UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

  Quarterly report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2018

 

or

 

  Transition report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from ___________ to ____________

 

Commission File Number: 000-02040

 

Carbon Energy Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   26-0818050
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)
     
1700 Broadway, Suite 1170, Denver, CO   80290
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (720) 407-7043

 

 
(Former name, address and fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

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 Company was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

YES                NO

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to rule 405 of Regulations S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

 

YES                NO

 

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

 

  Large accelerated filer   Smaller reporting company
  Accelerated filer   Emerging growth company
  Non-accelerated filer      

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

YES                NO

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

At August 13, 2018, there were 7,700,619 issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value.

 

 

 

 

 

Carbon Energy Corporation 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Part I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   
Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements 1
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) 1
   
Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) 2
   
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited) 3
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) 4
   
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) 5
   
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 32
   
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 44
   
Part II - OTHER INFORMATION
   
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 45
   
Item 6. Exhibits 45

  

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

  CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

    June 30,     December 31,  
(in thousands)   2018     2017  
    (Unaudited)        
ASSETS            
Current assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 4,030     $ 1,650  
Accounts receivable:                
Revenue     4,713       2,206  
Trade receivable     1,417       -  
Joint interest billings and other     133       349  
Insurance receivable (Note 2)     665       802  
Due from related parties     1,158       2,075  
Commodity derivative asset     -       215  
Prepaid expense, deposits and other current assets     1,937       783  
Total current assets     14,053       8,080  
                 
Property and equipment (Note 4)                
Oil and gas properties, full cost method of accounting:                
Proved, net     126,510       34,178  
Unproved     3,577       1,947  
Other property and equipment, net     2,134       737  
Total property and equipment, net     132,221       36,862  
                 
Investments in affiliates (Note 6)     13,375       14,267  
Other long-term assets     2,737       800  
Total assets   $ 162,386     $ 60,009  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
                 
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 11)   $ 15,148     $ 11,218  
Firm transportation contract obligations (Note 14)     75       127  
Commodity derivative liability (Note 13)     4,570       -  
Total current liabilities     19,793       11,345  
                 
Non-current liabilities:                
Firm transportation contract obligations (Note 14)     123       134  
Production and property taxes payable     550       520  
Warrant liability (Note 12)     -       2,017  
Asset retirement obligations (Note 5)     10,831       7,357  
Credit facility (Note 7)     23,140       22,140  
Long-term debt     78       -  
Credit facility-related party (Note 7)     49,900       -  
Commodity derivative liability (Note 13)     3,447       -  
Total non-current liabilities     88,069       32,168  
                 
Commitments (Note 14)                
                 
Stockholders’ equity:                
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 1,000,000 shares, 50,000 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018 and no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017     1       -  
Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 35,000,000 shares, 7,700,619 and 6,005,633 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively     77       60  
Additional paid-in capital     75,594       58,813  
Accumulated deficit     (42,424 )     (44,218 )
Total Carbon stockholders’ equity     33,247       14,655  
Non-controlling interests     21,277       1,841  
Total stockholders’ equity     54,524       16,496  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 162,386     $ 60,009  

 

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  1  

 

 

  CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

 

    Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands except per share amounts)   2018     2017     2018     2017  
                         
Revenue:                        
Natural gas sales   $ 3,523     $ 4,023     $ 7,462     $ 8,017  
Natural gas liquid sales     550       -       713       -  
Oil sales     8,091       1,146       11,074       2,192  
Commodity derivative gain (loss)     (6,022 )     998       (6,647 )     3,141  
Other income     6       10       19       20  
Total revenue     6,148       6,177       12,621       13,370  
                                 
Expenses:                                
Lease operating expenses     3,970       1,501       6,058       2,706  
Transportation and gathering costs     1,498       525       2,353       1,015  
Production and property taxes     615       443       1,048       855  
General and administrative     2,542       1,748       5,491       3,494  
General and administrative - related party reimbursement     (1,096 )     (225 )     (2,213 )     (300 )
Depreciation, depletion and amortization     1,979       662       3,471       1,234  
Accretion of asset retirement obligations     162       78       303       155  
Total expenses     9,670       4,732       16,511       9,159  
                                 
Operating (loss) income     (3,522 )     1,445       (3,890 )     4,211  
                                 
Other income and (expense):                                
Interest expense     (1,201 )     (254 )     (2,203 )     (522 )
Warrant derivative gain     -       853       225       1,683  
Equity investment loss     -       (7 )     -       -  
Gain on derecognized equity investment in affiliate - Carbon California     -       -       5,390       -  
Investment in affiliates     525       -       962       -  
Total other (expense) income     (676 )     592       4,374       1,161  
                                 
(Loss) income before income taxes     (4,198 )     2,037       484       5,372  
                                 
Provision for income taxes     -       -       -       -  
                                 
Net (loss) income before non-controlling interests     (4,198 )     2,037       484       5,372  
                                 
Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests     (3,619 )     33       (2,505 )     76  
                                 
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interest   $ (579 )   $ 2,004     $ 2,989     $ 5,296  
                                 
Net income (loss) per common share:                                
Basic   $ (0.08 )   $ 0.36     $ 0.41     $ 0.95  
Diluted   $ (0.23 )   $ 0.17     $ 0.20     $ 0.56  
Weighted average common shares outstanding:                                
Basic     7,693       5,620       7,346       5,554  
Diluted     7,693       6,588       7,662       6,458  

 

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  2  

 

 

  CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

    Common Stock     Preferred Stock           Non- controlling     Accumulated     Total Stockholders'  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     APIC     interest     Deficit     Equity  
Balances, December 31, 2017     6,006       60       -       -       58,813       1,841       (44,218 )     16,496  
Stock based compensation     39       1       -       -       482       -       -       483  
Restricted shares :     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Vested restricted stock     20       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Vested performance units     108       1       -       -       (1 )     -       -       -  
Preferred share issuance     -       -       50       1       4,999       -       -       5,000  
Beneficial conversion feature     -       -       -       -       1,125       -       (1,125 )     -  
Deemed dividend     -       -       -       -       71       -       (71 )     -  
CCC warrant exercise - share issuance     1,528       15       -       -       8,311       16,466       -       24,792  
CCC warrant exercise - liability extinguishment     -       -       -       -       1,792       -       -       1,792  
Non-controlling interest contributions, net     -       -       -       -       -       5,475       -       5,475  
Step up in basis     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Net income (loss)     -       -       -       -       -       (2,505 )     2,989       484  
Balances, June 30, 2018     7,701     $ 77       50     $ 1     $ 75,594     $ 21,277     $ 42,424     $ 54,524  

 

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  3  

 

 

  CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

    Six Months Ended  
    June 30,  
(in thousands)   2018     2017  
             
Cash flows from operating activities:                
Net income   $ 484     $ 5,372  
Items not involving cash:                
Depreciation, depletion and amortization     3,471       1,234  
Accretion of asset retirement obligations     303       155  
Unrealized commodity derivative loss (gain)     5,587       (3,023 )
Warrant derivative gain     (225 )     (1,683 )
Stock-based compensation expense     483       539  
Equity investment income     (962 )     -  
(Gain) loss on derecognized equity investment in affiliate-Carbon California     (5,390 )        
Amortization of debt issuance costs     247       -  
Other     -       (72 )
Net change in:                
Accounts receivable     (353 )     1,331  
Prepaid expenses, deposits and other current assets     570       (375 )
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, firm transportation contract obligations, and other long-term obligations     (2,600 )     (1,142 )
Net cash provided by operating activities     1,615       2,336  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:                
Development and acquisition of properties and equipment     (40,472 )     (1,182 )
Cash received- Carbon California Acquisition     275       -  
Other long-term assets     -       (15 )
Investment in affiliates     -       (240 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (40,197 )     (1,437 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:                
Proceeds from credit facility     31,502       600  
Proceeds from preferred shares     5,000       -  
Payments on credit facility     (14 )     (1,300 )
Payments of debt issuance costs     (511 )        
Contributions from non-controlling interests     5,000       -  
Distributions to non-controlling interests     (15 )     (43 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     40,962       (743 )
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents     2,380       156  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     1,650       858  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 4,030     $ 1,014  

  

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

  

  4  

 

 

  CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1 - Organization

 

Carbon Energy Corporation, formerly known as Carbon Natural Gas Company, and its subsidiaries (referred to herein as “ we ”, “ us ”, the “ Company ” or “ Carbon” ) is an independent oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas in the United States. The Company’s business is comprised of the assets and properties of Nytis Exploration (USA) Inc. (“Nytis USA”) and its subsidiary Nytis Exploration Company LLC (“Nytis LLC”) which conduct the Company’s operations in the Appalachian and Illinois Basins, Carbon California Operating Company, LLC (“CCOC”) and Carbon California Company, LLC (“Carbon California”) which conduct the Company’s operations in California, and the Company’s equity investment in Carbon Appalachian Company, LLC (“Carbon Appalachia”).

 

Appalachian and Illinois Basin Operations

 

In the Appalachian and Illinois Basins, Nytis LLC conducts our operations. The following illustrates this relationship as of June 30, 2018.

