UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2012
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 1-3551
EQT CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
PENNSYLVANIA |
|
25-0464690 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
|
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
|
|
|
625 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
|
15222 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
|
(Zip code) |
(412) 553-5700
(Registrants 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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer ý |
Accelerated Filer |
o |
Non-Accelerated Filer o |
Smaller reporting company |
o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No ý
As of June 30, 2012, 149,594,611 shares of common stock, no par value, of the registrant were outstanding.
EQT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
EQT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Statements of Consolidated Income (Unaudited)
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
Six Months Ended |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
June 30, |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
||||
|
|
(Thousands, except per share amounts) |
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Operating revenues |
|
$ |
337,804 |
|
|
|
$ |
367,791 |
|
|
|
$ |
787,764 |
|
|
|
$ |
840,486 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Purchased gas costs |
|
39,667 |
|
|
|
40,250 |
|
|
|
123,733 |
|
|
|
155,488 |
|
||||
Operation and maintenance |
|
34,815 |
|
|
|
30,586 |
|
|
|
69,205 |
|
|
|
55,641 |
|
||||
Production |
|
22,572 |
|
|
|
19,765 |
|
|
|
49,595 |
|
|
|
35,876 |
|
||||
Exploration |
|
1,887 |
|
|
|
1,198 |
|
|
|
3,715 |
|
|
|
2,573 |
|
||||
Selling, general and administrative |
|
41,778 |
|
|
|
40,936 |
|
|
|
84,720 |
|
|
|
79,827 |
|
||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |
|
115,681 |
|
|
|
81,886 |
|
|
|
223,206 |
|
|
|
160,284 |
|
||||
Total operating expenses |
|
256,400 |
|
|
|
214,621 |
|
|
|
554,174 |
|
|
|
489,689 |
|
||||
Gain on dispositions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,110 |
|
|
|
22,785 |
|
||||
Operating income |
|
81,404 |
|
|
|
153,170 |
|
|
|
234,700 |
|
|
|
373,582 |
|
||||
Other income |
|
5,249 |
|
|
|
18,046 |
|
|
|
9,930 |
|
|
|
24,850 |
|
||||
Interest expense |
|
40,629 |
|
|
|
33,287 |
|
|
|
81,881 |
|
|
|
66,139 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Income before income taxes |
|
46,024 |
|
|
|
137,929 |
|
|
|
162,749 |
|
|
|
332,293 |
|
||||
Income taxes |
|
14,578 |
|
|
|
50,175 |
|
|
|
59,268 |
|
|
|
122,284 |
|
||||
Net income |
|
$ |
31,446 |
|
|
|
$ |
87,754 |
|
|
|
$ |
103,481 |
|
|
|
$ |
210,009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Earnings per share of common stock: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Basic: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
|
149,582 |
|
|
|
149,444 |
|
|
|
149,532 |
|
|
|
149,347 |
|
||||
Net income |
|
$ |
0.21 |
|
|
|
$ |
0.59 |
|
|
|
$ |
0.69 |
|
|
|
$ |
1.41 |
|
Diluted: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
|
150,149 |
|
|
|
150,111 |
|
|
|
150,200 |
|
|
|
150,034 |
|
||||
Net income |
|
$ |
0.21 |
|
|
|
$ |
0.58 |
|
|
|
$ |
0.69 |
|
|
|
$ |
1.40 |
|
Dividends declared per common share |
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
|
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
|
|
$ |
0.44 |
|
|
|
$ |
0.44 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
EQT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
Six Months Ended |
|
||||||||||
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
June 30, |
|
||||||||||
|
|
2012 |
|
|
2011 |
|
|
2012 |
|
|
2011 |
|
||||
|
|
(Thousands) |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net income |
|
$ |
31,446 |
|
|
$ |
87,754 |
|
|
$ |
103,481 |
|
|
$ |
210,009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net change in cash flow hedges: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Natural gas, net of tax (benefit) expense of $(41,598), $14,240, $(3,105) and $6,451 (see Note C) |
|
(64,216 |
) |
|
23,334 |
|
|
(4,714 |
) |
|
10,630 |
|
||||
Interest rate, net of tax (benefit) of ($4,966), $0, ($3,165) and $0 |
|
(6,606 |
) |
|
29 |
|
|
(4,168 |
) |
|
58 |
|
||||
Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities, net of tax of $1,575 and $2,636 |
|
|
|
|
(2,925 |
) |
|
|
|
|
(4,896 |
) |
||||
Pension and other post-retirement benefits liability adjustment, net of tax of $92, $281, $214 and $563 |
|
489 |
|
|
413 |
|
|
1,436 |
|
|
824 |
|
||||
Other comprehensive (loss) income |
|
(70,333 |
) |
|
20,851 |
|
|
(7,446 |
) |
|
6,616 |
|
||||
Comprehensive (loss) income |
|
$ |
(38,887 |
) |
|
$ |
108,605 |
|
|
$ |
96,035 |
|
|
$ |
216,625 |
|
EQT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Statements of Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows (Unaudited)
|
|
Six Months Ended |
|
||||||
|
|
June 30, |
|
||||||
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
||
|
|
(Thousands) |
|
||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net income |
|
$ |
103,481 |
|
|
|
$ |
210,009 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Provision for losses on accounts receivable |
|
(2,638 |
) |
|
|
1,704 |
|
||
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization |
|
223,206 |
|
|
|
160,284 |
|
||
Unrealized gains on derivatives and inventory |
|
(4,365 |
) |
|
|
(2,684 |
) |
||
Other income |
|
(9,930 |
) |
|
|
(24,850 |
) |
||
Gain on dispositions |
|
(1,110 |
) |
|
|
(22,785 |
) |
||
Equity award expense |
|
17,235 |
|
|
|
10,868 |
|
||
Deferred income taxes |
|
53,057 |
|
|
|
103,938 |
|
||
Noncash financial instrument put premiums |
|
8,227 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Changes in other assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Dividend from Nora Gathering LLC |
|
7,750 |
|
|
|
18,500 |
|
||
Inventory |
|
51,004 |
|
|
|
28,358 |
|
||
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues |
|
72,790 |
|
|
|
59,144 |
|
||
Accounts payable |
|
(54,274 |
) |
|
|
(27,076 |
) |
||
Other assets and liabilities |
|
(45,994 |
) |
|
|
(34,326 |
) |
||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
418,439 |
|
|
|
481,084 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Capital expenditures |
|
(662,320 |
) |
|
|
(544,911 |
) |
||
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investments |
|
|
|
|
|
29,947 |
|
||
Proceeds from sale of assets |
|
3,746 |
|
|
|
230,525 |
|
||
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
(658,574 |
) |
|
|
(284,439 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Dividends paid |
|
(65,887 |
) |
|
|
(65,795 |
) |
||
Decrease in short-term loans |
|
|
|
|
|
(53,650 |
) |
||
Repayments and retirements of long-term debt |
|
(9,532 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||
Proceeds and tax benefits from exercises under employee compensation plans |
|
1,499 |
|
|
|
2,025 |
|
||
Revolving credit facility origination fees |
|
(2,158 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||
Net cash used in financing activities |
|
(76,078 |
) |
|
|
(117,420 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents |
|
(316,213 |
) |
|
|
79,225 |
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
|
831,251 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
|
$ |
515,038 |
|
|
|
$ |
79,225 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash paid during the period for: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest, net of amount capitalized |
|
$ |
81,529 |
|
|
|
$ |
64,703 |
|
Income taxes, net |
|
$ |
13,193 |
|
|
|
$ |
2,505 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
EQT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
||
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
||
|
|
(Thousands) |
|
||||||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
515,038 |
|
|
|
$ |
831,251 |
|
Accounts receivable (less accumulated provision for doubtful accounts June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011: $12,429 and $16,371) |
|
105,800 |
|
|
|
153,321 |
|
||
Unbilled revenues |
|
7,626 |
|
|
|
30,257 |
|
||
Inventory |
|
77,907 |
|
|
|
123,960 |
|
||
Derivative instruments, at fair value |
|
467,587 |
|
|
|
512,161 |
|
||
Prepaid expenses and other |
|
39,595 |
|
|
|
39,184 |
|
||
Total current assets |
|
1,213,553 |
|
|
|
1,690,134 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Equity in nonconsolidated investments |
|
132,221 |
|
|
|
136,972 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Property, plant and equipment |
|
9,423,950 |
|
|
|
8,768,713 |
|
||
Less: accumulated depreciation and depletion |
|
2,167,508 |
|
|
|
1,962,404 |
|
||
Net property, plant and equipment |
|
7,256,442 |
|
|
|
6,806,309 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Regulatory assets |
|
101,267 |
|
|
|
94,095 |
|
||
Other assets |
|
44,688 |
|
|
|
45,209 |
|
||
Total assets |
|
$ |
8,748,171 |
|
|
|
$ |
8,772,719 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
EQT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
||
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
||
|
|
(Thousands) |
|
||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Current portion of long-term debt |
|
$ |
229,944 |
|
|
|
$ |
219,315 |
|
Accounts payable |
|
202,483 |
|
|
|
256,757 |
|
||
Derivative instruments, at fair value |
|
109,214 |
|
|
|
123,306 |
|
||
Other current liabilities |
|
154,969 |
|
|
|
205,532 |
|
||
Total current liabilities |
|
696,610 |
|
|
|
804,910 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Long-term debt |
|
2,506,739 |
|
|
|
2,527,627 |
|
||
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits |
|
1,672,584 |
|
|
|
1,618,944 |
|
||
Other credits |
|
226,230 |
|
|
|
227,408 |
|
||
Total liabilities |
|
5,102,163 |
|
|
|
5,178,889 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Common stockholders equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Common stock, no par value, authorized 320,000 shares; shares issued June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011: 175,684 and 175,684 |
|
1,754,884 |
|
|
|
1,734,994 |
|
||
Treasury stock, shares at cost: June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011: 26,089 and 26,207 |
|
(471,075 |
) |
|
|
(473,215 |
) |
||
Retained earnings |
|
2,181,504 |
|
|
|
2,143,910 |
|
||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
180,695 |
|
|
|
188,141 |
|
||
Total common stockholders equity |
|
3,646,008 |
|
|
|
3,593,830 |
|
||
Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
|
$ |
8,748,171 |
|
|
|
$ |
8,772,719 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
A. Financial Statements
The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the requirements of Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these statements include all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals, unless otherwise disclosed in this Form 10-Q) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of EQT Corporation and subsidiaries as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the results of its operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 and its cash flows for the six month period ended June 30, 2012 and 2011. Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. In this Form 10-Q, references to we, us, our, EQT, EQT Corporation, and the Company refer collectively to EQT Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.
The balance sheet at December 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.
Due to the seasonal nature of the Companys natural gas distribution and storage businesses and the volatility of commodity prices, the interim statements for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012.
On July 2, 2012, EQT Midstream Partners, LP (the Partnership), a subsidiary of the Company, completed an underwritten initial public offering (IPO) of 14,375,000 common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership, which represented 40.6% of the Partnerships outstanding equity. The Company retained a 59.4% equity interest in the Partnership, including 2,964,718 common units, 17,339,718 subordinated units and a 2% general partner interest. Prior to the IPO, the Company contributed to the Partnership 100% of Equitrans, LP, (Equitrans, the Companys Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulated transmission, storage and gathering subsidiary). A wholly-owned subsidiary of EQT serves as the general partner of the Partnership, and the Company continues to operate the Equitrans business pursuant to an omnibus agreement and an operation and management services agreement. EQT will continue to consolidate the Partnership results. See Footnote M for additional details.
For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in EQT Corporations Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 as well as Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations beginning on page 19 of this document.
B. Segment Information
Operating segments are revenue-producing components of the enterprise for which separate financial information is produced internally and which are subject to evaluation by the Companys chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources.
The Company reports its operations in three segments, which reflect its lines of business. The EQT Production segment includes the Companys exploration for, and development and production of, natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and a limited amount of crude oil in the Appalachian Basin. EQT Midstreams operations include the natural gas gathering, transportation, storage and marketing activities of the Company. Following the IPO, EQT Midstreams operations include ownership and operation of the Partnership. Distributions operations primarily comprise the state-regulated natural gas distribution activities of the Company.
Operating segments are evaluated on their contribution to the Companys consolidated results based on operating income. Other income, interest and income taxes are managed on a consolidated basis. Headquarters costs are billed to the operating segments based upon a fixed allocation of the headquarters annual operating budget. Differences between budget and actual headquarters expenses are not allocated to the operating segments. As part of the 2012 budgeting process, the Company allocated additional corporate overhead charges to the operating segments. Current
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
period corporate overhead costs have stayed consistent with budgeted amounts; thus, unallocated expenses presented in the segment table below have decreased for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2012.
The Companys management reviews and reports the EQT Production segment results for operating revenues and purchased gas costs, with third party transportation costs reflected as a deduction from operating revenues. During 2011, because of increased materiality of these costs, the Company determined that consolidated results for these line items are required to be reported on a gross basis with third-party transportation costs recorded as a portion of purchased gas costs. The consolidated operating revenues, purchased gas costs and total operating expenses for all periods presented have been adjusted to reflect this gross presentation. This adjustment had no impact on consolidated net income, consolidated operating income or on the segment results for any period presented. Management believes this adjustment is not material to the overall financial statement presentation.
Substantially all of the Companys operating revenues, income from operations and assets are generated or located in the United States.
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
Six Months Ended |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
June 30, |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
||||
|
|
(Thousands) |
|
||||||||||||||||
Revenues from external customers: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
EQT Production |
|
$ |
158,649 |
|
|
|
$ |
196,810 |
|
|
|
$ |
354,045 |
|
|
|
$ |
369,852 |
|
EQT Midstream |
|
120,098 |
|
|
|
131,201 |
|
|
|
242,146 |
|
|
|
272,863 |
|
||||
Distribution |
|
48,273 |
|
|
|
69,100 |
|
|
|
183,694 |
|
|
|
264,191 |
|
||||
Other (a) |
|
10,784 |
|
|
|
(29,320 |
) |
|
|
7,879 |
|
|
|
(66,420 |
) |
||||
Total |
|
$ |
337,804 |
|
|
|
$ |
367,791 |
|
|
|
$ |
787,764 |
|
|
|
$ |
840,486 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Operating income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
EQT Production (b) |
|
$ |
17,704 |
|
|
|
$ |
99,759 |
|
|
|
$ |
77,852 |
|
|
|
$ |
182,088 |
|
EQT Midstream (b) |
|
59,750 |
|
|
|
52,243 |
|
|
|
115,886 |
|
|
|
141,661 |
|
||||
Distribution |
|
6,376 |
|
|
|
8,928 |
|
|
|
43,146 |
|
|
|
62,295 |
|
||||
Unallocated expenses |
|
(2,426 |
) |
|
|
(7,760 |
) |
|
|
(2,184 |
) |
|
|
(12,462 |
) |
||||
Total |
|
$ |
81,404 |
|
|
|
$ |
153,170 |
|
|
|
$ |
234,700 |
|
|
|
$ |
373,582 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Reconciliation of operating income to net income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Other income |
|
$ |
5,249 |
|
|
|
$ |
18,046 |
|
|
|
$ |
9,930 |
|
|
|
$ |
24,850 |
|
Interest expense |
|
40,629 |
|
|
|
33,287 |
|
|
|
81,881 |
|
|
|
66,139 |
|
||||
Income taxes |
|
14,578 |
|
|
|
50,175 |
|
|
|
59,268 |
|
|
|
122,284 |
|
||||
Total |
|
$ |
31,446 |
|
|
|
$ |
87,754 |
|
|
|
$ |
103,481 |
|
|
|
$ |
210,009 |
|
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
||
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
||
|
|
(Thousands) |
|
||||||
Segment Assets: |
|
|
|
||||||
EQT Production |
|
$ |
5,469,398 |
|
|
|
$ |
5,256,645 |
|
EQT Midstream |
|
1,918,025 |
|
|
|
1,785,089 |
|
||
Distribution |
|
795,683 |
|
|
|
850,414 |
|
||
Total operating segments |
|
8,183,106 |
|
|
|
7,892,148 |
|
||
Headquarters assets, including cash and short-term investments |
|
565,065 |
|
|
|
880,571 |
|
||
Total assets |
|
$ |
8,748,171 |
|
|
|
$ |
8,772,719 |
|
(a) Includes entries to eliminate intercompany natural gas sales from EQT Production to EQT Midstream and transportation activities between EQT Midstream and both EQT Production and Distribution. In addition, this amount reflects the reclassification of third party transportation costs from purchased gas costs to operating revenues at the consolidated level. Reduced activity between segments, lower prices, and increased third-party transportation costs caused the change for the three and six month periods presented.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(b) Gains on dispositions of $1.1 million are included in EQT Production operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and gains on dispositions of $22.8 million are included in EQT Midstream operating income for the six month period ended June 30, 2011. See Note J.
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
Six Months Ended |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
June 30, |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
||||
|
|
(Thousands) |
|
||||||||||||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
EQT Production |
|
$ |
94,405 |
|
|
|
$ |
61,899 |
|
|
|
$ |
180,972 |
|
|
|
$ |
119,733 |
|
EQT Midstream |
|
14,984 |
|
|
|
14,296 |
|
|
|
29,692 |
|
|
|
29,004 |
|
||||
Distribution |
|
6,287 |
|
|
|
5,923 |
|
|
|
12,530 |
|
|
|
11,880 |
|
||||
Other |
|
5 |
|
|
|
(232) |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
(333 |
) |
||||
Total |
|
$ |
115,681 |
|
|
|
$ |
81,886 |
|
|
|
$ |
223,206 |
|
|
|
$ |
160,284 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Expenditures for segment assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
EQT Production (c) |
|
$ |
264,926 |
|
|
|
$ |
317,906 |
|
|
|
$ |
448,611 |
|
|
|
$ |
544,878 |
|
EQT Midstream |
|
119,925 |
|
|
|
46,500 |
|
|
|
199,563 |
|
|
|
75,605 |
|
||||
Distribution |
|
7,439 |
|
|
|
8,811 |
|
|
|
12,902 |
|
|
|
15,030 |
|
||||
Other |
|
443 |
|
|
|
881 |
|
|
|
1,244 |
|
|
|
2,013 |
|
||||
Total |
|
$ |
392,733 |
|
|
|
$ |
374,098 |
|
|
|
$ |
662,320 |
|
|
|
$ |
637,526 |
|
(c) Capital expenditures at EQT Production for the three and six month periods ended 2011 include $92.6 million of liabilities assumed in exchange for producing properties as part of the ANPI transaction discussed in Note I.
C. Derivative Instruments
Natural Gas Hedging Instruments
The Companys primary market risk exposure is the volatility of future prices for natural gas and NGLs, which can affect the operating results of the Company primarily through EQT Production and the storage, marketing and other activities at EQT Midstream. The Companys overall objective in its hedging program is to protect cash flows from undue exposure to the risk of changing commodity prices.
The Company uses derivative commodity instruments that are purchased from or placed with major financial institutions whose creditworthiness is regularly monitored. Futures contracts obligate the Company to buy or sell a designated commodity at a future date for a specified price and quantity at a specified location. Swap agreements involve payments to or receipts from counterparties based on the differential between a fixed and a variable price for the commodity. Collar agreements require the counterparty to pay the Company if the index price falls below the floor price and the Company to pay the counterparty if the index price rises above the cap price. The Company also engages in a limited number of basis swaps to protect earnings from undue exposure to the risk of geographic disparities in commodity prices and interest rate swaps to hedge exposure to interest rate fluctuations on short- or long-term debt.
The Company recognizes all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value on a gross basis. The accounting for the changes in fair value of the Companys derivative instruments depends on the use of the derivative instruments. To the extent that a derivative instrument has been designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative instrument is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, and is subsequently reclassified into the Statements of Consolidated Income in the same period or periods during which the forecasted transaction affects earnings.
For a derivative instrument that has been designated and qualifies as a fair value hedge, the change in the fair value of the instrument is recognized as a portion of operating revenues in the Statements of Consolidated Income each period. In addition, the change in the fair value of the hedged item (natural gas inventory) is recognized as a portion of operating revenues in the Statements of Consolidated Income. The Company has elected to exclude the spot/forward differential for the assessment of effectiveness of the fair value hedges. Any hedging ineffectiveness
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
and any change in fair value of derivative instruments that have not been designated as hedges, are recognized in the Statements of Consolidated Income each period.
Exchange-traded instruments are generally settled with offsetting positions. Over the counter (OTC) arrangements require settlement in cash. Settlements of derivative commodity instruments are reported as a component of cash flows from operations in the accompanying Statements of Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows.
Some of the derivative commodity instruments used by the Company to hedge its exposure to variability in expected future cash flows associated with the fluctuations in the price of natural gas related to the Companys forecasted sale of equity production and forecasted natural gas purchases and sales have been designated and qualify as cash flow hedges. Some of the derivative commodity instruments used by the Company to hedge its exposure to adverse changes in the market price of natural gas stored in the ground have been designated and qualify as fair value hedges.
In addition, the Company enters into a limited number of energy trading contracts to leverage its assets and limit its exposure to shifts in market prices and has a limited number of other derivative instruments not designated as hedges. In 2008 and 2011, the Company effectively settled certain derivative commodity swaps scheduled to mature during the period 2010 through 2013 by de-designating the instruments and entering into directly counteractive instruments. These transactions result in offsetting positions which are the majority of the derivative asset and liability balances not designated as hedging instruments.
All derivative instrument assets and liabilities are reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as derivative instruments, at fair value. These derivative instruments are reported as either current assets or current liabilities due to their highly liquid nature. The Company can net settle its derivative instruments at any time.
