

 

2016

 

2015

Cash payments:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest payments

 

 

879 

 

648 

Income tax payments

 

 

(351)

 

18 

Non-cash investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows:

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in accrued capital expenditures

 

 

(1,222)

 

(3,647)



















7 . Investment in Exaro Energy III LLC

In April 2012, the Company entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement (the “LLC Agreement”) in connection with the formation of Exaro. Pursuant to the LLC Agreement, as amended, the Company committed to invest up to $67.5 million in Exaro for an ownership interest of approximately 37% . The Company did   not   make any contributions during the quarter ended March 31 , 201 6 . As of March 31, 20 16 , the Company had invested approximately $46.9 million.

13

 


 

 

The following table (in thousands) presents condensed balance sheet data for Exaro as of March 31 , 201 6 and December 31, 201 5 . The balance sheet data was derived from Exaro ’s balance sheet as of March 31 , 201 6 and December 31, 201 5 and was not adjusted to represent the Company’s percentage of ownership interest in Exaro. The Company’s share in the equity of Exaro at March 31 , 201 6 was approximately $ 14 . 2 million.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

March 31, 2016

 

December 31, 2015

Current assets (1)

 

$

21,545 

 

$

23,664 

Non-current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net property and equipment

 

 

98,736 

 

 

101,459 

Other non-current assets

 

 

1,158 

 

 

486 

Total non-current assets

 

 

99,894 

 

 

101,945 

Total assets

 

$

121,439 

 

$

125,609 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

$

5,142 

 

$

5,272 

Non-current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

 

74,090 

 

 

78,500 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

3,152 

 

 

2,891 

Total non-current liabilities

 

 

77,242 

 

 

81,391 

Members' equity

 

 

39,055 

 

 

38,946 

Total liabilities & members' equity

 

$

121,439 

 

$

125,609 



(1)

Approximately $ 14 . 8 million and $14.4 million of current assets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, is cash.

The following table (in thousands) presents the condensed results of operations for Exaro for the three months ended March 31 , 201 6 and 201 5 . The results of operations for the three months ended March 31 , 20 16 and 201 5 were derived from Exaro's financial statements for the respective periods. The income statement data below was not adjusted to represent the Company’s ownership interest but rather reflects the results of Exaro as a company. The Company's share in Exaro's results of operations recognized for the three months ended March 31 , 201 6 and 201 5 was a gain of $ 40   thousand, with an insignificant   tax expense , and a gain of $0 . 6 million, net of tax expense of $0. 3   million, respectively.





 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended March 31,



 

2016

 

2015

Production:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil (thousand barrels)

 

 

36 

 

 

41 

Gas (million cubic feet)

 

 

2,774 

 

 

3,335 

Total (million cubic feet equivalent)

 

 

2,991 

 

 

3,583 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and natural gas sales

 

$

6,312 

 

$

13,278 

Other gain

 

 

2,102 

 

 

2,036 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease operating expenses

 

 

3,557 

 

 

4,276 

Depreciation, depletion, amortization & accretion

 

 

3,006 

 

 

6,624 

General & administrative expense

 

 

808 

 

 

724 

Income from continuing operations

 

 

1,043 

 

 

3,690 

Net interest expense

 

 

(693)

 

 

(875)

Net income

 

$

350 

 

$

2,815 

Included in Other gain are realized and unrealized gains and losses attributable to derivatives, whose value is likely to change based on future oil and gas prices. Exaro's results of operations do not include income taxes because Exaro is treated as a partnership for tax purposes.

8 . Long-Term Debt

RBC Credit Facility

In October 2013, the Company entered into a $500 million four-year revolving credit facility with Royal Bank of Canada and other lenders (the “bank group”) with an initial hydrocarbon supported borrowing base of $275 million. A s part of the regular redetermination schedule, the Company’s bank group redetermined the Company’s borrowing base at $190 million effective

14

 


 

 

November 13, 2015, primarily to reflect lower commodity prices and the impact of the significant reduction in the Company’s drilling program in 2015   attributable to the low price environment . The borrowing base under the facility is redetermined each No vember and May.

As of March 31 , 201 6 and December 31, 201 5 , the Company had approximately $ 112 . 2 million and $115.4 million, respectively, outstanding under the RBC Credit Facility and $1.9 million and $1.9 million, respectively, in outstanding letters of credit. As of March 31 , 201 6 , borrowing availability under the RBC Credit Facility was $ 75 . 9 million.

Borrowings under the RBC Credit Facility bear interest at a rate that is dependent upon LIBOR, the U.S. prime rate, or the federal funds rate, plus a   0.5% to 2.5% margin , dependent upon the amount outstanding. Additionally, the Company must pay a commitment fee on the amount of the facility that remains unused, which varies from .375% to .5% , depending on the amount of the credit facility that is unused. Total interest expense under the RBC Credit Facility, including commitment fees, for the three months ended March 31 , 201 6   was approximately $ 0 . 9 million . Total interest expense under the RBC Credit Facility, including commitment fees, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was approx imately $0.7 million .  

The RBC Credit Facility contains restrictive covenants which, among other things, restrict the declaration or payment of dividends by Contango and require a C urrent R atio of greater than or equal to 1.0 and a L everage R atio of less than or equal to 3.50, both as defined in the RBC Credit Facility Agreement . As of March 31 , 201 6 , the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the RBC Credit Facility , and at current commodity prices, does not expect any covenant compliance issues over the next twelve months . The RBC Credit Facility also contains events of default that may accelerate repayment of any borrowings and/or termination of the facility. Events of default include, but are not limited to, payment defaults, breach of certain covenants, bankruptcy, insolvency or change of control events.  

The weighted average interest rate in effect at March 31 , 201 6 and December 31, 201 5 was 2 . 6 % and 2.4 % , respectively. The RBC Credit Facility matures on October 1, 2017, at which time any outstanding balances will be due.

Effective May 6 , 2016, as part of the regular redetermination schedule, the borrowing base under the RBC Credit Facility was redetermined at $1 4 0 million, which reflects the impact of a decline in commodity prices from those used in connection with the last redetermination and the Company’s limited drilling program .   Also effective May 6 , 2016, the RBC Credit Facility was amended to, among other things, extend the maturity of the facility from October 1, 2017 to October 1, 20 19,   increase the LIBOR, U.S. prime rate and federal funds rate margins to 2 .5% - 4 . 0 % and increase the commitment fee to 0.5% , regardless of the amount of the credit facility that is unused .   The Company paid fees totaling approximately $ 1.0   million to its lenders in connection with the amendment.

9. Income Taxes

The Company’s income tax provision for continuing operations consists of the following (in thousands):





 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended March 31,



 

2016

 

2015

Current tax provision:

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

State

 

 

90 

 

 

207 

Total

 

$

90 

 

$

207 

Deferred tax benefit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

 —

 

$

(10,172)

State

 

 

 —

 

 

(284)

Total

 

$

 —

 

$

(10,456)

Total tax provision (benefit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

 —

 

$

(10,172)

State

 

 

90 

 

 

(77)

Total

 

$

90 

 

$

(10,249)

Included in gain from investment in affiliates

 

$

 —

 

$

300 

Total income tax provision (benefit)

 

$

90 

 

$

(10,549)

In recording deferred income tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred income tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those deferred income tax assets would be deductible. The Company believes that after considering all the available objective evidence, both positive and negative, historical and prospective,

15

 


 

 

with greater weight given to historical evidence, management is not able to determine that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized and, therefore, established a full valuation allowance at September 30, 2015. For the quarter ended March 31, 2016, the Company continues to fully value the net deferred tax asset. The Company will continue to assess the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets considering all available information obtained in future reporting periods.





10. Related Party Transactions

Republic Exploration LLC

Historically, REX, an entity owned 32.3% by Contango, participated with the Company in the drilling and development of certain prospects through participation agreements and joint operating agreements, which specified each participant’s working interest, net revenue interest and described when such interests were earned. The Company proportionately consolidated the results of REX in its consolidated financial statements prior to its dissolution as of December 31, 2015.