 

 

 

  5  

 

 

Ventura Basin Operations

 

In California, CCOC conducts our operations. On February 1, 2018, an entity managed by Yorktown Partners, LLC (“Yorktown”) exercised a warrant it held to purchase shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $7.20 per share (the “California Warrant”), resulting in the issuance of 1,527,778 shares of our common stock. In exchange, we received Yorktown’s Class A Units of Carbon California representing approximately 46.96% of the then outstanding Class A Units of Carbon California (a profits interest of approximately 38.59%). After giving effect to the exercise on February 1, 2018, we owned 56.4% of the voting and profits interests of Carbon California and Prudential Capital Energy Partners, L.P. (“Prudential”) owned 43.6%. On May 1, 2018, Carbon California closed the Seneca Acquisition. Following the exercise of the California Warrant by Yorktown and the Seneca Acquisition, we own 53.9% of the voting and profits interests, and Prudential owns the remainder of the interest, in Carbon California. As of February 1, 2018, we consolidate Carbon California for financial reporting purposes.

 

 

 

  

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring accruals) considered necessary to present fairly our financial position as of June 30, 2018, and our results of operations and cash flows for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year because of the impact of fluctuations in prices received for oil and natural gas, natural production declines, the uncertainty of exploration and development drilling results and other factors. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.  Except as disclosed herein, there have been no material changes to the information disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Carbon, CCOC, Carbon California and Nytis USA and its consolidated subsidiary, Nytis LLC. Carbon owns 100% of Nytis USA and CCOC. Nytis USA owns approximately 99% of Nytis LLC. Carbon owns 53.9% of Carbon California.

 

Nytis LLC also holds an interest in 64 oil and gas partnerships. For partnerships where we have a controlling interest, the partnerships are consolidated. We are currently consolidating, on a pro-rata basis, 47 partnerships. In these instances, we reflect the non-controlling ownership interest in partnerships and subsidiaries as non-controlling interests on our unaudited consolidated statements of operations and reflect the non-controlling ownership interests in the net assets of the partnerships as non-controlling interests within stockholders’ equity on our unaudited consolidated balance sheet. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

  6  

 

 

In accordance with established practice in the oil and gas industry our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements also include our pro-rata share of assets, liabilities, income, lease operating costs and general and administrative expenses of the oil and gas partnerships in which we have a non-controlling interest.

 

Non-majority owned investments that do not meet the criteria for pro-rata consolidation are accounted for using the equity method when we have the ability to significantly influence the operating decisions of the investee. When we do not have the ability to significantly influence the operating decisions of an investee, the cost method is used. All transactions, if any, with investees have been eliminated in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Effective February 1, 2018, Yorktown exercised the California Warrant, which resulted in us acquiring Yorktown’s ownership interest in Carbon California in exchange for shares of our common stock. On May 1, 2018, Carbon California closed the Seneca Acquisition. Following the exercise of the California Warrant by Yorktown and the Seneca Acquisition, we own 53.9%, of the voting and profits interests, and Prudential owns the remainder of the interest, in Carbon California.

 

Insurance Receivable

 

Insurance receivable is comprised of an insurance receivable for the loss of property as a result of wildfires that impacted Carbon California in December 2017. The Company filed claims with its insurance provider and is in receipt of partial funds associated with the claims as of June 30, 2018. Therefore, the Company has determined the receivable is collectible and is included in insurance receivable on the unaudited consolidated balance sheets.

  

Long-term Assets

 

Long-term assets are comprised of debt issuance costs, bonds, and fees associated with a registration statement for a possible equity raise. We have recorded debt issuance costs and amortize the balance over the life of the loan. As of June 30, 2018, we have approximately $1.0 million of deferred financing costs associated with our credit facility and Carbon California’s Senior Revolving Notes within long-term assets. See note 7. As of June 30, 2018, we have incurred approximately $1.5 million for the outside professional services in conjunction with the completion of a registration statement for a possible equity raise. We will continue to accumulate deferred financing costs until the completion of the registration statement and a successful equity raise. If the raise is unsuccessful, the amount will be immediately expensed.

 

Investments in Affiliates

 

Investments in non-consolidated affiliates are accounted for under either the cost or equity method of accounting, as appropriate. The cost method of accounting is generally used for investments in affiliates in which we have has less than 20% of the voting interests of a corporate affiliate or less than a 3% to 5% interest of a partnership or limited liability company and do not have significant influence. Investments in non-consolidated affiliates, accounted for using the cost method of accounting, are recorded at cost and impairment assessments for each investment are made annually to determine if a decline in the fair value of the investment, other than temporary, has occurred. A permanent impairment is recognized if a decline in the fair value occurs.

 

If we hold between 20% and 50% of the voting interest in non-consolidated corporate affiliates or generally greater than a 3% to 5% interest of a partnership or limited liability company and can exert significant influence or control (e.g., through our influence with a seat on the board of directors or management of operations), the equity method of accounting is generally used to account for the investment. Equity method investments will increase or decrease by our share of the affiliate’s profits or losses and such profits or losses are recognized in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations. For our equity method investment in Carbon Appalachia, we use the hypothetical liquidation at book value method to recognize our share of the affiliate’s profits or losses. We review equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an other than temporary decline in value has occurred.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

Management Reimbursements

 

In our role as manager of Carbon California and Carbon Appalachia, we receive management reimbursements. We received approximately $750,000 and $1.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, from Carbon Appalachia, and $50,000 for the one month ended January 31, 2018, from Carbon California. These reimbursements are included in general and administrative - related party reimbursement on our unaudited consolidated statements of operations. Effective February 1, 2018, the management reimbursements received from Carbon California are eliminated at consolidation. This elimination includes $350,000 for the period February 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018.

 

In addition to the management reimbursements, approximately $298,000 and $595,000 in general and administrative expenses were reimbursed for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, from Carbon Appalachia, and $14,000 for the one month ended January 31, 2018, by Carbon California. General and administrative expenses reimbursed by Carbon California and eliminated in consolidation were approximately $42,000 for the period February 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018.

 

  7  

 

 

Operating Reimbursements

 

In our role as operator of Carbon California and Carbon Appalachia, we receive reimbursements of operating expenses. These expenses are recorded directly to receivable – due from related party on our unaudited consolidated balance sheets and are therefore not included in our operating expenses on our unaudited consolidated statements of operations.

 

Carbon California Credit Facilities

 

The credit facilities of Carbon California, including the Senior Revolving Notes, Carbon California Notes and Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes (all defined below), are held by Prudential or its affiliates. See note 7.

 

Preferred Stock

 

In April 2018, we issued 50,000 shares of Preferred Stock to Yorktown. See note 9.

 

Old Ironsides Membership Interest Purchase Agreement 

 

On May 4, 2018, we entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement with Old Ironsides. See note 6.

  

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. There have been no changes in our critical accounting estimates from those that were disclosed in the 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share

 

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The shares of restricted common stock granted to our officers, directors and employees are included in the computation of basic net income per share only after the shares become fully vested. Diluted earnings per common share includes both the vested and unvested shares of restricted stock and the potential dilution that could occur upon exercise of warrants to acquire common stock computed using the treasury stock method, which assumes that the increase in the number of shares is reduced by the number of shares which could have been repurchased by us with the proceeds from the exercise of warrants (which were assumed to have been made at the average market price of the common shares during the reporting period). We issued 50,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), and the difference between the carrying amount of the Preferred Stock in equity and the fair value of the Preferred Stock) is treated as a dividend for purposes of calculating earnings per common share. The Preferred Stock deemed dividend could potentially dilute basic earnings per common share in the future.

 

In periods when we report a net loss, all shares of restricted stock are excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding because of its anti-dilutive effect on loss per share. As a result, all restricted stock is excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended June 30, 2018. Potentially dilutive securities (restricted stock awards) included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share totaled 275,913 for the three months ended June 30, 2018. Potentially dilutive securities that are anti-dilutive totaled 275,913 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 967,525 for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The dilutive units did not have a material impact on our earnings per common share calculations for any of the periods presented.

 

The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted income per share:

 

    Three months ended
June 30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands except per share amounts)   2018     2017     2018     2017  
                         
Net income   $ (579 )   $ 2,004     $ 2,989     $ 5,296  
Less: warrant derivative gain     -       (853 )     (225 )     (1,683 )
Less: beneficial conversion feature     (1,125 )     -       (1,125 )     -  
Less: deemed dividend for convertible preferred shares     (71 )     -       (71 )     -  
Diluted net (loss) income   $ (1,775 )   $ 1,151     $ 1,568     $ 3,613  
                                 
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period     7,693       5,620       7,346       5,554  
                                 
Add dilutive effects of warrants and non-vested shares of restricted stock     -       968       316       904  
                                 
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period     7,693       6,588       7,662       6,458  
                                 
Basic net (loss) income per common share   $ (0.08 )   $ 0.36     $ 0.41     $ 0.95  
Diluted net (loss) income per common share   $ (0.23 )   $ 0.17     $ 0.20     $ 0.56  

   

  8  

 

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncement

  

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), which establishes a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard designed to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In March 2016, the FASB released certain implementation guidance through ASU 2016-08 (collectively with ASU 2014-09, the “Revenue ASUs”) to clarify principal versus agent considerations. The Revenue ASUs allow for the use of either the full or modified retrospective transition method, and the standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 including interim periods within that period, with early adoption permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted the guidance using the modified retrospective method with the effective date of January 1, 2018. We did not record a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as no adjustment was necessary. The adoption of the Revenue ASUs did not impact net income or cash flows. See note 10 for the new disclosures required by the Revenue ASUs. 

