☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Delaware |
85-3514078 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share |
SOC |
The New York Stock Exchange | ||
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share |
SOC.WS |
The New York Stock Exchange |
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer |
☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | |||
Emerging growth company | ☒ |
Successor |
Predecessor |
|||||||
March 31, 2024 |
December 31, 2023 |
|||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 209,100 | $ | — | ||||
Prepaid expenses |
3,404 | — | ||||||
Materials and supplies |
16,637 | 16,213 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current assets |
229,141 |
16,213 |
||||||
Oil and gas properties (Successful efforts method) |
||||||||
Oil and gas properties |
1,060,840 | 4,382,289 | ||||||
Less: Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization |
— | (3,693,325 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total oil and gas properties - net |
1,060,840 |
688,964 |
||||||
Other, net |
5,825 | 6,404 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total assets |
$ |
1,295,806 |
$ |
711,581 |
||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity/Parent Net Investment |
||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
$ | 77,985 | $ | 5,384 | ||||
Due to related party, net |
— | 11,370 | ||||||
Excise tax payable |
2,308 | — | ||||||
Other current liabilities |
1,462 | 1,148 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
81,755 |
17,902 |
||||||
Warrant liabilities |
68,295 | — | ||||||
Asset retirement obligations |
91,450 | 349,138 | ||||||
Senior Secured Term Loan including paid-in-kind |
771,202 | — | ||||||
Deferred tax liabilities |
14,632 | — | ||||||
Other |
3,894 | 5,520 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities |
1,031,228 |
372,560 |
||||||
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 8) |
||||||||
Stockholders’ Equity/Parent Net Investment |
||||||||
Parent net investment |
— | 339,021 | ||||||
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding |
— | — | ||||||
Common Stock , $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 60,166,269 at March 31, 2024 |
6 | — | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
525,695 | — | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(261,123 | ) | — | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Stockholders’ Equity/Parent Net Investment |
264,578 |
339,021 |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity/Parent Net Investment |
$ |
1,295,806 |
$ |
711,581 |
||||
|
|
|
|
Successor |
Predecessor |
|||||||||||
February 14, 2024— March 31, 2024 |
January 1, 2024— February 13, 2024 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 |
||||||||||
Revenue |
||||||||||||
Oil and gas sales |
$ |
— |
$ |
— |
$ |
— |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total revenue |
— |
— |
— |
|||||||||
Operating Expenses |
||||||||||||
Operations and maintenance expenses |
7,318 |
7,320 |
14,796 |
|||||||||
Depletion, depreciation, amortization and accretion |
1,377 |
2,627 |
5,255 |
|||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
150,448 |
1,714 |
3,137 |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total operating expenses |
159,143 |
11,661 |
23,188 |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Loss from operations |
(159,143 |
) |
(11,661 |
) |
(23,188 |
) | ||||||
Other (income) expenses: |
||||||||||||
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities |
(1,763 |
) |
— |
— |
||||||||
Other (income) expense |
(499 |
) |
128 |
5 |
||||||||
Interest expense |
9,801 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total other expense, net |
7,539 |
128 |
5 |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Loss before income taxes |
(166,682 |
) |
(11,789 |
) |
(23,193 |
) | ||||||
Income tax expense |
13,423 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net loss |
$ |
(180,105 |
) |
$ |
(11,789 |
) |
$ |
(23,193 |
) | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per Common Stock |
||||||||||||
Weighted average Common Stock outstanding, basic and diluted |
60,166,269 |
n/a |
n/a |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per Common Stock |
$ |
(2.99 |
) |
n/a |
n/a |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock |
Additional Paid-In Capital |
Accumulated Deficit |
Total Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) |
|||||||||||||||||
Shares |
Amount |
|||||||||||||||||||
Successor: |
||||||||||||||||||||
For the period from February 14, 2024 to March 31, 2024 |
||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE—February 14, 2024 (prior to Business Combination) |
7,187,500 |
$ |
1 |
$ |
— |
$ |
(81,018 |
) |
$ |
(81,017 |
) | |||||||||
Redeemable shares reclassified to Common Stock |
5,953,859 | 1 | 61,948 | — | 61,949 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net effect of Business Combination |
13,141,359 |
2 |
61,948 |
(81,018 |
) |
(19,068 |
) | |||||||||||||
Private offering proceeds, net |
44,024,910 | 4 | 417,367 | — | 417,371 | |||||||||||||||
Issuance of merger consideration shares |
3,000,000 | — | 36,300 | — | 36,300 | |||||||||||||||
Shared based compensation |
— | — | 10,080 | — | 10,080 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
— | — | — | (180,105 | ) | (180,105 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
BALANCE—March 31, 2024 |
60,166,269 |
$ |
6 |
$ |
525,695 |
$ |
(261,123 |
) |
$ |
264,578 |
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent Net Investment |
||||
Predecessor: |
||||
For the period January 1, 2024 to February 13, 2024 |
|
|
| |
BALANCE—January 1, 2024 |
$ |
339,021 |
||
Contributions from parent |
22,474 |
|||
Net loss |
(11,789 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
BALANCE—February 13, 2024 |
$ |
349,706 |
||
BALANCE—December 31, 2022 |
$ |
362,596 |
||
Contributions from parent |
19,747 | |||
Net loss |
(23,193 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
BALANCE—March 31, 2023 |
$ |
359,150 |
||
|
|
Successor |
Predecessor |
|||||||||||
February 14, 2024— March 31, 2024 |