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
Six Months Ended |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
June 30, |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
||||
|
|
(Thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives designated as cash flow hedges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Amount of (loss) gain recognized in other comprehensive income (OCI) (effective portion), net of tax |
|
|
$ |
(8,930 |
) |
|
|
$ |
33,253 |
|
|
|
$ |
98,558 |
|
|
|
$ |
37,453 |
|
Amount of gain reclassified from accumulated OCI into operating revenues (effective portion), net of tax |
|
|
$ |
55,286 |
|
|
|
$ |
9,919 |
|
|
|
$ |
103,272 |
|
|
|
$ |
26,823 |
|
Amount of (loss) gain recognized in operating revenues (ineffective portion) (a) |
|
|
$ |
(212 |
) |
|
|
$ |
364 |
|
|
|
$ |
(243 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(261 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Amount of (loss) gain recognized in OCI (effective portion), net of tax |
|
|
$ |
(6,670 |
) |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(4,297 |
) |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Amount of loss reclassified from accumulated OCI into interest expense (effective portion), net of tax |
|
|
$ |
(64 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(29 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(129 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(58 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Commodity derivatives designated as fair value hedges (b) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Amount of (loss) gain recognized in operating revenues for fair value commodity contracts |
|
|
$ |
(2,378 |
) |
|
|
$ |
1,363 |
|
|
|
$ |
4,694 |
|
|
|
$ |
(533 |
) |
Fair value gain (loss) recognized in operating revenues for inventory designated as hedged item |
|
|
$ |
8,388 |
|
|
|
$ |
60 |
|
|
|
$ |
(1,543 |
) |
|
|
$ |
1,693 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Amount of (loss) gain recognized in operating revenues |
|
|
$ |
(790 |
) |
|
|
$ |
856 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,673 |
|
|
|
$ |
(823 |
) |
(a) No amounts have been excluded from effectiveness testing of cash flow hedges.
(b) For the three months ended June 30, 2012, the net impact on operating revenues consisted of a $6.0 million gain related to the exclusion of the spot/forward differential from the assessment of effectiveness. For the
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
three months ended June 30, 2011, the net impact on operating revenues consisted of a $2.1 million gain related to the exclusion of the spot/forward differential from the assessment of effectiveness and a $0.7 million loss due to changes in basis. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, the net impact on operating revenues consisted of a $2.8 million gain due to the exclusion of the spot/forward differential from the assessment of effectiveness and a $0.4 million gain due to changes in basis. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the net impact on operating revenues consisted of a $1.5 million gain related to the exclusion of the spot/forward differential from the assessment of effectiveness and a $0.3 million loss due to changes in basis.
|
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
||
|
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
||
|
|
(Thousands) |
|
||||||||
Asset derivatives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Commodity derivatives designated as hedging instruments |
|
|
$ |
392,437 |
|
|
|
$ |
412,626 |
|
|
Commodity derivatives not designated as hedging instruments |
|
|
75,150 |
|
|
|
99,535 |
|
|
||
Total asset derivatives |
|
|
$ |
467,587 |
|
|
|
$ |
512,161 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Liability derivatives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Commodity derivatives designated as hedging instruments |
|
|
$ |
8,014 |
|
|
|
$ |
3,681 |
|
|
Interest rate derivatives designated as hedging instruments |
|
|
18,374 |
|
|
|
10,861 |
|
|
||
Commodity derivatives not designated as hedging instruments |
|
|
82,826 |
|
|
|
108,764 |
|
|
||
Total liability derivatives |
|
|
$ |
109,214 |
|
|
|
$ |
123,306 |
|
|
In August 2011, the Company entered into a forward-starting interest rate swap to mitigate the risk of rising interest rates. The forward-starting interest rate swap was designated as a cash flow hedge of forecasted future interest payments. The Company recorded a deferred loss of $11.8 million and $7.6 million in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, associated with the change in fair value of the interest rate swap.
The net fair value of commodity derivative instruments changed during the first six months of 2012 primarily as a result of settlements, which were partially offset by a decrease in prices. The absolute quantities of the Companys derivative commodity instruments that have been designated and qualify as cash flow hedges totaled 343 Bcf and 349 Bcf as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, and are primarily related to natural gas swaps and collars. The open positions at June 30, 2012 had maturities extending through December 2016. The absolute quantities of the Companys derivative commodity instruments that have been designated and qualify as fair value hedges totaled 10 Bcf and 9 Bcf as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
The Company deferred net gains of $227.4 million and $232.1 million in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, associated with the effective portion of the change in fair value of its derivative commodity instruments designated as cash flow hedges. Assuming no change in price or new transactions, the Company estimates that approximately $136 million of net unrealized gains on its derivative commodity instruments reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, as of June 30, 2012 will be recognized in earnings during the next twelve months due to the settlement of hedged transactions. During the second quarter of 2012, the Company identified an error related to the accounting for a derivative instrument put premium which should have been recognized over the period January 2010 through December 2011 in conjunction with the settlements of the related financial positions. The Company has evaluated materiality in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins Topics 1.M and 1.N and considered relevant qualitative and quantitative factors. Based on this analysis, the Company corrected the error in the second quarter of 2012 through the reduction of EQT Production segment operating revenue by $8.2 million, the increase of accumulated other comprehensive income by $5.1 million and the decrease of deferred tax expense by $3.1 million. The Company concluded that this error is not material to any prior periods, the expected annual results of 2012 or to the trend in earnings over the affected periods. The error had no effect on cash flows or debt covenant compliance.
The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to derivative contracts. This credit exposure is limited to derivative contracts with a positive fair value, which may change as market prices change. The Company believes that New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) traded futures contracts have reduced credit risk because Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulations are in place to protect exchange participants, including the Company, from potential financial instability of the exchange members. The Companys OTC swap and collar derivative instruments are primarily with financial institutions and thus are subject to events that would impact those companies individually as well as that industry as a whole.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
The Company utilizes various processes and analysis to monitor and evaluate its credit risk exposures. These include closely monitoring current market conditions and credit default swap rates. Credit exposure is controlled through credit approvals and limits. To manage the level of credit risk, the Company deals with financial counterparties that are of investment grade or better, enters into netting agreements whenever possible and may obtain collateral or other security. As of June 30, 2012, all derivative contracts outstanding were with counterparties having a Standard & Poors Rating Services (S&P) rating of A- or higher and a Moodys Investor Services (Moodys) rating of Baa1 or higher.
When the net fair value of any of the Companys swap agreements represents a liability to the Company which is in excess of the agreed-upon threshold between the Company and the financial institution acting as counterparty, the counterparty requires the Company to remit funds to the counterparty as a margin deposit for the derivative liability which is in excess of the threshold amount. The Company records these deposits as a current asset. When the net fair value of any of the Companys swap agreements represents an asset to the Company which is in excess of the agreed-upon threshold between the Company and the financial institution acting as counterparty, the Company requires the counterparty to remit funds as margin deposit in an amount equal to the portion of the derivative asset which is in excess of the threshold amount. The Company records a current liability for such amounts received. The Company had no such deposits in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.
When the Company enters into exchange-traded natural gas contracts, exchanges may require the Company to remit funds to the corresponding broker as good-faith deposits to guard against the risks associated with changing market conditions. Participants must make such deposits based on an established initial margin requirement as well as the net liability position, if any, of the fair value of the associated contracts. The Company records these deposits as a current asset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. In the case where the fair value of such contracts is in a net asset position, the broker may remit funds to the Company, in which case the Company records a current liability for such amounts received. The initial margin requirements are established by the exchanges based on the price, volatility and the time to expiration of the related contract and are subject to change at the exchanges discretion. The Company recorded a current asset of $0.7 million and $0.1 million as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, for such deposits in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Certain of the Companys derivative instrument contracts provide that if the Companys credit ratings by S&P or Moodys are lowered below investment grade, additional collateral must be deposited with the counterparty. This additional collateral can be up to 100% of the derivative liability. As of June 30, 2012, the aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position was $3.8 million, for which the Company had no collateral posted. If the Companys credit rating by S&P or Moodys had been downgraded below investment grade on June 30, 2012, the Company would have been required to post additional collateral of $1.7 million in respect of the liability position. Investment grade refers to the quality of the Companys credit as assessed by one or more credit rating agencies. The Companys unsecured medium-term debt was rated BBB by S&P and Baa2 by Moodys at June 30, 2012. In order to be considered investment grade, the Company must be rated BBB or higher by S&P and Baa2 or higher by Moodys. Anything below these ratings is considered to be non-investment grade.
D. Investments, Available-For-Sale
During the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company did not purchase any investment securities.
During the six month period ended June 30, 2011, the Company sold all of its available-for-sale securities for proceeds of $29.9 million which resulted in gross realized gains of $8.5 million, $4.9 million of which was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company uses the average cost method to determine the cost of securities sold.
E. Fair Value Measurements
The Company records its financial instruments, principally derivative instruments, at fair value in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company has an established process for determining fair value which is based on quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based upon models
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
that use as inputs market-based parameters, including but not limited to forward curves, discount rates, volatilities and nonperformance risk. Nonperformance risk considers the effect of the Companys credit standing on the fair value of liabilities and the effect of the counterpartys credit standing on the fair value of assets. The Company estimates nonperformance risk by analyzing publicly available market information, including a comparison of the yield on debt instruments with credit ratings similar to the Companys or counterpartys credit rating and the yield of a risk free instrument. The Company also considers credit default swaps rates where applicable.
The Company has categorized its assets and liabilities recorded at fair value into a three-level fair value hierarchy, based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). Assets and liabilities included in Level 1 include the Companys futures contracts. Assets and liabilities in Level 2 include the majority of the Companys swap agreements, including the forward-starting interest rate swap, and assets and liabilities in Level 3 include the Companys collars and a limited number of the Companys swap agreements. Since the adoption of fair value accounting, the Company has not made any changes to its classification of assets and liabilities in each category.
The fair value of assets and liabilities included in Level 2 is based on industry discounted cash flow models that use significant observable inputs, including NYMEX and LIBOR forward curves and LIBOR-based discount rates. Collars included in Level 3 are valued using industry discounted cash flow models. The primary significant unobservable input to the valuation of assets and liabilities in Level 3 is the volatility assumption to the option pricing model used to value commodity collars. The Company considers current market information about option trading and historical averages in deriving these volatilities. At June 30, 2012 the range of Company derived market volatilities used to value Level 3 assets and liabilities was 25-58%. The fair value of the collar agreements is sensitive to changes in the volatility assumption. Significant changes in this assumption might result in a significantly higher or lower fair values for these assets and liabilities. As of June 30, 2012, an increase in the volatility assumption would increase the value of the derivative asset and a decrease in the volatility assumption would decrease the value of the derivative asset. The Company uses NYMEX forward curves to value futures, commodity swaps and collars. The Company uses LIBOR forward curves to value interest rate swaps. The NYMEX and LIBOR forward curves are validated to external sources at least monthly.
The following assets and liabilities were measured at fair value on a recurring basis during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value measurements at reporting date using |
|
|
||||||||||||
Description |
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
Quoted
|
|
|
|
Significant
|
|
|
|
Significant
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
(Thousands) |
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Derivative instruments, at fair value |
|
|
$ |
467,587 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,688 |
|
|
|
$ |
335,352 |
|
|
|
$ |
130,547 |
|
|
Total assets |
|
|
$ |
467,587 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,688 |
|
|
|
$ |
335,352 |
|
|
|
$ |
130,547 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Derivative instruments, at fair value |
|
|
$ |
109,214 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,534 |
|
|
|
$ |
106,569 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,111 |
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
$ |
109,214 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,534 |
|
|
|
$ |
106,569 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,111 |
|
|
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value measurements at reporting date using |
|
|
||||||||||||
Description |
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
Quoted
|
|
|
|
Significant
|
|
|
|
Significant
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
(Thousands) |
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Derivative instruments, at fair value |
|
|
$ |
512,161 |
|
|
|
$ |
3,612 |
|
|
|
$ |
365,238 |
|
|
|
$ |
143,311 |
|
|
Total assets |
|
|
$ |
512,161 |
|
|
|
$ |
3,612 |
|
|
|
$ |
365,238 |
|
|
|
$ |
143,311 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Derivative instruments, at fair value |
|
|
$ |
123,306 |
|
|
|
$ |
2,727 |
|
|
|
$ |
120,528 |
|
|
|
$ |
51 |
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
$ |
123,306 |
|
|
|
$ |
2,727 |
|
|
|
$ |
120,528 |
|
|
|
$ |
51 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
Derivative instruments,
|
|
|
|
Derivative instruments,
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
2012 |
|
2011 |
|
|
|
2012 |
|
2011 |
|
||||
|
|
|
(Thousands) |
|
||||||||||||
Beginning of period |
|
|
$ |
156,066 |
|
$ |
97,364 |
|
|
|
$ |
143,260 |
|
$ |
116,672 |
|
Total gains or losses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Included in earnings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14 |
|
||||
Included in other comprehensive income |
|
|
(4,203 |
) |
16,851 |
|
|
|
27,393 |
|
11,020 |
|
||||
Purchases |
|
|
(1,016 |
) |
|
|
|
|
(1,016 |
) |
|
|
||||
Settlements |
|
|
(21,411 |
) |
(12,243 |
) |
|
|
(40,201 |
) |
(25,734 |
) |
||||
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
End of period |
|
|
$ |
129,436 |
|
$ |
101,972 |
|
|
|
$ |
129,436 |
|
$ |
101,972 |
|
There are no gains or losses included in earnings for the periods in the table above attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets and liabilities still held as of June 30, 2012 and 2011.
The carrying value of cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short maturity of the instruments; these are considered Level 1 fair values.
The Company estimates the fair value of its debt using its established fair value methodology. Because not all of the Companys debt is actively traded, the fair value of the debt is a Level 2 fair value. Fair value for non-traded debt obligations is estimated using a discounted cash flow model which estimates a discount rate based on market rates for debt with similar remaining time to maturity and credit risk. The estimated fair value of long-term debt on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was approximately $3.1 billion and $3 billion, respectively.
F. Income Taxes
The Company estimates an annual effective income tax rate based on projected results for the year and applies this rate to income before taxes to calculate income tax expense. Any refinements made due to subsequent information that affects the estimated annual effective income tax rate are reflected as adjustments in the current period.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
The Companys effective income tax rate for the six months ending June 30, 2012 was 36.4%. The effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was 36.8%. The decrease in the effective tax rate from 2011 was attributable to a decrease in state taxes primarily as a result of lower pre-tax income on state tax paying entities in 2012 and an increased benefit related to equity funds of regulated businesses in 2012 partially offset by lower tax reserves recorded in 2011.
During the second quarter of 2012 and 2011, the Company finalized settlements with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) relating to its research and experimentation tax credits claimed from 2006 through 2009 and from 2001 through 2005, respectively. Except for refund claims from 2004 and 2005 related to tax losses carried back to those years, the consolidated federal income tax liability of the Company has been settled with the IRS through 2005. The Company is currently under audit for the 2006 through 2009 periods. The examination of these periods began in the second quarter of 2010. The Company also is the subject of various state income tax examinations. The Company believes that it is appropriately reserved for any uncertain tax positions.
G. Short-Term Loans
As of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had no loans or letters of credit outstanding under its revolving credit facility. Commitment fees averaging approximately 6.0 basis points in the second quarter of 2012 and 5.0 basis points in the second quarter of 2011 were incurred to maintain credit availability under the revolving credit facility.
There were no short-term loans outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2012. The maximum amount of outstanding short-term loans at any time during the six months ended June 30, 2011 was $104.0 million. The average daily balance of short-term loans outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2011 was approximately $11.1 million at a weighted average annual interest rate of 1.81%.
H. Long-Term Debt
|
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
||
|
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
||
|
|
(Thousands) |
|
||||||||
7.76% notes, due 2012 thru 2016 |
|
|
$ |
43,483 |
|
|
|
$ |
53,742 |
|
|
5.15% notes, due November 15, 2012 |
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
||
5.00% notes, due October 1, 2015 |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
||
5.15% notes, due March 1, 2018 |
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
||
6.50% notes, due April 1, 2018 |
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
||
8.13% notes, due June 1, 2019 |
|
|
700,000 |
|
|
|
700,000 |
|
|
||
4.88% notes, due November 15, 2021 |
|
|
750,000 |
|
|
|
750,000 |
|
|
||
7.75% debentures, due July 15, 2026 |
|
|
115,000 |
|
|
|
115,000 |
|
|
||
Medium-term notes: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
8.7% to 9.0% Series A, due 2014 thru 2021 |
|
|
40,200 |
|
|
|
40,200 |
|
|
||
7.3% to 7.6% Series B, due 2013 thru 2023 |
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
||
7.6% Series C, due 2018 |
|
|
8,000 |
|
|
|
8,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
|
2,736,683 |
|
|
|
2,746,942 |
|
|
||
Less debt payable within one year |
|
|
229,944 |
|
|
|
219,315 |
|
|
||
Total long-term debt |
|
|
$ |
2,506,739 |
|
|
|
$ |
2,527,627 |
|
|
During the second quarter of 2011, the Company assumed 7.76% Guaranteed Senior Notes due August 31, 2011 through February 28, 2016 in the aggregate principal of $57.1 million in a non-cash transaction. See Note I.
The indentures and other agreements governing the Companys indebtedness contain certain restrictive financial and operating covenants including covenants that restrict the Companys ability to incur indebtedness, incur liens, enter into sale and leaseback transactions, complete acquisitions, merge, sell assets and perform certain other corporate actions. The covenants do not contain a rating trigger. Therefore, a change in the Companys debt rating would not trigger a default under the indentures and other agreements governing the Companys long-term indebtedness.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt are $209.8 million in 2012, $23.2 million in 2013, $11.2 million in 2014, $166.0 million in 2015 and $3.0 million in 2016.
I. Acquisition
In December 2000, the Company sold a net profits interest (NPI) in certain producing properties located in the Appalachian Basin to a trust in exchange for approximately $298 million. The NPI entitled the trust to receive 100% of the net profits received from the sale of natural gas and oil from the producing properties until cumulative production from such properties reached a specified amount. The Company owned the Class B interest in the trust, entitling it to specified percentages of any available cash from the trust over time. An unrelated party, Appalachian NPI, LLC (ANPI), owned the Class A interest in the trust.
Effective May 4, 2011, the Company, through EQT Production Company, acquired the Class A interest in the trust thereby acquiring 100% of the NPI associated with the producing properties (the ANPI transaction). As part of the consideration for the acquired assets, the Company entered into a discounted natural gas sales agreement with ANPI and assumed a swap held by ANPI on the trusts sales of natural gas.
In addition, the Company assumed 7.76% Guaranteed Senior Notes due August 31, 2011 through February 28, 2016 in the aggregate principal amount of $57.1 million. At the time of the transaction, the notes had a fair value of $64.2 million.
Under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the ANPI transaction was a business combination achieved in stages because EQT owned an equity interest in the trust prior to the transaction. As required by the relevant accounting standard, the Company revalued its existing equity investment in the trust at fair value on the date of the acquisition and recorded a pre-tax gain of $10.1 million which was included in other income in the second quarter of 2011 on the Statements of Consolidated Income. The fair value was determined using an internal model; significant inputs to the calculation included publicly available forward price curves, expected production volumes and operating costs, as well as Company-determined risk adjusted discount rates which were based on publicly available debt and equity risk premiums.
As a result of this transaction, the Company recorded an increase in oil and gas properties of $140.6 million resulting from the removal of the post-revaluation $48.0 million equity investment in the trust from its books and a net $92.6 million increase in liabilities consisting of: $64.2 million of long term debt, a $16.4 million discounted sales agreement and a $12.7 million swap liability offset by various working capital balances.
This transaction also resulted in the elimination of certain previously disclosed relationships including the Companys non-controlling interest in the trust, the Companys liquidity reserve guarantee to ANPI, the Companys agreement with the trust to provide gathering and operating services to deliver its gas to market and the marketing fee the Company received for the sale of the trusts gas based on the net revenue for gas delivered.
J. Dispositions
On July, 1, 2011, the Company sold the Big Sandy Pipeline to Spectra Energy Partners, LP for $390 million. Big Sandy is a natural gas pipeline regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Big Sandy transports natural gas from the natural gas processing complex in Langley, Kentucky to interconnections with unaffiliated pipelines leading to the mid-Atlantic and Northeast markets. In conjunction with this transaction, the Company realized a pre-tax gain of $180.1 million in the third quarter 2011.
On February 1, 2011, the Company sold its natural gas processing complex in Langley, Kentucky and the associated natural gas liquids pipeline for $230 million. In conjunction with this transaction, the Company realized a pre-tax gain of $22.8 million.
K. Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Disclosure about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities
In December 2011, the FASB issued a standards update intended to enhance disclosures by requiring additional information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either offset in the statement of financial position or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. The update is to be applied
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
prospectively and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on its financial statement disclosures.
L. Earnings Per Share
Potentially dilutive securities, consisting of options and restricted stock awards, which were included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share totaled 560,244 and 667,399 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and 667,224 and 686,954 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Options to purchase common stock which were not included in potentially dilutive securities because they were anti-dilutive totaled 1,149,523 and 6,480 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and 243,398 and 884,497 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
M. Subsequent Event
On July 2, 2012, the Partnership, a subsidiary of the Company, completed an underwritten initial public offering of 14,375,000 common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership, which represented 40.6% of the Partnerships outstanding equity. The Company retained a 59.4% equity interest in the Partnership, including 2,964,718 common units, 17,339,718 subordinated units and a 2% general partner interest. Prior to the IPO, the Company contributed to the Partnership 100% of Equitrans. EQT will continue to consolidate the Partnership results.
