UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2005

 

OR

 

o   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: 001-07964

 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

73-0785597

(State of incorporation)

 

(I.R.S. employer identification number)

 

 

 

100 Glenborough Drive, Suite 100

 

 

Houston, Texas

 

77067

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(281) 872-3100

(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  ý   No  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes  ý   No  o

 

Number of shares of common stock outstanding as of July 29, 2005: 87,311,625

 

 



 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

278,149

 

$

179,794

 

Accounts receivable - trade, net

 

430,436

 

407,349

 

Derivative instruments

 

11,819

 

28,733

 

Materials and supplies inventories

 

28,714

 

12,109

 

Deferred taxes

 

162,731

 

13,039

 

Prepaid expenses and other

 

43,032

 

28,278

 

Probable insurance claims

 

74,938

 

65,000

 

Total current assets

 

1,029,819

 

734,302

 

Property, Plant and Equipment, at Cost

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas mineral interests, equipment and facilities (successful efforts method of accounting):

 

8,178,042

 

4,292,561

 

Other

 

65,743

 

56,707

 

 

 

8,243,785

 

4,349,268

 

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

(2,111,503

)

(2,016,318

)

Total property, plant and equipment, net

 

6,132,282

 

2,332,950

 

Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

 

230,148

 

231,795

 

Other Assets

 

185,699

 

144,124

 

Goodwill

 

900,253

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

8,478,201

 

$

3,443,171

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable - trade

 

$

393,567

 

$

431,521

 

Derivative instruments

 

235,298

 

50,304

 

Interest payable

 

11,477

 

11,439

 

Income taxes

 

25,537

 

64,852

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

78,314

 

79,568

 

Other current liabilities

 

103,402

 

27,320

 

Total current liabilities

 

847,595

 

665,004

 

Deferred Income Taxes

 

1,196,639

 

183,351

 

Asset Retirement Obligations

 

220,469

 

175,415

 

Derivative Instruments

 

503,282

 

9,678

 

Deferred Compensation Liability

 

131,360

 

10,224

 

Other Deferred Credits and Noncurrent Liabilities

 

96,522

 

59,255

 

Long-Term Debt

 

2,495,395

 

880,256

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

 

5,491,262

 

1,983,183

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock - par value $1.00; 4,000,000 shares authorized, none issued

 

 

 

Common stock - par value $3.33 1/3; 250,000,000 shares authorized; 91,842,895 and 62,572,417 shares issued, respectively

 

306,141

 

208,576

 

Capital in excess of par value

 

2,227,908

 

500,034

 

Deferred compensation

 

(6,066

)

(1,671

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(477,263

)

(14,787

)

Treasury stock, at cost: 4,634,885 and 3,549,976 shares, respectively

 

(148,504

)

(75,956

)

Retained earnings

 

1,084,723

 

843,792

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

2,986,939

 

1,459,988

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

8,478,201

 

$

3,443,171

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

2



 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas sales and royalties

 

$

453,959

 

$

294,163

 

$

771,538

 

$

567,219

 

Gathering, marketing and processing

 

8,421

 

12,945

 

19,904

 

27,120

 

Electricity sales

 

14,544

 

11,746

 

36,135

 

30,865

 

Income from investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries

 

11,444

 

17,632

 

28,053

 

30,368

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Revenues

 

488,368

 

336,486

 

855,630

 

655,572

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas operations

 

50,208

 

42,469

 

87,285

 

76,493

 

Production and ad valorem taxes

 

17,601

 

6,654

 

26,821

 

13,265

 

Transportation

 

6,553

 

4,825

 

10,220

 

10,566

 

Oil and gas exploration

 

25,598

 

39,026

 

49,255

 

55,512

 

Gathering, marketing and processing

 

6,812

 

10,634

 

15,049

 

21,350

 

Electricity generation

 

9,452

 

10,410

 

20,891

 

23,434

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

96,739

 

80,643

 

167,206

 

158,325

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

24,812

 

13,133

 

39,980

 

28,192

 

Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations

 

2,658

 

2,352

 

5,209

 

5,013

 

Interest

 

20,660

 

16,854

 

34,888

 

31,012

 

Interest capitalized

 

(4,085

)

(2,528

)

(8,946

)

(6,642

)

Deferred compensation adjustment

 

9,878

 

 

9,878

 

 

Other income

 

(3,795

)

(3,969

)

(1,936

)

(5,779

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Costs and Expenses

 

263,091

 

220,503

 

455,800

 

410,741

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Before Taxes

 

225,277

 

115,983

 

399,830

 

244,831

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Tax Provision

 

88,400

 

45,355

 

152,985

 

98,891

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income From Continuing Operations

 

136,877

 

70,628

 

246,845

 

145,940

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax

 

 

1,399

 

 

11,633

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

136,877

 

$

72,027

 

$

246,845

 

$

157,573

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings Per Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

1.87

 

$

1.22

 

$

3.73

 

$

2.52

 

Discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

0.02

 

 

0.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

1.87

 

$

1.24

 

$

3.73

 

$

2.72

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

1.82

 

$

1.20

 

$

3.65

 

$

2.48

 

Discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

0.02

 

 

0.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

1.82

 

$

1.22

 

$

3.65

 

$

2.68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic

 

73,178

 

58,084

 

66,169

 

57,874

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Diluted

 

75,165

 

58,957

 

67,652

 

58,745

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

3



 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Comprehensive Income/(Loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

136,877

 

$

72,027

 

$

246,845

 

$

157,573

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas cash flow hedges (1)

 

(102,239

)

(6,688

)

(489,765

)

(19,013

)

Interest rate lock cash flow hedge (2)

 

 

4,241

 

 

(2,416

)

Less: reclassification adjustment for amounts out of OCI:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas cash flow hedges (3)

 

17,976

 

7,801

 

26,934

 

11,162

 

Interest rate lock cash flow hedge (4)

 

123

 

102

 

246

 

102

 

 

 

(84,140

)

5,456

 

(462,585

)

(10,165

)

Change in additional minimum pension liability and other (5)

 

11

 

(83

)

109

 

(708

)

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

 

(84,129

)

5,373

 

(462,476

)

(10,873

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income/(loss)

 

$

52,748

 

$

77,400

 

$

(215,631

)

$

146,700

 

 


(1) Net of income tax benefit

 

$

55,052

 

$

3,601

 

$

263,720

 

$

10,238

 

(2) Net of income tax benefit (provision)

 

$

 

$

(2,284

)

$

 

$

1,301

 

(3) Net of income tax provision

 

$

(9,679

)

$

(4,201

)

$

(14,503

)

$

(6,010

)

(4) Net of income tax provision

 

$

(66

)

$

(55

)

$

(132

)

$

(55

)

(5) Net of income tax benefit (provision)

 

$

(6

)

$

45

 

$

(59

)

$

381

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

4



 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital in

 

Compensation -

 

Other

 

 

 

Treasury

 

Total

 

 

 

Common

 

Excess of

 

Restricted

 

Comprehensive

 

Retained

 

Stock

 

Shareholders’

 

 

 

Stock

 

Par Value

 

Stock

 

Income (Loss)

 

Earnings

 

at Cost

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2005

 

$

208,576

 

$

500,034

 

$

(1,671

)

$

(14,787

)

$

843,792

 

$

(75,956

)

$

1,459,988

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patina Merger

 

92,784

 

1,669,583

 

 

 

 

(73,203

)

1,689,164

 

Exercise of stock options

 

4,525

 

42,827

 

 

 

 

 

47,352

 

Tax benefits related to exercise of stock options

 

 

10,192

 

 

 

 

 

10,192

 

Cash dividends ($.10 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

(5,914

)

 

(5,914

)

Issuance of restricted stock

 

256

 

5,394

 

(5,650

)

 

 

 

 

Amortization of restricted stock

 

 

 

1,255

 

 

 

 

1,255

 

Rabbi trust shares sold

 

 

84

 

 

 

 

655

 

739

 

Stock issuance costs

 

 

(206

)

 

 

 

 

(206

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

246,845

 

 

246,845

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges

 

 

 

 

(489,765

)

 

 

(489,765

)

Reclassified to net income

 

 

 

 

27,180

 

 

 

27,180

 

Change in additional minimum pension liability and other

 

 

 

 

109

 

 

 

109

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2005

 

$

306,141

 

$

2,227,908

 

$

(6,066

)

$

(477,263

)

$

1,084,723

 

$

(148,504

)

$

2,986,939

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2004

 

$

202,480

 

$

431,208

 

$

 

$

(10,886

)

$

526,727

 

$

(75,956

)

$

1,073,573

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise of stock options

 

3,557

 

36,602

 

 

 

 

 

40,159

 

Tax benefits related to  exercise of stock options

 

 

4,235

 

 

 

 

 

4,235

 

Cash dividends ($.10 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

(5,782

)

 

(5,782

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

157,573

 

 

157,573

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges

 

 

 

 

(21,429

)

 

 

(21,429

)

Reclassified to net income

 

 

 

 

11,264

 

 

 

11,264

 

Change in additional minimum pension liability and other

 

 

 

 

(708

)

 

 

(708

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2004

 

$

206,037

 

$

472,045

 

$

 

$

(21,759

)

$

678,518

 

$

(75,956

)

$

1,258,885

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

5



 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

246,845

 

$

157,573

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization - oil and gas production

 

167,206

 

158,325

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization - electricity generation

 

7,909

 

11,537

 

Dry hole expense

 

19,500

 

26,513

 

Amortization of unproved leasehold costs

 

8,372

 

10,403

 

Non-cash effect of discontinued operations

 

 

(9,599

)

Gain on disposal of assets

 

(4,181

)

(4,952

)

Deferred income taxes

 

75,307

 

44,555

 

Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations

 

5,209

 

5,013

 

Income from investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries

 

(28,053

)

(30,368

)

Dividends received from unconsolidated subsidiary

 

27,675

 

33,075

 

Deferred compensation adjustment

 

9,878

 

 

Decrease in noncurrent liabilities

 

(4,444

)

(15,614

)

(Increase) decrease in other

 

(8,666

)

3,077

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisition:

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable

 

68,121

 

(2,590

)

Increase in other current assets

 

(30,814

)

(2,720

)

Decrease in accounts payable

 

(108,777

)

(31,584

)

Increase in other current liabilities

 

33,167

 

18,786

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

 

484,254

 

371,430

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(325,005

)

(318,481

)

Patina acquisition, net of cash acquired

 

(1,111,099

)

 

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

320

 

34,223

 

Insurance recovery - involuntary conversion

 

2,287

 

 

Distribution from unconsolidated subsidiaries

 

2,025

 

2,475

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

 

(1,431,472

)

(281,783

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise of stock options

 

47,352

 

37,950

 

Cash dividends paid

 

(5,914

)

(5,782

)

Proceeds from credit facilities

 

2,010,000

 

 

Repayment of credit facilities

 

(395,000

)

(330,000

)

Repayment of Patina debt

 

(610,865

)

 

Issuance of long-term debt

 

 

197,688

 

Proceeds from term loans

 

 

150,000

 

Repayment of notes

 

 

(28,565

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

 

1,045,573

 

21,291

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

98,355

 

110,938

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

 

179,794

 

62,374

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

 

$

278,149

 

$

173,312

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

6



 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1 – Organization and Nature of Operations

 

Noble Energy, Inc. (“Noble Energy” or the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, is an independent energy company that, directly or through its subsidiaries or various arrangements with other companies, explores for, develops and produces crude oil and natural gas. Exploration activities include geophysical and geological evaluation and exploratory drilling on properties for which the Company has exploration rights. Noble Energy has exploration, exploitation and production operations domestically and internationally. The domestic areas consist of: offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and California; the Gulf Coast Region (Louisiana and Texas); the Mid-continent Region (Illinois, Oklahoma and Kansas); and the Rocky Mountain Region (Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming). The international areas of operations include Argentina, China, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, the Mediterranean Sea (Israel), and the North Sea (the Netherlands and the United Kingdom).

 

On May 16, 2005, Noble Energy completed a merger (the “Patina Merger”) with Patina Oil & Gas Corporation (“Patina”), as set forth in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 15, 2004, as amended. Patina was an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, development and exploitation of crude oil and natural gas properties within the continental United States. Patina’s properties and oil and gas reserves are principally located in relatively long-lived fields with established production histories. The properties are primarily concentrated in the Wattenberg Field of Colorado’s Denver-Julesburg Basin, the Mid-continent region of western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, and the San Juan Basin in New Mexico. See Note 3 – Merger with Patina Oil & Gas Corporation.

 

Note 2 – Basis of Presentation

 

Presentation The consolidated financial statements of Noble Energy included herein have been prepared, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and, accordingly, certain information normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States has been condensed or omitted. In the opinion of Noble Energy, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 contain all adjustments, consisting only of necessary and normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for such periods. Certain reclassifications of amounts previously reported have been made to conform to current year presentations. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

In accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS No. 141”), Noble Energy has accounted for the Patina Merger as a purchase of Patina by Noble Energy.  As a result, the consolidated balance sheet of Noble Energy at June 30, 2005 includes the assets and liabilities of Patina. The consolidated statements of operations and statements of cash flows include financial results of Patina after May 16, 2005. See Note 3 – Merger with Patina Oil & Gas Corporation.

 

Employee Stock-Based Compensation The Company currently accounts for employee stock-based compensation plans under the recognition and measurement principles of the Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations. In connection with the Patina Merger, the Company assumed outstanding, fully-vested options to purchase 3.9 million shares of Noble Energy common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $35.86 per share.

 

7



 

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to stock-based employee compensation.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income, as reported

 

$

136,877

 

$

72,027

 

$

246,845

 

$

157,573

 

Add: Stock-based compensation cost recognized, net of related tax effects

 

457

 

117

 

798

 

223

 

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

 

(2,050

)

(2,002

)

(3,965

)

(3,981

)

Pro forma net income

 

$

135,284

 

$

70,142

 

$

243,678

 

$

153,815

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic - as reported

 

$

1.87

 

$

1.24

 

$

3.73

 

$

2.72

 

Basic - pro forma

 

$

1.85

 

$

1.21

 

$

3.68

 

$

2.66

 

Diluted - as reported

 

$

1.82

 

$

1.22

 

$

3.65

 

$

2.68

 

Diluted - pro forma

 

$

1.80

 

$

1.19

 

$

3.60

 

$

2.62

 

 

Note 3 – Merger with Patina Oil & Gas Corporation

 

On May 16, 2005, Noble Energy completed the Patina Merger and the results of Patina’s operations since this date are included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. In connection with the merger, Noble Energy issued 27.8 million shares of its common stock and paid $1.1 billion in cash to Patina shareholders. In addition, the Company repaid $610.9 million of Patina debt, including accrued interest, outstanding at the merger date. The common stock exchanged in the merger was valued at $59.55 per share based on the volume-weighted average prices of Noble Energy common stock during the five business days commencing two days before the terms of the merger were agreed to and announced. In addition, 3.9 million stock options held by Patina employees were converted into options for Noble Energy stock. The fair value of the vested options was $104.9 million, estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company financed the cash consideration paid in the merger and the repayment of Patina debt through borrowings on its credit facilities, including a new $1.3 billion credit facility. See Note 4 – Debt.