January 1, 2024— February 13, 2024 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 |
||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ |
(180,105 |
) |
$ |
(11,789 |
) |
$ |
(23,193 |
) | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion |
1,377 |
2,627 |
5,255 |
|||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
46,380 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
Amortization of deferred financing costs |
170 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
Paid-in-kind |
9,631 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
Change in deferred tax liabilities |
13,423 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities |
(1,763 |
) |
— |
— |
||||||||
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net of effect of acquisition: |
||||||||||||
Materials, supplies and other assets |
— |
5,980 |
247 |
|||||||||
Prepaid expenses |
(2,248 |
) |
— |
— |
||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
77,006 |
(7,922 |
) |
(1,986 |
) | |||||||
Due to related party |
— |
(11,370 |
) |
(70 |
) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
(36,129 |
) |
(22,474 |
) |
(19,747 |
) | ||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
||||||||||||
Cash paid for acquisition |
(204,094 |
) |
— |
— |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(204,094 |
) |
— |
— |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||||||
Capital contribution from parent |
— |
22,474 |
19,747 |
|||||||||
Private offering proceeds |
440,249 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
Payment of equity issuance costs |
(22,878 |
) |
— |
— |
||||||||
Payment on Senior Secured Term Loan |
(18,750 |
) |
— |
— |
||||||||
Payment of debt issuance costs |
(1,503 |
) |
— |
— |
||||||||
Payment of non-convertible promissory notes—related parties |
(1,129 |
) |
— |
— |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
395,989 |
22,474 |
19,747 |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net change in cash |
155,766 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period |
53,334 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period |
$ |
209,100 |
$ |
— |
$ |
— |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Supplemental Non-Cash Disclosure |
||||||||||||
Assets and Liabilities resulting from Business Combination: |
||||||||||||
Senior Secured Term Loan, including paid-in-kind |
$ |
765,018 |
$ |
— |
$ |
— |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Supplies and materials |
16,637 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Accrued liabilities |
129 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Deferred tax liability |
1,209 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Asset retirement obligations assumed |
90,073 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities |
4,621 |
— |
— |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities |
$ |
756 |
$ |
— |
$ |
— |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
• | General and administrative expenses that were not specifically identifiable to SYU were allocated to SYU as a portion of certain other operating costs based on aggregated historical benchmarking data for the period from January 1, 2022 to February 13, 2024. The total amounts allocated to SYU for the period from January 1, 2024 to February 13, 2024 and the three months ended March 31, 2023, which are recorded in general and administrative expenses, are $1.7 million and $3.1 million, respectively. |
• | Long-term debt was not allocated to SYU as it is a legal obligation of EM, which is not directly impacted by the sale of SYU to Sable. |
• | Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments in active markets; |
• | Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and |
• | Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. |
a. | a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset; |
b. | a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which an asset is being used or in its physical condition including a significant decrease in current and projected reserve volumes; |
c. | a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate that could affect the value, including an adverse action or assessment by a regulator; |
d. | an accumulation of project costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected; and |
e. | a current-period operating loss combined with a history and forecast of operating or cash flow losses. |
Successor |
Predecessor |
|||||||||||||||
(in thousands) |
March 31, 2024 |
December 31, 2023 |
||||||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
$ | 3,363 | $ | 3,235 | ||||||||||||
Operations and maintenance |
4,622 | 2,149 | ||||||||||||||
Legal settlement payable |
70,000 | — | ||||||||||||||
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
$ | 77,985 | $ | 5,384 | ||||||||||||
Successor |
Predecessor |
|||||||||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) |
February 14, 2024— March 31, 2024 |
January 1, 2024— February 13, 2024 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 |
|||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (180,105 | ) | $ | (11,789 | ) | $ | (23,193 | ) | |||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding—Basic and diluted |
60,166,269 | n/a |
n/a | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss per share—Basic and diluted |
$ | (2.99 | ) | n/a | n/a | |||||||||||||||
Total consideration |
$ | 985,749 | ||
Fair value of assets acquired: |
||||
Oil and gas properties |
$ | 1,060,523 | ||
Materials and supplies |
16,637 | |||
Other assets |
4,621 | |||
Amount attributable to assets acquired |
$ | 1,081,781 | ||
Fair value of liabilities assumed: |
||||
Asset retirement obligations |
$ | 90,073 | ||
Other current liabilities |
827 | |||
Deferred tax liability |
1,209 | |||
Other long term liabilities |
3,923 | |||
Amounts attributable to liabilities assumed |
96,032 | |||
Net assets acquired and liabilities assumed |
$ | 985,749 | ||
Successor |
Predecessor |
|||||||||||
(in thousands) |
March 31, 2024 |
December 31, 2023 |
||||||||||
Beginning balance |
$ | — | $ | 329,375 | ||||||||
Acquisition of SYU |
90,073 | — | ||||||||||
Accretion |
1,377 | 19,763 | ||||||||||
Ending balance |