Olympic Energy Partners

In December 2012, Mr. Joseph J. Romano was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and in April 2013 was named Chairman of the Company. Upon the m erger with Crimson Exploration Inc. (“Crimson”) on October 1, 2013, Mr. Romano resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer, but remains Chairman. Mr. Romano is also the President and Chief Executive Officer of Olympic Energy Partners LLC ("Olympic"). Olympic last participated with the Company in the drilling of wells in March 2010, and its ownership in Company-operated wells is limited to its Dutch and Mary Rose wells.



During the quarter ended March 31 , 201 6 , Mr. Romano earned $ 14 thousand for his service as a director of the Company. During the quarter ended March 31, 2015 , Mr. Romano earned $2 7 thousand for his service as a director of the Company.

D uring the years ended December 31 ,   2015 and 2014 ,   Mr. Romano received   4,534 and 2,612   shares of restricted stock, respectively, which   both vest 100% on the one -year anniversary of the date of grant, as part of his board of director compensation.     Additionally, in January 2016, Mr. Romano received 261 shares of restricted stock, which vested immediately, pursuant to the Salary Replacement Program. The Company recognized compensation expense of approximately   $ 19 thousand and   $ 27 thousand related to the shares granted to Mr. Romano for the three months ended March 31 , 201 6 and March 31, 2015, respectively .  



Below is a summary of payments received from (paid to) Olympic   and REX in the ordinary course of business in the Company’s capacity as operator of the wells and platforms for the periods indicated. The Company made and received similar types of payments with other well owners (in thousands):  





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended March 31,



 

2016

 

2015



 

Olympic

 

JEX

 

Olympic

 

JEX

Revenue payments as well owners

 

$

(648)

 

$

(475)

 

 

$

(1,266)

 

$

(788)

Joint interest billing receipts

 

 

62 

 

 

60 

 

 

 

94 

 

 

55 

Below is a summary of payments received from Olympic   and REX as a result of specific transactions between the Company, Olympic and REX. While these payments are in the ordinary course of business, the Company did not have similar transactions with other well owners (in thousands):





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended March 31,



 

2016

 

2015



 

Olympic

 

JEX

 

Olympic

 

JEX

Rent received for sublease

 

 

 —

 

 

22 

 

 

 —

 

 

119 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company's consolidated balance sheets reflected the following balances (in thousands):





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

March 31, 2016

 

December 31, 2015



 

Olympic

 

JEX

 

REX

 

Olympic

 

JEX

 

REX

Accounts receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joint interest billing

 

$

26 

 

$

28 

 

$

 —

 

$

26 

 

$

25 

 

$

27 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royalties and revenue payable

 

 

(372)

 

 

(240)

 

 

 —

 

 

(451)

 

 

(279)

 

 

(83)



16

 


 

 

Oaktree Capital Management L.P.

As of March 31 , 201 6 , Oaktree Capital Management L.P. ("Oaktree"), through various funds, owned approximately 6.6% of the Company's stock. On October 1, 2013, Mr. James Ford, then a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager within Oaktree, was elected to the Company's board of directors. Mr. Ford is currently a Senior Advisor to Oaktree.

As part of Mr. Ford's director compensation, all cash and equity awards payable to Mr. Ford are instead granted to an affiliate of Oaktree. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, an affiliate of Oaktree receive d   4 ,534 and 2,612   shares of restricted stock , respectively, which both vest 100% on the one -year anniversary of the date of the grant. Additionally, in January 2016, an affiliate of Oaktree received 313 shares of restricted stock, which vested immediately, pursuant to the Salary Replacement Program.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016 , the affiliate of Oaktree earned $ 17 thousand in cash as a result of Mr. Ford's board participation, and the Company recognized compensation expense of approximately $ 19 thousand related to the shares of restricted stock granted to an affiliate of Oaktree under the Director Compensation Plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 , the affiliate of Oaktree earned $1 7 thousand in cash as a result of Mr. Ford's board participation, and the Company recognized compensation expense of approximately $27 thousand related to the shares of restricted stock granted to an affiliate of Oaktree under the Director Compensation Plan.  

11 . Commitments and Contingencies  

Legal Proceeding s  

From time to time, the Company is involved in legal proceedings relating to claims associated with its properties, operations or business or arising from disputes with vendors in the normal course of business, including the material matters discussed below.

In July 2010, several parties associated with a limited partnership formed to invest in oil and gas properties that was dissolved in 1995 filed suit against a subsidiary of the Company and several co-defendants in district court for Madison County in Texas.  The plaintiffs claim to own or have rights in certain oil and gas properties situated in Madison County, Texas by virtue of the partnership having interests in addition to those it held of record at the time of its dissolution, which were distributed to the partners in connection with such dissolution.  A predecessor of the subsidiary of the Company involved in this case acquired a portion of the interests now claimed by the plaintiffs from a successor to the general partner of the aforementioned partnership in 2000.  The plaintiffs’ expert has recently provided a range of estimated monetary damages of up to approximately $9.4 million as to our Subsidiary.  The Company is vigorously defending this lawsuit and believes that it has meritorious defenses.

In November 2010, a subsidiary of the Company, several predecessor operators and several product purchasers were named in a lawsuit filed in the District Court for Lavaca County in Texas by an entity alleging that it owns a working interest in two wells that has not been recognized by us or by predecessor operators to which the Company had granted indemnification rights. In dispute is whether ownership rights were transferred through a number of decade-old poorly documented transactions. Based on prior summary judgments, the trial court has entered a final judgment in the case in favor of the plaintiffs for approximately $5.3 million, plus post-judgment interest. The Company is vigorously defending this lawsuit, believes that it has meritorious defenses and is appealing the trial court’s decision to the applicable state Court of Appeals .  

In September 2012, a subsidiary of the Company was named as defendant in a lawsuit filed in district court for Harris County in Texas involving a title dispute over a 1/16th mineral interest in the producing intervals of certain wells operated by us in the Catherine Henderson “A” Unit in Liberty County in Texas. This case was subsequently transferred to the district court for Liberty County, Texas and combined with a suit filed by other parties against the plaintiff claiming ownership of the disputed interest. The plaintiff has alleged that, based on its interpretation of a series of 1972 deeds, it owns an additional 1/16th unleased mineral interest in the producing intervals of these wells on which it has not been paid (this claimed interest is in addition to a 1/16th unleased mineral interest on which it has been paid). The Company has made royalty payments with respect to the disputed interest in reliance, in part, upon leases obtained from successors to the grantors under the aforementioned deeds, who claim to have retained the disputed mineral interests thereunder. The plaintiff previously alleged damages of approximately $10.7 million although the plaintiff’s claim increases as additional hydrocarbons are produced from the subject wells. T he trial court has entered judgment in favor of the Company’s subsidiary and the successors to the grantors under the aforementioned deeds .   T he plaintiff is appealing the trial court’s decision to the applicable state Court of Appeals. The Company is vigorously defending this lawsuit and believes that it has meritorious defenses. The Company believes if this matter were to be determined adversely, amounts owed to the plaintiff could be partially offset by recoupment rights the Company may have against other working interest and/or royalty interest owners in the unit.



Mineral interest owners in South Louisiana filed suit against a subsidiary of the Company and several co-defendants in April 2013 in the 31st Judicial District Court situated in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana alleging failure to act as a reasonably prudent operator, failure to explore, waste, breach of contract, etc. in connection with two wells located in Jefferson Davis Parish. Many of the alleged improprieties occurred prior to the Company’s ownership of an interest in the wells at issue, although the

17

 


 

 

Company may have assumed liability otherwise attributable to its predecessors-in-interest through the acquisition documents relating to the acquisition of the Company’s interest in these wells. This case is based on the same actions and allegations as a prior case in which the Company and its co-defendants prevailed . The plaintiffs claim damages of approximately $2.5 million against a subsidiary of the Company and its co-defendants. The Company and its co-defendants are vigorously defending this lawsuit and believe they have a meritorious position.

While many of these matters involve inherent uncertainty and the Company is unable at the date of this filing to estimate an amount of possible loss with respect to certain of these matters, the Company believes that the amount of the liability, if any, ultimately incurred with respect to these proceedings or claims will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position as a whole or on its liquidity, capital resources or future annual results of operations. The Company maintains various insurance policies that may provide coverage when certain types of legal proceedings are determined adversely .

18

 


 

 

Available Information

General information about us can be found on our website at www.contango.com. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments and exhibits to those reports, are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file or furnish them to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). We are not including the information on our website as a part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this Report.

Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this report may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words and phrases “should be”, “will be”, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “goal” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements and express our expectations about future events. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such expectations may not occur. These forward-looking statements are made subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated. Risks and uncertainties that could cause or contribute to such differences include, without limitation, those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and those factors summarized below:



·

our financial position;

·

our business strategy, including outsourcing;

·

meeting our forecasts and budgets;

·

expectations regarding natural gas and oil markets in the United States;

·

natural gas and oil price volatility;

·

operational constraints, start-up delays and production shut-ins at both operated and non-operated production platforms, pipelines and natural gas processing facilities;

·

the risks associated with acting as the operator of deep high pressure and temperature wells, including well blowouts and explosions;

·

the risks associated with exploration, including cost overruns and the drilling of non-economic wells or dry holes, especially in prospects in which we have made a large capital commitment relative to the size of our capitalization structure;

·

the timing and successful drilling and completion of natural gas and oil wells;

·

availability of capital and the ability to repay indebtedness when due;

·

availability and cost of rigs and other materials and operating equipment;

·

timely and full receipt of sale proceeds from the sale of our production;

·

the ability to find, acquire, market, develop and produce new natural gas and oil properties;

·

interest rate volatility;

·

uncertainties in the estimation of proved reserves and in the projection of future rates of production and timing of development expenditures;

·

operating hazards attendant to the natural gas and oil business including weather, environmental risks, accidental spills, blowouts and pipeline ruptures, and other risks;

·

downhole drilling and completion risks that are generally not recoverable from third parties or insurance;

·

potential mechanical failure or under-performance of significant wells, production facilities, processing plants or pipeline mishaps;

·

actions or inactions of third-party operators of our properties;

·

actions or inactions of third-party operators of pipelines or processing facilities;

·

the ability to find and retain skilled personnel;

·

strength and financial resources of competitors;

·

federal and state legislative and regulatory developments and approvals;

·

worldwide economic conditions;

·

the ability to construct and operate infrastructure, including pipeline and production facilities;

·

the continued compliance by us with various pipeline and gas processing plant specifications for the gas and condensate produced by us;

·

operating costs, production rates and ultimate reserve recoveries of our natural gas and oil discoveries;

·

expanded rigorous monitoring and testing requirements; and

·

ability to obtain insurance coverage on commercially reasonable terms.



19

 


 

 

Any of these factors and other factors described in this report 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. Although we believe our estimates and assumptions to be reasonable when made, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. Our assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate. We caution you that the forward-looking statements contained in this report are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure you that those statements will be realized or the forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report.

We do not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.

You should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements in this report, as they speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes and other information included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 201 5 (our “201 5 Form 10-K”), previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

Overview

We are a Houston, Texas based, independent oil and natural gas company. Our business is to maximize production and cash flow in order to explore, develop, exploit and acquire crude oil and natural gas properties in the onshore Texas Gulf Coast and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States.  

The following table lists our primary producing areas as of March 31, 2016:



 

 

Location

 

Formation

Gulf of Mexico

 

Offshore Louisiana - water depths less than 300 feet

Madison and Grimes counties, Texas

 

Woodbine (Upper Lewisville)

Zavala and Dimmit counties, Texas

 

Buda / Austin Chalk

Weston County, Wyoming

 

Muddy Sandstone

Texas Gulf Coast

 

Conventional formations

Sublette County, Wyoming

 

Jonah Field (1)

(1)

Through a 37% equity investment in Exaro Energy III LLC (“Exaro”).  Production associated with this investment is not included in our reported production results for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Additionally, we have (i) operated properties producing from various conventional formations in various counties along the Texas Gulf Coast; (ii) operated producing properties in the Denver Julesburg Basin (“DJ Basin”) in Weld and Adams counties in Colorado, which we believe may also be prospective in the Niobrara Shale oil play; and (iii) operated producing properties in the Haynesville Shale, Mid Bossier and James Lime formations in East Texas.  

Due to the current challenging commodity price environment, we intend to focus our 2016 capital program on: (i) the preservation of our healthy financial position, including limiting our overall capital expenditure budget to a minimal amount; (ii) focusing drilling expenditures, if any, on strategic projects; (iii) identification of opportunities for cost efficiencies in all areas of our operations; and (iv) continuing to identify new resource potential opportunities, internally and , where appropriate, through acquisition. We will continuously monitor the commodity price environment, stability and forecast, and, if warranted, make adjustments to our   drilling strategy as the year progresses.

The following table lists the primary area to which we have allocated drilling capital for 2016:





 

 

Location

 

Formation

Weston County, Wyoming

 

Muddy Sandstone

In addition, we have allocated some geological and geophysical and leasehold capital to Madison and Grimes counties, Texas and Weston County, Wyoming.

20

 


 

 

Capital Expenditures

As previo us ly disclosed, due to the low and uncertain commodity price environment, we are focusing our drilling program for 201 6   on strategic projects only .

Weston County, Wyoming

In June 2015, we announced the discovery and successful completion of the Elliot #1H well (80% WI) in the Muddy Sandstone formation in Weston County, Wyoming (referred to as our North Cheyenne Project).  In January 2016, we announced the discovery and successful completion of the Popham #1H well (80% WI) also in the Muddy Sandstone formation.  In March 2016, we began production from the Christensen #1H (80% W I), our third well in this area .  

We have not budgeted to drill any additional wells during 2016, but any future drilling plans in this area will be developed based on the results of these three wells and the commodity price environment. Approximately 200 to 300 Muddy Sandstone horizontal well locations may be prospective on our 49,000 gross acres (39,000 net) based on a drilling density of three to four wells per 640 acres. Additional prospective horizons in this area will be evaluated during the delineation phase with additional log and core data and could also add significantly to the total number of potential horizontal well locations.    

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets  



We recognized approximately $ 0 . 7 million in non-cash impairment charges in the current quarter primarily related to the reduction in the estimated value of future net cash flows of the Company’s risk adjusted proved, probable and possible reserves (3P reserves) due to the recent dramatic decline in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas. Under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Codifications , an impairment charge is required when the unamortized capital cost of any individual property within the company’s producing property base exceeds the risked estimated future net cash flows from the proved, probable and possible reserves for that property. Substantially all of the impairment charge in this quarter is directly related to the decline in commodity prices and the resulting impact on estimated future net cash flows from associated reserves. Also included in the impairment charge for the quarter is approximately $ 1 . 1 million related to unproved lease cost amortization on our Elm Hill project in Fayette and Gonzales counties Texas.



If oil and/or natural gas prices continue to decline, we may be required to record additional non-cash impairment in the future, thereby impacting our financial results for that period.

Summary Production Information

Our production for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was approximately 67 % offshore and 33 % onshore, and 68 % natural gas, 15 % oil and 17 % natural gas liquids. Our production for the three months ended March 31 , 20 15 was 67 % offshore and 33 % onshore, and approximately 68 % natural gas, 17 % oil and 15% natural gas liquids.

The table below sets forth our average net daily production data in Mmcfe / d for each of our fields for each of the periods indicated:





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended



 

March 31, 2015

 

June 30, 2015

 

September 30, 2015

 

December 31, 2015

 

March 31, 2016

Offshore GOM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dutch and Mary Rose

 

53.3 

 

50.8 

 

49.5 

 

48.6 

 

45.9 

Vermilion 170

 

7.7 

 

6.3 

 

7.0 

 

6.9 

 

6.5 

Other offshore (1)

 

3.2 

 

1.6 

 

0.5 

 

0.5 

 

0.6 

Southeast Texas (2)

 

19.3 

 

28.2 

 

22.9 

 

20.1 

 

16.4 

South Texas (3)

 

10.8 

 

9.3 

 

8.9 

 

8.1 

 

7.4 

Other (4)

 

2.0 

 

2.2 

 

2.1 

 

2.5 

 

2.6 



 

96.3 

 

98.4 

 

90.9 

 

86.7 

 

79.4 



(1)

I ncludes Ship Shoal 263 and South Timbalier 17.

(2)

Includes Madison and Grimes counties, among others.

(3)

Includes Zavala and Dimmit counties , among others.

(4)

Includes onshore wells in East Texas, Colorado, Wyoming and Tuscaloosa Marine Shale regions, among others .