 

The Company considered the following strategic benefits of the merger, among others, in determining its offering price for the Patina net assets, which resulted in the recognition of goodwill:

 

      The merger establishes new core areas for Noble Energy in the Rocky Mountain and Mid-continent regions;

      The merger increases Noble Energy’s proved reserves and production and lengthens Noble Energy’s domestic reserve life;

      Patina’s long-lived oil and gas reserves provide a significant inventory of low-risk opportunities that will balance Noble Energy’s existing portfolio;

      Noble Energy expects to benefit from Patina’s extensive tight gas sands technological and operational expertise that it gained in connection with the development of its Wattenberg field, particularly with respect to the development of Noble Energy’s existing Rocky Mountain assets; and

      The combined company is significantly larger than Noble Energy was prior to the merger and, as a result, should have greater exploration and production strengths, greater liquidity in the market for its securities and additional future strategic opportunities that might not otherwise be possible.

 

8



 

Allocation of Purchase Price The following table represents the preliminary allocation of the total purchase price of Patina to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on the fair values at the merger date. Certain data necessary to complete the Company’s final purchase price allocation is not yet available, and includes, but is not limited to, valuation of pre-acquisition contingencies (See Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies), final tax returns that provide the underlying tax bases of Patina’s assets and liabilities at May 16, 2005, and final appraisals of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company expects to complete its purchase price allocation during the twelve-month period following the acquisition date, during which time the preliminary allocation will be revised and goodwill will be adjusted, if necessary.

 

The following table sets forth Noble Energy’s preliminary purchase price allocation:

 

 

 

(in thousands,

 

 

 

except

 

 

 

stock price)

 

Shares of Noble Energy common stock issued to Patina shareholders

 

27,835

 

Average Noble Energy common stock price

 

$

59.55

 

Fair value of common stock issued

 

$

1,657,491

 

Cash consideration paid to Patina shareholders

 

1,098,078

 

Plus: fair value of Patina employee stock options

 

104,876

 

Plus: Noble Energy merger costs

 

13,347

 

Total purchase price

 

2,873,792

 

Plus: liabilities assumed by Noble Energy

 

 

 

Current liabilities, excluding warrant obligation

 

88,096

 

Warrant obligation

 

16,840

 

Fair value of long-term debt, net of cash acquired

 

610,539

 

Deferred compensation liability (See Note 6 - Employee Benefit Plans)

 

108,972

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

36,004

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

31,780

 

Deferred income taxes

 

1,111,534

 

Total purchase price plus liabilities assumed

 

$

4,877,557

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of Patina assets:

 

 

 

Current assets

 

$

184,871

 

Proved oil and gas properties

 

2,642,000

 

Unproved oil and gas properties

 

1,024,000

 

Other non-current assets

 

46,532

 

Treasury stock held in deferred compensation plan (See Note 6 - Employee Benefit Plans)

 

73,203

 

Goodwill

 

906,951

 

Total fair value of Patina assets

 

$

4,877,557

 

 

Deferred Income Taxes – The amount allocated to deferred income taxes results from differences between the assigned values and the tax bases of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in accordance with SFAS 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” . The Company is reviewing the historical deferred tax balances as well as the adjustment for the difference in book and tax basis for the fair value of the assets. Any adjustments, if necessary, will be reflected as a purchase price adjustment.

 

Goodwill The preliminary allocation of purchase price included approximately $907.0 million of goodwill. The significant factors that contributed to the recognition of goodwill include, but are not limited to, economies of scale in connection with the Company’s existing domestic operations, and the ability to acquire an established business with an assembled workforce with technological and operational expertise in tight gas sand formations. The goodwill was assigned to the Company’s domestic reporting unit. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, goodwill is not amortized to earnings but is tested, at least annually, for impairment at the reporting unit level. Other events and

 

9



 

changes in circumstances, such as a sale of domestic properties, may also require goodwill to be tested for impairment between annual measurement dates. If the carrying value of goodwill is determined to be impaired, the amount of goodwill is reduced and a corresponding charge is made to earnings in the period in which the goodwill is determined to be impaired. The Company does not expect the goodwill to be deductible for income tax purposes.

 

In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Abstract Issue No. 00-23, “Issues Related to the Accounting for Stock Compensation under APB Opinion No. 25 and FASB Interpretation No. 44”, the Company reduced goodwill by $6.7 million during the second quarter of 2005 for tax benefits associated with the exercise of fully-vested stock options assumed in conjunction with the Patina Merger to the extent that the stock-based compensation expense reported for tax purposes did not exceed the fair value of the awards recognized as part of the total purchase price.

 

Pro Forma Financial Information – The following pro forma condensed combined financial information for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 was derived from the historical financial statements of Noble Energy and Patina and gives effect to the merger as if it had occurred on January 1, 2005. The following pro forma condensed combined financial information for the three and six months ended June 30, 2004 was derived from the historical financial statements of Noble Energy and Patina giving effect to the Patina Merger as if it had occurred on January 1, 2004. The pro forma condensed combined financial information has been included for comparative purposes and is not necessarily indicative of the results that might have occurred had the merger taken place as of the dates indicated and is not intended to be a projection of future results.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

572,779

 

$

467,382

 

$

1,103,584

 

$

919,731

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

153,919

 

$

82,798

 

$

294,217

 

$

181,584

 

Net income

 

$

153,919

 

$

84,197

 

$

294,217

 

$

193,217

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic -

 

$

1.79

 

$

1.00

 

$

3.38

 

$

2.30

 

Diluted -

 

$

1.73

 

$

0.97

 

$

3.28

 

$

2.23

 

 

Note 4 – Debt

 

Noble Energy incurred approximately $1.7 billion of indebtedness in the Patina Merger, primarily to fund the cash consideration, repay Patina’s debt, and fund merger costs. In connection with the merger, the Company entered into a new $1.3 billion credit facility with certain financial institutions. The new facility is a reducing revolver due 2010 with a five percent per quarter commitment reduction in each quarter during year four of the facility and a 20 percent per quarter commitment reduction in each quarter during year five of the facility. The facility incurred a 7.5 basis point standby commitment fee, totaling $0.1 million, from the effective date, April 4, 2005, until the initial borrowing date under the facility, May 16, 2005. Commencing on May 16, 2005, the Company incurs a facility fee of 10 to 25 basis points per annum depending upon the Company’s credit rating. The facility bears interest based upon a Eurodollar rate plus 30 to 100 basis points depending upon the Company’s credit rating. Financial covenants on the new facility are similar to those for the Company’s currently outstanding debt. In addition, the commitment will be reduced by the net proceeds from certain issuances of debt by the Company and by the amount of proceeds from certain asset sales. The facility is available (a) to fund the merger with Patina, (b) to refinance existing indebtedness of the Company and Patina, and (c) for general corporate purposes. The Company incurred debt issuance costs of $2.4 million in connection with the new credit facility. These costs will be amortized to expense over the life of the credit facility.

 

10



 

A summary of the Company’s debt follows:

 

 

 

June 30, 2005

 

December 31, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

Debt

 

Rate

 

Debt

 

Rate

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

(%)

 

(in thousands)

 

(%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$1.3 billion Credit Agreement, due April 2010

 

$

1,300,000

 

3.85

 

$

 

 

$400 million Credit Agreement, due October 2009

 

400,000

 

3.82

 

85,000

 

2.86

 

$400 million Credit Agreement, due November 2006

 

 

 

 

 

5 1/4% Senior Notes, due 2014

 

200,000

 

5.25

 

200,000

 

5.25

 

7 1/4% Notes, due 2023

 

100,000

 

7.25

 

100,000

 

7.25

 

8% Senior Notes, due 2027

 

250,000

 

8.00

 

250,000

 

8.00

 

7 1/4% Senior Debentures, due 2097

 

100,000

 

7.25

 

100,000

 

7.25

 

Term Loans, due January 2009

 

150,000

 

4.20

 

150,000

 

3.00

 

Outstanding debt

 

2,500,000

 

 

 

885,000

 

 

 

Unamortized discount

 

4,605

 

 

 

4,744

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

$

2,495,395

 

 

 

$

880,256

 

 

 

 

Note 5 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

 

Cash Flow Hedges – The Company, from time to time, uses various derivative instruments in connection with anticipated crude oil and natural gas sales to minimize the impact of product price fluctuations. Such instruments include fixed price hedges, variable to fixed price swaps, costless collars and other contractual arrangements. Although these derivative instruments expose the Company to credit risk, the Company takes reasonable steps to protect itself from nonperformance by its counterparties and periodically assesses necessary provisions for bad debt allowance. However, the Company is not able to predict sudden changes in its counterparties’ creditworthiness.

 

The Company accounts for its derivative instruments under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended, and has elected to designate its derivative instruments as cash flow hedges. Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are reflected at fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Changes in fair value, to the extent the hedge is effective, are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) until the forecasted transaction occurs. Gains and losses from such derivative instruments related to the Company’s crude oil and natural gas production and which qualify for hedge accounting treatment are recorded in oil and gas sales and royalties on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations upon sale of the associated products. Hedge effectiveness is assessed quarterly based on total changes in the derivative’s fair value. Any ineffective portion of the derivative instrument’s change in fair value is recognized immediately in other income.

 

11



 

The Company’s derivative instrument activity related to its natural gas and crude oil production was as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Natural Gas Collars:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge MMBTUpd

 

75,000

 

120,000

 

84,945

 

120,570

 

Floor price range

 

$

5.00

 

$3.75 - $4.25

 

$5.00 - $5.75

 

$3.75 - $5.00

 

Ceiling price range

 

$7.20 - $7.80

 

$5.16 - $6.35

 

$7.20 - $9.50

 

$5.16 - $9.65

 

Percent of daily production

 

16

%

31

%

20

%

33

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude Oil Collars:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge Bpd

 

20,250

 

15,000

 

20,518

 

15,009

 

Floor price range

 

$29.00 - $32.50

 

$24.00 - $25.50

 

$29.00 - $37.50

 

$24.00 - $26.00

 

Ceiling price range

 

$37.25 - $56.50

 

$30.50 - $32.65

 

$37.25 - $56.50

 

$30.25 - $32.65

 

Percent of daily production

 

34

%

33

%

39

%

32

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Gas Swaps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge MMBTUpd

 

87,143

 

 

43,812

 

 

Average price per MMBTU

 

$

6.57

 

 

$

6.57

 

 

Percent of daily production

 

18

%

 

11

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude Oil Swaps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge Bpd

 

8,781

 

 

4,415

 

 

Average price per Bbl

 

$

40.13

 

 

$

40.13

 

 

Percent of daily production

 

15

%

 

8

%

 

 

For second quarter 2005 and 2004, oil and gas sales and royalties included losses related to cash flow hedges of $27.7 million and $12.0 million, respectively. Ineffectiveness (income)/loss totaled $(0.3) million and $2.4 million, respectively.

 

For the first six months of 2005 and 2004, oil and gas sales and royalties included losses related to cash flow hedges of $41.4 million and $17.5 million, respectively. Ineffectiveness loss totaled $2.4 million and $4.4 million, respectively.

 

As of June 30, 2005, the Company had entered into future costless collar transactions related to its natural gas and crude oil production to support the Company’s investment program as follows: 

 

 

 

Natural Gas

 

Crude Oil

 

 

 

 

 

Average price

 

 

 

Average price

 

 

 

 

 

per MMBTU

 

 

 

per Bbl

 

Production Period

 

MMBTUpd

 

Floor

 

Ceiling

 

Bopd

 

Floor

 

Ceiling

 

July- Dec 2005

 

75,000

 

$

5.00

 

$

7.52

 

20,520

 

$

31.39

 

$

44.34

 

2006

 

3,699

 

$

5.00

 

$

8.00

 

1,865

 

$

29.00

 

$

34.93

 

 

12



 

As of June 30, 2005, the Company had entered into future fixed price swap transactions related to its natural gas and crude oil production to support the Company’s investment program as follows:

 

 

 

Natural Gas

 

Crude Oil

 

 

 

 

 

Average Price

 

 

 

Average price

 

Production Period

 

MMBTUpd

 

per MMBTU

 

Bopd

 

per Bbl

 

July - Dec 2005

 

130,000

 

$

6.83

 

13,100

 

$

39.45

 

2006

 

170,000

 

$

6.48

 

16,600

 

$

40.47

 

2007

 

170,000

 

$

6.03

 

17,100

 

$

39.19

 

2008

 

170,000

 

$

5.67

 

16,500

 

$

38.23

 

 

If commodity prices were to stay the same as they were at June 30, 2005, approximately $145.5 million of net deferred losses, net of taxes, related to the fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments included in accumulated other comprehensive loss at June 30, 2005 would be reversed during the next twelve months as the forecasted transactions occur, and settlements would be recorded as a reduction in oil and gas sales and royalties. All forecasted transactions currently being hedged are expected to occur by December 31, 2008.

 

The Company’s balance sheet includes the following assets (liabilities) related to derivative instruments:

 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative instruments (current asset)

 

$

11,819

 

$

28,733

 

Derivative instruments (long-term asset)

 

$

968

 

$

20,427

 

Derivative instruments (current liability)

 

$

(235,298

)

$

(50,304

)

Derivative instruments (long-term liability)

 

$

(503,282

)

$

(9,678

)

 

The increase in derivative liability balances reflects record high crude oil and natural gas prices.

 

Other Derivative Instruments – Noble Energy from time to time employs various derivative instruments in connection with its purchases and sales of third-party production to lock in profits or limit exposure to natural gas price risk. Most of the purchases made by the Company are on an index basis; however, purchasers in the markets in which the Company sells often require fixed or NYMEX-related pricing. The Company may use a derivative instrument to convert the fixed or NYMEX sale to an index basis thereby determining the margin and minimizing the risk of price volatility.

 

The Company records gains and losses on these derivative instruments using mark-to-market accounting. Under this accounting method, the changes in the market value of outstanding financial instruments are recognized as gains or losses in the period of change. The Company recorded losses of $0.7 million and $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and losses of $0.5 million for second quarter 2004 related to derivative instruments not accounted for as cash flow hedges. Losses related to second quarter 2005 were de minimis.

 

13



 

Note 6 – Employee Benefit Plans

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan The Company has a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering certain domestic employees. The Company also sponsors an unfunded restoration plan, as well as other plans that provide for health care and life insurance benefits for its employees and retirees. The following table reflects the components of net periodic benefit cost recognized by the Company related to pension and other postretirement benefit plans.

 

For the three months ended June 30:

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Other Benefits

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

1,514

 

$

1,408

 

$

184

 

$

181

 

Interest cost

 

1,666

 

1,559

 

282

 

273

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(1,799

)

(1,666

)

 

 

Transition obligation recognition

 

(54

)

(54

)

60

 

60

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

101

 

102

 

(13

)

(11

)

Recognized net actuarial loss

 

200

 

95

 

56

 

51

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

1,628

 

$

1,444

 

$

569

 

$

554

 

 

For the six months ended June 30:

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Other Benefits

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

3,029

 

$

2,725

 

$

369

 

$

346

 

Interest cost

 

3,331

 

3,095

 

564

 

543

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(3,598

)

(3,412

)

 

 

Transition obligation recognition

 

(108

)

(108

)

120

 

120

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

203

 

200

 

(26

)

(29

)

Recognized net actuarial loss

 

399

 

166

 

112

 

102

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

3,256

 

$

2,666

 

$

1,139

 

$

1,082

 

 

The Company contributed cash of $2.3 million to its pension plans during the first six months of 2005 relating to the 2004 plan year.