$ | 91,450 | $ | 349,138 | ||||||||
(in thousands) |
||||
$ | 772,535 | |||
Less: Debt issuance costs |
(1,333 | ) | ||
Total long-term debt, net |
$ | 771,202 | ||
Public Warrants |
Private Placement Warrants |
Working Capital Warrants |
Total |
|||||||||||||||
Outstanding Warrants at February 14, 2024 |
14,374,971 |
7,750,000 |
— |
22,124,971 |
||||||||||||||
Issued |
— |
— |
3,306,370 |
3,306,370 |
||||||||||||||
Outstanding Warrants at March 31, 2024 |
14,374,971 |
7,750,000 |
3,306,370 |
25,431,341 |
||||||||||||||
• | in whole and not in part; |
• | at a price of $0.01 per Public Warrant; |
• | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and |
• | if, and only if, the last sale price of our Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. |
• | in whole and not in part; |
• | at a price equal to a number of shares of Common Stock to be determined by reference to the agreed table set forth in the warrant agreement based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of the Common Stock; |
• | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and |
• | if, and only if, the last sale price of our Common Stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted per share splits, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) on the trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. |
Shares |
||||
Public stockholders |
5,953,859 | |||
Initial stockholders |
7,187,500 | |||
Merger consideration shares |
3,000,000 | |||
PIPE Investors |
44,024,910 | |||
Total shares outstanding at close |
60,166,269 | |||
Note: |
Successor |
||||||||||||||||
February 14, 2024 —March 31, 2024 |
||||||||||||||||
Common Stock |
Weighted-average grant date fair value |
|||||||||||||||
Non-vested, beginning of the period |
— | $ | — | |||||||||||||
Granted |
2,758,334 | 12.03 | ||||||||||||||
Vested |
— | — | ||||||||||||||
Forfeited |
— | — | ||||||||||||||
Non-vested, end of the period |
|
2,758,334 | $ | 12.03 | ||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) |
Public Warrants (Level 1) |
Private Placement Warrants (Level 3) |
Working Capital Warrants (Level 3) |
Total Warrant Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
Fair value as of February 14, 2024 (Successor) |
$ |
39,962 |
$ |
19,813 |
$ |
— |
$ |
59,775 |
||||||||||||
Additions |
— | — | 10,283 | 10,283 | ||||||||||||||||
Change in valuation inputs or other assumptions |
(2,875 | ) | 550 | 562 | (1,763 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Fair value as of March 31, 2024 (Successor) |
$ |
37,087 |
$ |
20,363 |
$ |
10,845 |
$ |
68,295 |
||||||||||||
Inputs |
March 31, 2024 |
|||
Stock price |
$ | 10.96 | ||
Strike price |
$ | 11.50 | ||
Term (in years) |
1.9 | |||
Volatility |
27.5 | % | ||
Risk-free rate |
4.53 | % | ||
Dividend yield |
0.00 | % |
Inputs |
March 31, 2024 |
|||
Stock price |
$ | 10.96 | ||
Strike price |
$ | 11.50 | ||
Term (in years) |
4.88 | |||
Volatility |
27.5 | % | ||
Risk-free rate |
4.14 | % | ||
Dividend yield |
0.00 | % |
ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
Unless otherwise indicated, references to “we”, “us”, “our”, “Sable” or the “Company” in this Item 2 are to Sable Offshore Corp. (f/k/a Flame Acquisition Corp.) and its consolidated subsidiaries, following the Business Combination. References to “Flame” are to Flame Acquisition Corp. before the consummation of the Business Combination. References to the “Pipelines” are to Pipeline Segments 901/903 and the other “901/903 Assets” (as defined in the Sable-EM Purchase Agreement). As a result of the closing of the Business Combination, which was accounted for as a forward merger in accordance with GAAP, the financial statements of Successor (as defined below) are now the financial statements of the Company. The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Form 10-K”), and those described in our other SEC filings. The Company’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
Sable Offshore Corp. is an independent oil and gas company headquartered in Houston, Texas. We were incorporated in Delaware on October 16, 2020 and, until February 14, 2024, were a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We are an emerging growth company and, as such, we are subject to all of the risks associated with emerging growth companies.
Business Combination
On November 1, 2022 (as amended on June 13, 2023 and December 15, 2023), Sable Offshore Corp., a Texas corporation (“SOC”), entered into a purchase and sale agreement (the “Sable-EM Purchase Agreement”) with Exxon Mobil Corporation (“Exxon”) and Mobil Pacific Pipeline Company (“MPPC,” and together with Exxon, “EM”) pursuant to which SOC agreed to acquire from EM certain assets constituting the Santa Ynez field in Federal waters offshore California (“SYU”) and associated onshore processing and pipeline assets (such “Assets,” as defined in the Sable-EM Purchase Agreement, collectively the “SYU Assets”).
On November 2, 2022, Flame entered into an agreement and plan of merger, dated as of November 2, 2022 (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”), with SOC and Sable Offshore Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the parent company of SOC (“Holdco” and, together with SOC, “ Legacy Sable”), which provided for the following transactions at the closing: (i) Holdco would merge with and into Flame, with Flame surviving such merger (the “Holdco Merger”) and (ii) SOC would merge with and into Flame, with Flame surviving such merger (the “SOC Merger” and, together with the Holdco Merger, the “Mergers” and, along with the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the “Business Combination”).
25
On February 12, 2024, Flame held a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”), at which the Flame stockholders considered and adopted, among other matters, a proposal to approve the Business Combination, including (a) adopting the Merger Agreement and (b) approving the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, following the Special Meeting, on February 14, 2024 (the “Closing Date”), the Business Combination was consummated (the “Closing”). In connection with the Business Combination, Flame changed its name to “Sable Offshore Corp.”