Also, on July 2, 2012, in connection with the closing of the IPO:
· |
The Partnership, its general partner and EQT entered into an Omnibus Agreement (Omnibus Agreement), pursuant to which, among other things, EQT agreed to provide the Partnership with general and administrative services and a license to use the name EQT and related marks in connection with the Partnerships business. The Omnibus Agreement also provides for certain indemnification and reimbursement obligations between EQT and the Partnership. |
|
|
· |
EQTs subsidiary EQT Gathering, LLC (EQT Gathering) and the Partnership entered into an operation and management services agreement (Services Agreement), pursuant to which EQT Gathering will provide the Partnerships pipelines and storage facilities with certain operational and management services. The Services Agreement also provides for certain indemnification and reimbursement obligations between the Partnership and EQT Gathering. |
|
|
· |
The Partnership entered into a $350 million revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders, which will mature on July 2, 2017. The credit facility is available to fund working capital requirements and capital expenditures, to purchase assets, to pay distributions and repurchase units and for general partnership purposes. The Company is not a guarantor of the Partnerships obligations under the credit facility. |
The Partnership received net cash of approximately $278 million upon closing of the IPO. Approximately $232 million of the proceeds were distributed to EQT, $12 million was retained by the Partnership to replenish amounts distributed by Equitrans to EQT prior to the IPO, $32 million was retained by the Partnership to pre-fund certain maintenance capital expenditures and $2 million was used by the Partnership to pay revolving credit facility origination fees associated with a $350 million revolving credit agreement entered into by the Partnership at the closing of the IPO.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
Disclosures in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts are forward-looking and usually identified by the use of words such as anticipate, estimate, could, would, will, may, forecasts, approximate, expect, project, intend, plan, believe and other words of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial matters. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this report include the matters discussed in the section captioned Outlook in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and the expectations of plans, strategies, objectives, and growth and anticipated financial and operational performance of the Company and its subsidiaries, including guidance regarding the Companys strategy to develop its Marcellus and other reserves; drilling plans and programs (including the number, type, and location of wells to be drilled and the availability of capital to complete these plans and programs); production and sales volumes; gathering and transmission growth and volumes; infrastructure programs (including the Sunrise Pipeline and the gathering expansion projects); technology (including drilling techniques); asset sales, joint ventures or other transactions involving the Companys assets; natural gas prices; reserves; capital expenditures; including funding sources and availability; estimates of cost to develop wells; financing requirements and availability; hedging strategy; the effects of government regulation and tax position. The forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and assumptions about future events. While the Company considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Companys control. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance and results of the Companys business and forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those set forth under Item 1A, Risk Factors in the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and the Company does not intend to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
In reviewing any agreements incorporated by reference in or filed in this Form 10-Q, please remember such agreements are included to provide information regarding the terms of such agreements and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about the Company. The agreements may contain representations and warranties by the Company, which should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties should those statements prove to be inaccurate. The representations and warranties were made only as of the date of the relevant agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in such agreement and are subject to more recent developments. Accordingly, these representations and warranties alone may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.
CORPORATE OVERVIEW
Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 vs. Three Months Ended June 30, 2011
EQTs consolidated net income for the three months ended June 30, 2012 was $31.4 million, $0.21 per diluted share, compared with $87.8 million, $0.58 per diluted share, for the period ended June 30, 2011. The $56.4 million decrease in net income from 2011 to 2012 was primarily attributable to a decrease in production revenues due to lower realized sales prices, higher depreciation, depletion and amortization, the gain realized in 2011 on the purchase of ANPI, higher interest expense and a decrease in midstream revenues due to the July 2011 sale of the Big Sandy Pipeline, partially offset by increased production volumes and lower income tax expense.
The average realized sales price to EQT Corporation for production sales volumes was $3.83 per Mcfe during the second quarter 2012 compared to $5.60 per Mcfe in the same period of the prior year. The average NYMEX natural gas price decreased from $4.31 in 2011 to $2.22 in 2012. Hedging activities resulted in an increase in the price of production sales volumes of $1.52 per Mcf in 2012 compared to $0.41 per Mcf in 2011 as a result of higher volumes being hedged and decreases in NYMEX natural gas prices in the current year.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Other income decreased $12.8 million from 2011 to 2012 due to sales of securities in 2011 resulting in a $4.5 million gain, a $10.1 million gain recognized in 2011 on the ANPI transaction and a $0.9 million compressor impairment charge on Nora Gathering LLC.
Interest expense increased by $7.3 million from $33.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 to $40.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012. This was primarily a result of the Companys November 2011 issuance of $750 million 4.875% notes due in 2021, partially offset by the maturity of medium-term notes during the fourth quarter of 2011 and higher capitalized interest on increased Marcellus well development in 2012. The Company continues to use the net proceeds of the recently issued notes to invest in drilling and midstream infrastructure to develop the Marcellus play.
Income tax expense decreased by $35.6 million from 2011 to 2012 primarily as a result of lower pre-tax income.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 vs. Six Months Ended June 30 , 2011
EQTs consolidated net income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was $103.5 million, $0.69 per diluted share, compared with $210.0 million, $1.40 per diluted share, for the period ended June 30, 2011. The $106.5 million decrease in net income from 2011 to 2012 was primarily attributable to a decrease in production revenues due to lower realized sales prices, higher operating expenses, the gain realized by the Company in 2011 on the sale of the Langley natural gas processing complex, warmer weather during the current period and higher interest expense, partially offset by increased production volumes and higher gathering net revenues.
The average realized sales price to EQT Corporation for production sales volumes was $4.31 per Mcfe during the six months ended 2012 compared to $5.52 per Mcfe in the same period of the prior year. The average NYMEX natural gas price decreased from $4.21 in 2011 to $2.48 in 2012. Hedging activities resulted in an increase in the price of production sales volumes of $1.52 per Mcf in 2012 compared to $0.44 per Mcf in 2011 as a result of higher volumes being hedged and decreases in NYMEX natural gas prices in the current year.
Other income was $9.9 million for the first six months of 2012 compared to $24.9 million the same period in 2011. This $15.0 million decrease was a result of sales of securities in 2011 resulting in a gain of $8.5 million, as well as a $10.1 million gain recognized on the ANPI transaction in 2011.
Interest expense increased by $15.7 million from the six months ended June 30, 2011 to the six months ended June 30, 2012 as a result of the Companys November 2011 issuance of $750 million 4.875% notes due in 2021. This increase was partially offset by the maturity of medium-term notes during the fourth quarter of 2011 and higher capitalized interest on increased Marcellus well development in 2012. The Company continues to use the net proceeds of the recently issued notes to invest in drilling and midstream infrastructure to develop the Marcellus play.
Income tax expense decreased by $63.0 million from 2011 to 2012 primarily as a result of lower pre-tax income.
See Investing Activities under the caption Capital Resources and Liquidity for a discussion of capital expenditures.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
EQT CORPORATION
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
Six Months Ended |
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
June 30, |
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
2012 |
|
|
2011 |
|
|
% |
|
|
2012 |
|
|
2011 |
|
|
% |
|
||||
OPERATIONAL DATA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Average wellhead sales price to EQT Corporation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Natural gas excluding hedges ($/Mcf) |
|
$ |
1.93 |
|
|
$ |
4.58 |
|
|
(57.9 |
) |
|
$ |
2.34 |
|
|
$ |
4.47 |
|
|
(47.7 |
) |
Hedge impact ($/Mcf of natural gas) (a) |
|
$ |
1.52 |
|
|
$ |
0.41 |
|
|
270.7 |
|
|
$ |
1.52 |
|
|
$ |
0.44 |
|
|
245.5 |
|
Natural gas including hedges ($/Mcf) |
|
$ |
3.45 |
|
|
$ |
4.99 |
|
|
(30.9 |
) |
|
$ |
3.86 |
|
|
$ |
4.91 |
|
|
(21.4 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
NGLs ($/Bbl) |
|
$ |
34.56 |
|
|
$ |
51.71 |
|
|
(33.2 |
) |
|
$ |
41.24 |
|
|
$ |
51.86 |
|
|
(20.5 |
) |
Crude oil ($/Bbl) |
|
$ |
85.99 |
|
|
$ |
89.08 |
|
|
(3.5 |
) |
|
$ |
85.70 |
|
|
$ |
84.95 |
|
|
0.9 |
|
Total ($/Mcfe) |
|
$ |
3.83 |
|
|
$ |
5.60 |
|
|
(31.6 |
) |
|
$ |
4.31 |
|
|
$ |
5.52 |
|
|
(21.9 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Less revenues to EQT Midstream ($/Mcfe) |
|
$ |
1.21 |
|
|
$ |
1.44 |
|
|
(16.0 |
) |
|
$ |
1.23 |
|
|
$ |
1.45 |
|
|
(15.2 |
) |
Average wellhead sales price to EQT Production ($/Mcfe) |
|
$ |
2.62 |
|
|
$ |
4.16 |
|
|
(37.0 |
) |
|
$ |
3.08 |
|
|
$ |
4.07 |
|
|
(24.3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Average NYMEX natural gas ($/Mcf) |
|
$ |
2.22 |
|
|
$ |
4.31 |
|
|
(48.5 |
) |
|
$ |
2.48 |
|
|
$ |
4.21 |
|
|
(41.1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Natural gas sales volumes (MMcf) |
|
56,353 |
|
|
43,830 |
|
|
28.6 |
|
|
107,126 |
|
|
83,965 |
|
|
27.6 |
|
||||
NGL sales volumes (Mbbls) |
|
850 |
|
|
774 |
|
|
9.8 |
|
|
1,637 |
|
|
1,500 |
|
|
9.1 |
|
||||
Crude oil sales volumes (Mbbls) |
|
73 |
|
|
49 |
|
|
49.0 |
|
|
127 |
|
|
80 |
|
|
58.8 |
|
||||
Total produced sales volumes (MMcfe) (b) |
|
59,997 |
|
|
47,030 |
|
|
27.6 |
|
|
114,067 |
|
|
90,077 |
|
|
26.6 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Capital expenditures (thousands) (c) |
|
$ |
392,733 |
|
|
$ |
374,098 |
|
|
5.0 |
|
|
$ |
662,320 |
|
|
$ |
637,526 |
|
|
3.9 |
|
(a) All hedges are related to natural gas.
(b) NGLs were converted to Mcfe at the rates of 3.77 Mcfe per barrel and 3.75 Mcfe per barrel based on the liquids content for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and 3.77 Mcfe per barrel and 3.75 Mcfe per barrel based on the liquids content for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Crude oil was converted to Mcfe at the rate of six Mcfe per barrel for all periods.
(c) Capital expenditures in the EQT Production segment for the three and six month periods ended 2011 include $92.6 million of liabilities assumed in exchange for producing properties as part of the ANPI transaction discussed in Note I.
Business Segment Results
The Company has reported the components of each segments operating income and various operational measures in the sections below, and where appropriate, has provided information describing how a measure was derived. EQTs management believes that presentation of this information provides useful information to management and investors regarding the financial condition, operations and trends of each of EQTs segments without being obscured by the financial condition, operations and trends for the other segments or by the effects of corporate allocations of interest, income taxes and other income. In addition, management uses these measures for budget planning purposes. The Companys management reviews and reports the EQT Production segment results for operating revenues and purchased gas costs with transportation costs reflected as a deduction from operating revenues as management believes this presentation provides a more useful view of net wellhead price and is consistent with industry practices. Third party transportation costs are reported as a component of purchased gas costs in the consolidated results. The Company has reconciled each segments operating income to the Companys consolidated operating income and net income in Note B to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. As part of the 2012 budgeting process, the Company allocated additional corporate overhead charges to the operating segments. As current period corporate overhead costs have stayed consistent with budgeted amounts, unallocated expenses have decreased for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2012.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
EQT PRODUCTION
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Six Months Ended |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
June 30, |
|
June 30, |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
2012 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
2012 |
|
|
2011 |
|
|
|
% |
|
|||||||
OPERATIONAL DATA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Natural gas, NGL and crude oil production (MMcfe) (a) |
|
60,601 |
|
|
|
48,039 |
|
|
|
26.1 |
|
|
|
115,426 |
|
|
92,565 |
|
|
|
24.7 |
|
|||||||
Company usage, line loss (MMcfe) |
|
(604 |
) |
|
|
(1,009) |
|
|
|
(40.1 |
) |
|
|
(1,359) |
|
|
(2,488) |
|
|
|
(45.4 |
) |
|||||||
Total sales volumes (MMcfe) |
|
59,997 |
|
|
|
47,030 |
|
|
|
27.6 |
|
|
|
114,067 |
|
|
90,077 |
|
|
|
26.6 |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Average daily sales volumes (MMcfe/d) |
|
659 |
|
|
|
517 |
|
|
|
27.5 |
|
|
|
627 |
|
|
498 |
|
|
|
25.9 |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Sales volume detail (MMcfe): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Horizontal Marcellus Play |
|
32,223 |
|
|
|
18,505 |
|
|
|
74.1 |
|
|
|
59,065 |
|
|
34,495 |
|
|
|
71.2 |
|
|||||||
Horizontal Huron Play |
|
9,852 |
|
|
|
10,017 |
|
|
|
(1.6 |
) |
|
|
19,518 |
|
|
20,360 |
|
|
|
(4.1 |
) |
|||||||
CBM Play |
|
3,288 |
|
|
|
3,396 |
|
|
|
(3.2 |
) |
|
|
6,586 |
|
|
6,775 |
|
|
|
(2.8 |
) |
|||||||
Other (vertical non-CBM) |
|
14,634 |
|
|
|
15,112 |
|
|
|
(3.2 |
) |
|
|
28,898 |
|
|
28,447 |
|
|
|
1.6 |
|
|||||||
Total production sales volumes |
|
59,997 |
|
|
|
47,030 |
|
|
|
27.6 |
|
|
|
114,067 |
|
|
90,077 |
|
|
|
26.6 |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Average wellhead sales price to EQT Production ($/Mcfe) |
|
$ |
2.62 |
|
|
|
$ |
4.16 |
|
|
|
(37.0 |
) |
|
|
$ |
3.08 |
|
|
$ |
4.07 |
|
|
|
(24.3 |
) |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Lease operating expenses (LOE), excluding production taxes ($/Mcfe) |
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
|
|
(13.6 |
) |
|
|
$ |
0.20 |
|
|
$ |
0.20 |
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
|||
Production taxes ($/Mcfe) (b) |
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
|
|
$ |
0.20 |
|
|
|
(15.0 |
) |
|
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
|
(10.5 |
) |
|||
Production depletion ($/Mcfe) |
|
$ |
1.53 |
|
|
|
$ |
1.24 |
|
|
|
23.4 |
|
|
|
$ |
1.53 |
|
|
$ |
1.25 |
|
|
|
22.4 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) (thousands): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Production depletion |
|
$ |
92,430 |
|
|
|
$ |
59,709 |
|
|
|
54.8 |
|
|
|
$ |
176,956 |
|
|
$ |
115,321 |
|
|
|
53.4 |
|
|||
Other DD&A |
|
1,975 |
|
|
|
2,190 |
|
|
|
(9.8 |
) |
|
|
4,016 |
|
|
4,412 |
|
|
|
(9.0 |
) |
|||||||
Total DD&A (thousands) |
|
$ |
94,405 |
|
|
|
$ |
61,899 |
|
|
|
52.5 |
|
|
|
$ |
180,972 |
|
|
$ |
119,733 |
|
|
|
51.1 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Capital expenditures (thousands) (c) |
|
$ |
264,926 |
|
|
|
$ |
317,906 |
|
|
|
(16.7 |
) |
|
|
$ |
448,611 |
|
|
$ |
544,878 |
|
|
|
(17.7 |
) |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
FINANCIAL DATA (Thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total net operating revenues |
|
$ |
158,649 |
|
|
|
$ |
196,810 |
|
|
|
(19.4 |
) |
|
|
$ |
354,045 |
|
|
$ |
369,852 |
|
|
|
(4.3 |
) |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
LOE, excluding production taxes |
|
11,798 |
|
|
|
10,348 |
|
|
|
14.0 |
|
|
|
22,734 |
|
|
18,148 |
|
|
|
25.3 |
|
|||||||
Production taxes (b) |
|
10,774 |
|
|
|
9,417 |
|
|
|
14.4 |
|
|
|
26,861 |
|
|
17,728 |
|
|
|
51.5 |
|
|||||||
Exploration expense |
|
1,887 |
|
|
|
1,198 |
|
|
|
57.5 |
|
|
|
3,715 |
|
|
2,573 |
|
|
|
44.4 |
|
|||||||
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) |
|
22,081 |
|
|
|
14,189 |
|
|
|
55.6 |
|
|
|
43,021 |
|
|
29,582 |
|
|
|
45.4 |
|
|||||||
DD&A |
|
94,405 |
|
|
|
61,899 |
|
|
|
52.5 |
|
|
|
180,972 |
|
|
119,733 |
|
|
|
51.1 |
|
|||||||
Total operating expenses |
|
140,945 |
|
|
|
97,051 |
|
|
|
45.2 |
|
|
|
277,303 |
|
|
187,764 |
|
|
|
47.7 |
|
|||||||
Gain on dispositions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,110 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0 |
|
|||||||
Operating income |
|
$ |
17,704 |
|
|
|
$ |
99,759 |
|
|
|
(82.3 |
) |
|
|
$ |
77,852 |
|
|
$ |
182,088 |
|
|
|
(57.2 |
) |
|||
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
(a) Natural gas, NGL and oil production represents the Companys interest in natural gas, NGL and oil production measured at the wellhead. It is equal to the sum of total sales volumes, Company usage and line loss.
(b) Production taxes include severance and production-related ad valorem and other property taxes. In 2012, production taxes also include an accrual for the Pennsylvania impact fee of $3.1 million and $11.3 million for the three and six months, respectively. The production taxes unit rate for the three and six months ending June 30, 2012 excludes the impact of $0.5 million and $6.7 million, respectively, for the accrual for pre-2012 Marcellus wells.
(c) Capital expenditures in the EQT Production for the three and six month periods ended 2011 include $92.6 million of liabilities assumed in exchange for producing properties as part of the ANPI transaction discussed in Note I.
Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 vs. Three Months Ended June 30, 2011
EQT Productions operating income totaled $17.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $99.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The $82.1 million decrease in operating income was primarily due to a lower average wellhead sales price and an increase in operating expenses partially offset by increased sales of produced natural gas.
Total operating revenues were $158.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $196.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The $38.2 million decrease in operating revenues was primarily due to a 37% decrease in the average wellhead sales price to EQT Production which more than offset a 28% increase in production sales volumes. The $1.54 per Mcfe decrease in the average wellhead sales price to EQT Production was primarily due to a 49% decrease in the average NYMEX price as well as lower NGL and basis prices partially offset by higher hedging gains and lower gathering rates compared to the second quarter of 2011. The average wellhead sales price was also impacted unfavorably in the second quarter of 2012 by $0.14 per Mcfe as a result of an $8.2 million adjustment to recognize financial instrument put premiums which should have been recorded ratably over 2010 and 2011 and by $0.07 per Mcfe for the cost of new transmission capacity on the El Paso 300 line including long-term resale agreements. Management evaluated the size and nature of the put premium adjustment and concluded that the adjustment was not material to the financial statements. The increase in production sales volumes was primarily the result of increased production from the 2011 and 2012 drilling programs, primarily in the Marcellus, as well as the acquisition of producing properties associated with the ANPI transaction in May 2011 which added 0.7 Bcfe of sales volumes in the three months ended June 30, 2012. This increase was partially offset by the normal production decline in the Companys wells.
Operating expenses totaled $140.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $97.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The increase in operating expenses was the result of increases in DD&A, SG&A, LOE and production taxes. Depletion expense increased as a result of a higher overall depletion rate in 2012 as well as higher produced volumes in the current year. The increase in the depletion rate was primarily due to an increase in costs to complete wells, higher capitalized overhead and interest costs, the removal of proved reserves due to lower natural gas prices and the suspension of drilling activity in the Huron play. The increase in SG&A was primarily a result of higher corporate overhead and commercial services allocations as well as increased labor and relocation expenses associated with increased Marcellus drilling. The increase in LOE was mainly due to increased Marcellus activity in 2012 as well as the elimination, as part of the ANPI transaction, of certain operating expense reimbursement agreements.
In February 2012, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania passed a natural gas impact fee. The legislation, which covers a significant portion of EQTs Marcellus Shale acreage, imposes an annual fee for a period of fifteen years on each well drilled. The impact fee adjusts annually based on three factors: age of the well, changes in the Consumer Price Index and the average monthly NYMEX natural gas price. Production taxes increased primarily due to the Pennsylvania impact fee as well as an increase in property taxes partially offset by a decrease in severance taxes due to the current year decrease in average wellhead sales price.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 vs. Six Months Ended June 30 , 2011
EQT Productions operating income totaled $77.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $182.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The $104.2 million decrease in operating income was primarily due to a lower average wellhead sales price and an increase in operating expenses partially offset by increased sales of produced natural gas.
Total operating revenues were $354.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $369.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The $15.9 million decrease in operating revenues was primarily due to a 24% decrease in the average wellhead sales price to EQT Production which more than offset a 27% increase in production sales volumes. The $0.99 per Mcfe decrease in the average wellhead sales price to EQT Production was primarily due to a 41% decrease in the average NYMEX price as well as lower basis and NGL prices partially offset by higher hedging gains and lower gathering rates compared to 2011. The average wellhead sales price was also impacted unfavorably in the first six months of 2012 by $0.07 per Mcfe as a result of an $8.2 million adjustment to recognize financial instrument put premiums which should have been recorded ratably over 2010 and 2011 and favorably by $0.06 per Mcfe for the cost of new transmission capacity on the El Paso 300 line including long-term resale agreements. Management evaluated the size and nature of the put premium adjustment and concluded that the adjustment was not material to the financial statements. The increase in production sales volumes was the result of increased production from the 2011 and 2012 drilling programs, primarily in the Marcellus, as well as the acquisition of producing properties associated with the ANPI transaction in May 2011 which added 2.6 Bcfe of sales volumes in the six months ended June 30, 2012. This increase was partially offset by the normal production decline in the Companys wells.
Operating expenses totaled $277.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $187.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The increase in operating expenses was the result of increases in DD&A, SG&A, LOE and production taxes. Depletion expense increased as a result of a higher overall depletion rate in 2012 as well as higher produced volumes in the current year. The increase in the depletion rate was primarily due to an increase in costs to complete wells, higher capitalized overhead and interest costs, the removal of proved reserves due to lower natural gas prices and the suspension of drilling activity in the Huron play. The increase in SG&A was primarily a result of higher corporate overhead and commercial services allocations as well as increased labor and relocation expenses associated with increased Marcellus drilling. The increase in LOE was mainly due to increased Marcellus activity in 2012 as well as the elimination, as part of the ANPI transaction, of certain operating expense reimbursement agreements.