 

Deferred Compensation Plan In connection with the Patina Merger, the Company acquired the assets and assumed the liabilities related to a Patina shareholder-approved deferred compensation plan. This plan was available to officers and certain managers of Patina and allowed participants to defer all or a portion of their salary and annual bonuses (either in cash or common stock). The assets are invested in instruments as directed by the participants and held in a rabbi trust and, therefore, may be available to satisfy the claims of the Company’s creditors in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency. Participants have the ability to direct the plan administrator to invest their salary and bonus deferrals into pre-approved mutual funds held by the rabbi trust. In addition, participants have the right to request that the plan administrator re-allocate the portfolio of investments (i.e., cash, mutual funds, common stock) in the participants’ individual accounts within the rabbi trust. However, the plan administrator is not required to honor such requests. Participants may elect to receive distributions in either cash or common stock. At the date of the merger, the shares of Patina common stock held in the rabbi trust were allocated 87 percent in Noble Energy common stock and 13 percent in cash, with the cash received by the rabbi trust used to purchase additional mutual fund investments. At June 30, 2005, the balance of the assets in the rabbi trust totaled $118.9 million, including 1,084,909 shares of common stock of Noble Energy valued at $82.1 million. The Company accounts for the deferred compensation plan in accordance with EITF 97-14, “Accounting for Deferred Compensation Arrangements Where Amounts Earned are Held in a Rabbi Trust and Invested.”

 

14



 

Assets of the rabbi trust, other than common stock of the Company, are invested in 19 mutual funds that cover an investment spectrum ranging from equities to money market instruments. These mutual funds are publicly quoted and reported at market value. The Company accounts for these investments in accordance with SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.” The rabbi trust also holds common stock of Noble Energy. The Company’s common stock held by the rabbi trust at June 30, 2005 has been classified as treasury stock in the shareholders’ equity section of the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The market value of the assets held by the rabbi trust, exclusive of the market value of the shares of the Company’s common stock that are reflected as treasury stock, at June 30, 2005 was $36.8 million, and is included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The amounts payable to the plan participants at June 30, 2005, including the market value of the shares of the Company’s common stock that are reflected as treasury stock, total $118.9 million, and are included in deferred compensation liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Approximately 1,030,000 shares or 95 percent of the common stock held in the plan at June 30, 2005 were attributable to a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. During second quarter 2005, plan participants sold investments in 9,798 shares of Noble Energy common stock in the rabbi trust and invested the proceeds in mutual funds.

 

In accordance with EITF 97-14, all fluctuations in market value of the rabbi trust assets have been reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Increases or decreases in the value of the plan assets, exclusive of the shares of common stock of the Company, have been included in other income in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Increases or decreases in the market value of the deferred compensation liability, including the shares of common stock of the Company held by the rabbi trust, while recorded as treasury stock, are included as deferred compensation adjustments in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Based on the changes in the total market value of the rabbi trust’s assets, the Company recorded deferred compensation adjustments of $9.9 million from acquisition date through June 30, 2005.

 

Note 7 – Involuntary Conversion of Assets

 

In September 2004, Hurricane Ivan moved through the Gulf of Mexico resulting in infrastructure damage at Main Pass 293/305/306. Costs related to clean-up and redevelopment are insured to a limit that the Company believes will allow for restoration of production. The loss of production is not covered by business interruption insurance.

 

The Company plans to replace the assets that were destroyed by the hurricane and expects that the costs of replacing those assets will be recoverable from insurance proceeds, subject to a $1.0 million deductible. This amount was recognized as a loss on involuntary conversion of assets during 2004. The Company will adjust the total gain or loss attributable to the involuntary conversion in the period in which the contingencies related to the replacement costs and related insurance recoveries are resolved.

 

The remediation work has begun and the Company expects that sales of production from the undamaged platforms will commence third quarter 2005.

 

Assets (liabilities) included in the Company’s balance sheet consist of the following:

 

 

 

June 30, 2005

 

December 31, 2004

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Probable insurance claims - current

 

$

74,938

 

$

65,000

 

Other assets (long-term portion of probable insurance claims)

 

107,615

 

84,832

 

Total expected insurance recoveries

 

$

182,553

 

$

149,832

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asset retirement obligations - current

 

$

(61,961

)

$

(65,000

)

Asset retirement obligations - long-term

 

(74,938

)

(65,000

)

Total asset retirement obligations related to Main Pass assets

 

$

(136,899

)

$

(130,000

)

 

15



 

Note 8 – Asset Retirement Obligations

 

The Company’s asset retirement obligations consist primarily of estimated costs of dismantlement, removal, site reclamation and similar activities associated with its oil and gas properties. The following table reflects the net changes in the Company’s asset retirement obligations.

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30, 2005

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Asset retirement obligations, beginning of period

 

$

254,983

 

Fair value of Patina liabilities assumed

 

36,004

 

Other liabilities incurred in current period

 

590

 

Liabilities settled in current period

 

(14,885

)

Revisions

 

16,882

 

Accretion expense

 

5,209

 

Asset retirement obligations, end of period

 

$

298,783

 

 

The ending aggregate carrying amount includes $136.9 million, which is expected to be reimbursed by insurance, related to Hurricane Ivan damage to the Main Pass assets in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Note 9 Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

 

The Company has investments, at various percentages of ownership, in subsidiaries that are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Through these subsidiaries, the Company has an interest in a methanol plant in Equatorial Guinea. Summarized, combined statement of operations information for subsidiaries accounted for using the equity method is as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methanol sales

 

$

57,853

 

$

53,108

 

$

133,786

 

$

108,065

 

Other income

 

2,918

 

6,998

 

5,559

 

12,022

 

Total revenues

 

60,771

 

60,106

 

139,345

 

120,087

 

Less cost of goods sold

 

22,240

 

15,594

 

49,018

 

41,794

 

Gross margin

 

38,531

 

44,512

 

90,327

 

78,293

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DD&A

 

4,881

 

4,860

 

9,754

 

9,797

 

Administrative

 

1,042

 

920

 

1,990

 

1,896

 

Total expenses

 

5,923

 

5,780

 

11,744

 

11,693

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before taxes

 

32,608

 

38,732

 

78,583

 

66,600

 

Income tax provision

 

7,702

 

 

17,298

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

24,906

 

$

38,732

 

$

61,285

 

$

66,600

 

 

16



 

Note 10 – Shareholders’ Equity

 

The following table reflects the activity in shares of the Company’s common stock and treasury stock:

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Common Stock Outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

Shares at beginning of period

 

62,572,417

 

60,744,583

 

Shares issued in Patina acquisition

 

27,835,204

 

 

Exercise of common stock options

 

1,357,247

 

1,067,149

 

Restricted stock grants, net of forfeitures

 

78,027

 

 

Shares at end of period

 

91,842,895

 

61,811,732

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury Stock Outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

Shares at beginning of period

 

3,549,976

 

3,549,976

 

Shares issued in Patina acquisition

 

1,094,707

 

 

Rabbi trust shares sold

 

(9,798

)

 

Shares at end of period

 

4,634,885

 

3,549,976

 

 

Restricted Stock During the first quarter of 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors granted 32,435 restricted shares of Company common stock to officers and key employees of the Company. The restricted shares are subject to a restricted period ending February 1, 2008 and are also subject to the achievement of a performance goal as of December 31, 2007. When restricted stock is granted, unearned compensation related to the restricted shares is charged to deferred compensation. Compensation expense is recognized over the balance of the vesting period and is adjusted if conditions of the restricted stock performance goal are not met. Amounts related to the performance-based restricted stock awards are subsequently adjusted for changes in the market value of the underlying stock. Also during first quarter 2005 the Company granted 8,000 restricted shares, subject to a three-year restricted period, to a key employee of the Company. The shares were valued at the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date ($58.25).

 

On May 16, 2005, the Company made the following grants of restricted shares of Company common stock:

 

  4,350 restricted shares to a Company officer. The restricted shares are subject to a three-year restricted period, which commenced on the date of grant.

  2,400 restricted shares to each of the two new members of the Company’s Board of Directors. The restricted shares are subject to a one-year restricted period, which commenced on the date of grant.

  32,230 restricted shares to employees of Patina. Half of the restricted shares vest after one year of continued employment with the combined company, and the remainder vest after two years of continued employment with the combined company.

 

The restricted shares granted on May 16, 2005 were valued at the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date ($66.87). Unearned compensation related to these restricted shares was charged to deferred compensation, and compensation expense is being recognized over the vesting periods.

 

The Company recognized restricted stock amortization expense of $1.3 million and $0.3 million for the first six months of 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Dividends – In July 2005, the Board of Directors declared an increase in the quarterly cash dividend to ten cents per common share for third quarter 2005.

 

17



 

Note 11 Basic Earnings Per Share and Diluted Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) of common stock were computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. The diluted earnings per share of common stock include the effect of outstanding stock options and restricted stock. The following table summarizes the calculation of basic and diluted EPS:

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

Income

 

Shares

 

Per Share

 

Income

 

Shares

 

Per Share

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Three Months Ended June 30:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

136,877

 

73,178

 

$

1.87

 

$

72,027

 

58,084

 

$

1.24

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options

 

 

1,906

 

 

 

 

830

 

 

 

Restricted stock

 

 

81

 

 

 

 

43

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

136,877

 

75,165

 

$

1.82

 

$

72,027

 

58,957

 

$

1.22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

246,845

 

66,169

 

$

3.73

 

$

157,573

 

57,874

 

$

2.72

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options

 

 

1,399

 

 

 

 

836

 

 

 

Restricted stock

 

 

84

 

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

246,845

 

67,652

 

$

3.65

 

$

157,573

 

58,745

 

$

2.68

 

 

No options were excluded from the EPS calculations above. There were no antidilutive options for the second quarter or the first six months of 2005 or 2004 as the average market price of Company common stock for those periods was in excess of the exercise price for all options outstanding.

 

Note 12 Income Taxes

 

The income tax provision consists of the following:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

$

24,241

 

$

28,962

 

$

77,678

 

$

59,321

 

Deferred

 

64,159

 

16,393

 

75,307

 

39,570

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total income tax provision

 

$

88,400

 

$

45,355

 

$

152,985

 

$

98,891

 

 

In assessing whether or not deferred tax assets are realizable, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon

 

18



 

the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment.

 

The income tax provisions associated with discontinued operations were $0.8 million and $6.3 million for the three-month and six-month periods ending June 30, 2004, respectively.

 

On October 22, 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act (“AJCA”) became law. The AJCA included numerous provisions that may materially affect accounting for income taxes. Those provisions include a repeal of an export tax benefit for U.S.-based manufacturing activities and grants a special deduction that, depending on the circumstances, could reduce the effective tax rate. In addition, the AJCA created a temporary incentive for U.S. corporations to repatriate accumulated income earned abroad by providing for an 85 percent dividends-received deduction for certain dividends from controlled foreign corporations. The deduction is subject to a number of limitations and, to date, uncertainty remains as to how to interpret some provisions of the AJCA.

 

In accordance with FSP FAS 109-1, “Application of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, to the Tax Deduction on Qualified Production Activities Provided by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004,” the Company is accounting for any qualified production activities deduction as a special deduction in 2005. The Company believes that because of the phased-in nature of the deduction, it will not have a significant impact on its income tax provision or deferred tax assets or liabilities in 2005.

 

FSP FAS 109-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Guidance for the Foreign Earnings Repatriation Provision with the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004,” has allowed enterprises time beyond the financial reporting period of enactment of the AJCA to evaluate the effect of the Act on plans for reinvestment or repatriation of foreign earnings for purposes of applying SFAS No. 109. In July 2005, the Company completed its evaluation of the effects of the repatriation provision, and the Company’s Board of Directors has approved a plan to repatriate $118.0 million in earnings of the Company’s Samedan Methanol subsidiary during third quarter 2005. Because the Company has provided U.S. tax on most of Samedan Methanol’s earnings at 35 percent through December 31, 2004, repatriation under the Act will result in a net tax benefit of approximately $33.8 million to be recorded in third quarter 2005.  If the Company had made the decision to repatriate the earnings during second quarter 2005 and had recorded the net tax benefit, the Company would have reported income tax provisions of $54.6 million for second quarter 2005 and $119.1 million for the first six months of 2005.

 

19



 

Note 13 – Geographical Data

 

The Company has operations throughout the world and manages its operations by country. The following information is grouped into five components that are all primarily in the business of natural gas and crude oil exploration and production:  United States, Equatorial Guinea, North Sea, Israel, and Other International, Corporate and Marketing. Other International includes operations in Argentina, China and Ecuador. The following data was prepared on the same basis as Noble Energy’s consolidated financial statements. The information does not include the effects of income taxes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Int’l

 

 

 

 

 

United

 

Equatorial

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate &

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

States

 

Guinea

 

North Sea

 

Israel

 

Marketing

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from third parties

 

$

476,924

 

$

198,073

 

$

80,703

 

$

31,326

 

$

15,354

 

$

151,468

 

Intersegment revenue

 

 

97,516

 

 

 

 

(97,516

)

Income from unconsolidated subsidiaries

 

11,444

 

 

11,444

 

 

 

 

Total Revenues

 

$

488,368

 

$

295,589

 

$

92,147

 

$

31,326

 

$

15,354

 

$

53,952

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DD&A

 

$

96,739

 

$

75,098

 

$

8,246

 

$

2,821

 

$

2,639

 

$

7,935

 

Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations

 

$

2,658

 

$

2,276

 

$

9

 

$

285

 

$

55

 

$

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before tax

 

$

225,277

 

$

139,391

 

$

74,989

 

$

21,546

 

$

10,969

 

$

(21,618

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2004:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from third parties

 

$

318,854

 

$

93,023

 

$

29,954

 

$

28,168

 

$

12,095

 

$

155,614

 

Intersegment revenue

 

 

112,874

 

 

 

 

(112,874

)

Income from unconsolidated subsidiaries

 

 

17,632

 

 

 

 

17,632

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Revenues

 

$

336,486

 

$

205,897

 

$

47,586

 

$

28,168

 

$

12,095

 

$

42,740

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DD&A

 

$

80,643

 

$

63,074

 

$

3,714

 

$

5,033

 

$

2,371

 

$

6,451

 

Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations

 

$

2,352

 

$

2,000

 

$

 

$

306

 

$

46

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before tax

 

$

115,983

 

$

68,278

 

$

37,314

 

$

13,243

 

$

7,842

 

$

(10,694

)

 

20



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Int’l

 

 

 

 

 

United

 

Equatorial

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate &

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

States

 

Guinea

 

North Sea

 

Israel

 

Marketing

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from third parties

 

$

827,577

 

$

296,308

 

$

137,689

 

$

60,558

 

$

30,030

 

$

302,992

 

Intersegment revenue

 

 

187,885

 

 

 

 

(187,885

)

Income from unconsolidated subsidiaries

 

 

28,053

 

 

 

 

28,053

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Revenues

 

$

855,630

 

$

484,193

 

$

165,742

 

$

60,558

 

$

30,030

 

$

115,107

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DD&A

 

$

167,206

 

$

126,930

 

$

13,580

 

$

5,693

 

$

5,199

 

$

15,804

 

Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations

 

$

5,209

 

$

4,450

 

$

18

 

$

564

 

$

110

 

$

67

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before tax

 

$

399,830

 

$

220,055

 

$

135,121

 

$

41,197

 

$

21,463

 

$

(18,006

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2004:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from third parties

 

$

625,204

 

$

140,222

 

$

59,531

 

$

57,327

 

$

15,180

 

$

352,944

 

Intersegment revenue

 

 

259,120

 

 

 

 

(259,120

)

Income from unconsolidated subsidiaries

 

 

30,368

 

 

 

 

30,368

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Revenues

 

$

655,572

 

$

399,342

 

$

89,899

 

$

57,327

 

$

15,180

 

$

93,824

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DD&A

 

$

158,325

 

$

125,943

 

$

5,756

 

$

10,441

 

$

3,451

 

$

12,734

 

Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations

 

$

5,013

 

$

4,312

 

$

 

$

622

 

$

79

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before tax

 

$

244,831

 

$

149,347

 

$

72,365

 

$

31,915

 

$

8,083

 

$

(16,879

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets as of June 30, 2005

 

$

8,478,201

 

$

6,213,559

(1)

$

857,324

 

$

220,686

 

$

257,531

 

$

929,101

 

Total assets as of December 31, 2004

 

$

3,443,171

 

$

1,299,547

 

$

817,062

 

$

218,881

 

$

273,347

 

$

834,334

 

 


(1) The U.S. reporting unit includes goodwill of $900.3 million related to the Patina merger.