PIPE Subscription Agreements
In connection with the Business Combination, Holdco and Flame entered into subscription agreements (collectively, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “PIPE Subscription Agreements”) with certain investors (the “PIPE Investors”) for an aggregate commitment amount of $440,249,100. On February 14, 2024, immediately following the Closing, Sable issued 44,024,910 shares of Common Stock, at a price of $10.00 per share for an aggregate PIPE Investment of $440,249,100 in accordance with the terms of the PIPE Subscription Agreements. The shares of Common Stock issued in the PIPE Investments were offered in a private placement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreements.
Registration Rights Agreement
On the Closing Date, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination and as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the holders of the limited liability company interests in Holdco designated as Holdco Class A shares entered into a registration rights agreement with Sable (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which the holders were granted certain registration rights with respect to the Common Stock received as consideration in the Merger.
Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, Sable agreed to file a registration statement within 30 calendar days after the consummation of the Merger registering the resale of the registrable securities under the Registration Rights Agreement, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration statement declared effective by the SEC by the earlier of (i) the 90th calendar day (or 120th calendar day if the SEC notifies Sable that it will review the registration statement) following the closing of the Merger and (ii) the 10th business day after the date Sable are notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that the registration statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review. Sable thereafter will be required to maintain a registration statement that is continuously effective and to cause the registration statement to regain effectiveness in the event that it ceases to be effective. At any time the registration statement is effective, any holder signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement may request, one time in any 12-month period, to sell all or a portion of its securities that are registrable in an underwritten offering pursuant to the registration statement for a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $25 million. In addition, the holders have certain “piggyback” registration rights with respect to registrations initiated by Sable and other Sable stockholders. Sable will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any registration statements pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, subject to limited exceptions.
Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the holders of Holdco Class A shares immediately prior to the effective time of the Holdco Merger, subject to limited exceptions, agreed to a lock-up on their shares of Common Stock, pursuant to which such parties agreed to not transfer shares of Common Stock held by such parties for a period of three years following the closing of the Business Combination.
The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form Registration Rights Agreement filed as an exhibit to Sable’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024.
SYU
Beginning in 1968 and over the course of 14 years, EM consolidated more than a dozen offshore federal oil leases and organized them into a streamlined production unit known as SYU. SYU consists of three offshore platforms and a wholly owned onshore processing facility located along the Gaviota Coast at Las Flores Canyon in Santa Barbara County, California. SYU’s onshore facilities and the three offshore platforms remained in continuous operation until 2015. In May 2015, a pipeline operated by Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (“Plains”) that transported produced oil from SYU experienced a leak, as further described in the section of the Form 10-K titled “Business—Pipeline 901 Incident.” The SYU platforms and facilities suspended production after the incident, the SYU Assets were shut in and the facilities were placed in a safe state. The facilities are not currently producing oil and gas; however, all equipment remains in place in an operation-ready state, requiring ongoing inspections, maintenance and surveillance. As part of these suspension efforts, all SYU equipment was drained, flushed and purged in 2016. All hydrocarbon pipelines within SYU have been placed in a safe state and remain under regular monitoring. In 2020, Plains entered into a Consent Decree, described further in the section of the Form 10-K titled “Business—Pipeline 901 Incident,” that provides a path for a potential restart of the Pipelines.
26
The discussion of the results of operations for the Predecessor periods below do not include the results from the Pipelines and the Pipelines are not included in the combined financial statements of the Predecessor included in the financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Financial statements of the Pipelines have not been included because SEC guidance provides that the financial statements of recently acquired businesses such as the Pipelines need not be filed unless their omission would render Predecessors combined financial statements misleading or substantially incomplete. Based upon our quantitative and qualitative analysis, we do not believe omitting the financial statements of the Pipelines renders the Predecessor combined financial statements misleading or substantially incomplete. The Successor financial statements include the results from the Pipelines and the Pipelines are included in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
For the purposes of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, periods on or before February 13, 2024 reflect the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of SYU prior to the Business Combination, referred to herein as the “Predecessor,” and periods beginning on or after February 14, 2024 reflect the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as a result of the Business Combination, referred to herein as the “Successor”.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
The Company has not had any substantial revenues since the shut-in. The Company’s various operating expenses are the principal metrics used to assess its performance.
Operating Expenses
• | Operations and maintenance. The Company’s most significant costs to operate and maintain its assets are direct labor and supervision, power, repair and maintenance expenses, and equipment rentals. Fluctuations in commodity prices impact operating cost elements both directly and indirectly. For example, commodity prices directly impact costs such as power and fuel, which are expenses that increase (or decrease) in line with changes in commodity prices. Commodity prices also affect industry activity and demand, thus indirectly impacting the cost of items such as labor and equipment rentals. |
• | Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion. Depreciation, depletion and amortization are primarily determined under either the unit-of-production method or the straight-line method, which is based on estimated asset service life taking obsolescence into consideration. Since being shut in, no depletion or amortization has been recorded for the Successor periods presented. An immaterial amount of depreciation was reflected for idle plants in the historical Predecessor financial statements. Also included in the Successor and Predecessor financial statements is the accretion associated with the Company’s estimated asset retirement obligations (“ARO”). The ARO liabilities are initially recorded at their fair value and then are accreted using SYU’s applicable discount rate over the period for the change in their present value until the estimated retirement of the asset. |
• | General and administrative. General and administrative (“G&A”) costs are comprised of overhead expenditures directly and indirectly associated with operating the assets. These support services include information technology, risk management, corporate planning, accounting, cash management, human resources, and other general corporate services. General and administrative expenses that were not specifically identifiable to SYU were allocated to SYU for the period from January 1, 2020 to February 13, 2024. To calculate a reasonable allocation, aggregated historical benchmarking data from comparable companies with similar operated upstream assets was used to identify general and administrative expenses as a proportion of operating expenses. SYU may also require increased services in the future, commensurate with planned activity levels. |
• | Taxes other than income. Management anticipates future increases in ad valorem taxes, in line with the projected restart of production. |
27
Results of Operations
The comparability of our operating results for the periods February 14, 2024 through March 31, 2024 (Successor) and January 1, 2024 through February 13, 2024 (Predecessor), compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 (Predecessor) was impacted by the Business Combination. In the discussion of our results of operations for these periods we may quantitatively disclose the impacts of the Business Combination to the extent they remain ascertainable. The entirety of our activity since inception through the Closing Date were related to our formation, the preparation for our initial public offering, and since the closing of our initial public offering, the search for a target for our initial business combination (Refer to Note 1 — Organization, Business Operations, and Going Concern). Following the Closing Date, all of our operations have focused on restarting production of the SYU Assets. We lack the ability to generate any operating revenues until after we receive the necessary regulatory approvals and complete construction repairs necessary to restart production. Our only source of non-operating income is generated in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents and changes in fair value of our derivative warrant liabilities. Post the Business Combination, we expect to incur additional expenses as a result of being an operating public company, for legal, accounting and compliance expenses.