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “ Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”), which establishes a comprehensive new lease standard designed to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. In transition, lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach includes a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply. An entity that elects to apply the practical expedients will, in effect, continue to account for leases that commence before the effective date in accordance with previous GAAP standards. ASU 2016-02 is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on our financial statements.

 

There were various updates recently issued by the FASB, most of which represented technical corrections to the accounting literature or application to specific industries and are not expected to a have a material impact on our reported financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

  Note 3 - Acquisitions and Divestitures

 

Acquisition of Majority Control of Carbon California

 

Carbon California was formed in 2016 by us and entities managed by Yorktown and Prudential to acquire producing assets in the Ventura Basin of California.

 

In connection with the entry into the limited liability company agreement of Carbon California, we received Class B Units and issued to Yorktown the California Warrant exercisable for shares of our common stock. The exercise price for the California Warrant was payable exclusively with Class A Units of Carbon California held by Yorktown and the number of shares of our common stock for which the California Warrant was exercisable was determined, as of the time of exercise, by dividing (a) the aggregate unreturned capital of Yorktown’s Class A Units of Carbon California by (b) the exercise price. The California Warrant had a term of seven years and included certain standard registration rights with respect to the shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the California Warrant.

 

The issuance of the Class B Units and the California Warrant were in contemplation of each other, and under non-monetary related party guidance, we accounted for the California Warrant, at issuance, based on the fair value of the California Warrant as of the date of grant (February 15, 2017) and recorded a long-term warrant liability with an associated offset to Additional Paid in Capital (“APIC”). Future changes to the fair value of the California Warrant are recognized in earnings. We accounted for the fair value of the Class B Units at their estimated fair value at the date of grant, which became our investment in Carbon California with an offsetting entry to APIC. Additionally, we accounted for our 17.81% profits interest in Carbon California as an equity method investment until January 31, 2018.

 

  9  

 

  

On February 1, 2018, Yorktown exercised the California Warrant resulting in the issuance of 1,527,778 shares of our common stock in exchange for Yorktown’s Class A Units of Carbon California representing approximately 46.96% of the outstanding Class A Units of Carbon California (a profits interest of approximately 38.59%). After giving effect to the exercise on February 1, 2018, we owned 56.4% of the voting and profits interests of Carbon California. On May 1, 2018, Carbon California closed the Seneca Acquisition. Following the exercise of the California Warrant by Yorktown and the Seneca Acquisition, we own 53.9% of the voting and profits interests, and Prudential owns the remainder of the interest, in Carbon California.

 

The exercise of the California Warrant and the acquisition of the additional ownership interest is accounted for as a step acquisition in which we obtained control in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”) (referred to herein as the “Carbon California Acquisition”). We recognized 100% of the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and the non-controlling interest at their respective fair value as of the date of the acquisition. We exchanged 1,527,778 common shares at a fair value of approximately $8.3 million ($5.45 per share), for 11,000 Class A Units of Carbon California, representing a 38.59% ownership interest in Carbon California. We followed the fair value method to allocate the consideration transferred to the identifiable net assets acquired and non-controlling interest (“NCI”) on a preliminary basis as follows:

 

    Amount 
(in thousands)
 
Fair value of Carbon common shares transferred as consideration   $ 8,326  
Fair value of NCI     16,466  
Fair value of previously held interest     7,244  
Fair value of business acquired   $ 32,036  

 

Assets acquired and liabilities assumed

 

    Amount
(in thousands)
 
Cash   $ 275  
Accounts receivable:        
Joint interest billings and other     690  
Receivable - related party     1,610  
Prepaid expense, deposits, and other current assets     1,723  
Oil and gas properties:        
Proved     56,477  
Unproved     1,495  
Other property and equipment, net     877  
Other long-term assets     475  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     (6,054 )
Commodity derivative liability - short-term     (916 )
Commodity derivative liability - long-term     (1,729 )
Asset retirement obligations - short-term     (384 )
Asset retirement obligations - long-term     (2,537 )
Subordinated Notes, related party, net     (8,874 )
Senior Revolving Notes, related party     (11,000 )
Notes payable     (92 )
Total net assets acquired   $ 32,036  

   

The preliminary fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed were determined using various valuation techniques, including an income approach. The fair value measurements were primarily based on significant inputs that are not directly observable in the market and are considered Level 3 under the fair value measurements and disclosure framework.

 

On the date of the acquisition, we derecognized our equity investment in Carbon California and recognized a gain of approximately $5.4 million based on the fair value of our previously held interest compared to its carrying value.

 

For assets and liabilities accounted for as business combinations, including the Carbon California Acquisition, to determine the fair value of the assets acquired, the Company primarily used the income approach and made market assumptions as to projections of estimated quantities of oil and natural gas reserves, future production rates, future commodity prices including price differentials as of the date of closing, future operating and development costs, a market participant weighted average cost of capital, and the condition of vehicles and equipment. The determination of the fair value of the accounts payable and accrued liabilities assumed required significant judgement, including estimates relating to production assets.

 

  10  

 

 

Seneca Acquisition

 

In October 2017, Carbon California signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement to acquire 309 operated and one non-operated oil wells covering approximately 5,700 gross acres (5,500 net), and fee interests in and to certain lands, situated in the Ventura Basin, together with associated wells, pipelines, facilities, equipment and other property rights for a purchase price of $43.0 million, subject to customary and standard purchase price adjustments, from Seneca Resources Corporation (the “ Seneca Acquisition ”). We contributed approximately $5.0 million to Carbon California to fund our portion of the purchase price, through the $5.0 Preferred Stock issuance, with Prudential contributing $5.0 million. Carbon California funded the remaining purchase price from cash, increased borrowings under the Senior Revolving Notes and $3.0 million in proceeds from the issuance of Senior Subordinated Notes. The Seneca Acquisition closed on May 1, 2018 with an effective date as of October 1, 2017.

 

Utilizing the assistance of third-party valuation specialists, we considered various factors in our estimate of fair value of the acquired assets including (i) reserves, (ii) production rates, (iii) future operating and development costs, (iv) future commodity prices, including price differentials, (v) future cash flows, and (vi) working conditions and expected lives of vehicles and equipment.

 

We determined that substantially all of the fair value of the assets acquired related to proved oil and gas properties and, as such the Seneca Acquisition does not meet the definition of a business. Therefore, we have accounted for the transaction as an asset acquisition and allocated the purchase price based on the relative fair value of the assets acquired.

 

The fair value of the production assets were determined using the income approach using Level 3 inputs according the ASC 820,  Fair Value , hierarchy. The fair value of the other assets was determined using the market approach using Level 3 inputs. The determination of the fair value of the oil and gas and other property and equipment acquired and accounts payable and accrued liability assumed, required significant judgement, including estimates relating to the production assets and the other transaction costs. We recorded $639,000 in ARO, and $330,000 in assumed liabilities in connection with the Seneca Acquisition. We incurred transaction costs related to the Seneca Acquisition in the amount of $318,000. As this acquisition was determined to be an asset acquisition, transaction costs were capitalized to oil and gas properties- proved, net on the balance sheet. Below is the summary of the assets acquired (in thousands):

 

Identifiable assets acquired:      
Assets:      
Proved oil and gas properties   $ 37,386  
Unproved oil and gas properties     100  
Other property and equipment     545  
Intangible assets     300  
Total identified assets   $ 38,331  

 

Consolidation of Carbon California and Seneca Acquisition Unaudited Pro Forma Results of Operations

 

Below are unaudited consolidated results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, as though the Carbon California Acquisition and the Seneca Acquisition had been completed as of January 1, 2017. The Carbon California Acquisition closed February 1, 2018, and the Seneca Acquisition closed May 1, 2018, and accordingly, our unaudited consolidated statements of operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, includes Carbon California’s results of operations for the quarter, and the Seneca Acquisition results of operations for the period May 1, 2018 through June 30, 2018.