 

Note 14 – Discontinued Operations

 

During 2004, the Company completed an asset disposition program that had first been announced in July 2003. The asset disposition program included five domestic property packages. The sales price for the five property packages totaled approximately $130.0 million before closing adjustments. The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to reflect the operations of the properties sold as discontinued operations. The net income from discontinued operations was classified on the consolidated statements of operations as “Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax.”

 

21



 

Summarized results of discontinued operations are as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30, 2004

 

June 30, 2004

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Oil and gas sales and royalties

 

$

(265

)

$

12,457

 

Realized gain

 

$

3,707

 

$

9,599

 

Income before income taxes

 

$

2,152

 

$

17,896

 

 

There was no discontinued operations activity during the first six months of 2005.

 

Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies

 

The ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court in Rogers v. Westerman Farm Co. in July 2001 resulted in uncertainty regarding the deductibility of certain post-production costs from payments to be made to royalty interest owners. In January 2003, Patina was named as a defendant in a lawsuit, which plaintiff seeks to certify as a class action, based upon the Rogers ruling alleging that Patina had improperly deducted certain costs in connection with its calculation of royalty payments relating to its Colorado operations (Jack Holman, et al v. Patina Oil & Gas Corporation; Case No. 03-CV-09; District Court, Weld County, Colorado) . In May 2004, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint narrowing the class of potential plaintiffs, and thereafter filed a motion seeking to certify the narrowed class as described in the amended complaint. Patina filed an answer to the amended complaint. A hearing on the motion seeking class certification is currently scheduled for August 18, 2005. The Company intends to oppose class certification and to vigorously defend this action. The potential liability, if any, from this claim cannot currently be reasonably estimated, and no provision has been accrued for this matter in the Company’s financial statements.

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. These proceedings are subject to the inherent uncertainties in any litigation. The Company is defending itself vigorously in all such matters and does not believe that the ultimate disposition of such proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Note 16 – Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs

 

As of January 1, 2005, the Company adopted FASB Staff Position FAS 19-1, “Accounting for Suspended Well Costs.” The following table reflects the net changes in capitalized exploratory well costs for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and does not include amounts that were capitalized and subsequently expensed in the same period.

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30, 2005

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalized exploratory well costs, beginning of period

 

$

62,724

 

Additions to capitalized exploratory well costs pending determination of proved reserves

 

63,868

 

Reclassified to property, plant and equipment based on determination of proved reserves

 

(4,743

)

Capitalized exploratory well costs charged to expense

 

(3,200

)

Capitalized exploratory well costs, end of period

 

$

118,649

 

 

22



 

The following table provides an aging of capitalized exploratory well costs based on the date the drilling was completed and the number of projects for which exploratory well costs have been capitalized for a period greater than one year since the completion of drilling:

 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Capitalized exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period of one year or less

 

$

44,435

 

$

44,986

 

Capitalized exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period greater than one year

 

74,214

 

17,738

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

118,649

 

$

62,724

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of projects that have exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period greater than one year

 

3

 

4

 

 

At June 30, 2005, the balance of property, plant and equipment included $118.6 million of suspended exploratory well costs, of which $74.2 million had been capitalized for a period greater than one year. Of this amount, $72.2 million is associated with Lorien (Green Canyon 199), a deepwater Gulf of Mexico project discovered in 2003. The Company increased its working interest from 20 percent to 60 percent in the second quarter of 2004. A successful appraisal sidetrack well was drilled in 2004 and a second appraisal well was drilled in the first quarter of 2005 to delineate the reservoir. The Company expects to record reserves in 2005, at which time the suspended well costs will be reclassified to property, plant and equipment.

 

Note 17 – Recently Issued Pronouncements

 

In June 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections” (“FAS No. 154”). FAS No. 154 replaces APB No. 20, “Accounting Changes” and FAS No. 3, “Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements” and changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. The statement applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle and requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements unless it is impracticable. The statement also requires that a change in method of depreciation, depletion or amortization for long-lived, nonfinancial assets be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate that is effected by a change in accounting principle. The statement is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. It does not change the transition provisions of any existing accounting pronouncements.

 

23



 

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

 

Noble Energy’s strong second quarter results reflect the integration of Patina with the Company’s operations, effective May 16.  Patina has added stability to the Company’s domestic production base and contributed to the Company’s average sales volumes in June 2005 of approximately 162.7 thousand BOE per day.  In addition, the ongoing trend of improving operating and financial performance continued in the second quarter and is expected to continue for some time. The Swordfish development in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, the first of three important deepwater developments that will contribute new production through 2006, is scheduled to begin producing in the third quarter at 10,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, net.  The Phase 2A and 2B liquids expansion projects in Equatorial Guinea are both complete and exceeding expectations.

 

Financial and operating highlights for second quarter 2005 included the following:

 

      Completion of Patina Merger;

      Net income of $136.9 million, a 90 percent increase over second quarter 2004;

      Diluted earnings per share of $1.82, a 49 percent increase over second quarter 2004;

      Cash flows provided by operating activities of $484.3 million, year-to-date;

      A 28 percent increase in daily production over second quarter 2004, including a 39 percent international increase and a 21 percent domestic increase; and

      Increases of 32 percent in the average realized crude oil price and eight percent in the average realized natural gas price over second quarter 2004.

 

Merger with Patina Oil & Gas Corporation – On May 16, 2005, Noble Energy completed the Patina Merger in a transaction accounted for as a purchase of Patina by Noble Energy. Patina was an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, development and exploitation of crude oil and natural gas properties within the continental United States. Patina’s properties and oil and gas reserves are principally located in relatively long-lived fields with established production histories. The properties are primarily concentrated in the Wattenberg Field of Colorado’s Denver-Julesburg Basin, the Mid-continent region of western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, and the San Juan Basin in New Mexico. The consolidated operating and cash flow information discussed below include financial results of Patina after May 16, 2005.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Overview

 

The Company’s primary cash needs are to fund capital expenditures related to the acquisition, exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas properties, to repay outstanding borrowings, or to pay other contractual commitments, for interest payments on debt and to pay cash dividends on common stock. The Company’s traditional sources of liquidity are its cash on hand, cash flows from operations and available borrowing capacity under its credit facilities. Funds may also be generated from occasional sales of non-strategic crude oil and natural gas properties.

 

Cash Flows

 

Operating Activities – For the first six months of 2005, the Company reported net cash provided by operating activities of $484.3 million, a 30 percent increase as compared with $371.4 million for the first six months of 2004. The increase was due primarily to the combination of higher production volumes and higher commodity prices.
 

Investing Activities – Net cash used in investing activities for the first six months of 2005 totaled $1.4 billion, as compared with $281.8 million for the first six months of 2004. For 2005, $1.1 billion related to the cash portion of the acquisition price for Patina, and approximately $325.0 million related to capital expenditures. Net cash used in investing activities for 2004 included capital expenditures of $318.5 million, which was offset by proceeds of $34.2 million from property sales.

 

Financing Activities – Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $1.0 billion and $21.3 million for the first six months of 2005 and 2004, respectively. Financing activities consisted primarily of net proceeds from the Company’s credit facilities

 

24



 

used to fund the cash consideration in the Patina Merger, merger expenses and repayment of Patina debt. Other financing activities included payment of cash dividends on Company common stock of $5.9 million and proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $47.4 million.

 

Ecuador Receivables – Certain entities purchasing electricity in Ecuador have been slow to pay amounts due Noble Energy. While the Company does not consider these receivables to be material, it is pursuing various strategies to protect its interests and has made provisions to cover potentially uncollectible balances.

 

Acquisition, Exploration and Development-Related Expenditures

 

Values preliminarily allocated to proved and unproved oil and gas properties acquired in the Patina merger were $2,642.0 million and $1,024.0 million, respectively.

 

The Company’s exploration and development-related expenditure information is as follows:

 

 

 

Six Months

 

Six Months

 

 

 

Ending

 

Ending

 

 

 

June 30, 2005

 

June 30, 2004

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Exploration and Development-Related Expenditures:

 

 

 

 

 

Exploratory drilling and completion

 

$

27,387

 

$

10,293

 

Dry hole

 

19,500

 

26,513

 

Lease acquisition costs

 

11,738

 

14,571

 

Seismic

 

7,109

 

4,940

 

Total exploration expenditures

 

65,734

 

56,317

 

Development drilling and completion

 

256,456

 

261,321

 

Corporate and other

 

10,425

 

10,833

 

Total exploration and development-related expenditures

 

$

332,615

 

$

328,471

 

 

The exploration and development-related expenditures above include $42.9 million of post-merger expenditures related to Patina properties.

 

Financing Activities

 

Debt – The Company’s outstanding debt balance, excluding discount, was $2.5 billion at June 30, 2005 as compared with $885.0 million at December 31, 2004. During second quarter 2005 the Company drew on its credit facilities in order to fund $1.1 billion cash consideration paid to Patina shareholders in the merger and to repay $610.9 million of Patina long-term debt assumed, including accrued interest.

 

The Company has credit agreements totaling $2.1 billion. These credit agreements consist of a new $1.3 billion credit agreement due April 2010, a $400 million credit agreement due October 2009, and a $400 million credit agreement due November 2006. Borrowings under these credit agreements totaled $1.7 billion at June 30, 2005, leaving $400 million in unused borrowing capacity. The Company’s credit agreements are supplemented by short-term borrowings under various uncommitted credit lines used for working capital purposes. The uncommitted credit lines may be offered by certain banks from time to time at rates negotiated at the time of borrowing. No amounts were outstanding under these credit lines at June 30, 2005. The Company also had $650.0 million of fixed-rate debt and $150.0 million in variable-rate term loans at June 30, 2005.

 

As a result of the Patina Merger, Noble Energy’s ratio of debt-to-book capital (defined as the Company’s total debt divided by the sum of total debt plus equity) has increased to 46 percent at June 30, 2005, compared to 38 percent at December 31, 2004.

 

25



 

Dividends – The Company paid quarterly cash dividends of five cents per share of common stock during first and second quarters of 2005. In July 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors declared an increase in the quarterly cash dividend to ten cents per common share for third quarter 2005.

 

Exercise of Stock Options – The Company received $47.4 million from the exercise of stock options during the first six months of 2005, as compared to $38.0 million during the first six months of 2004. Of the $47.4 million received, approximately $25.5 million resulted from the exercise of Patina options that had been exchanged for Noble Energy options in the Patina Merger.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Natural Gas Information

 

Natural gas revenues increased 40 percent for second quarter 2005, compared with second quarter 2004, and 25 percent for the first six months of 2005, compared with the first six months of 2004.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Natural gas sales

 

$

220,716

 

$

158,196

 

$

367,574

 

$

294,707

 

 

The tables below include average daily natural gas production volumes and prices from continuing operations:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

Price

 

 

 

Price

 

 

 

Mcfpd

 

Per Mcf

 

Mcfpd

 

Per Mcf

 

United States

 

323,449

 

$

6.78

 

257,121

 

$

6.01

 

Equatorial Guinea (1)

 

73,722

 

0.25

 

43,500

 

0.25

 

North Sea

 

8,594

 

5.31

 

12,458

 

3.99

 

Israel

 

60,690

 

2.78

 

47,769

 

2.78

 

Other International (2)

 

16,358

 

1.07

 

20,640

 

0.89

 

Total (3)

 

482,813

 

$

5.20

 

381,488

 

$

4.81

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

Price

 

 

 

Price

 

 

 

Mcfpd

 

Per Mcf

 

Mcfpd

 

Per Mcf

 

United States

 

269,276

 

$

6.69

 

253,586

 

$

5.79

 

Equatorial Guinea (1)

 

58,860

 

0.25

 

44,961

 

0.25

 

North Sea

 

8,937

 

5.57

 

12,370

 

4.48

 

Israel

 

59,679

 

2.78

 

30,002

 

2.78

 

Other International (2)

 

20,423

 

1.07

 

25,199

 

0.69

 

Total (3)

 

417,175

 

$

5.12

 

366,118

 

$

4.74

 

 


(1)    Natural gas in Equatorial Guinea is under a contract through 2026 for $0.25 per MMBTU.

(2)    Other International includes Argentina and Ecuador. Ecuador natural gas volumes are included in Other International production, but are not included in natural gas sales revenues and average price. Because the natural gas-to-power project in Ecuador is 100 percent owned by Noble Energy, intercompany natural gas sales are eliminated for accounting purposes.

(3)    Reflects increases/(reductions) of $0.02 and $(0.07) per Mcf for second quarter 2005 and 2004, respectively, and $0.01 and $(0.04) per Mcf for the first six months of 2005 and 2004, respectively, from hedging activities.

 

26



 

Variances in natural gas production were attributable to the following:

 

      Additional domestic production (109 MMcfpd for second quarter) from Patina properties, offset by natural decline on the Gulf of Mexico shelf and shut-in production at Main Pass as a result of Hurricane Ivan damage;

      Increase in Phase 2A production and start-up of Phase 2B in Equatorial Guinea;

      Natural field decline in the North Sea;

      Higher production in Israel which was ramping up during second quarter 2004; and

      Decrease in gas production in Ecuador due to seasonal variations.