The following table presents selected consolidated financial results of operations for the Successor and Predecessor periods presented.
Successor | Predecessor | Increase (Decrease) |
||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | February 14, 2024 - March 31, 2024 |
January 1, 2024 - February 13, 2024 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 |
$ | % | |||||||||||||||
Revenue |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | — | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Oil and gas sales |
— | — | — | — | — | % | ||||||||||||||
Operating Expenses |
||||||||||||||||||||
Operations and maintenance expenses |
7,318 | 7,320 | 14,796 | (158 | ) | (1.1 | )% | |||||||||||||
Depletion, depreciation, amortization and accretion |
1,377 | 2,627 | 5,255 | (1,251 | ) | (23.8 | )% | |||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
150,448 | 1,714 | 3,137 | 149,025 | nm | |||||||||||||||
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|
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|
|
|
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Total operating expenses |
159,143 | 11,661 | 23,188 | 147,616 | 636.6 | % | ||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Loss from operations |
(159,143 | ) | (11,661 | ) | (23,188 | ) | (147,616 | ) | 636.6 | % | ||||||||||
Other (income) expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities |
(1,763 | ) | — | — | (1,763 | ) | nm | |||||||||||||
Other (income) expense |
(499 | ) | 128 | 5 | (376 | ) | nm | |||||||||||||
Interest expense |
9,801 | — | — | 9,801 | nm | |||||||||||||||
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|
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|
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Total other expense, net |
7,539 | 128 | 5 | 7,662 | nm | |||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Loss before income taxes |
(166,682 | ) | (11,789 | ) | (23,193 | ) | (155,278 | ) | 669.5 | % | ||||||||||
Income tax expense |
13,423 | — | — | 13,423 | nm | |||||||||||||||
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|
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|
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Net loss |
$ | (180,105 | ) | $ | (11,789 | ) | $ | (23,193 | ) | $ | (168,701 | ) | 727.4 | % | ||||||
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nm: not meaningful
Comparison of the period from January 1, 2024 through February 13, 2024 (Predecessor) and February 14, 2024 through March 31, 2024 (Successor) to the three months ended March 31, 2023 (Predecessor).
Operating and maintenance expenses. Operating and maintenance expenses were $7.3 million for the both periods from January 1, 2024 through February 13, 2024 (Predecessor) and February 14, 2024 through March 31, 2024 (Successor), respectively, or a combined $14.6 million, representing a decrease of $0.2 million, or (1.1)%, compared to $14.8 million for three months ended March 31, 2023 (Predecessor). The decrease in operating and maintenance expenses was primarily attributable to timing of maintenance expenses incurred. Operations and maintenance expenses are expected to increase over the next several years as production is restarted.
28
Depletion, depreciation, amortization and accretion. Depletion, depreciation, amortization and accretion was $2.6 million and $1.4 million for the periods from January 1, 2024 through February 13, 2024 (Predecessor) and February 14, 2024 through March 31, 2024 (Successor), respectively, or a combined $4.0 million, representing a decrease of $1.3 million, or 23.8%, compared to $5.3 million for three months ended March 31, 2023 (Predecessor). The decrease in depletion, depreciation, amortization and accretion was primarily attributable to the Company no longer recognizing depreciation expense following the Business Combination, as the Company determined assets were not in service since repairs are necessary prior to achieving production restart. Depreciation will resume once the assets are placed in service. The $1.4 million depletion, depreciation, amortization and accretion expense recognized in February 14, 2024 through March 31, 2024 (Successor) is recognition of ARO accretion for the period. Depletion, depreciation, amortization and accretion expense is expected to increase over the next several years as production is restarted.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses (“G&A expense”) were $1.7 million and $150.4 million for the periods from January 1, 2024 through February 13, 2024 (Predecessor) and February 14, 2024 through March 31, 2024 (Successor), respectively, or a combined $152.2 million, representing an increase of $149.0 million compared to $3.1 million for three months ended March 31, 2023 (Predecessor). The increase in G&A expenses was primarily attributable to the $70.0 million accrued settlement of the Grey Fox Matter (Refer to Note 8 — Commitments and Contingencies), $46.4 million in share-based compensation expense following the Business Combination, $16.8 million in legal expenses and professional fees related to the Business Combination, and the recognition of salaries and wages following the Company’s commencement of operations following the Business Combination. Predecessor G&A expenses were allocated to SYU as a portion of certain other operating costs based on aggregated historical benchmarking data as previously noted.