 

    Unaudited Pro Forma
Consolidated Results
For Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Unaudited Pro Forma
Consolidated Results
For Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2018     2017     2018     2017  
Revenue   $ 8,180     $ 14,092     $ 20,283     $ 27,054  
Net (loss) income before non-controlling interests     (3,013 )     4,730       4,256       8,704  
Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests     (3,619 )     33       (2,504 )     76  
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests   $ 607     $ 4,697     $ 7,739     $ 8,628  
Net income per share (basic)   $ 0.27     $ 0.84     $ 1.01     $ 1.54  
Net income per share (diluted)   $ 0.09     $ 0.58     $ 0.84     $ 1.18  

 

  11  

 

 

Note 4 - Property and Equipment

 

Net property and equipment as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, consists of the following:

 

(in thousands)   June 30,
2018
    December 31,
2017
 
             
Oil and gas properties:            
Proved oil and gas properties   $ 211,602     $ 114,893  
Unproved properties not subject to depletion     3,577       1,947  
Accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment     (85,092 )     (80,715 )
Net oil and gas properties     130,087       36,125  
                 
Furniture and fixtures, computer hardware and software, and other equipment     3,631       1,758  
Accumulated depreciation and amortization     (1,497 )     (1,021 )
Net other property and equipment     2,134       737  
                 
Total net property and equipment   $ 132,221     $ 36,862  

  

We had approximately $3.5 million and $1.9 million, at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, of unproved oil and gas properties not subject to depletion. At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, our unproved properties consist principally of leasehold acquisition costs in the following areas:

 

(in thousands)   June 30,
2018
    December 31,
2017
 
             
Ventura Basin   $ 1,595     $ -  
Illinois Basin:                
Indiana     432       432  
Illinois     136       136  
Appalachian Basin:                
Kentucky     919       915  
Ohio     66       66  
West Virginia     429       398  
                 
Total unproved properties not subject to depletion   $ 3,577     $ 1,947  

 

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, there were no expiring leasehold costs that were reclassified into proved property. The excluded properties are assessed for impairment at least annually. Subject to industry conditions, evaluations of most of these properties and the inclusion of their costs in amortized capital costs is expected to be completed within five years.

 

We capitalized overhead applicable to acquisition, development and exploration activities of approximately $119,000 and $190,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, we capitalized overhead applicable to acquisition, development, and exploration activities of approximately $56,000 and $131,000, respectively.

 

  12  

 

 

Depletion expense related to oil and gas properties for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 was approximately $1.8 million, or $0.77 per Mcfe, and $3.1 million, or $0.80 per Mcfe, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, depletion expense was approximately $539,000, or $0.40 per Mcfe, and $1.1 million, or $0.41 per Mcfe, respectively.

 

Note 5 - Asset Retirement Obligation

 

Our asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) relate to future costs associated with the plugging and abandonment of oil and gas wells, removal of equipment and facilities from leased acreage and returning such land to its original condition. The fair value of a liability for an ARO is recorded in the period in which it is incurred or acquired, and the cost of such liability is recorded as an increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset by the same amount. The liability is accreted each period and the capitalized cost is depleted on a units-of-production basis as part of the full cost pool. Revisions to estimated AROs result in adjustments to the related capitalized asset and corresponding liability.

 

The estimated ARO liability is based on estimated economic lives, estimates as to the cost to abandon the wells in the future, and federal and state regulatory requirements. The liability is discounted using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate estimated at the time the liability is incurred or acquired or increased as a result of a reassessment of expected cash flows and assumptions inherent in the estimation of the liability. Upward revisions to the liability could occur due to changes in estimated abandonment costs or well economic lives, or if federal or state regulators enact new requirements regarding the abandonment of wells. AROs are valued utilizing Level 3 fair value measurement inputs (see note 12).

  

The following table is a reconciliation of the ARO:

 

    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands)   2018     2017  
Balance at beginning of period   $ 7,737     $ 5,120  
Accretion expense     303       155  
Additions from Carbon California Company, LLC     2,921       -  
Additions from Seneca Acquisition     639       -  
Additions during period     -       5  
      11,600       5,280  
Less: ARO recognized as a current liability     (769 )     (183 )
                 
Balance at end of period   $ 10,831     $ 5,097  

    

Note 6 - Investments in Affiliates

 

Carbon California

 

Carbon California was formed in 2016 by us and entities managed by Yorktown and Prudential to acquire producing assets in the Ventura Basin in California. On February 15, 2017, we, Yorktown and Prudential entered into a limited liability company agreement (the “Carbon California LLC Agreement”) of Carbon California, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Prior to February 1, 2018, we held 17.81% of the voting and profits interests, Yorktown held 38.59% of the voting and profits interests and Prudential held 43.59% of the voting and profits interests in Carbon California. On February 1, 2018, Yorktown exercised the California Warrant, pursuant to which Yorktown obtained additional shares of common stock in us in exchange for the transfer and assignment by Yorktown of all its rights in Carbon California. Following the exercise of the California Warrant by Yorktown, we owned 56.4% of the voting and profits interests, and Prudential held the remainder of the interests, in Carbon California. On May 1, 2018, Carbon California closed the Seneca Acquisition. Following the exercise of the California Warrant by Yorktown and the Seneca Acquisition, we own 53.9% of the voting and profits interests, and Prudential owns the remainder of the interests, in Carbon California. We consolidate Carbon California for financial reporting purposes.

  

On February 15, 2017, Carbon California (i) issued and sold Class A Units to Yorktown and Prudential for an aggregate cash consideration of $22.0 million, (ii) entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) with Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey and Prudential Insurance Company of America for the issuance and sale of up to $25.0 million of Senior Secured Revolving Notes (the “Senior Revolving Notes”) due February 15, 2022 and (iii) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with Prudential for the issuance and sale of $10.0 million of Senior Subordinated Notes (the “Subordinated Notes”) due February 15, 2024. We are not a guarantor of the Senior Revolving Notes or the Subordinate Notes.

 

  13  

 

 

The closing of the Note Purchase Agreement and the Securities Purchase Agreement on February 15, 2017, resulted in the sale and issuance by Carbon California of (i) Senior Revolving Notes in the principal amount of $10.0 million and (ii) Subordinated Notes in the original principal amount of $10.0 million. The maximum principal amount available under the Senior Revolving Notes is based upon the borrowing base attributable to Carbon California’s proved oil and gas reserves which is to be determined at least semi-annually. As of June 30, 2018, the borrowing base was $41.0 million, of which $38.5 million was outstanding.

 

Net proceeds from the offering transaction were used by Carbon California to complete the acquisitions of oil and gas assets in the Ventura Basin of California, which acquisitions also closed on February 15, 2017. The remainder of the net proceeds were used to fund field development projects, to fund a future complementary acquisition and for general working capital purposes of Carbon California.

  

For the period February 15, 2017 (inception) through January 31, 2018, based on our 17.8% interest in Carbon California, our ability to appoint a member to the board of directors and our role of manager of Carbon California, we accounted for our investment in Carbon California under the equity method of accounting as we believed we exerted significant influence. We used the Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value Method (“HLBV”) to determine our share of profits or losses in Carbon California and adjusted the carrying value of our investment accordingly. The HLBV is a balance-sheet approach that calculates the amount each member of Carbon California would have received if Carbon California were liquidated at book value at the end of each measurement period. The change in the allocated amount to each member during the period represents the income or loss allocated to that member. In the event of liquidation of Carbon California, to the extent that Carbon California has net income, available proceeds are first distributed to members holding Class B units and any remaining proceeds are then distributed to members holding Class A Units. For the period February 15, 2017 (inception) through January 31, 2018, Carbon California incurred a net loss of which our share (as a holder of Class B Units for that period) was zero.

 

In connection with our entry into the Carbon California LLC Agreement, we received the aforementioned Class B Units and issued to Yorktown the California Warrant. The exercise price for the California Warrant was payable exclusively with Class A Units of Carbon California held by Yorktown and the number of shares of our common stock for which the California Warrant was exercisable was determined, as of the time of exercise, by dividing (a) the aggregate unreturned capital of Yorktown’s Class A Units of Carbon California by (b) the exercise price. The California Warrant had a term of seven years and included certain standard registration rights with respect to the shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the California Warrant. On February 1, 2018, Yorktown exercised the California Warrant. As a result of the warrant exercise, Carbon holds 11,000 Class A Units of Carbon California and all of the Class B units, resulting in an aggregate Sharing Percentage of 56.4%. Effective February 1, 2018, the Company consolidates Carbon California in its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

    

On May 1, 2018, Carbon California entered into an agreement with Prudential Capital Energy Partners, L.P. for the issuance and sale of $3.0 million of unsecured notes due February 15, 2024, bearing interest of 12% per annum (the “Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes”).   Prudential received 585 Class A Units, representing an approximately 2% additional sharing percentage, for the issuance of the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes. Carbon California valued this unit issuance based on the relative fair value by valuing the units at $1,000 per unit and aggregating the amount with the outstanding Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes of $3.0 million. The Company then allocated the non-cash value of the units of approximately $490,000, which was recorded as a discount to the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes. As of June 30, 2018, Carbon California had an outstanding discount of $482,000 associated with these notes, which is presented net of the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes within Credit facility-related party on the unaudited consolidated balance sheets. As of June 30, 2018, the Company has $58,000 of deferred costs offsetting the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes.

 

Carbon Appalachia

 

Carbon Appalachia was formed in 2016 by us, Yorktown and entities managed by Old Ironsides Energy LLC (“Old Ironsides”) to acquire producing assets in the Appalachian Basin in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

 

Outlined below is a summary of (i) our contributions, (ii) our resulting percentage of Class A unit ownership and iii) our overall resulting Sharing Percentage of Carbon Appalachia after giving effect to the Class C Unit ownership. Holders of units within each class of units participate in profit or losses and distributions according to their proportionate share of each class of units (“Sharing Percentage”). Each contribution and its use are described in summary following the table.