 

Crude Oil Information

 

Crude oil revenues increased 72 percent for second quarter 2005, compared with second quarter 2004, and 48 percent for the first six months of 2005, compared with the first six months of 2004.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Crude oil sales

 

$

233,243

 

$

135,967

 

$

403,964

 

$

272,512

 

 

The tables below include average daily crude oil production volumes and prices from continuing operations:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

Price

 

 

 

Price

 

 

 

Bopd

 

Per Bbl

 

Bopd

 

Per Bbl

 

United States

 

25,310

 

$

41.70

 

22,676

 

$

31.68

 

Equatorial Guinea

 

20,031

 

43.36

 

9,105

 

34.95

 

North Sea

 

5,921

 

50.43

 

7,070

 

36.75

 

Other International (1)

 

8,034

 

42.38

 

6,664

 

29.69

 

Total (2)

 

59,296

 

$

43.22

 

45,515

 

$

32.83

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

Price

 

 

 

Price

 

 

 

Bopd

 

Per Bbl

 

Bopd

 

Per Bbl

 

United States

 

21,639

 

$

40.42

 

23,036

 

$

31.49

 

Equatorial Guinea

 

17,096

 

43.63

 

9,551

 

33.06

 

North Sea

 

5,850

 

48.68

 

7,389

 

35.13

 

Other International (1)

 

8,390

 

38.89

 

6,860

 

28.64

 

Total (2)

 

52,975

 

$

42.13

 

46,836

 

$

31.97

 

 


(1)    Other International includes Argentina and China.

(2)    Reflects (reductions) of $(5.32) and $(2.35) per Bbl for second quarter 2005 and 2004, respectively, and (reductions) of $(4.43) and $(1.72) per Bbl for the first six months of 2005 and 2004, respectively, from hedging activities.

 

Variances in crude oil production were attributable to the following:

 

  Additional domestic production (9 MBopd for second quarter) from Patina properties, offset by natural decline on the Gulf of Mexico shelf and shut-in production at Main Pass as a result of Hurricane Ivan damage;

  Increase in Phase 2A production and start-up of Phase 2B in Equatorial Guinea;

  Natural field decline in the North Sea; and

  Increase in production from China.

 

27



 

Gathering, Marketing and Processing

 

Noble Energy markets the majority of its domestic natural gas, as well as certain third-party natural gas, and sells natural gas directly to end-users, natural gas marketers, industrial users, interstate and intrastate pipelines, power generators and local distribution companies. The Company also markets portions of its domestic and international crude oil, as well as certain third-party crude oil. The Company’s gross margin from gathering, marketing and processing (“GMP”) activities was as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GMP revenues

 

$

8,421

 

$

12,945

 

$

19,904

 

$

27,120

 

GMP expenses

 

6,812

 

10,634

 

15,049

 

21,350

 

Gross margin

 

$

1,609

 

$

2,311

 

$

4,855

 

$

5,770

 

 

The Company recorded losses of $0.7 million and $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and losses of $0.5 million for second quarter 2004 related to derivative instruments not accounted for as cash flow hedges. Losses related to second quarter 2005 were de minimis.

 

Electricity Sales - Ecuador Integrated Power Project

 

The Company, through its subsidiaries, EDC Ecuador Ltd. and MachalaPower Cia. Ltda., has a 100 percent ownership interest in an integrated natural gas-to-power project. The project includes the Amistad natural gas field, offshore Ecuador, which supplies fuel to the Machala power plant. Power plant activities were as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electricity sales

 

$

14,544

 

$

11,746

 

$

36,135

 

$

30,865

 

Electricity generation expense

 

9,452

 

10,410

 

20,891

 

23,434

 

Operating income

 

$

5,092

 

$

1,336

 

$

15,244

 

$

7,431

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Power production (total MW)

 

135,113

 

168,815

 

343,884

 

421,876

 

Average power price ($/Kwh)

 

$

0.108

 

$

0.070

 

$

0.105

 

$

0.073

 

Natural gas production (Mcfpd)

 

16,316

 

20,102

 

20,403

 

24,595

 

Average natural gas price ($/Mcf) (1)

 

$

4.56

 

$

2.97

 

$

3.82

 

$

2.97

 

 


(1) Intercompany natural gas sales are eliminated for accounting purposes.

 

The increase in operating income during 2005 reflects lower depreciation expense and higher power prices.

 

28



 

Income from Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

 

Income from investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries includes income from Atlantic Methanol Production Company (“AMPCO”), an unconsolidated subsidiary that owns a methanol plant in Equatorial Guinea. The Company owns a 45 percent interest in AMPCO. The Company’s share of results from methanol operations was as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Income from investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries (in thousands)

 

$

11,444

 

$

17,632

 

$

28,053

 

$

30,368

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methanol sales volume (gallons in thousands)

 

33,047

 

37,364

 

76,123

 

75,561

 

Average price (per gallon)

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.64

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.63

 

 

Methanol sales volumes experienced a decline during second quarter 2005 due to timing delays in sales to third parties.  The expiration of the Company’s tax holiday at year-end 2004 and an increase in tanker chartering costs to transport excess capacity contributed to the decrease in operating income for second quarter 2005.

 

Costs and Expenses

 

Production Expenses – The table below includes oil and gas operations expense and total production costs from continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

United

 

Equatorial

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

States

 

Guinea

 

North Sea

 

Israel

 

International

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease operating (1)

 

$

48,123

 

$

30,927

 

$

8,376

 

$

3,065

 

$

2,109

 

$

3,646

 

Workover expense

 

2,085

 

2,085

 

 

 

 

 

Total operations expense

 

50,208

 

33,012

 

8,376

 

3,065

 

2,109

 

3,646

 

Production and ad valorem taxes

 

17,601

 

12,886

 

 

 

 

4,715

 

Transportation expense

 

6,553

 

4,691

 

 

1,601

 

 

261

 

Total production costs

 

$

74,362

 

$

50,589

 

$

8,376

 

$

4,666

 

$

2,109

 

$

8,622

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2004:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease operating (1)

 

$

34,948

 

$

21,325

 

$

5,891

 

$

2,540

 

$

1,833

 

$

3,359

 

Workover expense

 

7,521

 

7,521

 

 

 

 

 

Total operations expense

 

42,469

 

28,846

 

5,891

 

2,540

 

1,833

 

3,359

 

Production and ad valorem taxes

 

6,654

 

5,633

 

 

 

 

1,021

 

Transportation expense

 

4,825

 

2,436

 

 

2,063

 

 

326

 

Total production costs

 

$

53,948

 

$

36,915

 

$

5,891

 

$

4,603

 

$

1,833

 

$

4,706

 

 

29



 

 

 

 

 

United

 

Equatorial

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

States

 

Guinea

 

North Sea

 

Israel

 

International

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease operating (1)

 

$

81,960

 

$

49,359

 

$

14,854

 

$

6,127

 

$

4,000

 

$

7,620

 

Workover expense

 

5,325

 

5,325

 

 

 

 

 

Total operations expense

 

87,285

 

54,684

 

14,854

 

6,127

 

4,000

 

7,620

 

Production and ad valorem taxes

 

26,821

 

19,030

 

 

 

 

7,791

 

Transportation expense

 

10,220

 

6,719

 

 

3,098

 

 

403

 

Total production costs

 

$

124,326

 

$

80,433

 

$

14,854

 

$

9,225

 

$

4,000

 

$

15,814

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2004:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease operating (1)

 

$

67,185

 

$

41,012

 

$

11,040

 

$

5,414

 

$

2,997

 

$

6,722

 

Workover expense

 

9,308

 

9,308

 

 

 

 

 

Total operations expense

 

76,493

 

50,320

 

11,040

 

5,414

 

2,997

 

6,722

 

Production and ad valorem taxes

 

13,265

 

11,245

 

 

 

 

2,020

 

Transportation expense

 

10,566

 

5,651

 

 

4,605

 

 

310

 

Total production costs

 

$

100,324

 

$

67,216

 

$

11,040

 

$

10,019

 

$

2,997

 

$

9,052

 

 


(1) Lease operating expense includes labor, fuel, repairs, replacements, saltwater disposal, and other related lifting costs.

 

Selected expenses on a per BOE basis were as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease operating

 

$

3.79

 

$

3.52

 

$

3.70

 

$

3.42

 

Workover expense

 

0.16

 

0.76

 

0.24

 

0.47

 

Total operations expense

 

3.95

 

4.28

 

3.94

 

3.89

 

Production and ad valorem taxes

 

1.38

 

0.67

 

1.21

 

0.68

 

Transportation expense

 

0.52

 

0.49

 

0.46

 

0.54

 

Total production costs

 

$

5.85

 

$

5.44

 

$

5.61

 

$

5.11

 

 

Oil and gas operations expense, consisting of lease operating expense and workover expense, increased $7.7 million, or 18 percent, for second quarter 2005, as compared with second quarter 2004. Oil and gas operations expense increased $10.8 million, or 14 percent, for the first six months of 2005, as compared with the first six months of 2004. The increase in oil and gas operations expense reflects higher production primarily in the U.S. and Equatorial Guinea and rising LOE costs.

 

The unit rate of oil and gas operations expense per barrel of oil equivalent (“BOE”), converting gas to oil on the basis of six Mcf per barrel, was $3.95 for second quarter 2005 as compared with $4.28 for second quarter 2004.

 

Production and ad valorem tax expense more than doubled second quarter 2005 over second quarter 2004 and for the first six months of 2005 as compared with the first six months of 2004 due to higher commodity prices and to the addition of Patina, which has proportionately more production subject to such taxes.

 

Oil and Gas Exploration Expense – Oil and gas exploration expense consists of dry hole expense, unproved lease amortization, seismic, staff expense and other miscellaneous exploration expense, including lease rentals. Oil and gas exploration expense was $25.6 million for second quarter 2005, as compared with $39.0 million for second quarter 2004. The decrease was due to an $11.4 million period-over-period decrease in dry hole expense and a $1.6 million decrease in unproved lease amortization.

 

30



 

Oil and gas exploration expense was $49.3 million for the first six months of 2005, as compared with $55.5 million for the first six months of 2004. The decrease was due to a $7.0 million period-over-period decrease in dry hole expense offset by a $2.2 million increase in seismic.

 

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization – Depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”) expense was as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands except unit rate)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense

 

$

96,739

 

$

80,643

 

$

167,206

 

$

158,325

 

Unit rate per BOE

 

$

7.61

 

$

8.12

 

$

7.54

 

$

8.07

 

 

The decline in the unit rate was primarily due to increased low-cost volumes in Equatorial Guinea, Israel, and China. DD&A expense also includes abandoned assets expense of $1.0 million and $2.6 million for second quarter 2005 and 2004, respectively, and $8.5 million and $2.6 million for the first six months of 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expense –

 

Selling, general and administrative expense (“SG&A”) was as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands except unit rate)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expense

 

$

24,812

 

$

13,133

 

$

39,980

 

$

28,192

 

Unit rate per BOE

 

$

1.95

 

$

1.32

 

$

1.80

 

$

1.44

 

 

SG&A expense increased 42 percent for the first six months of 2005, as compared with the first six months of 2004 due to increased personnel costs and charges related to closing the Patina merger.

 

Interest Expense – Interest expense (net of interest capitalized) increased $2.3 million, or 16 percent, to $16.6 million for second quarter 2005, as compared with $14.3 million for second quarter 2004. Capitalized interest was $4.1 million for second quarter 2005, compared with $2.5 million for second quarter 2004. Interest expense (net of interest capitalized) for the quarter increased due to increased borrowings related to the Patina Merger.

 

Interest expense (net of interest capitalized) increased $1.5 million, or six percent, to $25.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005, as compared to $24.4 million for the same period in 2004. Capitalized interest increased $2.3 million period-over-period.

 

Income Tax Provision – Income tax expense associated with continuing operations was as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(in thousands except effective rate)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax provision

 

$

88,400

 

$

45,355

 

$

152,985

 

$

98,891

 

Effective rate

 

39

%

39

%

38

%

40

%

 

31



 

The decrease in the effective rate for the first six months of 2005 is due to shifts in the combination of international and domestic income (e.g.,. Patina Merger), and a decrease in deferred taxes related to the methanol business.

 

Discontinued Operations

 

During 2004, the Company completed an asset disposition program that had first been announced in July 2003. The asset disposition program included five domestic property packages. The sales price for the five property packages totaled approximately $130 million before closing adjustments. The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to reflect the operations of the properties sold as discontinued operations. The net income from discontinued operations was classified on the consolidated statements of operations as “Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax.”

 

Summarized results of discontinued operations are as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30, 2004

 

June 30, 2004

 

 

 

(in thousands, except statistics)

 

Oil and gas sales and royalties

 

$

(265

)

$

12,457

 

Realized gain

 

$

3,707

 

$

9,599

 

Income before income taxes

 

$

2,152

 

$

17,896

 

Key Statistics:

 

 

 

 

 

Daily production - Liquids

 

(87

)

454

 

   Natural gas (Mcf)

 

(1,013

)

8,937

 

Average realized price - Liquids ($/Bbl)

 

$

26.33

 

$

34.07

 

   Natural Gas ($/Mcf)

 

$

0.60

 

$

5.93

 

 

There was no discontinued operations activity during the first six months of 2005.

 

FUTURE TRENDS

 

The Company expects crude oil and natural gas production from continuing operations to increase in 2005 compared to 2004. The increased production is expected primarily from the newly acquired Patina properties, the continued expansion of natural gas markets in Israel, a full year of production from Phase 2A, the Phase 2B expansion of the LPG plant in Equatorial Guinea and new deepwater wells in the Gulf of Mexico. The Company’s production profile may be impacted by several factors, including:

 

  The timing of the production increases from deepwater developments in the Gulf of Mexico during 2005;

  Seasonal variations in electricity demand and the timing of infrastructure development in Israel;

  Seasonal variations in rainfall in Ecuador that affect the Company’s natural gas-to-power project; and

  Potential weather-related shut-ins in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Gulf Coast areas.

 

2005 Budget – Noble Energy has increased its 2005 capital expenditures budget to $987.0 million for the Company over its original budget of $735 million. The increase is primarily attributable to investment in the acquired Patina properties.  Approximately 25 percent of the 2005 capital budget has been allocated for exploration opportunities and 75 percent has been dedicated to production, development and other projects. Domestic spending is budgeted at approximately $764.0 million, international expenditures are budgeted at approximately $208.0 million, and corporate spending is budgeted at $15.0 million. The Company will evaluate its level of capital spending throughout the year based upon drilling results, commodity prices, cash flows from operations and property acquisitions. Excluding possible asset purchases, the Company plans to fund such expenditures primarily from cash flows from operations. The Company believes that it has the capital structure to take advantage of strategic acquisitions, as they become available, through internally generated cash flows or available lines of credit and other borrowing opportunities. The Company does not budget for acquisitions.

 

32



 

Management believes that the Company is well positioned with its balanced reserves of crude oil and natural gas and downstream projects. The uncertainty of commodity prices continues to affect the crude oil, natural gas and methanol industries. The Company periodically enters into crude oil and natural gas commodity hedges as a means to help reduce commodity price volatility. The Company cannot predict the extent to which its revenues will be affected by inflation, government regulation or changing prices.