Total other expense, net. Total other expense, net was $0.1 million and $7.5 million for the periods from January 1, 2024 through February 13, 2024 (Predecessor) and February 14, 2024 through March 31, 2024 (Successor), respectively, or a combined $7.7 million, representing an increase of $7.7 million compared to $0.01 million for three months ended March 31, 2023 (Predecessor). The increase in other expenses was primarily attributable to $9.8 million in interest expense, partially offset by a decrease of $1.8 million in fair value of the warrants and interest income of $0.5 million. The increase during the Successor period is due to the fact that the Predecessor did not have any debt or associated interest expense, warrants, or interest income.
Income tax expense. Income tax expense for the period was zero and $13.4 million for the periods from January 1, 2024 through February 13, 2024 (Predecessor) and February 14, 2024 through March 31, 2024 (Successor), respectively, which is an increase compared to zero for three months ended March 31, 2023 (Predecessor). Based on our ongoing assessment of our ability to recover our deferred tax assets, we concluded that it was more likely than not that our deferred tax assets in excess of deferred tax liabilities would not be realized. For the Successor, we concluded that certain deferred tax liabilities in future periods do not have deferred tax assets available to offset, which is primarily due to our net operating losses being limited to 80% of taxable income. Therefore, a further valuation allowance of our deferred tax assets is necessary. This results in deferred tax expense for the Successor period. Our judgment regarding the likelihood of realization of these deferred tax assets could change in future periods, which could result in a material impact to our income tax provision in the period of change.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview. Our plans for restarting production, including restarting the existing wells and facilities and recommencing transportation through the Pipelines, will require significant capital expenditures in excess of current operational cash flow. Historically, SYU’s primary source of liquidity has been its operational cash flow and, since the shut-in, capital contributions from its parent. While SYU’s production is in the process of being restarted and prior to generating positive cash flow from production, SYU’s capital expenditure needs will be substantial and are expected to come from cash on hand. Prior to the Business Combination, Flame had approximately $62.2 million in its trust account, which consisted of proceeds from the public stockholders and the private placement investors in connection with the Company’s initial public offering, less redemptions. Sable raised $440.2 million gross proceeds from the PIPE Investors in connection with the Business Combination. Additionally, more than $600 million of the Purchase Price was seller-financed through a secured term loan with EM (the “Term Loan”). Based on its current financial plan, Sable management expects production to restart during the third quarter of 2024, after which its operating cash flows are expected to be sufficient to service Sable’s indebtedness.
Capital Requirements. Sable currently estimates start-up expenses of approximately $197.0 million in order to restart production during the third quarter of 2024. Management evaluates its cost estimates on an ongoing basis. The expenditures will primarily be directed toward obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals and completing the pipeline repairs and bringing the shut-in assets back online during the third quarter of 2024. After production restarts, Sable management expects a rapid increase in operating cash flows that should allow Sable to fund further capital expenditures. If Sable is unable to obtain funds or provide funds as needed for the planned capital expenditure program, Sable may not be able to finance the capital expenditures necessary to restart production or sustain production thereafter.
29
Going Concern
Prior to the Business Combination, EM funded Predecessor SYU operational expenses. Since the consummation of the Business Combination, Sable has addressed near-term capital funding needs with the PIPE Investments and believes the Company has sufficient capital to maintain operations and complete the repairs necessary to restart production at SYU. However, the Company’s plans for production restart are contingent upon approvals from federal, state and local regulators. Additionally, if the Company’s estimates of the costs of restarting production are less than the actual amounts necessary to do so, the Company may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to first production and will need to raise additional capital. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, among other things, suspending repair efforts and reducing overhead expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
Due to the remaining regulatory approvals necessary to restart production, along with the timing of ongoing construction repair efforts, substantial doubt exists about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements included in this Quarterly Report do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that could be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes cash flows from Operating, Investing and Financing activities:
Successor | Predecessor | (Decrease) Increase | ||||||||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | February 14, 2024 - March 31, 2024 |
January 1, 2024 - February 13, 2024 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 |
$ | % | |||||||||||||||
Cash flows (used in) provided by: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Operating activities |
$ | (36,129 | ) | $ | (22,474 | ) | $ | (19,747 | ) | $ | (38,856 | ) | 196.8 | % | ||||||
Investing activities |
(204,094 | ) | — | — | (204,094 | ) | — | % | ||||||||||||
Financing activities |
395,989 | 22,474 | 19,747 | 398,716 | nm | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 155,766 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 155,766 | — | % | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
nm: not meaningful
Cash Flows from Operating Activities. SYU has been shut in since 2015 and therefore SYU had no production and associated revenues for the comparative periods. The net cash used in operating activities for the Company was $22.5 million and $36.1 million for the periods from January 1, 2024 through February 13, 2024 (Predecessor) and February 14, 2024 through March 31, 2024 (Successor), respectively, or a combined $58.6 million, representing an increase of $38.9 million, or 196.8%. The primary use of cash can be attributed to maintenance and operational readiness activities for SYU in the Predecessor and Successor periods, with additional General and administrative costs incurred post the Business Combination in the Successor period. We had a net loss of $180.1 million, partially offset by non-cash stock based compensation of $46.4 million, non-cash paid-in-kind interest $9.6 million, and changes in accounts payable of $77.0 million. Changes in accounts payable is primarily attributable to the Grey Fox Litigation settlement for $70.0 million. Future cash flow from operations for SYU will depend on our ability to bring the associated oil and gas production of the assets back online, as well as the prices of oil, NGLs and natural gas.