21

 


 

 

Other Investments

Kaybob Duvernay - Alberta, Canada

On August 1, 2013, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Alta Resources Investments, LLC (“Alta”) sold its interest in the liquids-rich Kaybob Duvernay Play in Alberta, Canada for approximately $30.5 million net to us . Of this amount, we have received $28.5 million, and expect to receive the remaining $2.0 million once approved by Canadian regulatory officials .  

Jonah Field - Sublette County, Wyoming  

Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Contaro Company (“Contaro”) currently has a 37% ownership interest in Exaro and has committed to invest up to $67.5 million in cash in Exaro. As of March 31, 2016 , Contaro had invested approximately $46.9 million in Exaro.

As of March 31, 2016 ,   Exaro had 645 wells on production over its 5,760 gross acres (1,040 net), with a working interest between 14. 6 % and 32.5%. These wells were producing at a rate of approximately 3 3   Mmcfed, net to Exaro .   Due to the persistent decline in natural gas prices, the operator does no t   expect to have any drilling rigs running on this project during 2016 . For the quarter ended March 31, 2016 , we recognized a net investment gain of approximately $ 40   thousand ,   with an insignificant   tax expense ,   as a result of our investment in Exaro. For the quarter ended March 31, 2015 , we recognized a net inve stment gain of approximately $0.6 million, net of tax expense of $0. 3 million. We do not anticipate making any additional equity contributions during 201 6 as Exaro estimates drilling capital will be funded through internally generated cash flow and borrowings under its revolving credit facility. See Note 7 to our Financial Statements - “Investment in Exaro Energy III LLC” for additional details related to this investment.

Other

We intend to continue to evaluate potential acquisition opportunities to expand our presence in resource plays, to exploit our oil and liquids-rich positions and to continue to develop exploration and exploitation opportunities where commodity price-justified. Acquisition efforts will typically be focused on areas in which we can leverage our geographic and geological expertise to exploit identified drilling opportunities and where we can develop an inventory of additional drilling prospects that we believe will enable us to grow production and add reserves.

Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 201 5

The table below sets forth revenue, production data, average sales prices and average production costs associated with our sales of natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids ("NGLs") from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31 , 201 6 and 2015 . Oil, condensate and NGLs are compared with natural gas in terms of cubic feet of natural gas equivalents. One barrel of oil, condensate or NGL is the energy equivalent of six thousand cubic feet (“Mcf”) of natural gas. Reported lease operating expenses include production taxes, such as ad valorem and severance taxes.





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 



 

2016

 

2015

 

%

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues (thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and condensate sales

 

$

5,247 

 

$

10,694 

 

(51)

%

 

Natural gas sales

 

 

9,935 

 

 

16,823 

 

(41)

%

 

NGL sales

 

 

2,400 

 

 

3,130 

 

(23)

%

 

Total revenues

 

$

17,582 

 

$

30,647 

 

(43)

%

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and condensate (thousand barrels)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offshore GOM

 

 

51 

 

 

54 

 

(6)

%

 

Southeast Texas

 

 

74 

 

 

127 

 

(42)

%

 

South Texas

 

 

34 

 

 

52 

 

(35)

%

 

Other

 

 

26 

 

 

 

189 

%

 

Total oil and condensate

 

 

185 

 

 

242 

 

(24)

%

 

Natural gas (million cubic feet)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offshore GOM

 

 

3,838 

 

 

4,659 

 

(18)

%

 

Southeast Texas

 

 

643 

 

 

588 

 

%

 

South Texas

 

 

363 

 

 

508 

 

(29)

%

 

Other

 

 

76 

 

 

115 

 

(34)

%

 

Total natural gas

 

 

4,920 

 

 

5,870 

 

(16)

%

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

 


 

 



 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 



 

2016

 

2015

 

%

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas liquids (thousand barrels)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offshore GOM

 

 

113 

 

 

132 

 

(14)

%

 

Southeast Texas

 

 

67 

 

 

63 

 

%

 

South Texas

 

 

17 

 

 

26 

 

(35)

%

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 —

%

 

Total natural gas liquids

 

 

199 

 

 

223 

 

(11)

%

 

Total (million cubic feet equivalent)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offshore GOM

 

 

4,821 

 

 

5,781 

 

(17)

%

 

Southeast Texas

 

 

1,490 

 

 

1,733 

 

(14)

%

 

South Texas

 

 

670 

 

 

972 

 

(31)

%

 

Other

 

 

245 

 

 

178 

 

38 

%

 

Total production

 

 

7,226 

 

 

8,664 

 

(17)

%

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Production:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and condensate (thousand barrels per day)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offshore GOM

 

 

0.6 

 

 

0.6 

 

(6)

%

 

Southeast Texas

 

 

0.8 

 

 

1.4 

 

(42)

%

 

South Texas

 

 

0.4 

 

 

0.6 

 

(35)

%

 

Other

 

 

0.2 

 

 

0.1 

 

189 

%

 

Total oil and condensate

 

 

2.0 

 

 

2.7 

 

(24)

%

 

Natural gas (million cubic feet per day)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offshore GOM

 

 

42.2 

 

 

51.8 

 

(18)

%

 

Southeast Texas

 

 

7.1 

 

 

6.5 

 

%

 

South Texas

 

 

4.0 

 

 

5.6 

 

(29)

%

 

Other

 

 

0.8 

 

 

1.3 

 

(34)

%

 

Total natural gas

 

 

54.1 

 

 

65.2 

 

(16)

%

 

Natural gas liquids (thousand barrels per day)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offshore GOM

 

 

1.2 

 

 

1.5 

 

(14)

%

 

Southeast Texas

 

 

0.7 

 

 

0.7 

 

%

 

South Texas

 

 

0.2 

 

 

0.3 

 

(35)

%

 

Other

 

 

0.1 

 

 

 —

 

 —

%

 

Total natural gas liquids

 

 

2.2 

 

 

2.5 

 

(11)

%

 

Total (million cubic feet equivalent per day)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offshore GOM

 

 

53.0 

 

 

64.2 

 

(17)

%

 

Southeast Texas

 

 

16.4 

 

 

19.3 

 

(14)

%

 

South Texas

 

 

7.4 

 

 

10.8 

 

(31)

%

 

Other

 

 

2.6 

 

 

2.0 

 

38 

%

 

Total production

 

 

79.4 

 

 

96.3 

 

(17)

%

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Sales Price:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and condensate (per barrel)

 

$

28.39 

 

$

44.10 

 

(36)

%

 

Natural gas (per thousand cubic feet)

 

$

2.02 

 

$

2.87 

 

(30)

%

 

Natural gas liquids (per barrel)

 

$

11.99 

 

$

14.01 

 

(14)

%

 

Total (per thousand cubic feet equivalent)

 

$

2.43 

 

$

3.54 

 

(31)

%

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses (thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

$

7,604 

 

$

9,911 

 

(23)

%

 

Exploration expenses

 

$

320 

 

$

4,483 

 

(93)

%

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

$

16,545 

 

$

35,115 

 

(53)

%

 

Impairment and abandonment of oil and gas properties

 

$

1,851 

 

$

2,281 

 

(19)

%

 

General and administrative expenses

 

$

5,902 

 

$

7,828 

 

(25)

%

 

Gain from investment in affiliates (net of taxes)

 

$

40 

 

$

558 

 

(93)

%

 



23

 


 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended March 31,



 

2016

 

2015

 

%



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selected data per Mcfe:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

$

1.05 

 

$

1.14 

 

(8)

%

General and administrative expenses

 

$

0.82 

 

$

0.90 

 

(9)

%

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

$

2.29 

 

$

4.05 

 

(43)

%



Three M onths Ended March 31, 2016 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31 , 201 5

Natural Gas, Oil and NGL Sales and Production

All of our revenues are from the sale of our natural gas, oil and NGL production. Our revenues may vary significantly from year to year depending on production volumes and changes in commodity prices, each of which may fluctuate widely. Our production volumes are subject to wide swings as a result of new discoveries, weather events, transportation and processing constraints, and mechanical problems. In addition, our production naturally declines over time as we produce our reserves.