 

Recently Issued Pronouncements

 

In June 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections” (“FAS No. 154”). FAS No. 154 replaces APB No. 20, “Accounting Changes” and FAS No. 3, “Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements” and changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. The statement applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle and requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements unless it is impracticable. The statement also requires that a change in method of depreciation, depletion or amortization for long-lived, nonfinancial assets be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate that is effected by a change in accounting principle. The statement is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. It does not change the transition provisions of any existing accounting pronouncements.

 

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES

ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

Derivative Instruments Held for Non-Trading Purposes – The Company is exposed to market risk in the normal course of its business operations. Management believes that the Company is well positioned with its mix of crude oil and natural gas reserves to take advantage of future price increases that may occur. However, the uncertainty of crude oil and natural gas prices continues to impact the oil and gas industry. Due to the volatility of crude oil and natural gas prices, the Company, from time to time, has used derivative instruments and may do so in the future as a means of managing its exposure to price changes.

 

As of June 30, 2005, the Company had entered into future costless collar transactions related to its natural gas and crude oil production to support the Company’s investment program as follows: 

 

 

 

Natural Gas

 

Crude Oil

 

 

 

 

 

Average price

 

 

 

Average price

 

 

 

 

 

per MMBTU

 

 

 

per Bbl

 

Production Period

 

MMBTUpd

 

Floor

 

Ceiling

 

Bopd

 

Floor

 

Ceiling

 

July- Dec 2005

 

75,000

 

$

5.00

 

$

7.52

 

20,520

 

$

31.39

 

$

44.34

 

2006

 

3,699

 

$

5.00

 

$

8.00

 

1,865

 

$

29.00

 

$

34.93

 

 

33



 

As of June 30, 2005, the Company had entered into future fixed price swap transactions related to its natural gas and crude oil production to support the Company’s investment program as follows:

 

 

 

Natural Gas

 

Crude Oil

 

 

 

 

 

Average Price

 

 

 

Average price

 

Production Period

 

MMBTUpd

 

per MMBTU

 

Bopd

 

per Bbl

 

July - Dec 2005

 

130,000

 

$

6.83

 

13,100

 

$

39.45

 

2006

 

170,000

 

$

6.48

 

16,600

 

$

40.47

 

2007

 

170,000

 

$

6.03

 

17,100

 

$

39.19

 

2008

 

170,000

 

$

5.67

 

16,500

 

$

38.23

 

 

As of June 30, 2005, the Company had a net unrealized loss of $469.8 million, net of taxes, related to crude oil and natural gas derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges.

 

Derivative Instruments Held for Trading Purposes – Noble Energy, from time to time, employs derivative instruments in connection with its purchases and sales of production. While most of the purchases are made for an index-based price, customers often require prices that are either fixed or related to NYMEX. In order to establish a fixed margin and mitigate the risk of price volatility, the Company may convert a fixed or NYMEX sale to an index-based sales price (such as purchasing a NYMEX futures contract at the Henry Hub with an adjoining basis swap at a physical location). Due to the size of such transactions and certain restraints imposed by contract and by Company guidelines, the Company believes it had no material market risk exposure from these derivative instruments as of June 30, 2005.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

The Company is exposed to interest rate risk related to its variable and fixed interest rate debt. As of June 30, 2005, the Company had $2.5 billion of debt outstanding of which $650 million was fixed-rate debt. The Company believes that anticipated near term changes in interest rates would not have a material effect on the fair value of the Company’s fixed-rate debt and would not expose the Company to the risk of earnings or cash flow loss.

 

The remainder of the Company’s debt at June 30, 2005 ($1.85 billion) was variable-rate debt and therefore exposes the Company to the risk of earnings or cash flow loss due to changes in market interest rates. A 10 percent change in the floating interest rates applicable to the June 30, 2005 balance would result in a change in annual interest expense of approximately $7.2 million.

 

Foreign Currency Risk

 

The Company does not enter into foreign currency derivatives. The U.S. dollar is considered the functional currency for each of the Company’s international operations. Transactions that are completed in a foreign currency are remeasured into U.S. dollars and recorded in the financial statements. Transaction gains or losses were not material in any of the periods presented and the Company does not believe it is currently exposed to any material risk of loss on this basis. Such gains or losses are included in other income on the statements of operations.

 

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

General. Noble Energy is including the following discussion to generally inform its existing and potential security holders of some of the risks and uncertainties that can affect the Company and to take advantage of the “safe harbor” protection for forward-looking statements afforded under federal securities laws. From time to time, the Company’s management or persons acting on management’s behalf make forward-looking statements to inform existing and potential security holders about the Company. These statements may include, but are not limited to, projections and estimates concerning the timing and success of specific projects and the Company’s future: (1) income, (2) crude oil and natural gas production, (3) crude oil and natural gas reserves and reserve replacement and (4) capital spending. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by words such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “goal” or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Sometimes the Company will specifically describe a statement as being a

 

34



 

forward-looking statement. In addition, except for the historical information contained in this Form 10-Q, the matters discussed in this Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements. These statements by their nature are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions and will be influenced by various factors. Should any of the assumptions underlying a forward-looking statement prove incorrect, actual results could vary materially.

 

Noble Energy believes the factors discussed below are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made herein or elsewhere by the Company or on its behalf. The factors listed below are not necessarily all of the important factors. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed herein could also have material adverse effects on actual results of matters that are the subject of forward-looking statements. Noble Energy does not intend to update its description of important factors each time a potential important factor arises. The Company advises its stockholders that they should: (1) be aware that important factors not described below could affect the accuracy of its forward-looking statements, and (2) use caution and common sense when analyzing its forward-looking statements in this document or elsewhere. All of such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

 

Volatility and Level of Hydrocarbon Commodity Prices. Historically, natural gas and crude oil prices have been volatile. These prices rise and fall based on changes in market supply and demand fundamentals and changes in the political, regulatory and economic climates and other factors that affect commodities markets generally and are outside of Noble Energy’s control. Some of Noble Energy’s projections and estimates are based on assumptions as to the future prices of natural gas and crude oil. These price assumptions are used for planning purposes. The Company expects its assumptions may change over time and that actual prices in the future may differ from its estimates. Any substantial or extended change in the actual prices of natural gas and/or crude oil could have a material effect on: (1) the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows, (2) the quantities of natural gas and crude oil reserves that the Company can economically produce, (3) the quantity and value of estimated proved and unproved reserves that may be attributed to its properties, and (4) the Company’s ability to fund its capital program.

 

Production Rates and Reserve Replacement. Projecting future rates of crude oil and natural gas production is inherently imprecise.  Producing crude oil and natural gas reservoirs generally have declining production rates. Production rates depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, geological, geophysical and engineering issues, weather, production curtailments or restrictions, prices for natural gas and crude oil, available transportation capacity, market demand and the political, economic and regulatory climates. Another factor affecting production rates is Noble Energy’s ability to replace depleting reservoirs with new reserves through exploration success or acquisitions. Exploration success is difficult to predict, particularly over the short term, where results can vary widely from year to year. Moreover, the Company’s ability to replace reserves over an extended period depends not only on the total volumes found, but also on the cost of finding and developing such reserves. Depending on the general price environment for natural gas and crude oil, Noble Energy’s finding and development costs may not justify the use of resources to explore for and develop such reserves.

 

Reserve Estimates. Noble Energy’s forward-looking statements are predicated, in part, on the Company’s estimates of its crude oil and natural gas reserves. All of the reserve data in this Form 10-Q or otherwise made by or on behalf of the Company are estimates. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of crude oil and natural gas. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved natural gas and crude oil reserves. Projecting future rates of production and timing of future development expenditures is also inexact. Many factors beyond the Company’s control affect these estimates. In addition, the accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Therefore, estimates made by different engineers may vary. The results of drilling, testing and production after the date of an estimate may also require a revision of that estimate, and these revisions may be material. As a result, reserve estimates may be different from the quantities of crude oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered.

 

Laws and Regulations. Noble Energy’s forward-looking statements are generally based on the assumption that the legal and regulatory environments will remain stable. Changes in the legal and/or regulatory environments could have a material effect on the Company’s future results of operations and financial condition. Noble Energy’s ability to economically produce and sell crude oil, natural gas, methanol and power is affected by a number of legal and regulatory factors, including federal, state and local laws and regulations in the U.S. and laws and regulations of foreign nations, affecting: (1) crude oil and natural gas production, (2) taxes applicable to the Company and/or its production, (3) the amount of crude oil and natural gas available for sale, (4) the availability of adequate pipeline and other transportation and processing facilities, and (5) the marketing of

 

35



 

competitive fuels. The Company’s operations are also subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations in the U.S. and laws and regulations of foreign nations relating to the generation, storage, handling, emission, transportation and discharge of materials into the environment. Noble Energy’s forward-looking statements are generally based upon the expectation that the Company will not be required, in the near future, to expend cash to comply with environmental laws and regulations that are material in relation to its total capital expenditures program. However, inasmuch as such laws and regulations are frequently changed, the Company is unable to accurately predict the ultimate financial impact of compliance.

 

Drilling and Operating Risks. Noble Energy’s drilling operations are subject to various risks common in the industry, including cratering, explosions, fires and uncontrollable flows of crude oil, natural gas or well fluids. In addition, a substantial amount of the Company’s operations are currently offshore, domestically and internationally, and subject to the additional hazards of marine operations, such as loop currents, capsizing, collision, and damage or loss from severe weather. The cost of drilling, completing and operating wells is often uncertain, and drilling operations may be curtailed, delayed or canceled as a result of a variety of factors, including drilling conditions, pressure or irregularities in formations, equipment failures or accidents and adverse weather conditions.

 

Competition. Competition in the industry is intense. Noble Energy actively competes for reserve acquisitions and exploration leases and licenses, for the labor and equipment required to operate and develop crude oil and natural gas properties and in the gathering and marketing of natural gas, crude oil, methanol and power. The Company’s competitors include the major integrated oil companies, independent crude oil and natural gas concerns, individual producers, natural gas and crude oil marketers and major pipeline companies, as well as participants in other industries supplying energy and fuel to industrial, commercial and individual consumers, many of whom have greater financial resources than the Company.

 

Other. In the Company’s exploration operations, losses may occur before any accumulation of crude oil or natural gas is found. If crude oil or natural gas is discovered, no assurance can be given that sufficient reserves will be developed to enable the Company to recover the costs incurred in obtaining the reserves or that reserves will be developed at a sufficient rate to replace reserves currently being produced and sold. The Company’s international operations are also subject to certain political, economic and other uncertainties including, among others, risk of war, terrorist acts and civil disturbances; expropriation or nationalization of assets; renegotiation, modification or nullification of existing contracts; changes in taxation policies; laws and policies of the U.S. affecting foreign investment, taxation, trade and business conduct; foreign exchange restrictions; international monetary fluctuations; and other hazards arising out of foreign governmental sovereignty over areas in which the Company conducts operations.

 

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Based on the evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures by Charles D. Davidson, the Company’s principal executive officer, and Chris Tong, the Company’s principal financial officer, as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, each of them has concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, except that the Company is in the process of integrating the newly acquired Patina Oil & Gas Corporation into its existing internal control structure. The Company acquired Patina on May 16, 2005 and is in the process of intergrating Patina’s disclosure controls and procedures where appropriate.

 

36



 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Refer to “Note 15 - Commitments and Contingencies” to the consolidated financial statements.

 

ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

A special meeting of stockholders was held on May 11, 2005, in Houston, Texas. At the meeting, two proposals were submitted for vote of stockholders. Results of the stockholders’ votes are as follows:

 

1.      To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the issuance of shares of common stock, par value $3.33 1/3 per share, of Noble Energy pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 15, 2004, by and among Noble Energy, Noble Energy Production, Inc. and Patina Oil & Gas Corporation.

 

For

 

46,110,492

 

Against

 

146,747

 

Abstain

 

69,211

 

 

2.      To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend Noble Energy’s certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 100 million shares to 250 million shares.

 

For

 

41,772,438

 

Against

 

11,956,138

 

Abstain

 

75,738

 

 

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS

 

The information required by this Item 6 is set forth in the Index to Exhibits accompanying this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

 

37



 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

  August 4, 2005

 

  /s/ CHRIS TONG

 

 

  CHRIS TONG

 

 

  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
  and Treasurer

 

38



 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

 

 

Number

 

Exhibit

 

 

 

10.1

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Noble Energy, Inc. 2005 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan, filed herewith.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under the Noble Energy, Inc. 2005 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan, filed herewith.

 

 

 

10.3

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Noble Energy, Inc. 1992 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of Event: February 1, 2005) filed February 7, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.4

 

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under the Noble Energy, Inc. 1992 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan entered into by certain executive officers and key employees of the Company on May 16, 2005 and August 1, 2005, respectively, filed herewith.

 

 

 

10.5

 

Consulting Agreement, dated May 9, 2005 but commencing on May 16, 2005, by and between Noble Energy, Inc. and Thomas J. Edelman (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of Event: May 16, 2005) filed May 20, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.6

 

Amendment to 2003 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan Agreement by and between Noble Energy, Inc. and William A. Poillion, Jr. (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of Event: July 25, 2005) filed July 29, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.7

 

Amendment to 2004 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan Agreement by and between Noble Energy, Inc. and William A. Poillion, Jr. (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of Event: July 25, 2005) filed July 29, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.8

 

Amendment to 2005 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan Agreement by and between Noble Energy, Inc. and William A. Poillion, Jr. (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of Event: July 25, 2005) filed July 29, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

12.1

 

Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer Pursuant To Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 7241).

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer Pursuant To Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 7241).

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer Pursuant To Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350).

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer Pursuant To Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350).