 

Timing   Capital
Contribution
  Resulting Class A
Units (%)
    Resulting
Sharing %
 
April 2017   $0.24 million     2.00 %     2.98 %
August 2017   $3.71 million     15.20 %     16.04 %
September 2017   $2.92 million     18.55 %     19.37 %
November 2017   Warrant exercise     26.50 %     27.24 %

 

  14  

 

 

On April 3, 2017, we, Yorktown and Old Ironsides, entered in to a limited liability company agreement (the “Carbon Appalachia LLC Agreement”), with an initial equity commitment of $100.0 million, of which $37.0 million has been contributed as of June 30, 2018.

 

Pursuant to the Carbon Appalachia LLC Agreement, we acquired a 2.0% interest in Carbon Appalachia for $240,000 of Class A Units associated with our initial equity commitment of $2.0 million. We also have the ability to earn up to an additional 14.7% of Carbon Appalachia distributions (represented by Class B Units) after certain return thresholds to the holders of Class A Units are met. The Class B Units were acquired for no cash consideration.

 

In addition, we acquired a 1.0% interest represented by Class C Units which were obtained in connection with the contribution to Carbon Appalachia of a portion of our working interest in undeveloped properties in Tennessee. If Carbon Appalachia agrees to drill horizontal Chattanooga Shale wells on these properties, it will pay 100% of the cost of drilling and completion of the first 20 wells to earn a 75% working interest in such properties. We, through our subsidiary, Nytis LLC, will retain a 25% working interest in the properties. There was no activity associated with these properties in 2017 nor during the first six months of 2018.

 

In 2017, Carbon Appalachia Enterprises, LLC, formerly known as Carbon Tennessee Company, LLC (“CAE”), a subsidiary of Carbon Appalachia, entered into a 4-year $100.0 million (with $1.5 million sublimit for letters of credit) senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility with LegacyTexas Bank with an initial borrowing base of $10.0 million (the “CAE Credit Facility”).

 

The CAE Credit Facility borrowing base was adjusted for acquisitions completed in 2017. Most recently, on April 30, 2018, the CAE Credit Facility was amended, which increased the borrowing base to $70.0 million with redeterminations as of April 1 and October 1 each year. As of June 30, 2018, there was approximately $38.0 million outstanding under the CAE Credit Facility.

 

The CAE Credit Facility is guaranteed by each of CAE’s existing and future direct or indirect subsidiaries (subject to certain exceptions). CAE’s obligations and those of CAE’s subsidiary guarantors under the CAE Credit Facility are secured by essentially all of CAE’s tangible and intangible personal and real property (subject to certain exclusions).

 

Interest is payable quarterly and accrues on borrowings under the CAE Credit Facility at a rate per annum equal to either (i) the base rate plus an applicable margin between 0.00% and 1.00% or (ii) the Adjusted LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin between 3.00% and 4.00% at our option. The actual margin percentage is dependent on the CAE Credit Facility utilization percentage. CAE is obligated to pay certain fees and expenses in connection with the CAE Credit Facility, including a commitment fee for any unused amounts of 0.50%.

 

The CAE Credit Facility contains affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, limit CAE’s ability to (i) incur additional debt; (ii) incur additional liens; (iii) sell, transfer or dispose of assets; (iv) merge or consolidate, wind-up, dissolve or liquidate; (v) make dividends and distributions on, or repurchases of, equity; (vi) make certain investments; (vii) enter into certain transactions with our affiliates; (viii) enter into sales-leaseback transactions; (ix) make optional or voluntary payments of debt; (x) change the nature of our business; (xi) change our fiscal year to make changes to the accounting treatment or reporting practices; (xii) amend constituent documents; and (xiii) enter into certain hedging transactions.

 

The affirmative and negative covenants are subject to various exceptions, including basket amounts and acceptable transaction levels. In addition, the CAE Credit Facility requires CAE’s compliance, on a consolidated basis, with (i) a maximum Debt/EBITDA ratio of 3.5 to 1.0 and (ii) a minimum current ratio of 1.0 to 1.0.

 

CAE may at any time repay the loans under the CAE Credit Facility, in whole or in part, without penalty. CAE must pay down borrowings under the CAE Credit Facility or provide mortgages of additional oil and natural gas properties to the extent that outstanding loans and letters of credit exceed the borrowing base.

  

In connection with our entry into the Carbon Appalachia LLC Agreement, and Carbon Appalachia engaging in certain transactions during 2017, we received the aforementioned Class B Units and issued to Yorktown a warrant to purchase approximately 408,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $7.20 per share (the “Appalachia Warrant”). The Appalachia Warrant was payable exclusively with Class A Units of Carbon Appalachia held by Yorktown and the number of shares of our common stock for which the Appalachia Warrant was exercisable was determined, as of the time of exercise, by dividing (a) the aggregate unreturned capital of Yorktown’s Class A Units of Carbon Appalachia plus a required 10% internal rate of return by (b) the exercise price.

  

On November 1, 2017, Yorktown exercised the Appalachia Warrant, resulting in the issuance of approximately 432,000 shares of our common stock in exchange for Class A Units representing approximately 7.95% of then outstanding Class A Units of Carbon Appalachia. We accounted for the exercise through extinguishment of the warrant liability associated with the Appalachia Warrant of approximately $1.9 million and the receipt of Yorktown’s Class A Units as an increase to investment in affiliates in the amount of approximately $2.9 million. After giving effect to the exercise, we own 26.5% of Carbon Appalachia’s outstanding Class A Units along with 100% of its Class C Units.

 

  15  

 

 

The issuance of the Class B Units and the Appalachia Warrant were in contemplation of each other, and under non-monetary related party guidance, we accounted for the Appalachia Warrant, at issuance, based on the fair value of the Appalachia Warrant as of the date of grant (April 3, 2017) and recorded a warrant liability with an associated offset to APIC. Future changes to the fair value of the Appalachia Warrant are recognized in earnings. We accounted for the fair value of the Class B Units at their estimated fair value at the date of grant, which became our investment in Carbon Appalachia with an offsetting entry to APIC.

 

As of the grant date of the Appalachia Warrant, we estimated that the fair market value of the Appalachia Warrant was approximately $1.3 million, and the fair value of the Class B Units was approximately $924,000. The difference in the fair value of the Appalachia Warrant from the grant date though its exercise on November 1, 2017, was approximately $619,000 and was recognized in warrant derivative gain in our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Based on our 27.24% combined Class A and Class C interest (and our ability as of June 30, 2018 to earn up to an additional 14.7%) in Carbon Appalachia, our ability to appoint a member to the board of directors and our role of manager of Carbon Appalachia, we are accounting for our investment in Carbon Appalachia under the equity method of accounting as we believe we exert significant influence. We use the HLBV to determine our share of profits or losses in Carbon Appalachia and adjust the carrying value of our investment accordingly. Our investment in Carbon Appalachia is represented by our Class A and C interests, which we acquired by contributing approximately $6.9 million in cash and unevaluated property. In the event of liquidation of Carbon Appalachia, available proceeds are first distributed to members holding Class C Units then to holders of Class A Units until their contributed capital is recovered with an internal rate of return of 10%. Any additional distributions would then be shared between holders of Class A, Class B and Class C Units. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, Carbon Appalachia earned net income, of which our share is approximately $504,000 and $917,000, respectively. The ability of Carbon Appalachia to make distributions to its owners, including us, is dependent upon the terms of its credit facility, which currently prohibit distributions unless agreed to by the lender.

 

As of June 30, 2018, Carbon Appalachia is in compliance with all CAE Credit Facility covenants.

 

The following table sets forth selected historical unaudited consolidated statements of operations and production data for Carbon Appalachia.

 

(in thousands)   As of
June 30,
2018
 
Current assets   $ 21,475  
Total oil and gas properties, net   $ 83,541  
Total other property and equipment, net   $ 10,842  
Other long-term assets   $ 1,109  
Current liabilities   $ 14,531  
Non-current liabilities   $ 58,028  
Total members’ equity   $ 44,408  

 

    Three months ended     April 3,
2017 to
 
(in thousands)   June 30, 
2018
    June 30, 
2017
 
Revenues   $ 18,679     $ 1,557  
Operating expenses     16,221       1,757  
Income from operations     2,458       (200 )
Net income   $ 1,853     $ (329 )

 

    Six months ended     April 3,
2017 to
 
(in thousands)   June 30, 
2018
    June 30,
 2017
 
Revenues   $ 44,422     $ 1,557  
Operating expenses     39,756       1,757  
Income from operations     4,666       (200 )
Net income   $ 3,479     $ (329 )

 

  16  

 

 

Old Ironsides Membership Interest Purchase Agreement 

 

On May 4, 2018, we entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the “MIPA”) with Old Ironsides. Old Ironsides owns 73.5%, and we own the remaining 26.5%, of the issued and outstanding Class A Units of Carbon Appalachia. We also own all of the Class B and Class C units of Carbon Appalachia. Pursuant to the MIPA, we may acquire all of Old Ironsides’ membership interests of Carbon Appalachia. Following the closing of the transaction, we would own 100% of the issued and outstanding ownership interests in Carbon Appalachia, and Carbon Appalachia will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours.