Production taxes increased primarily due to the accrual in 2012 of $11.3 million for the Pennsylvania impact fee, of which $6.7 million represents the retroactive fee for pre-2012 Marcellus wells, as well as an increase in property taxes partially offset by a decrease in severance taxes due to the current year decrease in average wellhead sales price.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
EQT MIDSTREAM
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Six Months Ended |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
June 30, |
|
June 30, |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2012 |
|
|
2011 |
|
|
% |
|
|
2012 |
|
|
2011 |
|
% |
|
|||||||
OPERATIONAL DATA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Gathered volumes (BBtu) |
|
77,393 |
|
|
62,566 |
|
|
23.7 |
|
|
148,559 |
|
|
121,188 |
|
22.6 |
|
|||||||
Average gathering fee ($/MMBtu) |
|
$ |
0.93 |
|
|
$ |
0.98 |
|
|
(5.1 |
) |
|
$ |
0.95 |
|
|
$ |
0.99 |
|
(4.0 |
) |
|||
Gathering and compression expense ($/MMBtu) (a) |
|
$ |
0.27 |
|
|
$ |
0.27 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.27 |
|
|
$ |
0.28 |
|
(3.6 |
) |
|||
Transmission pipeline throughput (BBtu) |
|
47,049 |
|
|
43,439 |
|
|
8.3 |
|
|
89,124 |
|
|
79,001 |
|
12.8 |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net operating revenues (thousands): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Gathering |
|
$ |
72,124 |
|
|
$ |
61,257 |
|
|
17.7 |
|
|
$ |
141,377 |
|
|
$ |
120,238 |
|
17.6 |
|
|||
Transmission |
|
21,514 |
|
|
24,566 |
|
|
(12.4 |
) |
|
44,455 |
|
|
50,955 |
|
(12.8 |
) |
|||||||
Storage, marketing and other |
|
14,671 |
|
|
12,015 |
|
|
22.1 |
|
|
29,594 |
|
|
33,167 |
|
(10.8 |
) |
|||||||
Total net operating revenues |
|
$ |
108,309 |
|
|
$ |
97,838 |
|
|
10.7 |
|
|
$ |
215,426 |
|
|
$ |
204,360 |
|
5.4 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives and inventory (thousands) (b) |
|
$ |
3,519 |
|
|
$ |
1,310 |
|
|
168.6 |
|
|
$ |
(1,928 |
) |
|
$ |
454 |
|
(524.7 |
) |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Capital expenditures (thousands) |
|
$ |
119,925 |
|
|
$ |
46,500 |
|
|
157.9 |
|
|
$ |
199,563 |
|
|
$ |
75,605 |
|
164.0 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
FINANCIAL DATA (Thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total operating revenues |
|
$ |
120,098 |
|
|
$ |
131,201 |
|
|
(8.5 |
) |
|
$ |
242,146 |
|
|
$ |
272,863 |
|
(11.3 |
) |
|||
Purchased gas costs |
|
11,789 |
|
|
33,363 |
|
|
(64.7 |
) |
|
26,720 |
|
|
68,503 |
|
(61.0 |
) |
|||||||
Total net operating revenues |
|
108,309 |
|
|
97,838 |
|
|
10.7 |
|
|
215,426 |
|
|
204,360 |
|
5.4 |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Operating and maintenance (O&M) |
|
23,700 |
|
|
20,033 |
|
|
18.3 |
|
|
47,804 |
|
|
34,360 |
|
39.1 |
|
|||||||
SG&A |
|
9,875 |
|
|
11,266 |
|
|
(12.3 |
) |
|
22,044 |
|
|
22,120 |
|
(0.3 |
) |
|||||||
DD&A |
|
14,984 |
|
|
14,296 |
|
|
4.8 |
|
|
29,692 |
|
|
29,004 |
|
2.4 |
|
|||||||
Total operating expenses |
|
48,559 |
|
|
45,595 |
|
|
6.5 |
|
|
99,540 |
|
|
85,484 |
|
16.4 |
|
|||||||
Gain on dispositions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,785 |
|
(100.0 |
) |
|||||||
Operating income |
|
$ |
59,750 |
|
|
$ |
52,243 |
|
|
14.4 |
|
|
$ |
115,886 |
|
|
$ |
141,661 |
|
(18.2 |
) |
|||
(a) Gathering and compression expense per unit excludes $7.1 million of favorable adjustments during the six months ended June 30, 2011 for certain non-income tax reserves.
(b) Included within storage, marketing and other net operating revenues.
Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 vs. Three Months Ended June 30, 2011
EQT Midstreams operating income totaled $59.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $52.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The $7.6 million increase in operating income was primarily the result of increased net operating revenues partially offset by increased operating expenses.
Total net operating revenues were $108.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $97.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The increase in total net operating revenues was primarily due to a $10.9 million increase in gathering net operating revenues, partially offset by a $3.1 million decrease in transmission net operating revenues.
Gathering net operating revenues increased due to a 24% increase in gathered volumes partially offset by a 5% decrease in the average gathering fee. The gathered volume increase was driven primarily by higher volumes
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
gathered for EQT Production in the Marcellus play. The average gathering fee decreased primarily from lower gathered volumes in the Huron play and increased gathered volumes in the Marcellus play, as the Marcellus gathering rate is lower than the gathering rate for Huron and other volumes.
Transmission net operating revenues in the three months ended June 30, 2012 decreased from the prior year primarily as a result of $8.1 million of revenues lost due to the July 2011 sale of the Big Sandy Pipeline, partially offset by higher firm transportation activity from affiliated shippers due to increased Marcellus volumes and increased capacity resulting from the Equitrans 2010 Marcellus expansion project.
Total operating revenues decreased $11.1 million, or 8%, primarily as a result of lower sales prices on decreased commercial activity and the sales of the Langley natural gas process complex and the Big Sandy Pipeline in 2011 partially offset by an increase in gathered volumes. Total purchased gas costs decreased 65% primarily as a result of lower gas costs on decreased commercial activity.
Operating expenses totaled $48.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $45.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to increased labor and benefits, a compressor impairment charge related to the Huron program, property taxes and third party gathering expenses partially offset by a $2.5 million recovery of amounts due from Lehman Brothers and savings resulting from the 2011 sale of the Big Sandy Pipeline.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 vs. Six Months Ended June 30 , 2011
EQT Midstreams operating income totaled $115.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $141.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The $25.8 million decrease in operating income was primarily the result of the gain on sale of the Langley natural gas processing complex in 2011 and increased operating expenses in 2012 partially offset by an increase in 2012 of net operating revenues.
Total net operating revenues were $215.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $204.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The increase in total net operating revenues was primarily due to a $21.1 million increase in gathering net operating revenues partially offset by a $6.5 million decrease in transmission net operating revenues.
Gathering net operating revenues increased due to a 23% increase in gathered volumes partially offset by a 4% decrease in the average gathering fee. The gathered volume increase was driven primarily by higher volumes gathered for EQT Production in the Marcellus play. The average gathering fee decreased primarily from lower gathered volumes in the Huron play and increased gathered volumes in the Marcellus play, as the Marcellus gathering rate is lower than the gathering rate for Huron and other volumes.
Transmission net operating revenues in the first half of 2012 decreased from the prior year primarily as a result of the absence of $16 million of revenues due to the July 2011 sale of the Big Sandy Pipeline, partially offset by higher firm transportation activity from affiliated shippers due to increased Marcellus volumes and increased capacity resulting from the Equitrans 2010 Marcellus expansion project.
Total operating revenues decreased $30.7 million, or 11%, primarily as a result of lower sales prices on decreased commercial activity and the sale of the Big Sandy Pipeline in 2011 partially offset by an increase in gathered volumes. Total purchased gas costs decreased 61% primarily as a result of lower gas costs on decreased commercial activity.
Operating expenses totaled $99.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $85.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to a $12.1 million reduction in 2011 of certain non-income tax reserves as a result of property tax settlements, increases in labor and benefits, compressor expenses, O&M expenses and third party gathering expenses in 2012 offset by savings resulting from the 2011 sales of the Langley natural gas processing complex and Big Sandy Pipeline.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
DISTRIBUTION
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
Six Months Ended |
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
2012 |
|
2011 |
|
% |
|
|
2012 |
|
2011 |
|
% |
|
|
||||
OPERATIONAL DATA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Heating degree days (30 year average: QTD 665; YTD 3,535) |
|
489 |
|
487 |
|
0.4 |
|
|
2,721 |
|
3,423 |
|
(20.5 |
) |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Residential sales and transportation volumes (MMcf) |
|
2,405 |
|
2,694 |
|
(10.7 |
) |
|
11,460 |
|
14,718 |
|
(22.1 |
) |
|
||||
Commercial and industrial volumes (MMcf) |
|
5,753 |
|
5,611 |
|
2.5 |
|
|
15,112 |
|
16,742 |
|
(9.7 |
) |
|
||||
Total throughput (MMcf) |
|
8,158 |
|
8,305 |
|
(1.8 |
) |
|
26,572 |
|
31,460 |
|
(15.5 |
) |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net operating revenues (thousands): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Residential |
|
$ |
17,974 |
|
$ |
19,146 |
|
(6.1 |
) |
|
$ |
58,634 |
|
$ |
70,096 |
|
(16.4 |
) |
|
Commercial & industrial |
|
8,660 |
|
8,237 |
|
5.1 |
|
|
25,683 |
|
29,416 |
|
(12.7 |
) |
|
||||
Off-system and energy services |
|
4,554 |
|
5,506 |
|
(17.3 |
) |
|
10,262 |
|
11,270 |
|
(8.9 |
) |
|
||||
Total net operating revenues |
|
$ |
31,188 |
|
$ |
32,889 |
|
(5.2 |
) |
|
$ |
94,579 |
|
$ |
110,782 |
|
(14.6 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Capital expenditures (thousands) |
|
$ |
7,439 |
|
$ |
8,811 |
|
(15.6 |
) |
|
$ |
12,902 |
|
$ |
15,030 |
|
(14.2 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
FINANCIAL DATA (Thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total operating revenues |
|
$ |
48,273 |
|
$ |
69,100 |
|
(30.1 |
) |
|
$ |
183,694 |
|
$ |
264,191 |
|
(30.5 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Purchased gas costs |
|
17,085 |
|
36,211 |
|
(52.8 |
) |
|
89,115 |
|
153,409 |
|
(41.9 |
) |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net operating revenues |
|
31,188 |
|
32,889 |
|
(5.2 |
) |
|
94,579 |
|
110,782 |
|
(14.6 |
) |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
O&M |
|
10,248 |
|
10,731 |
|
(4.5 |
) |
|
20,461 |
|
21,052 |
|
(2.8 |
) |
|
||||
SG&A |
|
8,277 |
|
7,307 |
|
13.3 |
|
|
18,442 |
|
15,555 |
|
18.6 |
|
|
||||
DD&A |
|
6,287 |
|
5,923 |
|
6.1 |
|
|
12,530 |
|
11,880 |
|
5.5 |
|
|
||||
Total operating expenses |
|
24,812 |
|
23,961 |
|
3.6 |
|
|
51,433 |
|
48,487 |
|
6.1 |
|
|
||||
Operating income |
|
$ |
6,376 |
|
$ |
8,928 |
|
(28.6 |
) |
|
$ |
43,146 |
|
$ |
62,295 |
|
(30.7 |
) |
|
Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 vs. Three Months Ended June 30, 2011
Distributions operating income totaled $6.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $8.9 million for the same period in 2011. The decrease in operating income was primarily due to warmer weather during the early part of the second quarter of 2012 and higher operating expenses.
Net operating revenues were $31.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $32.9 million for the second quarter of 2011. The $1.7 million decrease in net operating revenues was due to several factors. Net operating revenues from residential customers decreased $1.2 million as a result of warmer weather during the early portion of the second quarter of 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011. Off-system and energy services net operating revenues decreased $1.0 million primarily due to lower revenues from asset optimization opportunities realized in the second quarter of 2012. The decrease in asset optimization transactions and lower natural gas prices, as well as a decrease in the commodity component of tariff rates resulted in a decrease in both total operating revenues and purchased gas costs.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Operating expenses totaled $24.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $24.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The $0.8 million increase in operating expenses was a result of higher corporate overhead allocations and increased DD&A in the second quarter of 2012. These increases were partially offset by lower operating and maintenance expenses.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 vs. Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
Distributions operating income totaled $43.1 million for the first half of 2012 compared to $62.3 million for the first half of 2011. The decrease in operating income was primarily due to record warm weather during 2012.
Net operating revenues were $94.6 million for the first half of 2012 compared to $110.8 million for the first half of 2011. Net operating revenues from residential customers decreased $11.5 million as a result of weather which was 21% warmer than the first half of 2011 (23% warmer than the 30-year National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) average for the Companys service territory). According to the NOAA, it was the warmest January through March time period on record in the Companys service territory. Commercial and industrial net operating revenues also decreased approximately $3.7 million primarily due to warmer weather and a decrease in performance-based revenues. Off-system and energy services net operating revenues decreased $1.0 million primarily due to lower revenues from asset optimization opportunities realized during the first half of 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011. The decreases in total operating revenues and purchased gas costs were primarily due to lower customer throughput as a result of warmer weather during the first half of 2012 and a decrease in the commodity component of tariff rates.
Operating expenses totaled $51.4 million for the first half of 2012 compared to $48.5 million for the first half of 2011. The $2.9 million increase in operating expenses was primarily due to the reduction of certain non-income tax reserves in the first half of 2011 as a result of settlements with tax authorities and increased DD&A in 2012 partially offset by lower bad debt expense in 2012. The decrease in bad debt expense was primarily the result of a decrease in the commodity component of residential tariff rates and the Companys favorable collections experience. The Company will continue to closely monitor its collection rates and adjust its reserve for uncollectible accounts as necessary.
OUTLOOK
The Company is committed to profitably developing its Marcellus reserves through environmentally responsible, cost-effective, technologically-advanced horizontal drilling. The market price for natural gas can be volatile as demonstrated by significant declines in late 2011 and early 2012. In response to these lower prices, the Company suspended drilling new Huron wells. Huron wells in progress at January 20, 2012 and those that are required to maintain lease rights have been completed and turned-in-line. Changes in the market price for natural gas impact the Companys revenues, earnings and liquidity. The Company is unable to predict potential future movements in the market price for natural gas and thus cannot predict the ultimate impact of prices on its operations; however, the Company monitors the market for natural gas and adjusts strategy and operations as deemed appropriate.
Capital expenditures for well development (primarily drilling) in 2012 are expected to be approximately $900 million to support the drilling of approximately 141 gross wells, including 132 gross Marcellus wells and 9 gross Huron wells. Sales volumes are expected to be between 250 and 255 Bcfe for an anticipated production sales volume growth of approximately 30% in 2012.
In addition, the Company plans to invest $365 million on midstream infrastructure in 2012 to support its production growth and expects gathering and transmission volumes to increase as a result of this expansion. EQT Midstream plans to add 445 MMcfe per day of incremental gathering capacity and 700 MMcfe per day of transmission capacity in 2012. This includes 300 MMcfe per day of transmission volumes from the Sunrise Pipeline project which is expected to go into service in the third quarter 2012.
The Company currently believes that the 2012 capital spending plan will be funded by cash flow generated from operations, the proceeds from the Partnerships IPO and cash on hand.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
On July 2, 2012, the Partnership, a subsidiary of the Company, completed an underwritten initial public offering of 14,375,000 common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership, which represented 40.6% of the Partnerships outstanding equity. The Company retained a 59.4% equity interest in the Partnership, including 2,964,718 common units, 17,339,718 subordinated units and a 2% general partner interest. Prior to the IPO, the Company contributed to the Partnership 100% of Equitrans. A wholly-owned subsidiary of EQT serves as the general partner of the Partnership, and the Company continues to operate the Equitrans business pursuant to an omnibus agreement and an operation and management services agreement. EQT will continue to consolidate the Partnership results. The Partnership received net cash of approximately $278 million upon closing of the IPO, of which approximately $232 million of the proceeds were distributed to EQT.
EQT will continue to consolidate the Partnership results. Beginning in the third quarter of 2012, EQT will record the noncontrolling interest of the public limited partners in EQTs financial statements.
EQTs Statement of Consolidated Income will continue to report revenues, expenses, gains, losses and net income at the fully consolidated amounts, which will include the amounts attributable to EQT and the noncontrolling interest. Below the consolidated net income line in the Statement of Consolidated Income, however, EQT will present the amount of net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest under the caption Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest. EQT will also separately present the net income attributable to EQT shareholders, which will be the amount by which the consolidated net income exceeds the net income attributable to noncontrolling interest.
EQTs Consolidated Balance Sheet will continue to consolidate assets and liabilities of the Partnership at their full amounts. The impact of the noncontrolling interest will be reported in the equity section of EQTs Consolidated Balance Sheet under the caption Noncontrolling interest and will be deducted from the consolidated equity position.
Cash distributions from the Partnership to the noncontrolling interest will be reflected in the financing section of EQTs Statement of Cash Flows as a use of cash. The noncontrolling interest will not impact the consolidated cash flows provided by operating activities or cash flows from investing activities.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
Overview
The Companys primary source of cash for the first six months of 2012 was proceeds from operating activities. The Company used the cash primarily to fund its capital program and operations.
Operating Activities
Cash flows provided by operating activities decreased $62.7 million from $481.1 million for the first six months of 2011 to $418.4 million for the first half of 2012. Decreased cash flows resulted from decreased natural gas sales prices, increased cash payments for interest and income taxes and a decrease in dividends received from Nora Gathering LLC.
Investing Activities
Net cash flows used in investing activities totaled $658.6 million for the first six months of 2012 compared to $284.4 million for the first six months of 2011. The increase in net cash flows used in investing activities was primarily attributable to the Companys receipt of proceeds from the sale of the Langley natural gas processing complex and the sale of available for sale securities during the first six months of 2011. Capital expenditures totaled $662.3 million for the first six months of 2012 compared to $544.9 million for the first six months of 2011.
Capital expenditures for EQT Production totaled $448.6 million for the first six months of 2012 compared to $544.9 million for the first six months of 2011. The $96.3 million decrease was primarily attributable to the 2012 suspension of drilling activities in the Huron play as well as a decrease in the average completion cost per well. The Company turned in line 26 horizontal Huron wells during the first six months of 2012 compared to 86 horizontal Huron wells during the first six months of 2011. The Company commenced drilling on (drilled) 77 gross horizontal wells during the first six months of 2012; 70 targeting the Marcellus play and 7 targeting the Huron play. The Company drilled 113 gross wells, including 112 gross horizontal wells during the first six months of 2011; 51 targeting the Marcellus play and 61 targeting the Huron play.
Capital expenditures for the EQT Midstream operations totaled $199.6 million and $75.6 million during the first six months of 2012 and 2011, respectively. The $124.0 million increase was primarily attributed to expenditures for construction of the Sunrise Pipeline project as well as increased gathering pipeline and compression projects in the Marcellus region.
Capital expenditures at Distribution decreased from $15.0 million for the first six months of 2011 to $12.9 million for the first six months of 2012, mainly as a result of the construction of the Companys Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania natural gas fueling station in 2011.
Financing Activities
Cash flows used in financing activities totaled $76.1 million for the first six months of 2012 compared to $117.4 million used in financing activities for the first six months of 2011, a decrease of $41.3 million in cash flows used in financing activities between years. In 2012, the Company repaid $9.5 million of long-term debt and spent $2.2 million in origination fees for its revolving credit facility, which was amended in May 2012 to, among other things, extend the maturity date, while in 2011, the Company repaid short-term loans of $53.7 million.
At June 30, 2012, the Companys current portion of long-term debt was $229.9 million. The Company continues to evaluate financing alternatives that could include additional bond issuances or bank debt to meet these maturities.
In May 2012, the Company amended its revolving credit facility by extending the maturity date from December 8, 2014 to December 8, 2016. The Company may request two one-year extensions of the new maturity date subject to satisfaction of certain conditions. The amendment also lowered the interest rate margins applicable to both base rate loans and fixed period eurodollar rate loans and certain fees in respect of letters of credit and the aggregate commitments under the revolving credit facility, in each case determined on the basis of the Companys then current
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
credit rating. Finally, the amendment revised certain provisions of the revolving credit facility related to the Partnerships IPO, including, without limitation, (i) amending the definitions of Consolidated Debt, Debt, Consolidated Subsidiaries, and Subsidiary to exclude the Partnership and its subsidiaries, (ii) amending the Companys financial statement delivery obligations to require such financial statements to include the Partnership and its subsidiaries to the extent such entities are consolidated with the Company under generally accepted accounting principles, and (iii) amending existing covenants and adding a new covenant governing transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries on the one hand and the Partnership and its subsidiaries on the other hand.
Additionally, as discussed in Note M to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, in July 2012 the Partnership received approximately $278 million upon closing of the IPO. Approximately $232 million of the proceeds were distributed to EQT.
Security Ratings
The table below reflects the credit ratings for the outstanding debt instruments of the Company at June 30, 2012. Changes in credit ratings may affect the Companys cost of short-term and long-term debt (including interest rates and fees under its lines of credit), collateral requirements under derivative instruments and its access to the credit markets.
Rating Service |
|
Senior
|
|
Short-Term
|
|
Outlook |
Moodys Investors Service (Moodys) |
|
Baa2 |
|
P-2 |
|
Negative |
Standard & Poors Ratings Services (S&P) |
|
BBB |
|
A-2 |
|
Stable |
Fitch Ratings (Fitch) |
|
BBB |
|
F2 |
|
Negative |
The Companys credit ratings may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. The Company cannot ensure that a rating will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a credit rating agency if, in its judgment, circumstances so warrant. If the credit rating agencies downgrade the Companys ratings, particularly below investment grade, the Companys access to the capital markets may be limited, borrowing costs and margin deposits on derivative contracts would increase, counterparties may request additional assurances and the potential pool of investors and funding sources may decrease. The required margin on derivative instruments is also subject to significant change as a result of factors other than credit rating such as gas prices and credit thresholds set forth in agreements between the hedging counterparties and the Company.
The Companys debt instruments and other financial obligations include provisions that, if not complied with, could require early payment, additional collateral support or similar actions. The most significant default events include maintaining covenants with respect to maximum debt-to-total capitalization ratio, insolvency events, nonpayment of scheduled principal or interest payments, acceleration of other financial obligations and change of control provisions. The Companys current credit facilitys financial covenants require a total debt-to-total capitalization ratio of no greater than 65%. The calculation of this ratio excludes the effects of accumulated other comprehensive income. As of June 30, 2012, the Company was in compliance with all existing debt provisions and covenants.