 

39


Exhibit 10.1

 

2005 STOCK PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS

OF

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT, made as of the          day of                              , by and between NOBLE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                                    (“Director”),

 

WITNESSETH THAT:

 

WHEREAS, the 2005 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors of Noble Energy, Inc. (the “Plan”) as adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and approved by the stockholders of the Company to be effective as of April 26, 2005 (said Plan, as in effect from time to time, the “Plan”), provides for the grant of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $3.33-1/3 per share (“Common Stock”), to the Company’s Non-Employee Directors (as defined in the Plan) upon the terms and conditions specified under the Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, Director is a Non-Employee Director of the Company who has been granted an option to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows with respect to such option:

 

1.              Grant of Option, Option Period and Terms of Exercise of Option .  The Company hereby grants to Director the option to purchase, as hereinafter set forth,                  shares of Common Stock at the price of $                   per share, for a period commencing one year from the date of this Agreement and terminating on the first to occur of (i) the expiration of ten years from the date of this Agreement and (ii) the date on which Director’s service as a director of the Company terminates for any reason; provided, however, that:

 

(a)            If Director ceases to be a director of the Company on account of Director’s (i) fraud or intentional misrepresentation, or (ii) embezzlement, misappropriation or conversion of assets or opportunities of the Company or any Affiliate (as defined in the Plan), this option shall automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect as of the date Director’s directorship terminated;

 



 

(b)            If Director dies or becomes disabled (within the meaning of section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in its discretion) while a director of the Company, or Director ceases to be a regular director of the Company because of age in accordance with the mandatory retirement provisions of Article III of the By-Laws of the Company, this option shall become exercisable in full and may be exercised prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of five years after such death or disability, or (ii) the expiration of the exercise period applicable to this option, but not thereafter, by Director, the executor or administrator of the estate of Director, or by the person or persons who shall have acquired this option by bequest or inheritance or permitted transfer, as the case may be;

 

(c)            If the directorship of Director is terminated within the exercise period applicable to this option for any reason other than a reason specified in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph 1, this option may be exercised, to the extent Director was able to do so at the date of termination of the directorship, prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of five years after such termination, or (ii) the expiration of the exercise period applicable to such Option, but not thereafter; or

 

(d)            If a Change in Control (as defined below) occurs while Director is a director of the Company, this option shall become exercisable in full and may be exercised prior to the expiration of the exercise period applicable to this option, but not thereafter.  For the purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if:

 

(1)            individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the Board of Directors of the Company, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board;

 

(2)            the stockholders of the Company shall approve a reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, with respect to which persons who were the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own outstanding voting securities representing at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the combined voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (“Voting Securities”) of the reorganized, merged or consolidated company;

 

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(3)            the stockholders of the Company shall approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a sale of all or substantially all of the stock or assets of the Company; or

 

(4)            any “person,” as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of such a plan), together with all “affiliates” and “associates” (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such person (as well as any “Person” or “group” as those terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), shall become the “beneficial owner” or “beneficial owners” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing in the aggregate twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (ii) the Voting Securities of the Company, in either such case other than solely as a result of acquisitions of such securities directly from the Company.  Without limiting the foregoing, a person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, or to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, Common Stock or other Voting Securities of the Company shall be deemed the beneficial owner of such Common Stock or Voting Securities.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” of the Company shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of subparagraph (4) of this paragraph 1(d) solely as the result of an acquisition of securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock or other Voting Securities of the Company outstanding, increases (i) the proportionate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by any person to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding or (ii) the proportionate voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company beneficially owned by any person to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of all then outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that if any person referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this sentence shall thereafter become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Common Stock or other Voting Securities of the Company (other than a result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction), then a Change in Control of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes subparagraph (4) of this paragraph 1(d).

 

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This option is a nonqualified stock option and will not be treated as an incentive stock option qualified under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

3.              Agreement of Director Regarding Directorship .  Director hereby agrees to continue to serve the Company as a director for a period of at least one year from the date hereof at the retainer rate and fee schedule in effect as of the date hereof or at such changed rate or schedule as the Company from time to time may establish, unless Director dies or becomes disabled or subject to the mandatory retirement provisions of Article III of the By-laws of the Company.

 

4.              Requirement of Directorship .  Except as provided in paragraph 1 hereof, the option granted hereby may not be exercised unless Director is at the time of exercise serving as a director of the Company.

 

5.              Exercise of Option .  This option may be exercised by written notice signed by Director and delivered to the President of the Company or sent by United States registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the Company (for the attention of its President) at its corporate office in Houston, Texas.  Such notice shall state the number of shares as to which the option is exercised and shall be accompanied by the full amount of the purchase price of such shares.  Any such notice shall be deemed given on the date on which the same was deposited in a regularly maintained receptacle for the deposit of United States mail, addressed and sent as above-stated.  Promptly after demand by the Company, Director shall pay to the Company an amount equal to any applicable withholding taxes due in connection with the exercise of this option.  Payment of the purchase price of the shares and payment of any applicable withholding taxes can be accomplished under the broker-assisted exercise program administered by the Company’s designee, if any, then in effect.

 

6.              Delivery of Certificates Upon Exercise of Options .  Delivery of a certificate or certificates representing the purchased shares of common stock of the Company shall be made promptly after receipt of notice of exercise and payment of the purchase price and the amount of any withholding taxes to the Company, if required, provided that the Company shall have such time as it reasonably deems necessary to qualify or register such shares under any law or governmental rule or regulation or list such shares on any exchange that it deems desirable or necessary.

 

7.              Adjustments Upon Change in Common Stock .  In the event that before delivery by the Company of all the shares in respect of which this option is hereby granted, the Company shall have effected a common stock split or dividend payable in common stock, or the outstanding common stock of the Company shall have been combined into a smaller number of shares, the shares still subject to the option hereby granted shall be increased or decreased to reflect proportionately the increase or decrease in the number of shares outstanding, and the purchase price per share shall be decreased or increased so that the aggregate purchase price for all the then optioned shares shall

 

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remain the same as immediately prior to such split, dividend or combination.  In the event of a reclassification of stock not covered by the foregoing, or in the event of a liquidation or reorganization, including a merger, consolidation or sale of assets, it is agreed that the Board of Directors of the Company shall make such adjustments, if any, as it may deem appropriate in the number, purchase price and kind of shares still subject to the option hereby granted.

 

8.              Transferability .  The option evidenced hereby is not transferable by Director other than (i) by will or the laws of descent and distribution or (ii) to a permitted transferee (as defined in the Plan) in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Charles. D. Davidson

 

 

Chairman, President and CEO

 

 

 

 

 

DIRECTOR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D irector Signature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director Printed Name

 

6


Exhibit 10.2

 

2005 STOCK PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS

OF

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

 

RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of                       , by and between NOBLE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                                   (“Director”),

 

WITNESSETH THAT:

 

WHEREAS, the 2005 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors of Noble Energy, Inc. (the “Plan”) as adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and approved by the stockholders of the Company to be effective as of April 26, 2005 (said Plan, as in effect from time to time, the “Plan”), provides for the grant of restricted shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $3.33-1/3 per share (“Common Stock”), to the Company’s Non-Employee Directors (as defined in the Plan) upon the terms and conditions specified under the Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, Director is a Non-Employee Director of the Company who has been granted an award of restricted shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows with respect to such award:

 

1.              Restricted Stock Award .  On the terms and conditions and subject to the restrictions, including forfeiture, hereinafter set forth, the Company hereby awards to Director, and Director hereby accepts, a restricted stock award (the “Award”) of                shares of Common Stock (the “Restricted Shares”).  The Award is made effective as of                (the “Effective Date”).  A certificate representing the Restricted Shares shall be issued in the name of Director as of the Effective Date and delivered to Director on the Effective Date or as soon thereafter as practicable.  Director shall cause the certificate representing the Restricted Shares, upon receipt thereof by Director, to be deposited, together with stock powers and any other instrument of transfer reasonably requested by the Company duly endorsed in blank, with the Company, to be held by the Company in escrow for Director’s benefit until such time as the Restricted Shares represented by such certificate are either forfeited by Director to the Company or the restrictions thereon terminate as set forth in this Agreement.

 



 

2.              Vesting and Forfeiture .

 

(a)            The Restricted Shares shall be subject to a restricted period (the “Restricted Period”) that shall commence on the Effective Date and shall end on                           .

 

(b)            During the Restricted Period, the Restricted Shares shall be subject to being forfeited by Director to the Company as provided in this Agreement, and Director may not sell, assign, transfer, discount, exchange, pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of any of the Restricted Shares.

 

(c)            If Director remains a director of the Company throughout the Restricted Period, the restrictions applicable hereunder to the Restricted Shares shall terminate, and as soon as practicable after the end of the Restricted Period a stock certificate for the Restricted Shares, together with any dividends or other distributions with respect to such shares then being held by the Company pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, shall be delivered to Director free of such restrictions.

 

(d)            If Director ceases to be a director of the Company on account of Director’s (i) fraud or intentional misrepresentation, or (ii) embezzlement, misappropriation or conversion of assets or opportunities of the Company or any Affiliate (as defined in the Plan), then the Restricted Shares shall be forfeited by Director to the Company, and shall be transferred to the Company by Director.

 

(e)            If Director dies or becomes disabled (within the meaning of section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in its discretion) while a director of the Company, or retires as a regular director of the Company because of age in accordance with the mandatory retirement provisions of Article III of the By-laws of the Company, all restrictions applicable to the Restricted Shares shall terminate, and as soon as practicable thereafter a stock certificate for the Restricted Shares, together with any dividends or other distributions with respect to such shares then being held by the Company pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, shall be delivered to Director (or in the event of Director’s death, to Director’s estate) free of such restrictions.

 

(f)             If a Change in Control (as defined in Section 2(g) hereof) occurs during the Restricted Period and while Director is a director of the Company, the restrictions applicable hereunder to the Restricted Shares shall terminate and the Restricted Shares (and/or any successor securities or other property attributable to the Restricted Shares that may result from the Change in Control), together with any dividends or other distributions with respect to such shares then being held by the Company pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, shall be delivered to Director free of such restrictions.

 

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(g)            For the purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if:

 

(1)            individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the Board of Directors of the Company, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board;

 

(2)            the stockholders of the Company shall approve a reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, with respect to which persons who were the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own outstanding voting securities representing at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the combined voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (“Voting Securities”) of the reorganized, merged or consolidated company;

 

(3)            the stockholders of the Company shall approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a sale of all or substantially all of the stock or assets of the Company; or

 

(4)            any “person,” as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of such a plan), together with all “affiliates” and “associates” (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such person (as well as any “Person” or “group” as those terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), shall become the “beneficial owner” or “beneficial owners” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing in the aggregate twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (ii) the Voting Securities of the Company, in either such case other than solely as a result of acquisitions of such securities directly from the Company.  Without limiting the foregoing, a person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, or to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, Common Stock or other Voting Securities of the

 

3



 

Company shall be deemed the beneficial owner of such Common Stock or Voting Securities.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” of the Company shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of subparagraph (4) of this Section 2(g) solely as the result of an acquisition of securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock or other Voting Securities of the Company outstanding, increases (i) the proportionate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by any person to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding or (ii) the proportionate voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company beneficially owned by any person to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of all then outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that if any person referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this sentence shall thereafter become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Common Stock or other Voting Securities of the Company (other than a result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction), then a Change in Control of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes subparagraph (4) of this Section 2(g).

 

3.              Rights as Shareholder .  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, upon the issuance of a certificate or certificates representing the Restricted Shares to Director, Director shall become the owner thereof for all purposes and shall have all rights as a stockholder, including voting rights and the right to receive dividends and distributions, with respect to the Restricted Shares.  If the Company shall pay or declare a dividend or make a distribution of any kind, whether due to a reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise, with respect to the shares of Company common stock constituting the Restricted Shares, then the Company shall pay or make such dividend or other distribution with respect to the Restricted Shares; provided, however, that the cash, stock or other securities and other property constituting such dividend or other distribution shall be held by the Company subject to the restrictions applicable hereunder to the Restricted Shares until the Restricted Shares are either forfeited by Director and transferred to the Company or the restrictions thereon terminate as set forth in this Agreement.  If the Restricted Shares with respect to which such dividend or distribution was paid or made are forfeited by Director pursuant to the provisions hereof, then Director shall not be entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and such dividend or distribution shall likewise be forfeited and transferred to the Company.  If the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Shares with respect to which such dividend or distribution was paid or made terminate in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, then Director shall be entitled to receive such dividend or distribution with respect to such shares, without interest, and such dividend or distribution shall likewise be delivered to Director.

 

4.              Reclassification of Shares .  In case of any consolidation or merger of another corporation into the Company in which the Company is the surviving

 

4



 

corporation and in which there is a reclassification or change (including the right to receive cash or other property) of the Restricted Shares (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination, but including any change in such shares into two or more classes or series of shares), the Board of Directors of the Company may provide that payment of the Restricted Shares shall take the form of the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities (including those of any new direct or indirect parent of the Company), property, cash or any combination thereof receivable upon such consolidation or merger.

 

5.              Legend . Each certificate representing the Restricted Shares shall conspicuously set forth on the face or back thereof, in addition to any legends required by applicable law or other agreement, a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ISSUED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE 2005 STOCK PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS OF NOBLE ENERGY, INC. AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, DISCOUNTED, EXCHANGED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE ENCUMBERED OR DISPOSED OF IN ANY MANNER, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT EMBODYING THE AWARD OF SUCH SHARES DATED                         . A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE COMPANY.

 

6.              Assignment .  The Company may assign all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement.  The Award, the Restricted Shares and the rights and obligations of Director under this Agreement may not be sold, assigned, transferred, discounted, exchanged, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by Director other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

7.              Binding Effect .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (i) the Company and its successors and assigns, and (ii) Director, and Director’s heirs, devisees, executors, administrators and personal representatives.

 

8.              Amendment .  This Agreement may be amended or terminated at any time by an instrument in writing to such effect executed by both parties.

 

9.              Notices .  All notices required or permitted to be given or made under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made if (i) delivered personally, (ii) transmitted by first class registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, (iii) sent by prepaid overnight courier service, or (iv) sent by telecopy or facsimile transmission, answer back requested, to the person who is to receive it at the

 

5



 

address that such person has theretofore specified by written notice delivered in accordance herewith.  Such notices shall be effective (i) if delivered personally or sent by courier service, upon actual receipt by the intended recipient, (ii) if mailed, upon the earlier of five days after deposit in the mail or the date of delivery as shown by the return receipt therefor, or (iii) if sent by telecopy or facsimile transmission, when the answer back is received.  The Company or Director may change, at any time and from time to time, by written notice to the other, the address that the Company or Director had theretofore specified for receiving notices.  Until such address is changed in accordance herewith, notices under this Agreement shall be delivered or sent (i) to Director at Director’s address as set forth in the records of the Company, or (ii) to the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company clearly marked “Attention:  Lee Robison”.

 

10.            Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its principles of conflict of laws.

 

11.            Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable, this Agreement shall be considered divisible and such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent it is deemed unenforceable, and in all other respects this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect; provided, however, that if any such provision shall be deemed to be so limited and shall be enforceable by limitation thereof, then the provision shall be so limited and shall be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

 

12.            Further Assurances .  The parties agree to execute such additional instruments and to take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.

 

13.            Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and Plan set forth the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

14.            Subject to Plan .  The Award, the Restricted Shares and this Agreement are subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan as amended from time to time.  In the event of any conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and those set forth in this Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall control.

 

15.            Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

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16.            Descriptive Headings .  The descriptive headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement, and shall not affect in any manner the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

17.            References .  The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Director have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Charles. D. Davidson

 

 

Chairman, President and CEO

 

 

 

 

 

DIRECTOR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D irector Signature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director Printed Name

 

8



 

STOCK POWER AND ASSIGNMENT

 

SEPARATE FROM CERTIFICATE

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED and pursuant to that certain 2005 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors of Noble Energy, Inc. Restricted Stock Agreement dated as of                                  (the “Agreement”), the undersigned Director hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto                                     ,                      shares of the Common Stock, $3.33 1/3 par value per share, of Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), standing in the undersigned’s name on the books of the Company represented by Certificate No(s).          delivered herewith, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint the Secretary of the Company as the undersigned’s attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, to transfer said stock on the books of the Company.  THIS ASSIGNMENT MAY ONLY BE USED AS AUTHORIZED BY THE AGREEMENT AND ANY EXHIBITS THERETO.