   

Subject to the terms and conditions of the MIPA, we will pay Old Ironsides, approximately $58.0 million at closing, subject to adjustment, in accordance with the MIPA. We intend to fund the acquisition through the issuance of additional equity, for which we have already filed a registration statement.

 

The MIPA contains termination rights for us and Old Ironsides, including, among others, if the closing of the transaction has not occurred on or before October 15, 2018. The MIPA may also be terminated by mutual written consent of us and Old Ironsides.

 

Investments in Affiliates

 

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, we recorded total equity method income of approximately $525,000 and $952,000, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, we recorded total equity method income of approximately $7,000. Additionally, on February 1, 2018, as a result of the Carbon California Acquisition, we derecognized our equity investment in Carbon California and recognized a gain of approximately $5.4 million based on the fair value of our previously held interest compared to its carrying value.

  

Note 7 - Credit Facilities

 

Our Credit Facility

 

In 2016, we entered into a 4-year $100.0 million senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility with LegacyTexas Bank. LegacyTexas Bank is the initial lender and acts as administrative agent.

 

The credit facility has a maximum availability of $100.0 million (with a $500,000 sublimit for letters of credit), which availability is subject to the amount of the borrowing base. The initial borrowing base established under the credit facility was $17.0 million. The borrowing base is subject to semi-annual redeterminations in March and September. On March 30, 2018, the borrowing base was increased from $23.0 to $25.0 million, of which approximately $23.1 million was outstanding as of June 30, 2018. Our effective interest rate as of June 30, 2018 was 5.54%. In July 2018, the borrowing base was increased from $25.0 million to $28.0 million.

 

The credit facility is guaranteed by each of our existing and future subsidiaries (subject to certain exceptions). Our obligations and those of our subsidiary guarantors under the credit facility are secured by essentially all of our tangible and intangible personal and real property (subject to certain exclusions).

 

Interest is payable quarterly and accrues on borrowings under the credit facility at a rate per annum equal to either (i) the base rate plus an applicable margin between 0.50% and 1.50% or (ii) the Adjusted LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin between 3.50% and 4.50% at our option. The actual margin percentage is dependent on the credit facility utilization percentage. We are obligated to pay certain fees and expenses in connection with the credit facility, including a commitment fee for any unused amounts of 0.50%.

 

The credit facility contains affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to (i) incur additional debt; (ii) incur additional liens; (iii) sell, transfer or dispose of assets; (iv) merge or consolidate, wind-up, dissolve or liquidate; (v) make dividends and distributions on, or repurchases of, equity; (vi) make certain investments; (vii) enter into certain transactions with our affiliates; (viii) enter into sales-leaseback transactions; (ix) make optional or voluntary payments of debt; (x) change the nature of our business; (xi) change our fiscal year to make changes to the accounting treatment or reporting practices; (xii) amend constituent documents; and (xiii) enter into certain hedging transactions.

 

The affirmative and negative covenants are subject to various exceptions, including basket amounts and acceptable transaction levels. In addition, the credit facility requires our compliance, on a consolidated basis, with (i) a maximum Debt/EBITDA ratio of 3.5 to 1.0 and (ii) a minimum current ratio of 1.0 to 1.0.

 

On March 27, 2018, the credit facility was amended to revise the calculation of the Leverage Ratio from a Debt/EBITDA ratio to a Net Debt/Adjusted EBITDA ratio, reset the testing period used in the determination of Adjusted EBITDA, eliminated the minimum current ratio and substituted alternative liquidity requirements, including maximum allowed current liabilities in relation to current assets, a minimum cash balance requirement of $750,000 and maximum aged trade payable requirements. As of June 30, 2018, we were in compliance with our financial covenants.

 

We may at any time repay the loans under the credit facility, in whole or in part, without penalty. We must pay down borrowings under the credit facility or provide mortgages of additional oil and natural gas properties to the extent that outstanding loan and letters of credit exceed the borrowing base.

 

  17  

 

 

As required under the terms of the credit facility, we entered into derivative contracts with fixed pricing for a certain percentage of our production. We are a party to an ISDA Master Agreement with BP Energy Company that established standard terms for the derivative contracts and an inter-creditor agreement with LegacyTexas Bank and BP Energy Company whereby any credit exposure related to the derivative contracts entered into by the Company and BP Energy Company is secured by the collateral and backed by the guarantees supporting the credit facility.

  

Carbon California – Credit Facilities

 

Effective as of February 1, 2018, our ownership in Carbon California increased to 56.4% due to the exercise of the California Warrant. As a result of this transaction, we consolidate Carbon California for financial reporting purposes.

 

On May 1, 2018, Carbon California closed the Seneca Acquisition. Following the exercise of the California Warrant by Yorktown and the Seneca Acquisition, we own 53.92% of the voting and profits interests, and Prudential owns the remainder of the interests, in Carbon California.

 

The table below summarizes the notes payable outstanding for Carbon California as of June 30, 2018 (in thousands):

 

 

Senior Revolving Notes, related party, due February 15, 2022   $ 38,500  
Subordinated Notes, related party, due February 15, 2024     13,000  
Long-term debt     78  
Total gross notes payable     51,578  
Less: Deferred notes costs     (232 )
Less: Notes discount     (1,368 )
Total net notes payable   $ 49,978  

 

Carbon California- Senior Revolving Notes, Related Party

 

On February 15, 2017, Carbon California entered into the Note Purchase Agreement with Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey and Prudential Insurance Company of America for the issuance and sale of the Senior Revolving Notes due February 15, 2022. We are not a guarantor of the Senior Revolving Notes. The closing of the Note Purchase Agreement on February 15, 2017, resulted in the sale and issuance by Carbon California of Senior Revolving Notes in the principal amount of $10.0 million. The maximum principal amount available under the Senior Revolving Notes is based upon the borrowing base attributable to Carbon California’s proved oil and gas reserves which is to be determined at least semi-annually. As of June 30, 2018, the borrowing base was $41.0 million, of which $38.5 million was outstanding.

 

Carbon California may elect to incur interest at either (i) 5.0% plus the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) or (ii) 4.00% plus Prime Rate (which is defined as the interest rate published daily by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.). As of June 30, 2018, the effective borrowing rate for the Senior Revolving Notes was 8.29%. In addition, the Senior Revolving Notes include a commitment fee for any unused amounts at 0.50% as well as an annual administrative fee of $75,000, payable on February 15 each year.

 

The Senior Revolving Notes are secured by all the assets of Carbon California. The Senior Revolving Notes require Carbon California, as of January 1 and July 1 of each year, to hedge its anticipate proved developed products production at such time for year one, two and three at a rate of 75%, 65% and 50%, respectively. Carbon California may make principal payments in minimum installments of $500,000. Distributions to equity members are generally restricted.

 

Carbon California incurred fees directly associated with the issuance of the Senior Revolving Notes and amortizes these fees over the life of the Senior Revolving Notes. The current portion of these fees are included in prepaid expense and deposits and the long-term portion is included in other long-term assets for a combined value of $944,000. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, Carbon California amortized fees of $48,000 and $77,000, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the Carbon California amortized $14,000 and $43,000, respectively.

 

The Note Purchase Agreement requires Carbon California to maintain certain financial and non-financial covenants which include the following ratios: total leverage ratio, senior leverage ratio, interest coverage ratio, current ratio, and other qualitative covenants as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement. As of June 30, 2018, Carbon California was in compliance with its financial covenants.

 

Carbon California Subordinated Notes

 

On February 15, 2017, Carbon California entered into the Securities Purchase Agreement with Prudential Capital Energy Partners, L.P. for the issuance and sale of the Subordinated Notes due February 15, 2024, bearing interest of 12% per annum. We are not a guarantor of the Subordinated Notes. The closing of the Securities Purchase Agreement on February 15, 2017, resulted in the sale and issuance by Carbon California of Subordinated Notes in the original principal amount of $10.0 million.

  

Prudential received an additional 1,425 Class A Units, representing 5% of total sharing percentage, for the issuance of the Subordinated Notes. Carbon California valued this unit issuance based on the relative fair value by valuing the units at $1,000 per unit and aggregating the amount with the outstanding Subordinated Notes of $10.0 million. The Company then allocated the non-cash value of the units of approximately $1.3 million, which was recorded as a discount to the Subordinated Notes. As of June 30, 2018, Carbon California had an outstanding discount of $923,000, which is presented net of the Subordinated Notes within Credit facility-related party on the unaudited consolidated balance sheets.

 

  18  

 

 

The Subordinated Notes require Carbon California, as of January 1 and July 1 of each year, to hedge its anticipated production at such time for year one, two and three at a rate of 67.5%, 58.5% and 45%, respectively.

 

Prepayment of the Subordinated Notes is currently not available. After February 15, 2019, prepayment is allowed at 100%, subject to a 3.0% fee of outstanding principal. Prepayment is not subject to such fee after February 17, 2020. Distributions to equity members are generally restricted.