We reported revenues of $ 17.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 , compared to revenues of $ 30.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 . The decrease in revenues was primarily attributable to: (i) a significant decline   in commodity prices, which contributed approximately $ 7. 4   million of the decrease in revenues and (ii) approximately $ 5. 6   million due to lower production volumes resulting from a commodity price related reduction in drilling .

Total equivalent production was   79.4 Mmcfed for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, compared to 96.3 Mmcfed in the prior year quarter , a decrease attributable primarily to an 7.4 Mmcfed decline in production from the Dutch and Mary Rose Field   due to normal field decline and a 5.7   Mmcfed decline in onshore production due to field declines related to the strategic decrease in our capital program during 201 6 due to the low, and uncertain, commodity price environment.

Average Sales Prices

The average equivalent sales price realized for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 was $ 2.43   per Mcfe compared to $ 3.54 per Mcfe for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 . This decrease was attributable primarily to the decrease in the realized price of oil to $ 28.39 per barrel, compared to $ 44.10 per barrel for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 , and to the decrease in the realized price of natural gas to $ 2.02   per Mcf, compared to $ 2.87 per Mcf for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 .  

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for the quarter ended March 31 , 201 6 were approximately $ 7.6   million, or $ 1.05   per Mcfe,   compared to $ 9.9 million, or $ 1. 14 per Mcfe, for the quarter ended March 31 , 201 5 .   The table below provides additional detail of operating expenses for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 :





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended March 31,



 

2016

 

2015



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

(in thousands)

(per Mcfe)

 

 

(in thousands)

(per Mcfe)

Lease operating expenses

 

$

5,151 

$        0.71

 

$

6,762 

$         0.78

Production & ad valorem taxes

 

 

894  0.12 

 

 

1,143  0.13 

Transportation & processing costs

 

 

1,419  0.20 

 

 

1,379  0.16 

Workover costs

 

 

140  0.02 

 

 

627  0.07 

Total operating expenses

 

$

7,604 

$        1.05

 

$

9,911 

$         1.14

Lease operating expenses decreased by 24 % for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 , compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2015 , as a direct result of our efforts to reduce costs during this challenging commodity price environment .  

Exploration Expenses

Exploration expenses for the quarter ended March 31 , 201 6 were approximately $ 0.3 million. Exploration expenses for the quarter ended March 31 , 20 15 included a fee of  $ 3.2 million related to early termination of a drilling rig contract .  

Impairment Expenses

Impairment expenses for the quarter ended March 31 , 201 6   included a $ 0.7   million impairment of proved properties .   Substantially all of the non-cash impairment charge in the quarter ended March 31 , 201 6   is directly related to the decline in commodity prices and the resulting impact on estimated future net cash flows from associated reserves. Impairment expenses for

24

 


 

 

the quarter ended March 31, 2016 also included a $ 1.1 million impairment and partial impairment of certain unproved properties and onshore prospects due primarily to the sustained low commodity price environment and expiring leases , substantially all of which is related to unproved lease cost amortization of the Elm Hill project in Fayette and Gonzales counties Texas.

I mpairment expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 included producing property impairments of $2.0 million for small marginal natural gas properties as a result of commodity price declines.   Impairment expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 also included a $ 0.2 million partial impairment of certain unproved prospects due to expiring leases.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

Depreciation, depletion and amortization for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 was approximately $ 16.5   million , or $ 2.29   per Mcfe. This compares to approximately $ 35.1 million , or $ 4.05   per Mcfe , for the quarter   ended March 31, 2015 .   The de crease in the depletion rate for 201 6   is p rimarily attributable to the impairment recorded during the six months ended December 31, 2015 .

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses for the quarter   ended March 31, 2016 were approximately $ 5. 9   million, compared to $ 7.8 million for the quarter   ended March 31, 2015 . This reduction is a result of our ongoing cost cutting efforts necessitated by the current challenging commodity price environment .   General and administrative expenses for the current quarter included approximately $ 1.7 million in non-cash stock based compensation, while the prior year quarter included $ 1.1 million in non-cash stock based compensation .  

Gain   from Affiliates

For the quarter   ended March 31, 2016 , the Company recorded a gain from affiliates of approximately $40 thousand ,   with an insignificant   tax expense , related to our investment in Ex aro , compared to a gain of $ 0.6 million, net of tax expense of $0.3 million, for the quarter   ended March 31, 2015 .   The decrease in 2016 was primarily attributable to the current challenging commodity price environment.



Capital Resources and Liquidity

During the quarter ended March 31, 2016 , we incurred $ 3.4 million on capital projects, including $ 2.9 million for the completion of our third delineation well on our North Cheyenne Project in Weston County, Wyoming and $ 0.5 million for the acquisition of leases and other rights in new areas.

Our cap ital expenditure budget for 2016 is currently forecasted to be less than   $ 10   million , including the amounts spent during the quarter ended March 31, 2016 , and is expected to be funded from internally generated cash flow.  

Additionally, the Company often reviews acquisitions and prospects presented to us by third parties, and we may decide to invest in one or more of these opportunities. There can be no assurance that we will invest or that any investment we enter into will be successful. These potential investments are not part of our current capital budget and could require us to invest additional capital. Natural gas and oil prices continue to be volatile and our resources may not be sufficient to fund these opportunities.

Cash From Operating Activities

Cash flows from operating activities provided approximately $ 8.3   million in cash for the three months ended March 31, 2016  compared to $ 5.8 million used in operating activities for the same period in 201 5 . The table below provides additional detail of cash flows from operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 201 5 :





 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended March 31,



 

2016

 

2015



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

(in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities, exclusive of changes in working capital accounts

 

$

5,918 

 

$

11,900 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

 

 

2,410 

 

 

(17,735)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

$

8,328 

 

$

(5,835)

Production from our wells, the price of oil and natural gas and operating costs represent the main drivers behind our cash flow from operations. Changes in working capital impact cash flows, and during the three months ended March 31, 2016 , the working capital deficit normally associated with an active drilling program was reduced as we strategically lowered   our drilling activity to preserve our healthy balance sheet.

25

 


 

 

Cash From Investing Activities

Cash flows used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 were approximately $ 4.8   million , all of which was used for capital expenditures related to drilling and/or completing wells and acquiring unproved leases in our areas of focus. Cash flows used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were approximately $ 35.3 million,   all of which was used for capital expenditures related to drilling and/or completing wells and acquiring unproved leases in our areas of focus . Amounts presented include cash payments for accrued amounts at the beginning of each period.

Cash From Financing Activities

Cash flows used in financing activities for the three   months ended March 31, 2016 were approximately $ 3.5   million, primarily related to the repayment of   net borrowings under our credit f acility with the Royal Bank of Canada and other lenders (the “RBC Credit Facility”) . Cash flows provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were approximately $ 41.1 million, primarily related to net borrowings under our RBC Credit Facility.

RBC Credit Facility  

In October 2013, the Company entered into a $500 million four-year revolving credit facility with Royal Bank of Canada and other lenders with an initial hydrocarbon supported borrowing base of $275 million , which is redetermined each November and May .   Effective November 13 , 20 15 , a s part of the regular redetermination schedule, the borrowing base was redetermined at $ 190 million, which reflected a decline in commodity prices from those used in connection with the previous redetermination .

The RBC Credit Facility contains restrictive covenants which, among other things, restrict the declaration or payment of dividends by Contango and require a C urrent R atio of greater than or equal to 1.0 and a L everage R atio of less than or equal to 3.50, both as defined in the RBC Credit Facility Agreement . As of March 31 , 201 6 ,   we were in compliance with all covenants under the RBC Credit Facility , and at current commodity prices, do not expect any covenant compliance issues over the next twelve months . The RBC Credit Facility also contains events of default that may accelerate repayment of any borrowings and/or termination of the facility. Events of default include, but are not limited to, payment defaults, breach of certain covenants, bankruptcy, insolvency or change of control events.

Effective May 6 , 2016, as part of the regular redetermination schedule, the borrowing base under the RBC Credit Facility was redetermined at $140 million, which reflects the impact of a decline in commodity prices from those used in connection with the last redetermination and our limited capital drilling program . Also effective May 6 , 2016, the RBC Credit Facility was amended to, among other things, extend the maturity of the facility from October 1, 2017 to October 1, 2019 , increase the LIBOR, U.S. prime rate and federal funds rate margins to 2.5% - 4.0% and increase the commitment fee to 0.5%, regardless of the amount of the credit facility that is unused . The Company paid fees totaling approximately $ 1.0   million to its lenders in connection with the amendment.