Commodity Risk Management
The substantial majority of the Companys commodity risk management program is related to hedging sales of the Companys produced natural gas. The Companys overall objective in this hedging program is to protect cash flow from undue exposure to the risk of changing commodity prices. The Companys risk management program may include the use of exchange-traded natural gas futures contracts and options and OTC natural gas swap agreements and options (collectively, derivative commodity instruments) to hedge exposures to fluctuations in natural gas prices. The derivative commodity instruments currently utilized by the Company are primarily fixed price swaps, collars and futures.
As of July 25, 2012, the approximate volumes and prices of the Companys total hedge position for 2012 through 2014 production are:
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
|
|
2012** |
|
2013 |
|
2014 |
|
|||
Swaps |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Total Volume (Bcf) |
|
66 |
|
84 |
|
45 |
|
|||
Average Price per Mcf (NYMEX)* |
|
$ |
4.67 |
|
$ |
4.91 |
|
$ |
4.75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2012** |
|
2013 |
|
2014 |
|
|||
Collars |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Total Volume (Bcf) |
|
11 |
|
25 |
|
24 |
|
|||
Average Floor Price per Mcf (NYMEX)* |
|
$ |
6.51 |
|
$ |
4.95 |
|
$ |
5.05 |
|
Average Cap Price per Mcf (NYMEX)* |
|
$ |
11.83 |
|
$ |
9.09 |
|
$ |
8.85 |
|
* The average price is based on a conversion rate of 1.05 MMBtu/Mcf
**July through December
Commitments and Contingencies
In the ordinary course of business, various legal and regulatory claims and proceedings are pending or threatened against the Company. While the amounts claimed may be substantial, the Company is unable to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of such claims and proceedings. The Company accrues legal or other direct costs related to loss contingencies when actually incurred. The Company has established reserves it believes to be appropriate for pending matters and after consultation with counsel and giving appropriate consideration to available insurance, the Company believes that the ultimate outcome of any matter currently pending against the Company will not materially affect the financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.
Dividend
On July 12, 2012, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 22 cents per share, payable September 1, 2012, to shareholders of record on August 10, 2012.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Companys critical accounting policies are described in the notes to the Companys Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 contained in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any new accounting policies or updates to existing accounting policies as a result of new accounting pronouncements have been included in the notes to the Companys Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements on this Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2012. The application of the Companys critical accounting policies may require management to make judgments and estimates about the amounts reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Management uses historical experience and all available information to make these estimates and judgments. Different amounts could be reported using different assumptions and estimates.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Derivative Commodity Instruments
The Companys primary market risk exposure is the volatility of future prices for natural gas and NGLs, which can affect the operating results of the Company primarily through EQT Production and the storage, marketing and other activities at EQT Midstream. The Companys use of derivatives to reduce the effect of this volatility is described in Note C to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and under the caption Commodity Risk Management in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Form 10-Q. The Company uses derivative commodity instruments that are purchased from or placed with major financial institutions whose creditworthiness is regularly monitored. The Company also enters into derivative instruments to hedge other forecasted natural gas purchases and sales, to hedge natural gas inventory and to hedge exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The Companys use of these financial instruments is implemented under a set of policies approved by the Companys Corporate Risk Committee and Board of Directors.
Commodity Price Risk
For the derivative commodity instruments used to hedge the Companys forecasted production, the Company sets policy limits relative to the expected production and sales levels which are exposed to price risk. For the derivative commodity instruments used to hedge forecasted natural gas purchases and sales which are exposed to price risk and to hedge natural gas inventory which is exposed to changes in fair value, the Company sets limits related to acceptable exposure levels.
The financial instruments currently utilized by the Company are primarily futures contracts, swap agreements and collar agreements which may require payments to or receipt of payments from counterparties based on the differential between a fixed and a variable price for the commodity. The Company also considers other contractual agreements in determining its commodity hedging strategy.
The Company monitors price and production levels on a continuous basis and makes adjustments to quantities hedged as warranted. The Companys overall objective in its hedging program is to protect cash flow from undue exposure to the risk of changing commodity prices.
With respect to the derivative commodity instruments held by the Company for purposes other than trading as of June 30, 2012, the Company hedged portions of expected equity production, portions of forecasted purchases and sales, and portions of natural gas inventory by utilizing futures contracts, swap agreements and collar agreements covering approximately 344 Bcf of natural gas. See the Commodity Risk Management section of Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Form 10-Q for further discussion.
A hypothetical decrease of 10% in the market price of natural gas from the June 30, 2012 levels would increase the fair value of non-trading natural gas derivative instruments by approximately $116 million. A hypothetical increase of 10% in the market price of natural gas from the June 30, 2012 levels would decrease the fair value of non-trading natural gas derivative instruments by approximately $116 million.
The Company determined the change in the fair value of the derivative commodity instruments using a model similar to its normal determination of fair value as described in Note C to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company assumed a 10% change in the price of natural gas from its levels at June 30, 2012. The price change was then applied to the derivative commodity instruments recorded on the Companys Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, resulting in the change in fair value.
The above analysis of the derivative commodity instruments held by the Company for purposes other than trading does not include the offsetting impact that the same hypothetical price movement may have on the Companys physical sales of natural gas. The portfolio of derivative commodity instruments held for risk management purposes approximates the notional quantity of a portion of the expected or committed transaction volume of physical commodities with commodity price risk for the same time periods. Furthermore, the derivative commodity instrument portfolio is managed to complement the physical transaction portfolio, reducing overall risks within limits. Therefore, an adverse impact to the fair value of the portfolio of derivative commodity instruments held for
risk management purposes associated with the hypothetical changes in commodity prices referenced above should be offset by a favorable impact on the underlying hedged physical transactions, assuming the derivative commodity instruments are not closed out in advance of their expected term, the physical derivative commodity instruments continue to function effectively as hedges of the underlying risk and the anticipated transactions occur as expected.
If the underlying physical transactions or positions are liquidated prior to the maturity of the derivative commodity instruments, a loss on the financial instruments may occur or the derivative commodity instruments might be worthless as determined by the prevailing market value on termination or maturity date, whichever comes first.
Interest Rate Risk
Changes in interest rates affect the amount of interest the Company earns on cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and the interest rate it pays on borrowings under the revolving credit facility. All of the Companys long-term borrowings have a fixed interest rate and thus do not expose the Company to fluctuations in its results of operations or liquidity from changes in market interest rates. Changes in interest rates do affect the fair value of the Companys fixed rate debt. See Notes G and H to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the Companys borrowings and Note E to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of fair value measurements, including the fair value of long-term debt. In August 2011, the Company entered into a forward-starting interest rate swap to mitigate the risk of rising interest rates. See Note C to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of this swap.
Other Market Risks
The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to derivative contracts. This credit exposure is limited to derivative contracts with a positive fair value, which may change as market prices change. The Company believes that NYMEX-traded futures contracts have limited credit risk because the Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulations are in place to protect exchange participants, including the Company, from potential financial instability of the exchange members. The Companys swap and collar derivative instruments are primarily with financial institutions and thus are subject to events that would impact those companies individually as well as that industry as a whole.
The Company utilizes various processes and analyses to monitor and evaluate its credit risk exposures. This includes monitoring market conditions, counterparty credit spreads and credit default swap rates. Credit exposure is controlled through credit approvals and limits. To manage the level of credit risk, the Company enters into transactions with financial counterparties that are of investment grade, enters into netting agreements whenever possible and may obtain collateral or other security.
Approximately 81%, or $465.9 million, of OTC derivative contracts outstanding at June 30, 2012 have a positive fair value. As of June 30, 2012, all derivative contracts outstanding were with counterparties having an S&P rating of A- or higher and a Moodys rating of Baa1 or higher.
As of June 30, 2012, the Company is not in default under any derivative contracts and has no knowledge of default by any counterparty to derivative contracts. The Company made no adjustments to the fair value of derivative contracts due to credit related concerns outside of the normal non-performance risk adjustment included in the Companys established fair value procedure. The Company will continue to monitor market conditions that may impact the fair value of derivative contracts reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The Company is also exposed to the risk of nonperformance by credit customers on physical sales of natural gas. A significant amount of revenues and related accounts receivable from EQT Production are generated from the sale of produced natural gas, NGLs and crude oil to certain marketers, utility and industrial customers located mainly in the Appalachian area and a gas processor in Kentucky. Additionally, a significant amount of revenues and related accounts receivable from EQT Midstream are generated from the gathering of natural gas in Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The Company has a $1.5 billion revolving credit facility that matures on December 8, 2016. The credit facility is underwritten by a syndicate of financial institutions each of which is obligated to fund its pro-rata portion of any borrowings by the Company. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had no letters of credit and no loans outstanding under the revolving credit facility.
No one lender of the large group of financial institutions in the syndicate holds more than 10% of the facility. The Companys large syndicate group and relatively low percentage of participation by each lender is expected to limit the Companys exposure to problems or consolidation in the banking industry.
EQT Corporation and Subsidiaries
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Companys Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, an evaluation of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act)), was conducted as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that the Companys disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the second quarter of 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
In the ordinary course of business, various legal and regulatory claims and proceedings are pending or threatened against the Company. While the amounts claimed may be substantial, the Company is unable to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of such claims and proceedings. The Company accrues legal or other direct costs related to loss contingencies when actually incurred. The Company has established reserves it believes to be appropriate for pending matters, and after consultation with counsel and giving appropriate consideration to available insurance, the Company believes that the ultimate outcome of any matter currently pending against the Company will not materially affect the financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Information regarding risk factors is discussed in Item 1A, Risk Factors of the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Companys Form 10-K.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
The following table sets forth the Companys repurchases of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that have occurred in the three months ended June 30, 2012:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Period |
|
Total
|
|
Average
|
|
Total number of
|
|
Maximum number
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
April 2012 (April 1 April 30) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 2012 (May 1 May 31) |
|
1,476.6080 |
|
$ |
50.67 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 2012 (June 1 June 30) |
|
377.5246 |
|
$ |
44.87 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
1,854.1326 |
|
$ |
49.49 |
|
|
|
|
|
(a) Reflects shares withheld by the Company to pay taxes upon vesting of restricted stock and early payout of 2011 Volume & Efficiency Program awards due to involuntary terminations.
10.1 |
1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan (amended and restated July 11, 2012) |
|
|
10.2 |
2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan (amended and restated July 11, 2012) |
|
|
10.3 |
Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2012, by and among the Company, as the Borrower, PNC Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent and such other lender party thereof. |
|
|
31.1 |
Rule 13(a)-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer |
|
|
31.2 |
Rule 13(a)-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer |
|
|
32 |
Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer |
|
|
101 |
Interactive Data File |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
|
EQT CORPORATION |
|
|
(Registrant) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Philip P. Conti |
|
|
Philip P. Conti |
|
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Date: July 26, 2012
Exhibit No. |
Document Description |
|
Incorporated by Reference |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.1 |
1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan (amended and restated July 11, 2012) |
|
Filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 |
|
|
|
|
10.2 |
2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan (amended and restated July 11, 2012) |
|
Filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2 |
|
|
|
|
10.3 |
Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2012, by and among the Company, as the Borrower, PNC Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent and each other lender party thereof. |
|
Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on May 8, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
31.1 |
Rule 13(a)-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer |
|
Filed herewith as Exhibit 31.1 |
|
|
|
|
31.2 |
Rule 13(a)-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer |
|
Filed herewith as Exhibit 31.2 |
|
|
|
|
32 |
Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer |
|
Filed herewith as Exhibit 32 |
|
|
|
|
101 |
Interactive Data File |
|
Filed herewith as Exhibit 101 |
Exhibit 10.1
1999 EQUITABLE RESOURCES, INC.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(As amended and restated through July 11, 2012)
SECTION 1. PURPOSES
1.01 The purpose of the 1999 Equitable Resources, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan) is to assist the Company in attracting, retaining and motivating employees of outstanding ability and to align their interests with those of the shareholders of the Company.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION
2.01 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in the Plan, the following terms as used in the Plan shall have the following meanings when used with initial capital letters:
2.01.1 Award means any Option, Restricted Stock, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award, or any other right or interest relating to Shares or cash granted under the Plan.
2.01.2 Award Agreement means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.
2.01.3 Board means the Companys Board of Directors.
2.01.4 Cause, when used with respect to the termination of employment of a Participant, means:
(a) the willful and continued failure by the Participant to substantially perform his duties with the Company or a Subsidiary (other than any such failure resulting from the Participants disability), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Participant by the Board which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Participant has not substantially performed his duties, and which failure has not been cured within 30 days after such written demand; or
(b) the willful and continued engaging by the Participant in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or a Subsidiary, monetarily or otherwise, or
(c) the breach by the Participant of any obligation of confidentiality owed to the Company or a Subsidiary.
For purposes of this Section 2.01.4, no act, or failure to act, on the Participants part shall be considered willful unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Participant in bad faith and without reasonable belief that such action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been
delivered to him a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the non-management members of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for that purpose (after reasonable notice to the Participant and an opportunity for the Participant, together with his counsel, to be heard before the Board) finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board the Participant is guilty of the conduct set forth above in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 2.01.4 and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
2.01.5 Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together with rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder. References to particular sections of the Code shall include any successor provisions.
2.01.6 Change of Control has the meaning provided in Section 9.03.
2.01.7 Committee means the Compensation Committee or such other Committee of the Board as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan, as referred to in Section 3.01 hereof; provided however, that any member of the Committee participating in the taking of any action under the Plan shall qualify as a non-employee director as then defined under Rule 16b-3 and an outside director as then defined under Section 162(m) of the Code.
2.01.8 Common Stock means shares of the common stock, without par value, and such other securities of the Company or other corporation or entity as may be substituted for Shares pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof.
2.01.9 Covered Employee shall have the meaning provided in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.
2.01.10 Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.01.11 Fair Market Value of shares of any stock, including but not limited to Common Stock, or units of any other securities (herein shares), shall be the mean between the highest and lowest sales prices per share for the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined in the principal market in which such shares are traded, as quoted in The Wall Street Journal (or in such other reliable publication as the Committee, in its discretion, may determine to rely upon). If the Fair Market Value of shares on any date cannot be determined on the basis set forth in the preceding sentence, or if a determination is required as to the Fair Market Value on any date of property other than shares, the Committee shall in good faith determine the Fair Market Value of such shares or other property on such date. Fair Market Value shall be determined without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse.
2.01.12 Incentive Stock Option means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and is designated as such in the Award Agreement relating thereto.
2.01.13 Option means a right, granted under Section 6.02 hereof, to purchase Shares at a specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a nonstatutory stock option, which is an Option not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
2.01.14 Other Stock-Based Award means an Award, granted under Section 6.05 hereof, that is denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares.
2.01.15 Participant means an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, including, but not limited to, Covered Employees, who is granted an Award under the Plan.
2.01.16 Performance Award, Performance Goal and Performance Period shall have the meanings provided in Section 6.04.
2.01.17 Reload Option Rights and Reload Option have the meanings provided in Section 6.02(v).
2.01.18 Restricted Stock means Shares, granted under Section 6.03 hereof, that are subject to certain restrictions.
2.01.19 Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor to such Rule promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
2.01.20 Shares means the common stock of the Company, without par value, and such other securities of the Company as may be substituted for Shares pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof.
2.01.21 Subsidiary means any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the chain owns stock possessing at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.
2.02 Construction. For purposes of the Plan, the following rules of construction shall apply:
2.02.1 The word or is disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive.
2.02.2 Words in the singular include the plural; words in the plural include the singular; words in the neuter gender include the masculine and feminine genders, and words in the masculine or feminine gender include the other and neuter genders.
SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION
3.01 The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have full and final authority to take the following actions, in each case subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan:
(i) to designate Participants;
(ii) to determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;
(iii) to determine the number of Awards to be granted, the number of Shares or amount of cash or other property to which an Award will relate, the terms and conditions of any Award (including, but not limited to, any exercise price, grant price or purchase price, any limitation or restriction, any schedule for lapse of limitations, forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on exercisability or transferability, and accelerations or waivers thereof, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee shall determine), and all other matters to be determined in connection with an Award;
(iv) to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, or an Award may be accelerated, vested, canceled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered;
(v) to interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan;
(vi) to prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant;
(vii) to adopt, amend, suspend, waive and rescind such rules and regulations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(viii) to correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency, and to construe and interpret the Plan, the rules and regulations, any Award Agreement or other instrument entered into or Award made under the Plan;
(ix) to make all other decisions and determinations as may be required under the terms of the Plan or as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan; and
(x) to make such filings and take such actions as may be required from time to time by appropriate state, regulatory and governmental agencies.
Any action of the Committee with respect to the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons, including the Company, Subsidiaries, Participants, any Person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant, employees and shareholders. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The Committee may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or any Subsidiary the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform administrative functions under the Plan and, with respect to Participants who are not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, to take such actions and perform such functions under the Plan as the Committee may specify. Each member of the Committee shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him by an officer, manager or other employee of the
Company or a Subsidiary, the Companys independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.
SECTION 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
4.01 The maximum net number of Shares which may be issued and in respect of which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be limited to (i) 6,000,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8.01, which may be used for all forms of Awards including Incentive Stock Options, and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8.01, which may be used for all forms of Awards excluding Incentive Stock Options. For purposes of determining the number of Shares available under either of the foregoing categories, Shares issued with respect to Awards granted on or after May 17, 2001 shall be deemed to have been issued from category (ii) of the foregoing sentence unless such Award is an Incentive Stock Option or as otherwise determined by the Committee.
For purposes of this Section 4.01, the number of Shares to which an Award relates shall be counted against the number of Shares available under the Plan at the time of grant of the Award, unless such number of Shares cannot be determined at that time, in which case the number of Shares actually distributed pursuant to the Award shall be counted against the number of Shares available under the Plan at the time of distribution; provided, however, that Awards related to or retroactively added to, or granted in tandem with, substituted for or converted into, other Awards shall be counted or not counted against the number of Shares reserved and available under the Plan in accordance with procedures adopted by the Committee so as to ensure appropriate counting but avoid double counting.
If any Shares to which an Award relates are forfeited, or payment is made to the Participant in the form of cash, cash equivalents or other property other than Shares, or the Award otherwise terminates without payment being made to the Participant in the form of Shares, any Shares counted against the number of Shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, alternative payment or termination, again be available for Awards under the Plan. If the exercise price of an Award is paid by delivering to the Company Shares previously owned by the Participant, the Shares covered by the Award equal to the number of Shares so delivered shall again be available for Awards under the Plan. Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award, if granted pursuant to category (i) of the first sentence of this Section, may consist, in whole or part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares, including Shares repurchased by the Company for purposes of the Plan and, if granted pursuant to category (ii) of the first sentence of this Section, shall consist of treasury Shares.
SECTION 5. ELIGIBILITY
5.01 Awards may be granted only to individuals who are full-time employees (including, without limitation, employees who also are directors or officers and Covered Employees) of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that no Award shall be granted to any member of the Committee.
SECTION 6. SPECIFIC TERMS OF AWARDS
6.01 General. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, Awards may be granted as set forth in this Section 6. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to the terms of Section 10.01), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including separate escrow provisions and terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment by the Participant. Except as required by applicable law, Awards may be granted for no consideration other than prior and/or future services.
6.02 Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share of an Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option.
(ii) Option Term. The term of each Option shall be determined by the Committee, except that no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date of grant.
(iii) Times and Methods of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part, the methods by which the exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid, and the form of such payment, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or other property or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price, provided, however, that (1) in the case of a Participant who is at the time of exercise subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any portion of the exercise price representing a fraction of a Share shall in any event be paid in cash or in property other than any equity security (as defined by the Exchange Act) of the Company and (2) except as otherwise determined by the Committee, in its discretion, at the time the Option is granted, no shares which have been held for less than six months may be delivered in payment of the exercise price of an Option.
Delivery of Shares in payment of the exercise price of an Option, if authorized by the Committee, may be accomplished through the effective transfer to the Company of Shares held by a broker or other agent. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company will also cooperate with any person exercising an Option who participates in a cashless exercise program of a broker or other agent under which all or part of the Shares received upon exercise of the Option are sold through the broker or other agent, for the purpose of paying the exercise price of an Option. In such case, the date of exercise shall be deemed to be the date on which an irrevocable notice of exercise is received by the Company, legal ownership of the option shares shall pass to the optionee on such exercise date, and the exercise price shall be delivered to the Company by the settlement date.
Notwithstanding any other provision contained in the Plan or in any Award Agreement, but subject to the possible exercise of the Committees discretion
contemplated in the last sentence of this Section 6.02(iii), the aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the date of grant, of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year under all plans of the corporation employing such employee, any parent or subsidiary corporation of such corporation and any predecessor corporation of any such corporation shall not exceed $100,000. If the date on which one or more of such Incentive Stock Options could first be exercised would be accelerated pursuant to any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, and the acceleration of such exercise date would result in a violation of the restriction set forth in the preceding sentence, then, notwithstanding any such provision, but subject to the provisions of the next succeeding sentence, the exercise dates of such Incentive Stock Options shall be accelerated only to the date or dates, if any, that do not result in a violation of such restriction and, in such event, the exercise dates of the Incentive Stock Options with the lowest option prices shall be accelerated to the earliest such dates. The Committee may, in its discretion, authorize the acceleration of the exercise date of one or more Incentive Stock Options even if such acceleration would violate the $100,000 restriction set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph and even if such Incentive Stock Options are thereby converted in whole or in part to nonstatutory stock options.
(iv) Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and reflected in the Award Agreement:
(A) if a Participant shall die while employed by the Company or a Subsidiary or during a period following termination of employment during which an Option otherwise remains exercisable under this Section 6.02(iv), Options granted to the Participant, to the extent exercisable at the time of the Participants death, may be exercised within one year after the date of the Participants death, but not later than the expiration date of the Option, by the executor or administrator of the Participants estate or by the Person or Persons to whom the Participant shall have transferred such right by will, by the laws of descent and distribution or, if permitted by the Committee, by inter vivos transfer.