For the period ended March 31, 2023 (Predecessor), the $19.7 million cash used in operating activities was related to maintenance and operational readiness expenses for SYU.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities. The net cash provided by investing activities for the Company was zero and $204.1 million and for the periods from January 1, 2024 through February 13, 2024 (Predecessor) and February 14, 2024 through March 31, 2024 (Successor), respectively. The Successor investing cash flow is entirely comprised of $204.1 million paid to EM at Closing per settlement statement.
30
For the period ended March 31, 2023 (Predecessor), the net cash used in investing activities for the Predecessor period was zero since SYU has been shut in since 2015, without investing activities, but has been maintained it in an operation-ready state.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities. The net cash provided by financing activities for the Company was $22.5 million and $396.0 million for the periods from January 1, 2024 through February 13, 2024 (Predecessor) and February 14, 2024 through March 31, 2024 (Successor), respectively. The Successor financing activities for the period are comprised of the PIPE Investments cash received of $440.2 million, net of $22.9 million of capitalized Business Combination transaction expenses, or $417.4 million net, less deposit paid to EM for the Term Loan of $18.8 million, payment of debt issuance costs of $1.5 million, and repayment of Flame non-convertible promissory notes—related parties for $1.1 million.
For the period ended March 31, 2023 (Predecessor), the net cash used in financing activities for the Predecessor period was $19.7 million. Predecessor financing activities consists of EM capital contributions financing maintenance and operational readiness activities for SYU.
Contractual Obligations
Pursuant to the Term Loan, which financed most of the Purchase Price (as defined in the Term Loan), Sable will pay interest at ten percent (10%) per annum compounded annually, payable in arrears on January 1st of each year. At Sable’s election, accrued but unpaid interest may be deemed paid on each interest payment date by adding the amount of interest owed to the outstanding principal amount under the Term Loan. Refer to Note 6 — Debt for additional disclosures regarding the Term Loan.
Pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement with EM, EM will provide to Sable certain operational, accounting, cash management, information technology and other general transition services with respect to the Assets (as such term is defined in the Sable-EM Purchase Agreement) for three months following the Closing Date.
Additional obligations include the performance of ARO as referenced under “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Asset Retirement Obligations” below.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of March 31, 2024, the Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of combined financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the combined financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Property, Plant and Equipment.
Cost Basis. Oil and gas producing activities are accounted for under the successful efforts method of accounting. Under this method, costs are accumulated on a field-by-field basis. Costs incurred to purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire a property (whether unproved or proved) are capitalized when incurred. Exploratory well costs are carried as an asset when the well has found a sufficient quantity of resources to justify its completion as a producing well and where sufficient progress assessing the resources and the economic and operating viability of the project is being made. Exploratory well costs not meeting these criteria are charged to expense. Other exploratory expenditures, including geophysical costs and annual lease rentals, are expensed as incurred. Development costs, including costs of productive wells and development dry holes, are capitalized.
Other Property and Equipment. Other property and equipment primarily consist of onshore midstream facilities. Due to the nature of the other property and equipment, it is presented with oil and gas properties in the combined financial statements.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization. Depreciation, depletion and amortization are primarily determined under the unit-of-production method, which is based on estimated asset service life taking obsolescence into consideration.
31
Acquisition costs of proved properties are amortized using a unit-of-production method, computed on the basis of total proved oil and natural gas reserve volumes. Capitalized exploratory drilling and development costs associated with productive depletable extractive properties are amortized using the unit-of-production rates based on the amount of proved developed resources of oil and gas that are estimated to be recoverable from existing facilities using current operating methods. Under the unit-of-production method, oil and natural gas volumes are considered produced once they have been measured through meters at custody transfer or sales transaction points at the outlet valve on the lease or field storage tank. Maintenance and repairs, including planned major maintenance, are expensed as incurred. Major renewals and improvements are capitalized and the assets replaced are retired.
SYU has been shut in since 2015 due to a pipeline incident but has been maintained by EM to preserve it in an operation-ready state and thus no depletion has been recorded for the periods presented.
Impairment Assessment. Assets are tested for recoverability on an ongoing basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Among the events or changes in circumstances which could indicate that the carrying value of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable are the following:
• | a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset; |
• | a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which an asset is being used or in its physical condition, including a significant decrease in current and projected resource or reserve volumes; |
• | a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate that could affect the value, including an adverse action or assessment by a regulator; |
• | an accumulation of project costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected; and |
• | a current-period operating loss combined with a history and forecast of operating or cash flow losses. |
The SYU assets undergo a process that monitors for indicators of potential impairment throughout the year. This process is aligned with the requirements of ASC 360—Property, Plant, and Equipment and ASC 932 Extractive Activities—Oil and Gas. Asset valuation analysis, profitability reviews and other periodic control processes assist in assessing whether events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amounts of any of the assets may not be recoverable.