Sustained low prices and any further decline in prices will likely negatively impact the price decks utilized by banks in their calculation of the Company’s borrowing base at November 1, 2016. If our next borrowing base redetermination results in a lower borrowing base, we may be unable to obtain financing otherwise currently available under the RBC Credit Facility. See Note 8 to our Financial Statements – “Long-Term Debt” for further information regarding the RBC Credit Facility.

Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Management’s Estimates

Significant accounting policies that we employ and information about the nature of our most critical accounting estimates, our assumptions or approach used and the effects of hypothetical changes in the material assumptions used to develop each estimate are presented in Note 2 to our Financial Statements – “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of this report and in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – “Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Management’s Estimates” in our 201 5 Form 10-K.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 to our Financial Statements – “Summary of Significant Policies.”

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

We may enter into off-balance sheet arrangements that can give rise to off-balance sheet obligations. As of March 31, 2016 , the primary off-balance sheet arrangements that we have entered into are operating lease agreements, which are customary in the oil and gas industry. Other than the off-balance sheet arrangements shown under operating leases in the commitments and contingencies table included in our 201 5 Form 10-K, we have no other off-balance sheet arrangements that are reasonably likely to materially affect our liquidity or availability of or requirements for capital resources.

26

 


 

 

Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Commodity Risk

We are exposed to various risks including energy commodity price risk for our natural gas and oil production. When oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids prices decline significantly, our ability to finance our capital budget and operations may be adversely impacted. Our major commodity price risk exposure is to the prices received. Realized commodity prices received for our production are tied to the spot prices applicable to natural gas and crude oil at the applicable delivery points. Prices received for natural gas and oil are volatile and unpredictable. For the quarter ended March 31, 2016 , a 10% fluctuation in the prices received for natural gas and oil production would have had an approximate $ 1.8 million impact on our revenues.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity

We expect energy prices to remain volatile and unpredictable, therefore we have designed a risk management strategy which provides for the use of derivative instruments to provide partial protection against declines in oil and natural gas prices by reducing the risk of price volatility and the affect it could have on our cash flows. The types of derivative instruments that we typically utilize include swaps and costless collars. The total volumes which we hedge through the use of our derivative instruments varies from period to period, however, generally our objective is to hedge approximately 40% to 50% of forecasted production from proved developed producing reserves (excluding forecasted offshore production during hurricane season), at the time of hedging, for the following twelve to eighteen months. Our hedge strategy and objectives may change significantly as our operational profile changes and/or commodity prices change.

We are exposed to market risk on our open derivative contracts related to potential nonperformance by our counterparties. It is our policy to enter into derivative contracts, including interest rate swaps, only with counterparties that are creditworthy financial institutions deemed by management as competent and competitive market makers. The counterparties to the Company's current derivative contracts are large financial institutions and also lenders or affiliates of lenders in its RBC Credit Facility. We are not required to post collateral, or pay margin calls, under any of these contracts as they are secured under our RBC Credit Facility.

We have also been exposed to interest rate risk on our variable interest rate debt. If interest rates increase, our interest expense would increase and our available cash flow would decrease. Currently, we do not have any derivative contracts to reduce the exposure to market rate fluctuations. At March 31, 2016 , we did not have any open positions that converted our variable interest rate debt to fixed interest rates. We continue to monitor our risk exposure as we incur future indebtedness at variable interest rates and will look to continue our risk management policy as situations present themselves.

We account for our derivative activities under the provisions of ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, ( ASC 815 ). ASC 815 establishes accounting and reporting that every derivative instrument be recorded on the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at fair value. The estimated fair values for financial instruments under ASC 825, Financial Instruments ( ASC 825 ) are determined at discrete points in time based on relevant market information. These estimates involve uncertainties and cannot be determined with precision. The estimated fair value of cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature. See Note 4 to our Financial Statements - "Derivative Instruments" for more details. As of March 31, 2016 , we have   8,550,000  M M B tu of natural gas production hedged between April 1, 201 6 and December 31, 201 6 at an average Henry Hub price of $ 2.53 / MMBtu .   In April 2016, we entered into financial derivative contracts with a member of our bank group resulting in 400,000 MMBtus of natural gas per month being hedged from January 2017 through July 2017 and from November 2017 through December 2017, and 200,000 MMBtus of natural gas per month being hedged from August 2017 through October 2017 through collars at a floor price of $2.65/MMBtu .

Interest Rate Sensitivity

We are exposed to market risk related to adverse changes in interest rates. Our interest rate risk exposure results primarily from fluctuations in short-term rates, which are LIBOR and US Prime based and may result in reductions of earnings or cash flows due to increases in the interest rates we pay on these obligations.

As of March 31, 2016 , our total long-term debt was $ 112.2 million, which bears interest at a floating or market interest rate that is tied to the prime rate or LIBOR. Fluctuations in market interest rates will cause our annual interest costs to fluctuate. During the quarter ended March 31, 2016 , our effective rates fluctuated between 2 . 3 percent and 4 . 5 percent , depending on the term of the specific debt drawdowns. At March 31, 2016 , we did not have any outstanding interest rate swap agreements. As of March 31, 2016 , the weighted average interest rate on our variable rate debt was 2 . 57 % per year. Assuming our current level of borrowings, a 100 basis point increase in the interest rates we pay under our RBC Credit Facility would result in an increase of our interest expense by $ 0.3   million for the three month period.

27

 


 

 

Other Financial Instruments

As of March 31, 2016 , we had no cash or cash equivalents based on our cash management policy. Investments in fixed-rate, interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate and credit rating risk. Fixed-rate securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted because of changes in interest rates and credit ratings. Additionally, the value of our investments may be impaired temporarily or permanently. Due in part to these factors, our investment income may decline and we may suffer losses in principal. Currently, we do not use any derivative or other financial instruments or derivative commodity instruments to hedge any market risks, including changes in interest rates or credit ratings, and we do not plan to employ these instruments in the future. Because of the nature of the issuers of the securities that we invest in, we do not believe that we have any cash flow exposure arising from changes in credit ratings. Based on a sensitivity analysis performed on the financial instruments held as of March 31, 2016 , an immediate 10% change in interest rates would result in a   $ 0.3 million change on our near-term financial condition or results of operations.

Item 4.   Controls and Procedures

Our President and Chief Executive Officer, together with our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of March 31, 2016 . Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s management concluded that, as of March 31, 2016 , the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31 , 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1 .   Legal Proceedings

For a discussion of legal proceedings, see Note 11 to our Financial Statements – “Commitments and Contingencies.”

Item 1A.   Risk Factors

For discussion regarding our risk factors, see Item 1 A of Part 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 201 5 . Those risk and uncertainties are not the only ones facing us, and there may be additional matters of which we are unaware or that we currently consider immaterial. All of those risks and uncertainties could adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or results of operations .

Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The Company repurchased the following shares from employees for the payment of withholding taxes due on shares of restricted stock that vested and was issued under its stock-based compensation plans:





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Number of Shares

 

Approximate Dollar Value



 

Total Number of

 

Average Price Paid

 

Purchased as Part of

 

of Shares that may yet

Period

 

Shares Purchased

 

Per Share

 

Publicly Announced Program

 

be Purchased Under Program



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2016

 

12,954 

 

$

6.36 

 

n/a

 

n/a

February 2016

 

39 

 

$

5.80 

 

n/a

 

n/a

March 2016

 

15,800 

 

$

9.26 

 

n/a

 

n/a

Item 3.   Defaults upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4.   Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

28

 


 

 

Item 5.   Other Information

None.

Item 6.   Exhibits

(a) Exhibits:

The exhibits listed on the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed, furnished or incorporated by reference as part of this report, and such Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

29

 


 

 

SIGNATURES

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, thereto duly authorized.