(B) if the employment of a Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary shall be involuntarily terminated under circumstances which would qualify the Participant for benefits under the Companys Separation Allowance Plan, or if a Participant shall retire under the terms of any retirement plan of the Company or a Subsidiary or shall terminate his or her employment with the written consent of the Company or a Subsidiary specifically permitting such exercise, Options granted to the Participant, to the extent exercisable at the date of the Participants termination of employment, may be exercised within 90 days after the date of termination of employment, but not later than the expiration date of the Option.
(C) except to the extent an Option remains exercisable under paragraph (A) or (B) above or under Section 9.02, any Option granted to a Participant shall terminate immediately upon the termination of all employment of the Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary.
(v) Reload Option Rights. Reload Option Rights if awarded with respect to an Option, at the time of grant of the Option, shall entitle the holder of the Option, upon exercise of the Option or any portion thereof through delivery of previously owned Shares, to automatically be granted on the date of such exercise a new nonstatutory stock option (a Reload Option) (1) for a number of Shares not exceeding the number of full Shares delivered in payment of the option price of the original Option and any withholding taxes related thereto, (2) having an option price not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share of the Common Stock on such date of grant, (3) having an expiration date not later than the expiration date of the original Option so exercised and (4) otherwise having terms permissible for the grant of an Option under the Plan. Subject to the preceding sentence and the other provisions of the Plan, Reload Option Rights and Reload Options shall have such terms and be subject to such restrictions and conditions, if any, as shall be determined, in its discretion, by the Committee. In granting Reload Option Rights, the Committee, may, in its discretion, provide for successive Reload Option grants upon the exercise of Reload Options granted thereunder. Unless otherwise determined, in its discretion, by the Committee, Reload Option Rights shall entitle the holder of an Option to be granted a Reload Option only if the underlying Option to which they relate is exercised during employment with the Company or a Subsidiary of the original grantee of the underlying Option. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by the context, the term Option as used in this Plan shall include Reload Options granted hereunder.
(vi) Individual Option Limit. The aggregate number of Shares for which Options may be granted under the Plan to any single Participant shall not exceed 1,500,000 Shares. The limitation in the preceding sentence shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code and, to the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code, in accordance with Section 4.01 hereof. To the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code, in applying this limitation a Reload Option shall not be deemed to increase the number of Shares covered by the original underlying Option grant.
(vii) Prohibition on Repricing . Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.01, the exercise price of an Option may not be reduced, directly or indirectly by cancellation and regrant or otherwise, without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company. In addition, the Company may not, without the prior approval of shareholders of the Company, repurchase an Option for value from a Participant if the current Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the Option is lower than the exercise price per share of the Option.
6.03 Restricted Stock. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Issuance and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive dividends thereon), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances, in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant or thereafter. The restriction period
applicable to Restricted Stock shall, in the case of a time-based restriction period, be not less than three years or, in the case of a performance-based restriction period, be not less than one year.
(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant or thereafter, upon termination of employment (as determined under criteria established by the Committee) during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, that restrictions on Restricted Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions on Restricted Stock.
(iii) Certificates for Shares. Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, issuance of certificates representing Shares, which may be held in escrow. Certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.
6.04 Performance Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Right to Payment. A Performance Award shall represent a right to receive Shares, cash, other property or any combination thereof based on the achievement, or the level of achievement, during a specified Performance Period of one or more Performance Goals established by the Committee at the time of the Award.
(ii) Terms of Performance Awards. At the time a Performance Award is granted, the Committee shall cause to be set forth in the Award Agreement or otherwise in writing (1) the Performance Goals applicable to the Award and the Performance Period during which the achievement of the Performance Goals shall be measured, (2) the amount which may be earned by the Participant based on the achievement, or the level of achievement, of the Performance Goals or the formula by which such amount shall be determined and (3) such other terms and conditions applicable to the Award as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine to include therein. The terms so established by the Committee shall be objective such that a third party having knowledge of the relevant facts could determine whether or not any Performance Goal has been achieved, or the extent of such achievement, and the amount, if any, which has been earned by the Participant based on such performance. The Committee may retain the discretion to reduce (but not to increase) the amount of a Performance Award which will be earned based on the achievement of Performance Goals.
(iii) Performance Goals. Performance Goals shall mean one or more preestablished, objective measures of performance during a specified Performance Period, selected by the Committee in its discretion. Performance Goals may be based upon one or more of the following objective performance measures and expressed in either, or a combination of, absolute or relative values: earnings per share, earnings per
share growth, net income, revenue growth, revenues, expenses, return on equity, return on total capital, return on assets, earnings (including EBITDA and EBIT), cash flow, share price, economic value added, gross margin, operating income, or total shareholder return. Performance Goals based on such performance measures may be based either on the performance of the Company, a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries, any branch, department, business unit or other portion thereof under such measure for the Performance Period and/or upon a comparison of such performance with the performance of a peer group of corporations, prior Company performance or other measure selected or defined by the Committee at the time of making a Performance Award. The Committee may in its discretion also determine to use other objective performance measures as Performance Goals.
(iv) Committee Certification. Following completion of the applicable Performance Period, and prior to any payment of a Performance Award to the Participant, the Committee shall determine in accordance with the terms of the Performance Award and shall certify in writing whether the applicable Performance Goal or Goals were achieved, or the level of such achievement, and the amount, if any, earned by the Participant based upon such performance. For this purpose, approved minutes of the meeting of the Committee at which certification is made shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirement of a written certification. Performance Awards are not intended to provide for the deferral of compensation, such that payment for earned Performance Awards shall be paid within two and one-half months following the end of the calendar year in which the Performance Period ends or upon vesting, as may be required to avoid characterization of such Awards as deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code.
(v) Maximum Individual Performance Award Payments. In any one calendar year, the maximum amount which may be earned by any single Participant under (a) Performance Awards granted under the Plan and payable in cash or property (other than Shares) shall be limited to $3,000,000 and (b) Performance Awards granted under the Plan and payable in Shares shall be limited to 70,000 shares. In the case of multi-year Performance Periods, the amount which is earned in any one calendar year is the amount paid for the Performance Period divided by the number of calendar years in the period. In applying this limit, the amount of any cash or the Fair Market Value of any Shares or other property earned by a Participant shall be measured as of the close of the applicable calendar year which ends the Performance Period, regardless of the fact that certification by the Committee and actual payment to the Participant may occur in a subsequent calendar year or years.
6.05 Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants, in lieu of salary or cash bonus, such other Awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including, without limitation, purchase rights, Shares awarded which are not subject to any restrictions or conditions, convertible securities, exchangeable securities or other rights convertible or exchangeable into Shares, as the Committee in its discretion may determine. In the discretion of the Committee, such Other Stock-Based Awards, including Shares, or other
types of Awards authorized under the Plan, may be used in connection with, or to satisfy obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary under, other compensation or incentive plans, programs or arrangements of the Company or any Subsidiary for eligible Participants, including without limitation the Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan and executive contracts.
The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of Other Stock-Based Awards. Shares or securities delivered pursuant to a purchase right granted under this Section 6.05 shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for by such methods and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or other property or any combination thereof, as the Committee shall determine, but the value of such consideration shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of such Shares or other securities on the date of grant of such purchase right. Delivery of Shares or other securities in payment of a purchase right, if authorized by the Committee, may be accomplished through the effective transfer to the Company of Shares or other securities held by a broker or other agent. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company will also cooperate with any person exercising a purchase right who participates in a cashless exercise program of a broker or other agent under which all or part of the Shares or securities received upon exercise of a purchase right are sold through the broker or other agent, or under which the broker or other agent makes a loan to such person, for the purpose of paying the exercise price of a purchase right. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, unless the Committee, in its discretion, shall otherwise determine, the exercise of the purchase right shall not be deemed to occur, and no Shares or other securities will be issued by the Company upon exercise of a purchase right, until the Company has received payment in full of the exercise price. Shares, securities, cash or other payments made with respect to particular Other Stock-Based Awards that may constitute deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code may only be payable upon a permissible payment event under Section 409A of the Code and the terms and conditions of such awards shall be in compliance with such, and all related, requirements. .
SECTION 7. GENERAL TERMS OF AWARDS
7.01 Stand-Alone, Tandem and Substitute Awards. Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under the Management Incentive Compensation Plan, or any other plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary (subject to the terms of Section 10.01) or any business entity acquired or to be acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary, except that an Incentive Stock Option may not be granted in tandem with other Awards or awards. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.
7.02 Certain Restrictions Under Rule 16b-3. Upon the effectiveness of any amendment to Rule 16b-3, this Plan and any Award Agreement for an outstanding Award held by a Participant then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be deemed to be amended, without further action on the part of the Committee, the Board or the Participant, to the extent necessary for Awards under the Plan or such Award Agreement to qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3, as so amended, except to the extent any such amendment requires shareholder approval.
7.03 Decisions Required to be Made by the Committee. Other provisions of the Plan and any Award Agreement notwithstanding, if any decision regarding an Award or the exercise of any right by a Participant, at any time such Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, is required to be made or approved by the Committee in order that a transaction by such Participant will be exempt under Rule 16b-3, then the Committee shall retain full and exclusive power and authority to make such decision or to approve or disapprove any such decision by the Participant.
7.04 Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in no event shall the term of any Incentive Stock Option exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant.
7.05 Form of Payment of Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments or substitutions to be made by the Company upon the grant, exercise or other payment or distribution of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant or thereafter (subject to the terms of Section 10.01), including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or other property or any combination thereof, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established, or as otherwise determined, by the Committee.
7.06 Limits on Transfer of Awards; Beneficiaries. No right or interest of a Participant in any Award shall be pledged, encumbered or hypothecated to or in favor of any Person other than the Company, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation or liability of such Participant to any Person other than the Company or a Subsidiary. Except to the extent otherwise determined by the Committee, no Award and no rights or interests therein shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and any Option or other right to purchase or acquire Shares granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during the Participants lifetime only by such Participant. A beneficiary, guardian, legal representative or other Person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to such Participant as well as any additional restrictions or limitations deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
7.07 Registration and Listing Compliance. No Award shall be paid and no Shares or other securities shall be distributed with respect to any Award in a transaction subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities law or subject to a listing requirement under any listing agreement between the Company and any national securities exchange, and no Award shall confer upon any Participant rights to such payment or distribution until such laws and contractual obligations of the Company have been complied with in all material respects. Except to the extent required by the terms of an Award Agreement or another contract between the Company and the Participant, neither the grant of any Award nor anything else contained herein shall obligate the Company to take any action to comply with any requirements of any such securities laws or contractual obligations relating to the registration (or exemption therefrom) or listing of any Shares or other securities, whether or not necessary in order to permit any such payment or distribution.
7.08 Stock Certificates. All certificates for Shares delivered under the terms of the Plan shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem
advisable under federal or state securities laws, rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which Shares are listed or quoted. The Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions or any other restrictions or limitations that may be applicable to Shares. In addition, during any period in which Awards or Shares are subject to restrictions or limitations under the terms of the Plan or any Award Agreement, the Committee may require any Participant to enter into an agreement providing that certificates representing Shares issuable or issued pursuant to an Award shall remain in the physical custody of the Company or such other Person as the Committee may designate.
SECTION 8. ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS
8.01 If a dividend or other distribution shall be declared upon the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock then subject to any outstanding Options, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards, the number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan but are not then subject to outstanding Options, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards and the maximum number of shares as to which Options or Performance Awards may be granted and as to which shares may be awarded under Sections 6.02(vi) and 6.04(v), shall be adjusted by adding thereto the number of shares of Common Stock which would have been distributable thereon if such shares had been outstanding on the date fixed for determining the shareholders entitled to receive such stock dividend or distribution. Shares of Common Stock so distributed with respect to any Restricted Stock held in escrow shall also be held by the Company in escrow and shall be subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to the Restricted Stock on which they were distributed.
If the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchangeable for a different number or kind of shares of stock or other securities of the Company or another corporation, or cash or other property, whether through reorganization, reclassification, recapitalization, stock split-up, combination of shares, merger or consolidation, then there shall be substituted for each share of Common Stock subject to any then outstanding Option, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award, and for each share of Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan but which is not then subject to any outstanding Option, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award, the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities (and in the case of outstanding Options, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards, the cash or other property) into which each outstanding share of the Common Stock shall be so changed or for which each such share shall be exchangeable. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion, any such stock or securities, as well as any cash or other property, into or for which any Restricted Stock held in escrow shall be changed or exchangeable in any such transaction shall also be held by the Company in escrow and shall be subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to the Restricted Stock in respect of which such stock, securities, cash or other property was issued or distributed.
In case of any adjustment or substitution as provided for in this Section 8.01, the aggregate option price for all Shares subject to each then outstanding Option, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award, prior to such adjustment or substitution shall be the aggregate option price for all shares of stock or other securities (including any fraction), cash or other property to which such Shares shall have been adjusted or which shall have been substituted for such Shares. Any new option price per share or other unit shall be carried to at
least three decimal places with the last decimal place rounded upwards to the nearest whole number.
If the outstanding shares of the Common Stock shall be changed in value by reason of any spin-off, split-off or split-up, or dividend in partial liquidation, dividend in property other than cash, or extraordinary distribution to shareholders of the Common Stock, (a) the Committee shall make any adjustments to any then outstanding Option, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award, which it determines are equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of optionees and awardees which would otherwise result from any such transaction, and (b) unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion, any stock, securities, cash or other property distributed with respect to any Restricted Stock held in escrow or for which any Restricted Stock held in escrow shall be exchanged in any such transaction shall also be held by the Company in escrow and shall be subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to the Restricted Stock in respect of which such stock, securities, cash or other property was distributed or exchanged.
No adjustment or substitution provided for in this Section 8.01 shall require the Company to issue or sell a fraction of a Share or other security. Accordingly, all fractional Shares or other securities which result from any such adjustment or substitution shall be eliminated and not carried forward to any subsequent adjustment or substitution. Owners of Restricted Stock held in escrow shall be treated in the same manner as owners of Common Stock not held in escrow with respect to fractional Shares created by an adjustment or substitution of Shares, except that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion, any cash or other property paid in lieu of a fractional Share shall be subject to restrictions similar to those applicable to the Restricted Stock exchanged therefor.
If any such adjustment or substitution provided for in this Section 7 requires the approval of shareholders in order to enable the Company to grant Incentive Stock Options, then no such adjustment or substitution shall be made without the required shareholder approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, if the effect of any such adjustment or substitution would be to cause the Option to fail to continue to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option or to cause a modification, extension or renewal of such Option within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code, the Committee may elect that such adjustment or substitution not be made but rather shall use reasonable efforts to effect such other adjustment of each then outstanding Option as the Committee, in its discretion, shall deem equitable and which will not result in any disqualification, modification, extension or renewal (within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code) of such Incentive Stock Option. All adjustments shall be made in a manner compliant with Section 409A of the Code.
SECTION 9. CHANGE OF CONTROL PROVISIONS
9.01 Acceleration of Exercisability and Lapse of Restrictions. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant of an Award or unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, if the shareholders of the Company shall approve a transaction which upon consummation would constitute a Change of Control of the Company, or if any Change of Control of the Company not subject to shareholder approval shall occur:
(i) all outstanding Awards pursuant to which the Participant may have rights, the exercise of which is restricted or limited, shall become fully exercisable;
(ii) all restrictions or limitations (including risks of forfeiture) on outstanding Awards subject to restrictions or limitations under the Plan shall lapse; and
(iii) all performance criteria and other conditions to payment of Awards under which payments of cash, Shares or other property are subject to conditions shall be deemed to be achieved or fulfilled and shall be waived by the Company; provided further , that such Awards identified in this subsection (iii) shall remain payable on the date(s) provided in the underlying Award Agreements.
9.02 Termination of Employment Following Change of Control. If within three years following the date of any Change of Control the employment of a Participant shall be terminated voluntarily or involuntarily for any reason other than for Cause, then unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, and in addition to any other rights of post-termination exercise which the Participant (or other holder of the Award) may have under the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement, any Option or other Award granted to the Participant and outstanding on the date of the Change of Control, the payment or receipt of which is dependent upon exercise by the Participant (or other holder of the Award) shall be exercisable for a period of 90 days following the date of such termination of employment but not later than the expiration date of the Award.
9.03 Definition of Change of Control. For purposes of this Section 9, a Change of Control of the Company shall mean any of the following events:
(a) The sale or other disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of its assets to a single purchaser or to a group of purchasers, other than to a corporation with respect to which, following such sale or disposition, more than eighty percent (80%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of Common Stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of the Board is then owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the outstanding Common Stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the outstanding Common Stock and voting power immediately prior to such sale or disposition;
(b) The acquisition in one or more transactions by any person or group, directly or indirectly, of beneficial ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of the Board; provided, however, the following shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (ii) an acquisition by any person or group of persons of not more than forty percent (40%) of the outstanding shares of Company common stock or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company if such acquisition resulted from the
issuance of capital stock by the Company and the issuance and the acquiring person or group was approved in advance of such issuance by at least two-thirds of the Continuing Directors then in office;
(c) The Companys termination of its business and liquidation of its assets;
(d) There is consummated a merger, consolidation, reorganization, share exchange, or similar transaction involving the Company (including a triangular merger), in any case, unless immediately following such transaction: (i) all or substantially all of the persons who were the beneficial owners of the outstanding Common Stock and outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to the transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than sixty percent (60%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the corporation resulting from such transaction (including a corporation or other person which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Companys assets through one or more subsidiaries (a Parent Company)) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Common Stock and other voting securities of the Company immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction, (ii) no person (other than (A) the Company, any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or, if reference was made to equity ownership of any Parent Company for purposes of determining whether clause (i) above is satisfied in connection with the transaction, such Parent Company, or (B) any person or group that satisfied the requirements of subsection (b)(ii), above) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the combined voting power of the voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the corporation resulting from such transaction and (iii) individuals who were members of the Board immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors resulting from such transaction (or, if reference was made to equity ownership of any Parent Company for purposes of determining whether clause (i) above is satisfied in connection with the transaction, such Parent Company); or
(e) The following individuals (sometimes referred to herein as Continuing Directors) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the entire Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Companys shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the effective date of the Plan or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved.
SECTION 10. AMENDMENTS TO AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
10.01 The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan without the consent of shareholders or Participants, except that, without the approval of the shareholders of the Company, no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be
made if shareholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or by the rules of any stock exchange on which the Shares may then be listed, or if the amendment, alteration or other change materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants, increases the number of Shares available under the Plan or modifies the requirements for participation under the Plan, or if the Board in its discretion determines that obtaining such shareholder approval is for any reason advisable; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 7.02, without the consent of the Participant, no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination of the Plan may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted to him. The Committee may, consistent with the terms of the Plan, waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retrospectively; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 7.02, without the consent of a Participant, no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination of any Award may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted to him; and provided further that, except as provided in Section 8.01 of the Plan, the exercise price of any outstanding Option may not be reduced, whether through amendment, cancellation or replacement, unless such reduction is approved by the shareholders of the Company.
SECTION 11. GENERAL PROVISIONS
11.01 No Right to Awards; No Shareholder Rights. No Participant or employee shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants and employees, except as provided in any other compensation arrangement. No Award shall confer on any Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until Shares are in fact issued to such Participant in connection with such Award.
11.02 Withholding. To the extent required by applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law, the Participant or his successor shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company, in its discretion, for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with an Award. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares or make any cash or other payment under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.
The Company is authorized to withhold from any Award granted or any payment due under the Plan, including from a distribution of Shares, amounts of withholding taxes due with respect to an Award, its exercise or any payment thereunder, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of such taxes. This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Shares, Awards or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of such tax obligations.
11.03 No Right to Employment. Nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall confer, and no grant of an Award shall be construed as conferring, upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company or to interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate his employment at any time or increase or decrease his compensation from the rate in existence at the time of granting of an Award, except as provided in any Award Agreement or other compensation arrangement.
11.04 Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts. The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or make other arrangements to meet the Companys obligations under the Plan to deliver cash, Shares or other property pursuant to any Award, which trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines.
11.05 No Limit on Other Compensatory Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements (which may include, without limitation, employment agreements with executives and arrangements which relate to Awards under the Plan), and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the terms of each Award shall be construed so as to be consistent with such other arrangements in effect at the time of the Award.
11.06 No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
11.07 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (without regard to the conflicts of laws thereof), and applicable Federal law.
11.08 Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or Award, it shall be deleted and the remainder of the Plan or Award shall remain in full force and effect; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the provision shall not be construed or deemed amended or deleted with respect to any Participant whose rights and obligations under the Plan are not subject to the law of such jurisdiction or the law deemed applicable by the Committee.
SECTION 12. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN
12.01 The effective date and date of adoption of the Plan was February 25, 2004, the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board, and the Plan was approved by a majority of the votes cast at a duly held meeting of shareholders held on April 14, 2004, at which a quorum representing a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the Company was, either in person or by proxy, present and voting. As amended, the effective date and date of adoption of the Plan is July 11, 2012. Absent additional shareholder approval, (1) no Performance Award may be granted under the Plan subsequent to the Companys 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and
Exhibit 10.2
EQT CORPORATION
2009 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(As amended and restated through July 11, 2012)
SECTION 1. PURPOSES
1.01 The purpose of the 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan) of EQT Corporation (the Company) is to assist the Company in attracting, retaining and motivating employees and non-employee directors of outstanding ability and to align their interests with those of the shareholders of the Company.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION
2.01 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in the Plan, the following terms as used in the Plan shall have the following meanings when used with initial capital letters:
2.01.1 Affiliate means (i) any Subsidiary or Parent, or (ii) an entity that directly or through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company, as determined by the Committee.
2.01.2 Award means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award, Restricted Performance Share or Other Stock-Based Award, or any other right or interest relating to Shares or cash granted under the Plan.
2.01.3 Award Agreement means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.
2.01.4 Board means the Companys Board of Directors.
2.01.5 Cause, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, when used with respect to the termination of employment or service of a Participant includes:
(a) the conviction of a felony, a crime of moral turpitude or fraud or having committed fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement in connection with the performance of his duties;
(b) willful and repeated failures to substantially perform his assigned duties; or
(c) a violation of any express significant policies of the Company.