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIRECTOR:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Printed Name

 

9


Exhibit 10.4

 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

1992 STOCK OPTION AND RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN

 

RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of                   , 2005, by and between NOBLE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                                   (“Employee”),

 

WITNESSETH THAT:

 

WHEREAS, the Compensation, Benefits and Stock Option Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”), acting under the Company’s 1992 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan adopted on January 28, 1992, as amended (the “Plan”), has the authority to award restricted shares of the common stock of the Company to certain employees of the Company or an Affiliate (as defined in the Plan); and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Plan the Committee has determined to make such an award to Employee on the terms and conditions and subject to the restrictions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, and Employee desires to accept such award;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.      Restricted Stock Award .  On the terms and conditions and subject to the restrictions, including forfeiture, hereinafter set forth, the Company hereby awards to Employee, and Employee hereby accepts, a restricted stock award (the “Award”) of                   shares (the “Restricted Shares”) of common stock, par value $3.33 1/3 per share, of the Company.  The Award is made effective as of                     , 2005 (the “Effective Date”).  A certificate representing the Restricted Shares shall be issued in the name of Employee as of the Effective Date and delivered to Employee on the Effective Date or as soon thereafter as practicable.  Employee shall cause the certificate representing the Restricted Shares, upon receipt thereof by Employee, to be deposited, together with stock powers and any other instrument of transfer reasonably requested by the Company duly endorsed in blank, with the Company, to be held by the Company in escrow for Employee’s benefit until such time as the Restricted Shares represented by such certificate are either forfeited by Employee to the Company or the restrictions thereon terminate as set forth in this Agreement.

 

2.      Vesting and Forfeiture .

 

(a)            The Restricted Shares shall be subject to a restricted period (the “Restricted Period”) that shall commence on the Effective Date and shall end on                            , 2008.

 



 

(b)            During the Restricted Period, the Restricted Shares shall be subject to being forfeited by Employee to the Company as provided in this Agreement, and Employee may not sell, assign, transfer, discount, exchange, pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of any of the Restricted Shares.

 

(c)            If Employee remains employed by the Company or an Affiliate throughout the Restricted Period, the restrictions applicable hereunder to the Restricted Shares shall terminate, and as soon as practicable after the end of the Restricted Period a stock certificate for the Restricted Shares, together with any dividends or other distributions with respect to such shares then being held by the Company pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, shall be delivered to Employee free of such restrictions.

 

(d)            If Employee’s employment with the Company or an Affiliate terminates during the Restricted Period by reason of Employee’s death, Disability (as defined in Section 2(g) hereof), or discharge by the Company or an Affiliate other than for Cause (as defined in Section 2(g) hereof), the restrictions applicable hereunder to the Restricted Shares shall terminate, and as soon as practicable after such termination of employment a stock certificate for the Restricted Shares, together with any dividends or other distributions with respect to such shares then being held by the Company pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, shall be delivered to Employee (or in the event of Employee’s death, to Employee’s estate) free of such restrictions.

 

(e)            All of the Restricted Shares shall be forfeited by Employee and transferred to the Company at no cost to the Company if the employment of Employee by the Company or an Affiliate terminates during the Restricted Period for any reason other than Employee’s death, Disability, or discharge by the Company or an Affiliate without Cause.

 

(f)             If a Change in Control (as defined in Section 2(g) hereof) occurs during the Restricted Period and while Employee is employed by the Company or an Affiliate, the restrictions applicable hereunder to the Restricted Shares shall terminate and the Restricted Shares (and/or any successor securities or other property attributable to the Restricted Shares that may result from the Change in Control), together with any dividends or other distributions with respect to such shares then being held by the Company pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, shall be delivered to Employee free of such restrictions.

 

(g)            For the purposes of this Agreement:  (i) the “Disability” of Employee shall mean that Employee is disabled within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as determined by the Committee in its discretion; (ii) transfers of employment without interruption of service between or among the Company and its Affiliates shall not be considered a termination of employment; (iii) a discharge by the Company or an Affiliate for “Cause” means any termination of Employee’s employment with the Company or an Affiliate by reason of Employee’s (1) conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, (2) engagement in conduct involving misuse of the funds or other property of the Company or an Affiliate,

 

2



 

(3) engagement in a business activity which is in conflict with the business interests of the Company or an Affiliate, (4) gross negligence of willful misconduct, or (5) engagement in conduct which is in violation of the safety rules or standards of the Company or an Affiliate or which otherwise may cause or causes injury to another person; and (iv) a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if:

 

(1)            individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the Board of Directors of the Company, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board;

 

(2)            the stockholders of the Company shall approve a reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, with respect to which persons who were the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own outstanding voting securities representing at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the combined voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (“Voting Securities”) of the reorganized, merged or consolidated company;

 

(3)            the stockholders of the Company shall approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a sale of all or substantially all of the stock or assets of the Company; or

 

(4)            any “person,” as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of such a plan), together with all “affiliates” and “associates” (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such person (as well as any “Person” or “group” as those terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), shall become the “beneficial owner” or “beneficial owners” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing in the aggregate twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (A) the then outstanding shares of common stock, par value $3.33-1/3 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) or (B) the Voting Securities of the Company, in either such case other than solely as a result of acquisitions of such securities directly from the Company.  Without limiting the foregoing, a person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, or to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, Common Stock or other Voting

 

3



 

Securities of the Company shall be deemed the beneficial owner of such Common Stock or Voting Securities.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” of the Company shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of subparagraph (4) of this Section 2(g)(iv) solely as the result of an acquisition of securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock or other Voting Securities of the Company outstanding, increases (i) the proportionate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by any person to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding or (ii) the proportionate voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company beneficially owned by any person to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of all then outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that if any person referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this sentence shall thereafter become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Common Stock or other Voting Securities of the Company (other than a result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction), then a Change in Control of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes subparagraph (4) of this Section 2(g)(iv).

 

3.      Rights as Shareholder.   Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, upon the issuance of a certificate or certificates representing the Restricted Shares to Employee, Employee shall become the owner thereof for all purposes and shall have all rights as a stockholder, including voting rights and the right to receive dividends and distributions, with respect to the Restricted Shares.  If the Company shall pay or declare a dividend or make a distribution of any kind, whether due to a reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise, with respect to the shares of Company common stock constituting the Restricted Shares, then the Company shall pay or make such dividend or other distribution with respect to the Restricted Shares; provided, however, that the cash, stock or other securities and other property constituting such dividend or other distribution shall be held by the Company subject to the restrictions applicable hereunder to the Restricted Shares until the Restricted Shares are either forfeited by Employee and transferred to the Company or the restrictions thereon terminate as set forth in this Agreement.  If the Restricted Shares with respect to which such dividend or distribution was paid or made are forfeited by Employee pursuant to the provisions hereof, then Employee shall not be entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and such dividend or distribution shall likewise be forfeited and transferred to the Company.  If the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Shares with respect to which such dividend or distribution was paid or made terminate in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, then Employee shall be entitled to receive such dividend or distribution with respect to such shares, without interest, and such dividend or distribution shall likewise be delivered to Employee.

 

4.      Withholding Taxes .

 

(a)            Employee may elect, within 30 days of the Effective Date and on notice to the Company, to realize income for federal income tax purposes equal to the fair market value of the Restricted Shares on the Effective Date.  In such event, Employee shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company or the appropriate Affiliate to pay in the year

 

4



 

of the Award any federal, state or local taxes required to be withheld with respect to such shares.  If Employee fails to make such payments, then any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company and its Affiliates shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct from any payments of any kind otherwise due from the Company or an Affiliate to or with respect to Employee, whether or not pursuant to this Agreement, or the Plan and regardless of the form of payment, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Restricted Shares.

 

(b)            If no election is made by Employee pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof, then upon the termination of the restrictions applicable hereunder to the Restricted Shares, Employee (or in the event of Employee’s death, the administrator or executor of Employee’s estate) will pay to the Company or the appropriate Affiliate, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company or such Affiliate regarding payment of, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Restricted Shares.  If Employee (or in the event of Employee’s death, the administrator or executor of Employee’s estate) fails to make such payments, then any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company and its Affiliates shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct from any payments of any kind otherwise due from the Company or an Affiliate to or with respect to Employee, whether or not pursuant to this Agreement, or the Plan and regardless of the form of payment, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Restricted Shares.

 

5.      Reclassification of Shares.   In case of any consolidation or merger of another corporation into the Company in which the Company is the surviving corporation and in which there is a reclassification or change (including the right to receive cash or other property) of the Restricted Shares (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination, but including any change in such shares into two or more classes or series of shares), the Committee may provide that payment of the Restricted Shares shall take the form of the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities (including those of any new direct or indirect parent of the Company), property, cash or any combination thereof receivable upon such consolidation or merger.

 

6.      Effect on Employment .  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall confer upon Employee the right to continue in the employment of the Company or an Affiliate, or affect any right which the Company or an Affiliate may have to terminate the employment of Employee.

 

7.      Legend. Each certificate representing the Restricted Shares shall conspicuously set forth on the face or back thereof, in addition to any legends required by applicable law or other agreement, a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ISSUED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

 

5



 

1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN AND RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, DISCOUNTED, EXCHANGED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE ENCUMBERED OR DISPOSED OF IN ANY MANNER, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT EMBODYING THE AWARD OF SUCH SHARES DATED                         , 2005. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE COMPANY.

 

8.      Assignment.   The Company may assign all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement.  The Award, the Restricted Shares and the rights and obligations of Employee under this Agreement may not be sold, assigned, transferred, discounted, exchanged, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by Employee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

9.      Binding Effect.   This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (i) the Company and its successors and assigns, and (ii) Employee, and Employee’s heirs, devisees, executors, administrators and personal representatives.

 

10.    Amendment.   This Agreement may be amended or terminated at any time by an instrument in writing to such effect executed by both parties.

 

11.    Notices.   All notices required or permitted to be given or made under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made if (i) delivered personally, (ii) transmitted by first class registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, (iii) sent by prepaid overnight courier service, or (iv) sent by telecopy or facsimile transmission, answer back requested, to the person who is to receive it at the address that such person has theretofore specified by written notice delivered in accordance herewith.  Such notices shall be effective (i) if delivered personally or sent by courier service, upon actual receipt by the intended recipient, (ii) if mailed, upon the earlier of five days after deposit in the mail or the date of delivery as shown by the return receipt therefor, or (iii) if sent by telecopy or facsimile transmission, when the answer back is received.  The Company or Employee may change, at any time and from time to time, by written notice to the other, the address that the Company or Employee had theretofore specified for receiving notices.  Until such address is changed in accordance herewith, notices under this Agreement shall be delivered or sent (i) to Employee at Employee’s address as set forth in the records of the Company, or (ii) to the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company clearly marked “Attention:  Lee Robison”.

 

12.    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its principles of conflict of laws.

 

13.    Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable, this Agreement shall be considered divisible and such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent it is deemed unenforceable, and in all other respects this

 

6



 

Agreement shall remain in full force and effect; provided, however, that if any such provision shall be deemed to be so limited and shall be enforceable by limitation thereof, then the provision shall be so limited and shall be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

 

14.    Further Assurances.   The parties agree to execute such additional instruments and to take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.

 

15.    Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and Plan set forth the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

16.    Subject to Plan.   The Award, the Restricted Shares and this Agreement are subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan as amended from time to time.  In the event of any conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and those set forth in this Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall control.

 

17.    Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

18.    Descriptive Headings .  The descriptive headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement, and shall not affect in any manner the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

19.    References .  The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]

 

7



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Employee have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

Chairman,

 

 

 

Compensation, Benefits and Stock
Option Committee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee Signature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee Printed Name

 

8



 

STOCK POWER AND ASSIGNMENT

SEPARATE FROM CERTIFICATE

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED and pursuant to that certain Noble Energy, Inc. 1992 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan Restricted Stock Agreement dated as of                                        (the “Agreement”), the undersigned Employee hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto                                     ,                       shares of the Common Stock, $3.33 1/3 par value per share, of Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), standing in the undersigned’s name on the books of the Company represented by Certificate No(s).           delivered herewith, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint the Secretary of the Company as the undersigned’s attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, to transfer said stock on the books of the Company.  THIS ASSIGNMENT MAY ONLY BE USED AS AUTHORIZED BY THE AGREEMENT AND ANY EXHIBITS THERETO.

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMPLOYEE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name Printed:

 

 

9


EXHIBIT 12.1

 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30,

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

 

$

399,830

 

$

244,831

 

$

516,041

 

$

141,639

 

$

27,896

 

$

150,130

 

$

207,890

 

Add (deduct):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed charges

 

35,525

 

31,577

 

62,747

 

62,075

 

64,566

 

54,434

 

50,434

 

Interest capitalized

 

(8,946

)

(6,642

)

(13,401

)

(14,134

)

(16,331

)

(15,953

)

(6,326

)

Distributions less equity in earnings of equity investees

 

(378

)

2,707

 

(11,275

)

5,499

 

8,164

 

(6,981

)

(13,544

)

Earnings as defined

 

$

426,031

 

$

272,473

 

$

554,112

 

$

195,079

 

$

84,295

 

$

181,630

 

$

238,454

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net of capitalized interest

 

$

25,942

 

$

24,370

 

$

48,227

 

$

46,977

 

$

47,709

 

$

38,007

 

$

43,697

 

Interest capitalized

 

8,946

 

6,642

 

13,401

 

14,134

 

16,331

 

15,953

 

6,326

 

Interest portion of rental expense

 

637

 

565

 

1,119

 

964

 

526

 

474

 

411

 

Fixed charges as defined

 

$

35,525

 

$

31,577

 

$

62,747

 

$

62,075

 

$

64,566

 

$

54,434

 

$

50,434

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

 

11.99

 

8.63

 

8.83

 

3.14

 

1.31

 

3.34

 

4.73

 

 


EXHIBIT 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

(18 U.S.C. SECTION 7241)

 

I, Charles D. Davidson, certify that:

 

1.              I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Noble Energy, Inc.;

 

2.              Based on my knowledge, this quarterly 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 registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.              The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are 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 registrant 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 registrant, 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 registrant’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 registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting;

 

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

 

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 registrant’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 registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:

August 4, 2005

 

 

 

 

/s/ CHARLES D. DAVIDSON

 

 

CHARLES D. DAVIDSON

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 


EXHIBIT 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

(18 U.S.C. SECTION 7241)

 

I, Chris Tong, certify that:

 

1.              I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Noble Energy, Inc.;

 

2.              Based on my knowledge, this quarterly 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 registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.              The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are 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 registrant 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 registrant, 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 registrant’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 registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting;

 

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

 

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 registrant’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 registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:

August 4, 2005

 

 

 

 

/s/ CHRIS TONG

 

 

CHRIS TONG

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 


EXHIBIT 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

(18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)

 

In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report of Noble Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2005 (the “Report”), I, Charles D. Davidson, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify that to my knowledge:

 

(1)    The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

 

(2)    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

Date:

August 4, 2005

 

 

/s/ CHARLES D. DAVIDSON

 

 

 

CHARLES D. DAVIDSON

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 


EXHIBIT 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

(18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)

 

In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report of Noble Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2005 (the “Report”), I, Chris Tong, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certify that to my knowledge:

 

(1)    The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

 

(2)    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

Date:

August 4, 2005

 

 

/s/ CHRIS TONG

 

 

 

CHRIS TONG

 

 

Chief Financial Officer