 

The Securities Purchase Agreement requires Carbon California to maintain certain financial and non-financial covenants, which include the following ratios: total leverage ratio, senior leverage ratio, interest coverage ratio, asset coverage ratio, current ratio, and other qualitative covenants as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement. As of June 30, 2018, Carbon California was in compliance with its financial covenants.

 

Carbon California-2018 Subordinated Notes

 

On May 1, 2018, Carbon California entered into an agreement with Prudential for the issuance and sale of the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes.

  

Prudential received 585 Class A Units, representing approximately 2% additional sharing percentage, for the issuance of the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes. Carbon California valued this unit issuance based on the relative fair value by valuing the units at $1,000 per unit and aggregating the amount with the outstanding Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes of $3.0 million. The Company then allocated the non-cash value of the units of approximately $490,000, which was recorded as a discount to the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes. As of June 30, 2018, Carbon California had an outstanding discount of $482,000 associated with these notes, which is presented net of the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes within Credit facility-related party on the unaudited consolidated balance sheets. As of June 30, 2018, the Company has $58,000 of deferred costs offsetting the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes.

 

The Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes require Carbon California, as of January 1 and July 1 of each year, to hedge its anticipated production at such time for year one, two and three at a rate of 67.5%, 58.5% and 45%, respectively.

 

Prepayment of the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes is currently not available. After May 1, 2020, prepayment is allowed in full subject to a 3.0% fee of outstanding principal. Prepayment is not subject to such fee after May 1, 2021. Distributions to equity members are generally restricted.

 

The Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes agreement requires Carbon California to maintain certain financial and non-financial covenants, which include the following ratios: total leverage ratio, senior leverage ratio, interest coverage ratio, asset coverage ratio, current ratio, and other qualitative covenants as defined in the Carbon California 2018 Subordinated Notes. As of June 30, 2018, Carbon California was in compliance with its financial covenants.

 

  Note 8 - Income Taxes

 

We recognize deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. We have net operating loss carryforwards available in certain jurisdictions to reduce future taxable income. Future tax benefits for net operating loss carryforwards are recognized to the extent that realization of these benefits is considered more likely than not. To the extent that available evidence raises doubt about the realization of a deferred income tax asset, a valuation allowance is established.

 

At June 30, 2018, we have established a full valuation allowance against the balance of net deferred tax assets.

 

Note 9 - Stockholders’ Equity

 

Authorized and Issued Capital Stock

 

Effective March 15, 2017, and pursuant to a reverse stock split approved by the stockholders and Board of Directors, each 20 shares of issued and outstanding common stock became one share of common stock and no fractional shares were issued. References to the number of shares and price per share give retroactive effect to the reverse stock split for all periods presented.

 

  19  

 

 

As of June 30, 2018, we had 35.0 million shares of common stock authorized with a par value of $0.01 per share, of which approximately 7.7 million were issued and outstanding, and 1.0 million shares of preferred stock authorized with a par value of $0.01 per share. On April 6, 2018, the Company entered into a preferred stock purchase agreement with Yorktown for a private placement of 50,000 shares of the Preferred Stock for $5.0 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the increase in our issued and outstanding common stock is primarily due to (a) Yorktown’s exercise of the California Warrant (see note 3), resulting in the issuance of approximately 1.5 million shares of our common stock in exchange for Class A Units in Carbon California representing approximately 46.96% of the then outstanding Class A Units, in addition to (b) restricted stock and restricted performance units that vested during the year.

 

Carbon Stock Incentive Plans

 

We have two stock plans, the Carbon 2011 Stock Incentive Plan and the Carbon 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (collectively the “Carbon Plans”). The Carbon Plans were approved by our shareholders and in the aggregate provide for the issuance of approximately 1.1 million shares of common stock to our officers, directors, employees or consultants eligible to receive the awards under the Carbon Plans.

 

The Carbon Plans provide for the granting of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock awards, performance awards and phantom stock awards, or a combination of the foregoing, as to employees, officers, directors or consultants, provided that only employees may be granted incentive stock options and directors may only be granted restricted stock awards and phantom stock awards.

 

Restricted Stock

 

As of June 30, 2018, approximately 649,000 shares of restricted stock have been granted under the terms of the Carbon Plans. Restricted stock awards for employees vest ratably over a three-year service period or cliff vest at the end of a three-year service period. For non-employee directors, the awards vest upon the earlier of a change in control of us or the date their membership on the Board of Directors is terminated other than for cause. We recognize compensation expense for these restricted stock grants based on the grant date fair value of the shares, amortized ratably over three years for employee awards (based on the required service period for vesting) and seven years for non-employee director awards (based on a market survey of the average tenure of directors among U.S. public companies). For restricted stock granted between 2014 and 2017, we recognized compensation expense based on the grant date fair value of the shares, utilizing an enterprise value approach, using valuation metrics primarily based on multiples of cash flow from operations, production and reserves. For restricted stock and performance units granted in 2013 and 2018, we utilized the closing price of our stock on the date of grant to recognize compensation expense. During the six months ended June 30, 2018, 58,719 restricted stock units vested.

  

Compensation costs recognized for these restricted stock grants were approximately $190,000 and $348,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, we recognized compensation expense of approximately $166,000 and $354,000, respectively. As of June 30, 2018, there was approximately $1.8 million unrecognized compensation costs related to these restricted stock grants which we expect to be recognized over the next 6.8 years. In 2018 we utilized the traded value of our common stock on the date of grant instead of the enterprise value to record compensation expense related to new equity grants. Due to the price received for our Preferred Stock, we believe the closing price of our common stock is now a better representation of the fair value of our common stock, instead of the enterprise value used to record compensation expense related to new equity grants.

 

Restricted Performance Units

 

As of June 30, 2018, approximately 597,000 shares of performance units have been granted under the terms of the Carbon Plans. Performance units represent a contractual right to receive one share of our common stock subject to the terms and conditions of the agreements, including the achievement of certain performance measures relative to a defined peer group or the growth of certain performance measures over a defined period of time as well as, in some cases, continued service requirements.

 

We account for the performance units granted during 2014 through 2018 at their fair value determined at the date of grant, which were $11.80, $8.00, $5.40, $7.20 and $9.80 per share, respectively. The final measurement of compensation cost will be based on the number of performance units that ultimately vest. At June 30, 2018, we estimated that none of the performance units granted in 2016-2018 would vest, and, accordingly, no compensation cost has been recorded for these performance units. During 2016, we estimated that it was probable that the performance units granted in 2014 and 2015 would vest and therefore compensation costs of approximately $135,000 and $185,000 related to these performance units were recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. As of June 30, 2018, compensation costs related to the performance units granted in 2014 and 2015 have been fully recognized. As of June 30, 2018, if change in control and other performance provisions pursuant to the terms and conditions of these award agreements are met in full, the estimated unrecognized compensation cost related to the performance units granted in 2012 and 2016 through 2018 would be approximately $3.4 million.

 

  20  

 

 

Preferred Stock

 

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock – Related Party

 

In connection with the closing of the Seneca Acquisition, we raised $5.0 million through the issuance of 50,000 shares of Preferred Stock to Yorktown. The Preferred Stock converts into common stock at the election of the holder or will automatically convert into shares of our common stock upon completion of a qualifying equity financing event. The number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion is dependent upon the price per share of common stock issued in connection with any such qualifying equity financing but has a floor conversion price equal to $8.00 per share. The conversion ratio at which the Preferred Stock will convert into common stock is equal to an amount per share of $100 plus all accrued but unpaid dividends payable in respect thereof divided by the greater of (i) $8.00 per share or (ii) the price that is 15% less than the lowest price per share of shares sold to the public in the next equity financing. Using the floor of $8.00 per share would yield 12.5 shares of common stock for every unit of Preferred Stock. The conversion price will be proportionately increased or decreased to reflect changes to the outstanding shares of common stock, such as the result of a combination, reclassification, subdivision, stock split, stock dividend or other similar transaction involving the common stock. Additionally, after the third anniversary of the issuance of the Preferred Stock, we have the option to redeem the shares for cash.

 

The Preferred Stock accrues cash dividends at a rate of six percent (6%) of the initial issue price of $100 per share per annum. The holders of the Preferred Stock are entitled to the same number of votes of common stock that such share of Preferred Stock would represent on an as converted basis. The holders of the Preferred Stock receive liquidation preference based on the initial issue price of $100 per share plus any accrued dividends over common stock holders and the holders of any junior ranking stock. As of June 30, 2018, we accrued $71,000 of dividends.

 

We apply the guidance in ASC 480 “ Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity ” when determining the classification and measurement of the Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock does not feature any redemption rights within the holders’ control or conditional redemption features not within our control as of June 30, 2018. Accordingly, the Preferred Stock is presented as a component of consolidated stockholders’ equity.