For purposes of this Section 2.01.5, no act, or failure to act, on the Participants part shall be considered willful unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Participant in bad faith and without reasonable belief that such action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant who served as an Executive Officer at anytime during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding termination shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Committee at a duly-held meeting of the Committee finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board the Participant is guilty of the conduct set forth above in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 2.01.5.
2.01.6 Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together with rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder. References to particular sections of the Code shall include any successor provisions.
2.01.7 Change of Control has the meaning provided in Section 9.03.
2.01.8 Committee means (a) with respect to Participants who are employees, the Compensation Committee or such other committee of the Board as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan, as referred to in Section 3.01 hereof, provided however, that any member of the Committee participating in the taking of any action under the Plan shall qualify as (1) an outside director as then defined under Section 162(m) of the Code or any successor provision, (2) a non-employee director as then defined under Rule 16b-3 or any successor rule and (3) an independent director under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, or (b) with respect to Participants who are non-employee directors, the Board.
2.01.9 Common Stock means shares of the common stock, without par value, and such other securities of the Company or other corporation or entity as may be substituted for Shares pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof.
2.01.10 Covered Employee shall have the meaning provided in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.
2.01.11 Disability of a Participant has the meaning set forth in Section 409A of the Code and, as of the effective date of the Plan, means that the Participant (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participants employer. If the determination of Disability relates to an Incentive Stock Option, Disability means Permanent and Total Disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
2.01.12 Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.01.13 Fair Market Value of shares of any stock, including but not limited to Common Stock, or units of any other securities (herein shares), shall be the closing price per share for the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined in the principal market in which such shares are traded, as quoted in the printed or the electronic version of The Wall Street Journal (or in such other reliable printed or electronic publication as the Committee, in its discretion, may determine to rely upon). If the Fair Market Value of shares on any date cannot be determined on the basis set forth in the preceding sentence, or if a determination is required as to the Fair Market Value on any date of property other than shares, the Committee shall determine the Fair Market Value of such shares or other property on such date by such method as the Committee determines in good faith to be reasonable and in compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Fair Market Value shall be determined without regard to any restriction other than a restriction that, by its terms, will never lapse.
2.01.14 Incentive Stock Option means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and is designated as such in the Award Agreement relating thereto. If all of the requirements of Section 422 of the Code are not met, the Option shall automatically become a nonstatutory Option.
2.01.15 Option means a right, granted under Section 6.02 hereof, to purchase Shares at a specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a nonstatutory stock option, which is an Option not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
2.01.16 Other Stock-Based Award means an Award, granted under Section 6.07 hereof, that is denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares.
2.01.17 Parent means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity that owns or beneficially owns a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power of the Company. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, Parent shall have the meaning set forth in Section 424(e) of the Code.
2.01.18 Participant means an employee or a non-employee director of the Company or any Affiliate, including, but not limited to, a Covered Employee, who is granted an Award under the Plan.
2.01.19 Performance Award, Performance Goal and Performance Period shall have the meanings provided in Section 6.06.
2.01.20 Qualified Business Criteria shall have the meaning provided in Section 6.06(iii).
2.01.21 Restricted Performance Shares shall have the meaning provided in Section 6.06.
2.01.22 Restricted Stock means Shares, granted under Section 6.04 hereof, that are subject to certain restrictions.
2.01.23 Restricted Stock Unit shall have the meaning provided in Section 6.05.
2.01.24 Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor to such Rule promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
2.01.25 Shares means shares of Common Stock.
2.01.26 Stock Appreciation Right means an award granted under Section 6.03 hereof.
2.01.27 Subsidiary means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company, if each of the entities other than the last entity in the chain owns stock or other ownership interests possessing at least 50% of the total combined voting power in one of the other entities in the chain. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, Subsidiary shall have the meaning set forth in Section 424(f) of the Code.
2.02 Construction. For purposes of the Plan, the following rules of construction shall apply:
2.02.1 The word or is disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive.
2.02.2 Words in the singular include the plural; words in the plural include the singular; words in the neuter gender include the masculine and feminine genders, and words in the masculine or feminine gender include the other and neuter genders.
SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION
3.01 The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. References hereinafter to the Committee shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board (or other appointed committee) with respect to employee Participants and the Board with respect to non-employee director Participants.
The Committee shall have full and final authority to take the following actions, in each case subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan:
(i) to designate Participants;
(ii) to determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;
(iii) to determine the number of Awards to be granted, the number of Shares or amount of cash or other property to which an Award will relate, the terms and conditions of any Award (including, but not limited to, any exercise price, grant price or purchase price, any limitation or restriction, any schedule for lapse of limitations, forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on exercisability or transferability, and accelerations or waivers thereof, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee shall determine), and all other matters to be determined in connection with an Award;
(iv) to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, or an Award may be accelerated, vested, canceled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered;
(v) to interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan;
(vi) to prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant;
(vii) to adopt, amend, suspend, waive and rescind such rules and regulations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(viii) to correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency, and to construe and interpret the Plan, the rules and regulations, any Award Agreement or other instrument entered into or Award made under the Plan;
(ix) to make all other decisions and determinations as may be required under the terms of the Plan or as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan;
(x) to make such filings and take such actions as may be required from time to time by appropriate state, regulatory and governmental agencies; and
(xi) adopt such modifications, procedures, and subplans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of non-U.S. jurisdictions in which the Company or any Affiliate may operate, in order to assure the viability of the benefits of Awards granted to participants located in such other jurisdictions and to meet the objectives of the Plan.
Any action of the Committee with respect to the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, Affiliates, Participants, any person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant, employees, directors and shareholders. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The Committee may delegate, including, in the case of the Board, delegation to the Corporate Governance Committee, within limits and subject to the terms it may establish from time to time, the authority to perform administrative functions under the Plan and, with respect to Participants who are not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act and who are not Covered Employees, to grant Awards and take such actions and perform such functions under the Plan as the Committee may specify. Each member of the Committee shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him by an officer, manager or other employee of the Company or an Affiliate, the Companys independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company and/or the Committee to assist in the administration of the Plan.
SECTION 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
4.01 The maximum net number of Shares that may be issued and in respect of which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be 9,500,000 Shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8.01, which may be used for all forms of Awards. Each Share issued under the Plan pursuant to an Award other than (i) an Option or other purchase right for which the Participant pays the Fair Market Value for such Share measured as of the grant date, or (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right having a Base Price equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the grant date, shall reduce the number of available Shares by 1.9.
For purposes of this Section 4.01, the number of Shares to which an Award relates shall be counted against the number of Shares available under the Plan at the time of grant of the Award, unless such number of Shares cannot be determined at that time, in which case the number of Shares actually distributed pursuant to the Award shall be counted against the number of Shares available under the Plan at the time of distribution; provided, however, that Awards related to or retroactively added to, or granted in tandem with, substituted for or converted into, other Awards shall be counted or not counted against the number of Shares reserved and available under the Plan in accordance with procedures adopted by the Committee so as to ensure appropriate counting but avoid double counting.
If any Shares to which an Award relates are forfeited, or payment is made to the Participant in the form of cash, cash equivalents or other property other than Shares, or the Award otherwise terminates without payment being made to the Participant in the form of Shares, any Shares counted against the number of Shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, alternative payment or termination, again be available for Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following Shares shall not become available for purposes of the Plan: (1) Shares previously owned or acquired by the Participant that are delivered to the Company, or withheld from an Award, to pay the exercise price, or (2) Shares that are delivered or withheld for purposes of satisfying a tax withholding obligation. Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares, including Shares repurchased by the Company for purposes of the Plan.
SECTION 5. ELIGIBILITY
5.01 Awards may be granted only to individuals who are active employees (including, without limitation, employees who also are directors or officers and Covered Employees) or non-employee directors of the Company or any Affiliate; provided, however, Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to eligible Participants who are employees of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary as defined in Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code. Eligible Participants who are service providers to an Affiliate may be granted Options or Stock Appreciation Rights under this Plan only if the Affiliate qualifies as an eligible issuer of service recipient stock within the meaning of §1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E) of the final regulations under Code Section 409A.
SECTION 6. SPECIFIC TERMS OF AWARDS
6.01 General. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, Awards may be granted as set forth in this Section 6. In addition, the Committee may impose on
any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to the terms of Section 10.01), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including separate escrow provisions and terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment by the Participant. Except as required by applicable law, Awards may be granted for no consideration other than prior and/or future services.
6.02 Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share of an Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option.
(ii) Option Term. The term of each Option shall be determined by the Committee, except that no Option (other than nonstatory Options granted to Participants outside the United States) shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date of grant. The Option shall be evidenced by a form of written Award Agreement, and subject to the terms thereof.
(iii) Times and Methods of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part, the methods by which the exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid, and the form of such payment, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or other property or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price, provided, however, that (1) in the case of a Participant who is at the time of exercise subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any portion of the exercise price representing a fraction of a Share shall in any event be paid in cash or in property other than any equity security (as defined by the Exchange Act) of the Company and (2) Shares delivered or withheld may be subject to terms and conditions imposed by the Committee.
Shares may be withheld from the exercise or delivered in payment of the exercise price of an Option, if authorized by the Committee, which in the case of delivery may be accomplished through the effective transfer to the Company of Shares held by a broker or other agent. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company will also cooperate with any person exercising an Option who participates in a cashless exercise program of a broker or other agent under which all or part of the Shares received upon exercise of the Option are sold through the broker or other agent, for the purpose of paying the exercise price of an Option. In such case, the date of exercise shall be deemed to be the date on which an irrevocable notice of exercise is received by the Company, legal ownership of the option shares shall pass to the optionee on such exercise date, and the exercise price shall be delivered to the Company by the settlement date.
Notwithstanding any other provision contained in the Plan or in any Award Agreement, but subject to the possible exercise of the Committees discretion contemplated in the last sentence of this Section 6.02(iii), the aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the date of grant, of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year under all plans of the corporation employing such employee, any parent or subsidiary
corporation of such corporation and any predecessor corporation of any such corporation shall not exceed $100,000. If the date on which one or more of such Incentive Stock Options could first be exercised would be accelerated pursuant to any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, and the acceleration of such exercise date would result in a violation of the restriction set forth in the preceding sentence, then, notwithstanding any such provision, but subject to the provisions of the next succeeding sentence, the exercise dates of such Incentive Stock Options shall be accelerated only to the date or dates, if any, that do not result in a violation of such restriction and, in such event, the exercise dates of the Incentive Stock Options with the lowest exercise prices shall be accelerated to the earliest such dates. The Committee may, in its discretion, authorize the acceleration of the exercise date of one or more Incentive Stock Options even if such acceleration would violate the $100,000 restriction set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph and even if such Incentive Stock Options are thereby converted in whole or in part to nonstatutory stock options.
(iv) Termination of Employment. In the case of Participants who are employees, unless otherwise determined by the Committee and reflected in the Award Agreement:
(A) If a Participant shall die while employed by the Company or an Affiliate or during a period following termination of employment during which an Option otherwise remains exercisable under this Section 6.02(iv) or terminate employment due to Disability, Options granted to the Participant, to the extent exercisable at the time of the Participants death or termination of employment due to Disability, may be exercised within one year after the date of the Participants death or termination due to Disability, but not later than the expiration date of the Option, by the Participant, or executor or administrator of the Participants estate or by the person or persons to whom the Participant shall have transferred such right by will, by the laws of descent and distribution or, if permitted by the Committee, by inter vivos transfer.
(B) If the employment of a Participant with the Company or an Affiliate shall be involuntarily terminated under circumstances that would qualify the Participant for benefits under any Company severance plan or arrangement, Options granted to the Participant, to the extent exercisable at the date of the Participants termination of employment, may be exercised within 90 days after the date of termination of employment, but not later than the expiration date of the Option.
(C) Subject to Section 9.02, if the Participant voluntarily terminates employment with the Company or an Affiliate for any reason, including retirement, Options granted to the Participant, whether exercisable or not, shall terminate immediately upon the termination of employment of the Participant.
(D) Except to the extent an Option remains exercisable under paragraph (A) or (B) above or under Section 9.02, any Option granted to a Participant shall terminate immediately upon the termination of employment of the Participant with the Company and/or an Affiliate.
(v) Termination of Service . In the case of Participants who are non-employee directors, unless otherwise determined by the Committee and reflected in the Award Agreement:
(A) If a Participant shall die while in service as a director of the Company or an Affiliate or during a period following termination of service during which an Option otherwise remains exercisable under this Section 6.02(v), Options granted to the Participant, to the extent exercisable at the time of the Participants death, may be exercised within three years after the date of the Participants death, but not later than the expiration date of the Option, by the executor or administrator of the Participants estate or by the person or persons to whom the Participant shall have transferred such right by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, if permitted by the Committee, by inter vivos transfer.
(B) If the service of a Participant as a director of the Company or an Affiliate shall be terminated for reasons other than removal for cause by the Board or a Court pursuant to applicable law, Options granted to the Participant, to the extent exercisable at the date of the Participants termination of service, may be exercised within three years after the date of termination of service, but not later than the expiration date of the Option.
(C) Except to the extent an Option remains exercisable under paragraph (A) or (B) above or under Section 9.02, any Option granted to a Participant shall terminate immediately upon the termination of service of the Participant as a director of the Company and/or an Affiliate.
(vi) Individual Limit on Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. The aggregate number of Shares for which Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted under the Plan to any single Participant in any calendar year shall not exceed 1,000,000 Shares. The limitation in the preceding sentence shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code and, to the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code, in accordance with Section 4.01 hereof.
(vii) Prohibition on Repricing . Except as otherwise provided in Section 8, the exercise price of an Option may not be reduced, directly or indirectly by cancellation and regrant or otherwise, without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company. In addition, the Company may not, without the prior approval of shareholders of the Company, repurchase an Option for value from a Participant if the current Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the Option is lower than the exercise price per share of the Option.
(viii) Section 409A Limits . Notwithstanding anything in this Plan or any Award Agreement, no Option shall provide for dividend equivalents or have any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the exercise or disposition of the Option.
(xi) Reload Rights. No Option shall be granted with reload rights.
6.03 Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights, on a stand-alone basis or in tandem with Options on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Price of Stand-Alone Stock Appreciation Rights. The base price for stand-alone Stock Appreciation Rights (the Base Price) shall be such price as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock covered by the stand-alone Stock Appreciation Right on the date of grant.
(ii) Payment of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights shall entitle the Participant upon exercise to receive the amount by which the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise exceeds the Option Price of any tandem Option or the Base Price of a stand-alone Stock Appreciation Right, multiplied by the number of shares in respect of which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised. In the sole discretion of the Committee, the Company may pay all or any part of its obligation arising out of a Stock Appreciation Right exercise in cash, shares of Common Stock or any combination thereof. Payment shall be made by the Company upon the date of exercise.
(iii) Term and Exercise of Stand-Alone Stock Appreciation Rights . The term of any stand-alone Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be for such period as the Committee shall determine, but for not more than ten years from the date of grant thereof. Each stand-alone Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to earlier termination under the rules applicable to Options as provided in Section 6.02(iv) and (v) hereof. Each stand-alone Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be exercisable on such date or dates during the term thereof and for such number of shares of Common Stock as may be provided in the Award Agreement.
(iv) Term and Exercise of Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights. If Stock Appreciation Rights are granted in tandem with an Option (A) the Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and to such extent, but only to such extent and by the same person, that the related Option shall be exercisable, (B) the exercise of the related Option shall cause a share for share reduction in the number of Stock Appreciation Rights that were granted in tandem with the Option; and (C) the payment of Stock Appreciation Rights shall cause a share for share reduction in the number of shares covered by such Option. Stock appreciation rights granted in conjunction with an Incentive Stock Option shall not be exercisable unless the then Fair Market Value of the Common Stock exceeds the exercise price of the Shares subject to the Incentive Stock Option. Each tandem Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be subject to earlier termination under the rules applicable to Options as provided in Section 6.02(iv) and (v) hereof.
(v) Prohibition on Repricing . Except as otherwise provided in Section 8, the base price of a Stock Appreciation Right may not be reduced, directly or indirectly by cancellation and regrant or otherwise, without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company. In addition, the Company may not, without the prior approval of
shareholders of the Company, repurchase a Stock Appreciation Right for value from a Participant if the current Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the Stock Appreciation Right is lower than the base price per share of the Stock Appreciation Right.
(vi) Section 409A Limits . Notwithstanding anything in this Plan or any Award Agreement, no Stock Appreciation Right shall provide for dividend equivalents or have any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the exercise or disposition of the Stock Appreciation Right.
6.04 Restricted Stock. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Issuance and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive dividends thereon), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances, in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant or thereafter. The restriction period applicable to Restricted Stock (other than Restricted Stock granted to non-employee directors) shall, in the case of a time-based restriction period, be not less than three years, with no more frequent than annual ratable vesting over such period or, in the case of a performance-based restriction period, be not less than one year; provided, however, that up to 250,000 shares may be granted as Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, in either case with no minimum vesting period.
(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant or thereafter, upon termination of employment or service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company for no consideration; provided, however, that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, that restrictions on Restricted Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes.
(iii) Certificates for Shares. Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, issuance of certificates representing Shares, which may be held in escrow or recordation in book entry form. Certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.
6.05 Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may, subject to the provisions of the Plan and such other terms and conditions as it may prescribe, grant Restricted Stock Units to Participants.
(i) Issuance and Restrictions. The restricted period applicable to Restricted Stock Units (other than Restricted Stock Units granted to non-employee directors) shall,
in the case of a time-based restriction, be not less than three years, with no more frequent than annual ratable vesting over such period or, in the case of a performance-based restriction, be not less than one year; provided, however, that up to 250,000 shares may be granted as Restricted Stock Units or Restricted Stock, in either case with no minimum vesting period. The Committee may also provide the right to receive dividend equivalents on Restricted Stock Units, on a current, reinvested and/or restricted basis.
(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant or thereafter, upon termination of employment or service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock Units that at that time are subject to restrictions shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, that restrictions on Restricted Stock Units shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes.
(iii) Payment. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in an Award Agreement, during the two and one-half months following the end of the calendar year in which vesting occurs, the Company shall pay to the Participant in cash an amount equal to the number of Restricted Share Units vested multiplied by the Fair Market Value of a Share of the Common Stock on such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Committee shall have the authority, in its discretion, to determine that the obligation of the Company shall be paid in shares of Common Stock or part in cash and part in shares of Common Stock.
6.06 Performance Awards and Restricted Performance Shares. The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards and Restricted Performance Shares to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) General. A Performance Award shall represent a right to receive Shares, cash, other property or any combination thereof based on the achievement, or the level of achievement, during a specified Performance Period of one or more Performance Goals established by the Committee at the time of the Award. Restricted Performance Shares are an award of Shares with restrictions based upon achievement of Performance Goals during a specified Performance Period. Performance Periods for Performance Awards or Restricted Performance Shares shall be no less than one year in duration.
(ii) Terms. At or prior to the time a Performance Award or Restricted Performance Share is granted, the Committee shall cause to be set forth in the Award Agreement or otherwise in writing (1) the Performance Goals applicable to the Award and the Performance Period during which the achievement of the Performance Goals shall be measured, (2) the number of Shares or amount that may vest or be earned by the Participant based on the achievement, or the level of achievement, of the Performance Goals or the formula by which such number of Shares or amount shall be determined and (3) such other terms and conditions applicable to the Award as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine to include therein. The terms for such Award so established by the Committee shall be objective such that a third party having knowledge of the relevant facts could determine whether or not any Performance Goal has been achieved, or the extent of such achievement, and the amount, if any, that has been earned by the Participant based on such performance. The Committee may retain the discretion to reduce (but not to increase) the amount
of a Performance Award or a number of Restricted Performance Shares that will be earned based on the achievement of Performance Goals. When the Performance Goals are established, the Committee shall also specify the manner in which the level of achievement of such Performance Goals shall be calculated and the weighting assigned to such Performance Goals. The Committee may determine and specify within the first 90 days of the Performance Period that unusual items or certain specified events or occurrences, including changes in accounting standards or tax laws and the effects of non-operational items or extraordinary items as defined by generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards as specified by the Committee, shall be excluded from the calculation to the extent permitted in Section 162(m).
(iii) Performance Goals. Performance Goals shall mean one or more preestablished, objective measures of performance during a specified Performance Period, selected by the Committee in its discretion. Such Performance Goals may be based upon one or more of the following objective performance measures (Qualified Business Criteria): earnings per share, earnings per share growth, revenue growth, revenues, expenses, return on equity, return on total capital, return on assets, earnings (such as net income, EBIT and similar measures), earnings growth, cash flow (such as EBITDA, EBITDAX, after-tax cash flow and similar measures), share price, economic value added, gross margin, operating income, volumes metrics (such as volumes sold, volumes produced, volumes transported and similar measures), drilling and well metrics (such as number of gross or net wells drilled, number of horizontal wells drilled, cost per well and similar measures), operating efficiency metrics (such as lease operating expense and other unit operating expense measures, general & administrative expense (G&A) per mcf, G&A per customer and other G&A metrics, unit gathering and compression expenses and other midstream efficiency measures, lost and unaccounted for gas metrics, compressor or processing downtime, days from completed well to flowing gas and similar measures), customer services measures (such as wait time, on-time service, calls answered and similar measures) or total shareholder return. Performance Goals based on such Qualified Business Criteria may be based either on the performance of the Company, one or more Subsidiaries or other Affiliates, any branch, department, business unit or other portion thereof under such measure for the Performance Period and/or upon a comparison of such performance with the performance of a peer group of corporations, prior Company performance or other measure selected or defined by the Committee at the time of grant. Performance Goals with respect to Qualified Business Criteria may be specified in absolute terms, in percentages, or in terms of growth from period to period or growth rates over time, as well as measured relative to the performance of a group of comparator companies, or a published or special index, or a stock market index, that the Committee deems appropriate. Performance Goals need not be based upon an increase or positive result under a business criterion and could include, for example, the maintenance of the status quo or the limitation of economic losses (measured, in each case, by reference to a specific business criterion).