If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable, management estimates the future undiscounted cash flows of the affected properties to judge the recoverability of carrying amounts. In performing this assessment, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets. Cash flows used in recoverability assessments are based on assumptions which are developed by management and are consistent with the criteria management uses to evaluate investment opportunities. These evaluations make use of assumptions of future capital allocations, crude oil and natural gas commodity prices including price differentials, refining and chemical margins, volumes, and development and operating costs. Volumes are based on projected field and facility production profiles, throughput, or sales. Management’s estimate of upstream production volumes used for projected cash flows makes use of proved reserve quantities and may include risk-adjusted unproved reserve quantities.
An asset group is impaired if its estimated undiscounted cash flows are less than the asset group’s carrying value. Impairments are measured by the amount by which the carrying value exceeds fair value. The assessment of fair value is based upon the views of a likely market participant. The principal parameters used to establish fair value include estimates of acreage values and flowing production metrics from comparable market transactions, market-based estimates of historical cash flow multiples, and discounted cash flows. Inputs and assumptions used in discounted cash flow models include estimates of future production volumes, throughput and product sales volumes, commodity prices which are consistent with the average of third-party industry experts and government agencies, refining and chemical margins, drilling and development costs, operating costs and discount rates which are reflective of the characteristics of the asset group.
Asset Retirement Obligations. The Company’s asset retirement obligations primarily relate to the future plugging and abandonment of oil and gas properties and related facilities. The fair values of these obligations are recorded as liabilities on a discounted basis, which is typically at the time the assets are installed. In the estimation of fair value, the Company uses assumptions and judgments regarding such factors as the existence of a legal obligation for an asset retirement obligation, technical assessments of the assets, estimated amounts and timing of settlements, discount rates, and inflation rates.
Derivative Warrant Liabilities. We do not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. We evaluate all of our financial instruments, including issued stock purchase warrants, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives, pursuant to ASC 480 and ASC 815-15. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is re-assessed at the end of each reporting period.
All of our outstanding warrants are recognized as derivative liabilities in accordance with ASC 815-40. Accordingly, we recognize the warrant instruments as liabilities at fair value and adjust the instruments to fair value at each reporting period. The liabilities are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in our statement of operations. The public warrants are measured at the Observable Quoted Price in Active Markets. The private placement warrants and the working capital warrants are measured at fair value using the Modified Black-Scholes Optional Pricing Model.
32
Emerging Growth Company; Smaller Reporting Company
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and it has elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements. Sable could remain an emerging growth company until the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of the Company IPO. However, if (a) Sable’s total annual gross revenue exceed $1.235 billion, (b) Sable is deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of Common Stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the end of the prior fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter, or (c) Sable’s non-convertible debt issued within a three-year period exceeds $1.0 billion, Sable would cease to be an emerging growth company as of the following fiscal year.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. Sable will be a smaller reporting company until the last day of any fiscal year for so long as either (1) the market value of Common Stock held by non-affiliates did not exceed $250 million as of the prior June 30, or (2) Sable’s annual revenues did not exceed $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of Common Stock held by non-affiliates did not exceed $700 million as of the prior June 30.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Our management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on our financial statements.
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this item.
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2024. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 (e) and 15d-15 (e) under the Exchange Act) were effective as of March 31, 2024. Accordingly, management believes that the financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q present fairly in all material respects our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Remediation of Previously Reported Material Weakness
Management designed and implemented new processes and controls over the financial reporting of complex financial instruments, including the engagement of subject matter expert accounting consultants and the implementation of additional layers of review and approval related to its technical accounting review process. The Company has tested the operating effectiveness of these new controls and has concluded that they are operating effectively.
Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
During the quarter covered by this report, other than the remediation actions described above, there have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
33
Item 1. |
Legal Proceedings. |
Item 1A. |
Risk Factors. |
Item 2. |
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds. |
Item 3. |
Defaults Upon Senior Securities. |
Item 4. |
Mine Safety Disclosures. |
Item 5. |
Other Information. |
Item 6. | Exhibits |
The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
* | Filed herewith. |
** | Furnished |
# | Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan. |
(1) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 14, 2024 and incorporated by reference herein. |
(2) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 28, 2024 and incorporated by reference herein. |
(3) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 2, 2022 and incorporated by reference herein. |
(4) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 16, 2024 and incorporated by reference herein. |
35
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
SABLE OFFSHORE CORP. | ||||||
Date: May 15, 2024 | By: | /s/ James C. Flores | ||||
Name: | James C. Flores | |||||
Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||
Date: May 15, 2024 | By: | /s/ Gregory D. Patrinely | ||||
Name: | Gregory D. Patrinely | |||||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer) |
36
EXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, James C. Flores, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Sable Offshore Corp.; |
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(s) 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(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors 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. |
May 15, 2024 | /s/ James C. Flores | |||||
James C. Flores | ||||||
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
(Principal Executive Officer) |
EXHIBIT 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Gregory D. Patrinely, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Sable Offshore Corp.; |
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(s) 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(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors 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. |
May 15, 2024 | /s/ Gregory D. Patrinely | |||||
Gregory D. Patrinely | ||||||
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||||
(Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer) |
EXHIBIT 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Sable Offshore Corp. (the Company) for the period ended March 31, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, James C. Flores, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted 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. | To my knowledge, the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
Dated: May 15, 2024
/s/ James C. Flores |
James C. Flores |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
(Principal Executive Officer) |
EXHIBIT 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Sable Offshore Corp. (the Company) for the period ended March 31, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, Gregory D. Patrinely, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted 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. | To my knowledge, the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
May 15, 2024 | /s/ Gregory D. Patrinely | |||
Gregory D. Patrinely | ||||
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||
(Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer) |