 





 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY



 

 

 

Date: May 9 , 2016

 

 

 

By:

 

/ S /    ALLAN D. KEEL         



 

 

 

 

 

Allan D. Keel

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)



 

 

 

Date: May 9 , 2016

 

 

 

By:

 

/ S /    E. JOSEPH GRADY         



 

 

 

 

 

E. Joseph Grady

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)



 

 

 

Date: May 9 , 2016

 

 

 

By:

 

/ S /    DENISE DUBARD         



 

 

 

 

 

Denise DuBard

Chief Accounting Officer and Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)





30

 


 

 

 







 

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description

3.1 

 

Certificate of Incorporation of Contango Oil & Gas Company. (1)

3.2 

 

Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Contango Oil & Gas Company. (2)

3.3 

 

Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Contango Oil & Gas Company. ( 3 )

10.1 

 

Third Amendment to Credit Agreement among Contango Oil & Gas Company, as Borrower, Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders Signature Hereto.

31.1 

 

Certification of   Chief Executive Officer required by Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

31.2 

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer required by Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

32.1 

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2 

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101 

 

Interactive Data Files †







 

Filed herewith.



 

*

Schedules to the agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company undertakes to furnish supplementally copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the SEC.



 





.

 

1.

Filed as an exhibit to the Compa ny’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 1, 2000, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 2000.



 

2.

Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 2002, dated November 14, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



 

3.

Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2015.



 





31

 


Exhibit 10.1

THIRD AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

This THIRD AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (“ Amendment ”), dated as of May 6 ,   2016 , is by and among Contango Oil & Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the lenders party to the Credit Agreement described below (the “ Lenders ”), Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and the other parties in the capacities therein identified.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and certain other Persons are parties to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2013, as amended by the First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of April 11, 2014 and the Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of October 28, 2014 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS, the Borrower ,   the Administrative Agent and the Lenders desire to amend the Credit Agreement in certain respects as set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

AGREEMENT

Section 1. Definitions .  Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings as given them in the Credit Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires.

Section 2. Amendments to the Credit Agreement

(a) Amendment of Section 1.02 .  Section 1.02 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) deleting the definitions of “Applicable Margin”, “ EBITDAX ” and “ Revolving Credit Termination Date ” and replacing them in their entirety with the following:

Applicable Margin ” shall mean the applicable per annum percentage set forth at the appropriate intersection in the table shown below, based on the Borrowing Base Utilization as in effect from time to time:


 

 

Applicable Margin



 

 

 

Borrowing Base Utilization

LIBOR Loans

Base Rate Loans

Commitment Fee

Less than 25%

3.00%  2.50% 

.500%

Greater than or equal to 25%, but less than 50%

3.25%  2.75% 

.500%

Greater than or equal to 50%, but less than 75%

3.50%  3.00% 

.500%

Greater than or equal to 75%, but less than 90%

3.75%  3.25% 

.500%

Greater than or equal to 90%

4.00%  3.50% 

.500%



Each change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Borrowing Base Utilization shall take effect on the day such change in the Borrowing Base Utilization occurs.

EBITDAX shall mean, for any period, the sum of Consolidated Net Income for such period plus the following expenses or charges to the extent deducted from Consolidated Net Income in s uch period: interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization and exploration expense; $ 5. 6 million   in fee s   and expenses incurred in 2015 related to a   proposed but not consummated acquisition of oil and gas properties ; and all other non-cash items (including unrealized hedging gains and losses under ASC 815 , non-cash asset writedowns or ASC 410 charges and/or any non-cash share based compensation o r payment charges under ASC 718 ) .

Revolving Credit Termination Date shall mean October 1, 2019.

(ii) amending clause (e) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender” by (A) deleting the “or” at the end of subclause (i) and replacing it with “,” and (B) adding “or (iii) has become the subject of, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has become the subject of, a Bail-In Action” after the word “appointment” and before the “;” at the end of subclause (ii) ; and

( i ii) adding the following new definition s in alphabetical order:

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established

- 2 - -Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent;

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

Excess Cash ” shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 8.12.

Third Amendment ” shall mean the Third Amendment to Cred it Agreement dated as of May 6 , 2016 by and among the Borrower, the L enders signatory thereto and the Administrative Agent.

Third Amendment Effective Date ” shall have the meaning given to the term “Effective Date” in the Third Amendment.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

(b) Amendment of Section 2.07( c ) .  Section 2.07( c ) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the reference to “Section 2.07” with a reference to “Section 2.07 or Section 8.12, as applicable” everywhere such reference appears in such Section.

(c) Amendment of Section 2.08(e) .  Section 2.08(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the phrase “ provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrowing Base shall only be reduced by twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount of such Debt issued in excess of $150,000,000 in the aggregate for all such Debt.”

(d) Amendment of Section 4.08(d)(i).  Section 4.08(d)(i) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the word “No” in the last sentence of such section and replacing it with “Subject to Section 12.22, no”.

(e) Amendment of Section 8 .0 8 .  Section 8.0 8 of the Cre dit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the percentage “80%” wherever it appears in such Section and replacing it with the percentage “90%”.

(f) Amendment of Article VIII .  Article VIII of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following Section   8.12 to the end of such Article VIII .

- 3 - -Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

S ection 8.12     Control Agreements Within thirty (30) days following the Third Amendment Effective D ate (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall agree to in its reasonable discretion) , t he Borrower shall, and shall cause all of its Subsidiaries to, cause at all times thereafter   all of its deposit accounts, whether now existing or hereafter created (other than (i) any account all or substantially all of the deposits in which consists of amounts utilized to fund payroll, employee benefit or tax obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (ii) fiduciary accounts , whether now existing or hereafter created ) to be subject to a deposit account control agreement or other control agreement as applicable, in favor of, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to, each of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower .

(g) Amendment of Article IX .  Article IX of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following Section 9.20 to the end of such Article IX.

Section 9.20  Anti-Hoarding Provision .  The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, maintain or accumulate the proceeds of any Loan  in deposit, securities or investment accounts outside of the ordinary course of business and its working capital requirements.  If at any time while the Borrowing Base Utilization is in excess of 50% , the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall have in the aggregate at any time any cash or cash equivalents (other than deposits and cash collateral and other than (a) any cash set aside to pay severance and ad valorem taxes, payroll, payroll taxes, other employee wage and benefit payments, working interest obligations and  royalty obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries then due and owing to unaffiliated third parties and for which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have issued c hecks or have initiated wires or ACH transfers (or expects to issue checks or initiate wires or ACH transfers within three Business Day s ) in order to pay , (b) any cash set aside to pay in the ordinary course of business amounts (other than the obligations listed in clause (a) above ) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries then due and owing to unaffiliated third parties and for which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have issued checks or have initiated wires or ACH transfers in order to pay   (or expects to issue checks or initiate wires or ACH transfers within one Business Day) ,  (c) cash not to exceed the greater of (i) $10,000,000 or (ii) 7.5 % of the then effective Borrowing Base and (d) cash proceeds from the issuance or sale of equity securities received during the past six months less any capital expenditures incurred (including, without limitation, in connection with any acquisition) since the receipt of such cash proceeds (the “ Excess Cash ”), then the Borrower shall promptly prepay the Loans on the next Business Day in an amount equal to such Excess Cash and if any excess remains after prepaying all of the Revolving Credit Loans and the Swing Line Loans because of LC Obligations, pay to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders an amount equal to the excess to be held as cash collateral as provided in Section 2.07(j) hereof .  Each prepayment of Loans pursuant to this Section 8.12 shall be applied as directed by the Borrower, provided that if the Borrower does not provide instructions for the application of such prepayment, such prepayment shall be applied first, ratably to any Base Rate Loans then outstanding, and, second, to any LIBOR Loans then outstanding, and if more than one LIBOR Loan is then outstanding, to each such LIBOR Loan in order of priority beginning with the LIBOR Loan with the least number of days remaining in the Interest Period applicable thereto and ending with the LIBOR Loan with the most number of days remaining in the Interest Period applicable thereto. Each prepayment of Loan s pursuant to this Section 8.12 shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Loans.

(h) Amendment of Article XII .  Article XII of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following Section 12.22 to the end of such Article XII.

- 4 - -Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

“Section 12.22   Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-in Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability  in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.”

(i) Amendment of Annex I .  Annex I to the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with Annex I attached hereto.