(iv) Committee Certification. Following completion of the applicable Performance Period, and prior to any payment of or release of Shares pursuant to a Performance Award to the Participant, or release of restrictions applicable to Restricted Performance Shares, the Committee shall determine in accordance with the terms of the Award and shall certify in writing whether the applicable Performance Goal or Goals were achieved, or the level of such achievement, and the amount, if any, earned by the
Participant based upon such performance. For this purpose, approved minutes of the meeting of the Committee at which certification is made shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirement of a written certification. Performance Awards are not intended to provide for the deferral of compensation, such that payment for earned Performance Awards shall be paid within two and one-half months following the end of the calendar year in which the Performance Period ends or upon vesting, as may be required to avoid characterization of such Awards as deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code.
(v) Maximum Individual Performance Award Payments. In any one calendar year, the maximum amount that may be earned by any single Participant for Performance Awards shall be the sum of (a) $10,000,000 for Performance Awards granted under the Plan and payable in cash or property (other than Shares) and (b) 500,000 Shares for Performance Awards granted under the Plan and payable in Shares. In any one calendar year, the maximum number of Restricted Performance Shares that may be earned by any single Participant is 800,000 Shares. For purposes of applying these limits in the case of multi-year Performance Periods, the amount or number of Shares deemed earned in any one calendar year is the total amount paid or Shares earned for the Performance Period divided by the number of calendar years in the Performance Period. In applying this limit, the amount of any cash or the Fair Market Value or number of any Shares or other property earned by a Participant shall be measured as of the close of the final year of the Performance Period regardless of the fact that certification by the Committee and actual payment or release of restrictions to the Participant may occur in a subsequent calendar year or years.
(vi) Certificates for Shares . Restricted Performance Shares granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, issuance of certificates representing Shares, which may be held in escrow, or recordation in book-entry form. Certificates representing Restricted Performance Shares shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Performance Shares.
6.07 Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including, without limitation, purchase rights, Shares awarded that are not subject to any restrictions or conditions, convertible securities, exchangeable securities or other rights convertible or exchangeable into Shares, as the Committee in its discretion may determine. In the discretion of the Committee, such Other Stock-Based Awards, including Shares, or other types of Awards authorized under the Plan, may be used in connection with, or to satisfy obligations of the Company or an Affiliate under, other compensation or incentive plans, programs or arrangements of the Company or any Affiliate for eligible Participants.
The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of Other Stock-Based Awards. Shares or securities delivered pursuant to a purchase right granted under this Section 6.07 shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for by such methods and in such forms, including,
without limitation, cash, Shares delivered or withheld, or other property or any combination thereof, as the Committee shall determine, but the value of such consideration shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of such Shares or other securities on the date of grant of such purchase right. Delivery of Shares or other securities in payment of a purchase right, if authorized by the Committee, may be accomplished through the effective transfer to the Company of Shares or other securities held by a broker or other agent. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company will also cooperate with any person exercising a purchase right who participates in a cashless exercise program of a broker or other agent under which all or part of the Shares or securities received upon exercise of a purchase right are sold through the broker or other agent, or under which the broker or other agent makes a loan to such person, for the purpose of paying the exercise price of a purchase right. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, unless the Committee, in its discretion, shall otherwise determine, the exercise of the purchase right shall not be deemed to occur, and no Shares or other securities will be issued by the Company upon exercise of a purchase right, until the Company has received payment in full of the exercise price. Shares, securities, cash or other payments made with respect to particular Other Stock-Based Awards that may constitute deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code may only be payable upon a permissible payment event under Section 409A of the Code and the terms and conditions of such awards shall be in compliance with such, and all related, requirements.
6.08 Dividend Equivalents. The Committee is authorized to grant dividend equivalents with respect to any Awards granted hereunder (other than Options or SARs), subject to such terms and conditions as may be selected by the Committee; provided that, subject to Section 12.04 hereof, no dividends shall be paid or distributed in advance of the vesting of the underlying Award. Dividend equivalents shall entitle the Participant to receive payments equal to dividends with respect to all or a portion of the number of Shares subject to the Award, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may provide that dividend equivalents will be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares, or otherwise reinvested. To the extent that dividend equivalents are deemed to be reinvested in additional Shares with respect to an Award, such additional Shares shall, as the time of such deemed reinvestment, be included in the number of Shares as to which the host Award relates for purposes of the shares limits of Section 4.01 of the Plan.
SECTION 7. GENERAL TERMS OF AWARDS
7.01 Stand-Alone, Tandem and Substitute Awards. Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any Affiliate (subject to the terms of Section 10.01) or any business entity acquired or to be acquired by the Company or an Affiliate, except that an Incentive Stock Option may not be granted in tandem with other Awards or awards, and Awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code may not be granted in tandem with other Awards or awards. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards
7.02 Certain Restrictions Under Rule 16b-3. Upon the effectiveness of any amendment to Rule 16b-3, this Plan and any Award Agreement for an outstanding Award held
by a Participant then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be deemed to be amended, without further action on the part of the Committee, the Board or the Participant, to the extent necessary for Awards under the Plan or such Award Agreement to qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3, as so amended, except to the extent any such amendment requires shareholder approval.
7.03 Decisions Required to be Made by the Committee. Other provisions of the Plan and any Award Agreement notwithstanding, if any decision regarding an Award or the exercise of any right by a Participant, at any time such Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, is required to be made or approved by the Committee in order that a transaction by such Participant will be exempt under Rule 16b-3, then the Committee shall retain full and exclusive power and authority to make such decision or to approve or disapprove any such decision by the Participant.
7.04 Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in no event shall the term of any Option (other than a nonstatutory Option granted to a Participant outside the United States) exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant.
7.05 Form of Payment of Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments or substitutions to be made by the Company upon the grant, exercise or other payment or distribution of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant or thereafter (subject to the terms of Section 10.01), including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or other property or any combination thereof, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established, or as otherwise determined, by the Committee.
7.06 Limits on Transfer of Awards; Beneficiaries. No right or interest of a Participant in any Award shall be pledged, encumbered or hypothecated to or in favor of any person other than the Company, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation or liability of such Participant to any person other than the Company or an Affiliate. Except to the extent otherwise determined by the Committee with respect to Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, no Award and no rights or interests therein shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and any Option or other right to purchase or acquire Shares granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during the Participants lifetime only by such Participant. A beneficiary, guardian, legal representative or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to such Participant as well as any additional restrictions or limitations deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
7.07 Registration and Listing Compliance. No Award shall be paid and no Shares or other securities shall be distributed with respect to any Award in a transaction subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities law or subject to a listing requirement under any listing agreement between the Company and any national securities exchange, and no Award shall confer upon any Participant rights to such payment or distribution until such laws and contractual obligations of the Company have been complied with in all material respects. Except to the extent required by the terms of an Award
Agreement or another contract between the Company and the Participant, neither the grant of any Award nor anything else contained herein shall obligate the Company to take any action to comply with any requirements of any such securities laws or contractual obligations relating to the registration (or exemption therefrom) or listing of any Shares or other securities, whether or not necessary in order to permit any such payment or distribution.
7.08 Evidence of Ownership; Trading Restrictions. Shares delivered under the terms of the Plan may be recorded in book entry or electronic form or issued in the form of certificates. Shares delivered under the terms of the Plan shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under federal or state securities laws, rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which Shares are listed or quoted. The Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates or issue instructions to the transfer agent to make appropriate reference to such restrictions or any other restrictions or limitations that may be applicable to Shares. In addition, during any period in which Awards or Shares are subject to restrictions or limitations under the terms of the Plan or any Award Agreement, the Committee may require any Participant to enter into an agreement providing that certificates representing Shares issuable or issued pursuant to an Award shall remain in the physical custody of the Company or such other person as the Committee may designate.
SECTION 8. ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS
8.01 If a dividend or other distribution shall be declared upon the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock then subject to any outstanding Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards, the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan but are not then subject to outstanding Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards and the maximum number of Shares as to which Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Performance Shares or Performance Awards may be granted and as to which shares may be awarded under Sections 6.02(vi) and 6.06(v), shall be adjusted by adding thereto the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been distributable thereon if such shares had been outstanding on the date fixed for determining the shareholders entitled to receive such stock dividend or distribution. Shares of Common Stock so distributed with respect to any Restricted Stock or Restricted Performance Shares, held in escrow shall also be held by the Company in escrow and shall be subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to the Restricted Stock or Restricted Performance Shares on which they were distributed.
If the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchangeable for a different number or kind of shares of stock or other securities of the Company or another corporation, or cash or other property, whether through reorganization, reclassification, recapitalization, stock split-up, combination of shares, merger or consolidation, then there shall be substituted for each share of Common Stock subject to any then outstanding Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award, and for each share of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan but that is not then subject to any outstanding Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award, the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities (and in the case of outstanding Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units,
Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards, the cash or other property) into which each outstanding share of the Common Stock shall be so changed or for which each such share shall be exchangeable. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion, any such stock or securities, as well as any cash or other property, into or for which any Restricted Stock or Restricted Performance Shares held in escrow shall be changed or exchangeable in any such transaction shall also be held by the Company in escrow and shall be subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to the Restricted Stock or Restricted Performance Shares in respect of which such stock, securities, cash or other property was issued or distributed.
In case of any adjustment or substitution as provided for in this Section 8.01, the aggregate exercise price for all Shares subject to each then outstanding Option, Stock Appreciation Right, or other purchase right, prior to such adjustment or substitution shall be the aggregate exercise price for all shares of stock or other securities (including any fraction), cash or other property to which such Shares shall have been adjusted or which shall have been substituted for such Shares. Any new exercise price per share or other unit shall be carried to at least three decimal places with the last decimal place rounded upwards to the nearest whole number.
If the outstanding shares of the Common Stock shall be changed in value by reason of any spin-off, split-off or split-up, or dividend in partial liquidation, dividend in property other than cash, or extraordinary distribution to shareholders of the Common Stock, (a) the Committee shall make any adjustments to any then outstanding Option, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award, that it determines are equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of optionees and awardees that would otherwise result from any such transaction, and (b) unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion, any stock, securities, cash or other property distributed with respect to any Restricted Stock or Restricted Performance Shares held in escrow or for which any Restricted Stock or Restricted Performance Shares held in escrow shall be exchanged in any such transaction shall also be held by the Company in escrow and shall be subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to the Restricted Stock or Restricted Performance Shares in respect of which such stock, securities, cash or other property was distributed or exchanged.
No adjustment or substitution provided for in this Section 8.01 shall require the Company to issue or sell a fraction of a Share or other security. Accordingly, all fractional Shares or other securities that result from any such adjustment or substitution shall be eliminated and not carried forward to any subsequent adjustment or substitution. Owners of Restricted Stock or Restricted Performance Shares held in escrow shall be treated in the same manner as owners of Common Stock not held in escrow with respect to fractional Shares created by an adjustment or substitution of Shares, except that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion, any cash or other property paid in lieu of a fractional Share shall be subject to restrictions similar to those applicable to the Restricted Stock or Restricted Performance Shares exchanged therefor.
If any such adjustment or substitution provided for in this Section 8 requires the approval of shareholders in order to enable the Company to grant Incentive Stock Options, then no such adjustment or substitution shall be made without the required shareholder approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, if the effect of any such adjustment or substitution would be to cause the Option to fail to continue to qualify as an
Incentive Stock Option or to cause a modification, extension or renewal of such Option within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code, the Committee may elect that such adjustment or substitution not be made but rather shall use reasonable efforts to effect such other adjustment of each then outstanding Option as the Committee, in its discretion, shall deem equitable and that will not result in any disqualification, modification, extension or renewal (within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code) of such Incentive Stock Option. All adjustments shall be made in a manner compliant with Section 409A of the Code. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee shall not make any adjustments to outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that would constitute a modification or substitution of the stock right under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(5)(v) that would be treated as the grant of a new stock right or change in the form of payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.
SECTION 9. CHANGE OF CONTROL PROVISIONS
9.01 Acceleration of Exercisability and Lapse of Restrictions. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant of an Award or unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, if any Change of Control of the Company shall occur:
(i) all outstanding Awards pursuant to which the Participant may have exercise rights, the exercise of which is restricted or limited, shall become fully exercisable;
(ii) all restrictions or limitations, including risks of forfeiture but excluding performance-based restrictions, on outstanding Awards subject to restrictions or limitations under the Plan shall lapse; and
(iii) all performance criteria and other conditions to payment of Awards under which payments of cash, Shares or other property are subject to performance conditions shall be deemed to be achieved or fulfilled, measured at the actual performance level achieved as of the end of the calendar quarter immediately preceding the date of the Change of Control, and payment of such Awards on that basis shall be made or otherwise settled at the time of the Change of Control; provided, however , that, if such Awards constitute deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, the Awards shall vest on the basis described above but shall remain payable on the date(s) provided in the underlying Award Agreements.
9.02 Termination of Employment Following Change of Control. If within three years following the date of any Change of Control the employment or service of a Participant shall be terminated voluntarily or involuntarily for any reason other than for Cause, then unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, and in addition to any other rights of post-termination exercise that the Participant (or other holder of the Award) may have under the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement, any Option, Stock Appreciation Right or other Award granted to the Participant and outstanding on the date of the Change of Control, the payment or receipt of which is dependent upon exercise by the Participant (or other holder of the Award) shall be exercisable for a period of 90 days following the date of such termination of employment or service but not later than the expiration date of the Award.
9.03 Definition of Change of Control. For purposes of this Section 9, a Change of Control of the Company shall mean any of the following events :
(a) The sale or other disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of its assets to a single purchaser or to a group of purchasers, other than to a corporation with respect to which, following such sale or disposition, more than eighty percent (80%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of Common Stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of the Board is then owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the outstanding Common Stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the outstanding Common Stock and voting power immediately prior to such sale or disposition;
(b) The acquisition in one or more transactions by any person or group, directly or indirectly, of beneficial ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of the Board; provided, however, the following shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (ii) an acquisition by any person or group of persons of not more than forty percent (40%) of the outstanding shares of Company common stock or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company if such acquisition resulted from the issuance of capital stock by the Company and the issuance and the acquiring person or group was approved in advance of such issuance by at least two-thirds of the Continuing Directors then in office;
(c) The Companys termination of its business and liquidation of its assets;
(d) There is consummated a merger, consolidation, reorganization, share exchange, or similar transaction involving the Company (including a triangular merger), in any case, unless immediately following such transaction: (i) all or substantially all of the persons who were the beneficial owners of the outstanding Common Stock and outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to the transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than sixty percent (60%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the corporation resulting from such transaction (including a corporation or other person which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Companys assets through one or more subsidiaries (a Parent Company)) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Common Stock and other voting securities of the Company immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction, (ii) no person (other than (A) the Company, any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or, if reference was made to equity ownership of any Parent Company for purposes of determining whether clause (i) above is satisfied in connection with the transaction, such Parent Company, or (B) any person or group that satisfied the requirements of subsection (b)(ii), above) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the combined voting power of the voting securities entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors of the corporation resulting from such transaction and (iii) individuals who were members of the Board immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors resulting from such transaction (or, if reference was made to equity ownership of any Parent Company for purposes of determining whether clause (i) above is satisfied in connection with the transaction, such Parent Company); or
(e) The following individuals (sometimes referred to herein as Continuing Directors) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the entire Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Companys shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the effective date of the Plan or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved.
SECTION 10. AMENDMENTS TO AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
10.01 The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan without the consent of shareholders or Participants, except that, without the approval of the shareholders of the Company, no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made if shareholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or by the rules of any stock exchange on which the Shares may then be listed, or if the amendment, alteration or other change materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants, increases the number of Shares available under the Plan or modifies the requirements for participation under the Plan, or if the Board in its discretion determines that obtaining such shareholder approval is for any reason advisable; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 7.02, without the consent of the Participant, no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination of the Plan may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted to him. The Committee may, consistent with the terms of the Plan, waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retrospectively; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 7.02, without the consent of a Participant, no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination of any Award may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted to him.
SECTION 11. GENERAL PROVISIONS
11.01 No Right to Awards; No Shareholder Rights. No Participant, employee or director shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants, employees and directors, except as provided in any other compensation, fee or other arrangement with the Participant, employee or director. No Award shall confer on any Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until Shares are in fact issued to such Participant in connection with such Award.
11.02 Withholding. To the extent required by applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law, the Participant or his successor shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company, in its discretion, for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with an Award. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares or make any cash or other payment under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.
The Company is authorized to withhold from any Award granted or any payment due under the Plan, including from a distribution of Shares, amounts of withholding taxes due with respect to an Award, its exercise or any payment thereunder, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of such taxes. This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Shares, Awards or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of such tax obligations.
11.03 No Right to Employment or Continuation of Service. Nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall confer, and no grant of an Award shall be construed as conferring, upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or to interfere in any way with the right of the Company or shareholders to terminate a Participants employment or service at any time or increase or decrease his compensation, fees or other payments from the rate in existence at the time of granting of an Award, except as provided in any Award Agreement or other compensation, fee or other arrangement with the Participant.
11.04 Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts. The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or make other arrangements to meet the Companys obligations under the Plan to deliver cash, Shares or other property pursuant to any Award, which trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines.
11.05 No Limit on Other Compensatory Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements (which may include, without limitation, employment agreements with executives and arrangements that relate to Awards under the Plan), and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the terms of each Award shall be construed so as to be consistent with such other arrangements in effect at the time of the Award.
11.06 No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
11.07 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (without regard to the conflicts of laws thereof), and applicable Federal law.
11.08 Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or Award, it shall be deleted and the remainder of the Plan or Award shall remain in full force and effect; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the provision shall not be construed or deemed amended or deleted with respect to any Participant whose rights and obligations under the Plan are not subject to the law of such jurisdiction or the law deemed applicable by the Committee.
SECTION 12 . SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO SECTION 409A OF THE CODE.
12.01 It is intended that the payments and benefits provided under the Plan and any Award shall either be exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in a manner that effects such intent. Nevertheless, the tax treatment of the benefits provided under the Plan or any Award is not warranted or guaranteed. Neither the Company, its Affiliates nor their respective directors, officers, employees or advisers shall be held liable for any taxes, interest, penalties or other monetary amounts owed by any Participant or other taxpayer as a result of the Plan or any Award.
12.02 Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in any Award Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount or benefit that would constitute non-exempt deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Code would otherwise be payable or distributable, or a different form of payment (e.g., lump sum or installment) would be effected, under the Plan or any Award Agreement by reason of the occurrence of a Change of Control, or the Participants Disability or separation from service, such amount or benefit will not be payable or distributable to the Participant, and/or such different form of payment will not be effected, by reason of such circumstance unless the circumstances giving rise to such Change of Control, Disability or separation from service meet any description or definition of change in control event, disability or separation from service, as the case may be, in Section 409A of the Code and applicable regulations (without giving effect to any elective provisions that may be available under such definition). This provision does not prohibit the vesting of any Award upon a change of control, disability or separation from service, however defined. If this provision prevents the payment or distribution of any amount or benefit, such payment or distribution shall be made on the next earliest payment or distribution date or event specified in the Award Agreement that is permissible under Section 409A. If this provision prevents the application of a different form of payment of any amount or benefit, such payment shall be made in the same form as would have applied absent such designated event or circumstance.
12.03 Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in any Award Agreement to the contrary, if any amount or benefit that would constitute non-exempt deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Code would otherwise be payable or distributable under this Plan or any Award Agreement by reason of a Participants separation from service during a period in which
the Participant is a Specified Employee (as defined below), then, subject to any permissible acceleration of payment by the Committee under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii) (domestic relations order), (j)(4)(iii) (conflicts of interest), or (j)(4)(vi) (payment of employment taxes): (i) the amount of such non-exempt deferred compensation that would otherwise be payable during the six-month period immediately following the Participants separation from service will be accumulated through and paid or provided on the first day of the seventh month following the Participants separation from service (or, if the Participant dies during such period, within 30 days after the Participants death) (in either case, the Required Delay Period); and (ii) the normal payment or distribution schedule for any remaining payments or distributions will resume at the end of the Required Delay Period.
For purposes of this Plan, the term Specified Employee has the meaning given such term in Code Section 409A and the final regulations thereunder, provided, however , that, as permitted in such final regulations, the Companys Specified Employees and its application of the six-month delay rule of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) shall be determined in accordance with rules adopted by the Board or any committee of the Board, which shall be applied consistently with respect to all nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements of the Company, including this Plan.
12.04 Timing of Distribution of Dividend Equivalents . Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, any dividend equivalents granted with respect to an Award hereunder will be paid or distributed no later than the 15 th day of the 3 rd month following the later of (i) the calendar year in which the corresponding dividends were paid to shareholders, or (ii) the first calendar year in which the Participants right to such dividends equivalents is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.
SECTION 13. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN
13.01 The effective date and date of adoption of the Plan was February 18, 2009 , the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board, and the Plan was approved by a majority of the votes cast at the Companys Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 22, 2009, at which a quorum representing a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the Company was, either in person or by proxy, present and voting. As amended, the effective date and date of adoption of the Plan is July 11, 2012. Absent additional shareholder approval, (1) no Performance Award or Restricted Performance Shares may be granted under the Plan subsequent to the Companys Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2014, (2) no Incentive Stock Option may be granted under the Plan subsequent to February 18, 2019 and (3) no other Award may be granted under the Plan subsequent to the Companys Annual Meeting in 2019.
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, David L. Porges, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of EQT Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer 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 registrants 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 registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditor and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions);
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants 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 registrants internal control over financial reporting.
Date: July 26, 2012
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/s/ David L. Porges |
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David L. Porges |
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Philip P. Conti, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of EQT Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer 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 registrants 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 registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditor and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants 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 registrants internal control over financial reporting.
Date: July 26, 2012
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/s/ Philip P. Conti |
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Philip P. Conti |
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Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 32
CERTIFICATION
In connection with the Quarterly Report of EQT Corporation (EQT) on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), the undersigned certify pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of EQT.
/s/ David L. Porges |
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July 26, 2012 |
David L. Porges |
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
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/s/ Philip P. Conti |
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July 26, 2012 |
Philip P. Conti |
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Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to EQT Corporation and will be retained by EQT Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.