(j) Titles As of the Effective Date, (w) each of Capital One, National Association and Compass Bank hereby resigns as “Co-Documentation Agent”; (x) Cadence Bank is hereby appointed, and accepts such appointment, as “Co-Syndication Agent”; (y) Citibank, N.A. is hereby appointed, and accepts such appointment, as Co-Documentation Agent and (z) Regions Bank hereby resigns as “Co-Syndication Agent” and is hereby appointed, and accepts such appointment, as “Co-Documentation Agent.” 

Section 3. Conditions to Effectiveness .  The Effective Date shall be deemed to occur on the date (the “ Effective Date ”) when the Administrative Agent has received counterparts hereof duly executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Lender and the Majority Lenders and upon the prior or concurrent satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received, for the account of each Lender that is a signatory hereto , from the Borrower all agreed upon fees in connection with this Amendment;

- 5 - -Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

(b) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate dated as of the date hereof, duly executed by an officer of the Borrower, certifying the representations and warrant ie s set forth in Section 6 hereof are true and correct .

Notwithstand ing the foregoing, this Amendment shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived in writing) on or prior to May 13 ,   2016

Section 4. Post-Closing Condition Within forty-five   ( 45 ) days following the Effective Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall agree to in its sole discretion), the Borrower shall have delivered , or cause to be delivered, to the Administrative Agent executed new Mortgages or supplements to existing Mortgages   (x) sufficient to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with Section 8.08 of the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) and (y) in form and substance substantially similar to the existing applicable Loan Documents .  

Section 5. Borrowing Base .  On the E ffective D ate of this Amendment, the Borrowing Base shall be $1 4 0,000,000.  Such Borrowing Base shall be the Borrowing Base in respect of the May 1, 2016 , Scheduled Redetermination Date and shall remain in effect until the Borrowing Base is redetermined or adjusted in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Agreement.

Section 6. Representations and Warranties .  The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that after giving effect hereto:

(a) the representations and warranties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries contained in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representations and warranties are qualified by a materiality qualifier, which shall be true and correct in all respects), other than those representations and warranties that expressly relate solely to a specific earlier date, which shall remain correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representations and warranties a re qualified by a materiality qualifier, which shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date; and

(b) no Default, Event of Default or Deficiency has occurred and is continuing.

Section 7. Loan Document; Ratification

(a) This Amendment is a Loan Document.  Each reference to the Credit Agreement in any Loan Document will deemed to be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment.

(b) Except as amended hereby, the Credit Agreement remains in full force and effect and the Borrower hereby ratifies, approves and confirms in every respect all the terms, provisions, conditions and obligations of the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

GOVERNING LAW.

    THIS AMENDMENT AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED

- 6 - -Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

HEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Severability.

    In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained in this Amendment shall, for any reason, be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not effect any other provision of this Amendment.

Counterparts.

 This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Amendment by signing one or more counterparts.  Any signature hereto delivered by a party by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be deemed to be an original signature hereto.

Successors and Assigns.

 This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

Entire Agreement.

 THIS AMENDMENT, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.

THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.



( Signature Pages Follow )



 

- 7 - -Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers as of the date first written above.

BORROWER :

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY

By: /s/ E. JOSEPH GRADY
Name: E. Joseph Grady
Title:   Senior Vice President & CFO

S- 1 -Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

By: /s/ RODICA DUTKA
Name: Rodica Dutka
Title: Authorized Signatory

S- 2 -Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

ISSUING BANK:

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,

By: /s/ MARK LUMPKIN, JR.
Name: Mark Lumpkin, Jr.
Title:  Authorized Signatory

S- 3 -Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

LENDER:

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

By: /s/ MARK LUMPKIN, JR.  
Name: Mark Lumpkin, Jr.
Title:  Authorized Signatory



 

S- 4 -Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

SWING LINE LENDER:

ZB, N.A. dba Amegy Bank

By: /s/ G. SCOTT COLLINS
Name:   G. Scott Collins
Title:   Senior Vice President

S- 5          - Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

LENDER:

ZB, N.A dba Amegy Bank

By: /s/ G. SCOTT COLLINS
Name:   G. Scott Collins
Title:   Senior Vice President

S- 6          - Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

LENDER:

REGIONS BANK

By: /s/ DANIEL G. STEELE
Name:   Daniel G. Steele
Title:   Managing Director

S- 7          - Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

LENDER:

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

By: /s/ MATTHEW BRICE
Name:   Matthew Brice
Title:   Vice President

S- 8          - Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

LENDER:

COMPASS BANK

By: /s/ RHIANNA DISCH
Name:   Rhianna Disch
Title: Vice President

S- 9          - Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

LENDER:

BARCLAYS BANK PLC

By: /s/ MARGUERITE SUTTON
Name: Marguerite Sutton
Title: Vice President

S- 10          - Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

LENDER:

BOKF, NA DBA BANK OF TEXAS

By: /s/ MARI SALAZAR
Name:   Mari Salazar
Title:   SVP, Energy Lending

S- 11          - Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

LENDER:

CADENCE BANK

By: /s/ ANTHONY BLANCO
Name: Anthony Blanco
Title: Vice President

S- 12          - Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

LENDER:

CITIBANK, N.A.

By: /s/ PHIL BALLARD
Name:
Phil Ballard
Title: Vice President

S- 13          - Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

LENDER:

IBERIABANK

By: /s/ TYLER S. THOEM
Name:   Tyler S. Thoem
Title :   Senior Vice President



 

S- 14          - Contango Third Amendment-


 

 

ANNEX I



LIST OF PERCENTAGE SHARES AND



MAXIMUM REVOLVING CREDIT AMOUNTS













Name of Lender

Percentage Share

Borrowing Base Allocation

Maximum Revolving Credit Amount

Royal Bank of Canada

13.4%

$18,800,000.00

$67,142,857.14

Cadence Bank

11.2%

$15,700,000.00

$56,071,428.57

Citibank, N.A.

10.7%

$15,000,000.00

$53,571,428.57

Regions Bank

10.6%

$14,900,000.00

$53,214,285.71

Amegy Bank National Association

10.6%

$14,900,000.00

$53,214,285.71

Barclays Bank plc

9.2%

$12,900,000.00

$46,071,428.57

BOKF, NA dba Bank of Texas

9.2%

$12,900,000.00

$46,071,428.57

IBERIABANK

9.2%

$12,900,000.00

$46,071,428.57

Capitol One, National Association

7.9%

$11,000,000.00

$39,285,714.29

BBVA Compass Bank

7.9%

$11,000,000.00

$39,285,714.29

TOTAL:

100.0%

$140,000,000.00

$ 500,000,000.00



Annex I     -Contango Third Amendment-


Exhibit 31.1

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY

Certification Required by Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

I, Allan D. Keel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Contango Oil & Gas Company (the “Company”), certify that:



1.

I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company;



2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;



3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;



4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I a re responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:



(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be des igned under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;



(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;



(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and



(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and



5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):



(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and



(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.









 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 9 , 20 16

 

 

 

By:

 

/ S /    ALLAN D. KEEL         



 

 

 

 

 

Allan D. Keel

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)






Exhibit 31.2

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY



Certification Required by Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



I, E. Joseph Grady, Chief Financial Officer of Contango Oil & Gas Company (the “Company”), certify that:



1.

I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company;



2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;



3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;



4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I a re responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:



(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;



(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;



(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and



(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and



5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):



(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and



(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.







 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 9 , 20 16

 

 

 

By:

 

/ S /    E. JOSEPH GRADY         



 

 

 

 

 

E. Joseph Grady

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)




Exhibit 32.1

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY



CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



In connection with the Quarterly Report of Contango Oil & Gas Company (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31 , 20 16 (the “Report”), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof, I, Allan D. Keel, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge, that:



1.

The Report fully complies with the requirements of S ection 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and



2.

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result s of operations of the Company.









 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 9 , 20 16

 

 

 

By:

 

/ S /    ALLAN D. KEEL         



 

 

 

 

 

Allan D. Keel

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)




Exhibit 32.2

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY



CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



In connection with the Quarterly Report of Contango Oil & Gas Company (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31 , 20 16 (the “Report”), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof, I, E. Joseph Grady, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge, that:



1.

The Report fully com plies with the requirements of S ection 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and



2.

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result s of operations of the Company.









 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 9 , 20 16

 

 

 

By:

 

/ S /    E. JOSEPH GRADY         



 

 

 

 

 

E. Joseph Grady

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)