 

We have evaluated the Preferred Stock in accordance with ASC 815, “ Derivatives and Hedging ”, including consideration of embedded derivatives requiring bifurcation. The issuance of the Preferred Stock could generate a beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”), which arises when a debt or equity security is issued with an embedded conversion option that is beneficial to the investor or in the money at inception because the conversion option has an effective strike price that is less than the market price of the underlying stock at the commitment date. Based on the conversion terms and the price at the commitment date, we determined that a BCF was required to be recorded related to the voluntary conversion option by the holder as of June 30, 2018. We recorded the BCF as a reduction of retained earnings and an increase to APIC of $1.1 million, which is based on the difference between the floor price of $8.00 and our stock price as of the commitment date multiplied by the number of shares to be issued. We are also required to evaluate a contingent BCF for the automatic conversion feature, but in accordance with ASC 470, “ Debt ”, we will not record the effect of the BCF until the contingency is resolved. As of June 30, 2018, we have a BCF of approximately $1.1 million

 

We also evaluated the Preferred Stock conversion components and determined it should be considered an “equity host” and not a “debt host” as defined by ASC 815. This evaluation is necessary in order to determine if any embedded features require bifurcation and, therefore, separate accounting as a derivative liability. Our analysis followed the “whole instrument approach,” which compares an individual feature against the entire preferred stock instrument which includes that feature.

 

Our analysis was based on a consideration of the economic characteristics and risks of the Preferred Stock. We specifically evaluated all the stated and implied substantive terms and features including (i) whether the Preferred Stock included redemption features, (ii) whether the holders of the Preferred Stock were entitled to dividends, (iii) the voting rights of the Preferred Stock and (iv) the existence and nature of any conversion rights. As a result, our determination was that the Preferred Stock is an “equity host,” and the embedded conversion feature is not considered a derivative liability.

 

Note 10 - Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

 

We recognize revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control over a product to a customer. Revenue is measured based on the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those products. Revenues from contracts with customers are recorded on the unaudited consolidated statements of operations based on the type of product being sold.

 

  21  

 

 

Performance Obligations and Significant Judgments

 

We sell oil and natural gas products in the United States through a single reportable segment. We primarily sell products within two regions of the United States: Appalachia and Illinois Basins and the Ventura Basin. We enter into contracts that generally include one type of distinct product in variable quantities and priced based on a specific index related to the type of product. Most of our contract pricing provisions are tied to a market index, with certain adjustments based on, among other factors, whether a well delivers to a gathering or transmission line, quality of the oil or natural gas, and prevailing supply and demand conditions.

 

The oil and natural gas is typically sold in an unprocessed state to processors and other third parties for processing and sale to customers. We recognize revenue at a point in time when control of the oil or natural gas passes to the customer. For oil sales, control is typically transferred to the customer upon receipt at the wellhead or a contractually agreed upon delivery point. Under our natural gas contracts with processors, control transfers upon delivery at the wellhead or the inlet of the processing entity’s system. For our other natural gas contracts, control transfers upon delivery to the inlet or to a contractually agreed upon delivery point. In the cases where we sell to a processor, we have determined that we are the principal in the arrangement and the processors are our customers. We recognize the revenue in these contracts based on the net proceeds received from the processor.

  

Transfer of control drives the presentation of transportation and gathering costs within the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of operations. Transportation and gathering costs incurred prior to control transfer are recorded within the transportation and gathering expense line item on the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of operations, while transportation and gathering costs incurred subsequent to control transfer are recorded as a reduction to the related revenue.

 

A portion of our product sales are short-term in nature. For those contracts, we use the practical expedient in ASC 606-10-50-14 exempting us from disclosure of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations if the performance obligation is part of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less.

 

For our product sales that have a contract term greater than one year, we have utilized the practical expedient in ASC 606-10-50-14(a) which states we are not required to disclose the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations if the variable consideration is allocated entirely to an unsatisfied performance obligation. Under these sales contracts, each unit of product represents a separate performance obligation; therefore, future volumes are unsatisfied and disclosure of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations is not required. We have no unsatisfied performance obligations at the end of each reporting period.

 

We do not believe that significant judgments are required with respect to the determination of the transaction price, including any variable consideration identified. There is a low level of uncertainty due to the precision of measurement and use of index-based pricing with predictable differentials. Additionally, any variable consideration identified is not constrained.

 

Disaggregation of Revenues

 

In the following tables, revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, is disaggregated by primary region within the United States and major product line. As noted above, we operate as one reportable segment.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2018:

 

(in thousands)                  
Type   Appalachia and  Illinois Basin     Ventura Basin     Total  
Natural gas sales   $ 3,114     $ 409     $ 3,523  
Natural gas liquids sales     -       550       550  
Oil sales     2,377       5,714       8,091  
Total revenue   $ 5,491     $ 6,673     $ 12,164  

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018:

 

(in thousands)                  
Type   Appalachia and  Illinois Basin     Ventura Basin     Total  
Natural gas sales   $ 6,919     $ 543     $ 7,462  
Natural gas liquids sales     -       713       713  
Oil sales     2,624       8,450       11,074  
Total revenue   $ 9,543     $ 9,706     $ 19,249  

 

  22  

 

 

Contract Balances

 

Under our product sales contracts, we invoice customers once our performance obligations have been satisfied, at which point payment is unconditional. Accordingly, our product sales contracts do not typically give rise to contract assets or liabilities under ASC 606.

 

Prior Period Performance Obligations

 

We record revenue in the month production is delivered to the purchaser, but settlement statements may not be received until 30 to 90 days after the month of production. As such, we estimate the production delivered and the related pricing. Any differences between our initial estimates and actuals are recorded in the month payment is received from the customer. These differences have not historically been material. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, revenue recognized in the reporting period related to prior period performance obligations is immaterial.

 

The estimated revenue is recorded within Accounts receivable - Revenue on the unaudited consolidated balance sheets.

  

Note 11 - Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consist of the following:

 

    June 30,
2018
    December 31,
2017
 
             
Accounts payable   $ 5,220     $ 3,274  
Oil and gas revenue suspense     2,419       1,776  
Gathering and transportation payables     1,550       497  
Production taxes payable     507       214  
Drilling advances received from joint venture partner     274       245  
Accrued lease operating expenses     832       684  
Accrued ad valorem taxes-current     1,611       1,054  
Accrued general and administrative expenses     605       2,473  
Accrued asset retirement obligation-current     769       380  
Accrued interest     492       247  
Other liabilities     869       374  
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities   $ 15,148     $ 11,218  

 

Note 12 - Fair Value Measurements

 

Authoritative guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The guidance establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of us. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect our assumptions of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of the inputs as follows:

 

  Level 1: Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 

  Level 2: Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities that are observable for the asset or liability; or

 

  Level 3: Unobservable pricing inputs that are generally less observable from objective sources, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations.

  

Financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our policy is to recognize transfers in and/or out of fair value hierarchy as of the end of the reporting period for which the event or change in circumstances caused the transfer. We have consistently applied the valuation techniques discussed below for all periods presented.

  

  23  

 

 

The following table presents our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy:

 

(in thousands)   Fair Value Measurements Using  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
June 30, 2018                        
Liabilities                        
Commodity derivatives   $ -     $ 8,017     $ -     $ 8,017  
December 31, 2017                                
Asset:                                
Commodity derivatives   $ -     $ 215     $ -     $ 215  
Liabilities                                
Warrant derivative liability   $ -     $ -     $ 2,017     $ 2,017  

 

Commodity Derivative

 

As of June 30, 2018, our commodity derivative financial instruments are comprised of natural gas and oil swaps and costless collars. The fair values of these agreements are determined under an income valuation technique. The valuation model requires a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, published forward prices, volatilities for options and discount rates, as appropriate. Our estimates of fair value of derivatives include consideration of the counterparty’s credit worthiness, our credit worthiness and the time value of money. The consideration of these factors results in an estimated exit-price for each derivative asset or liability under a market place participant’s view. All the significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; therefore, our derivative instruments are included within the Level 2 fair value hierarchy. The counterparty for all our outstanding commodity derivative financial instruments as of June 30, 2018, is BP Energy Company.

 

Warrant Derivative

 

A third-party valuation specialist was utilized to determine the fair value our California Warrant. The warrant is designated as Level 3. We review the valuations, including the related model inputs and assumptions, and analyze changes in fair value measurements between periods. We corroborate such inputs, calculations and fair value changes using various methodologies, and review unobservable inputs for reasonableness utilizing relevant information from other published sources.

 

We estimated the fair value of the California Warrant on February 15, 2017, the grant date of the warrant, to be approximately $5.8 million, using a call option pricing model with the following assumptions: a seven-year term, exercise price of $7.20, volatility rate of 41.8% and a risk-free rate of 2.3%. As we will receive Class A Units in Carbon California in the event the holder exercises the California Warrant, we also considered the fair value of the Class A Units in its valuation. We utilized the same measurement as of December 31, 2017 for January 31, 2018, using a Monte Carlo valuation model which utilized unobservable inputs including the percentage return on our shares at various timelines, the percentage return on the privately-held Carbon California Class A Units at various timelines, an exercise price of $7.20, volatility rate of 45%, a risk-free rate of 2.1% and an estimated remaining term of 6.4 years. As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of the California Warrant was approximately $2.0 million. On February 1, 2018, Yorktown exercised the California Warrant, resulting in the issuance of 1,527,778 shares of our common stock. In exchange, we received Yorktown’s Class A Units of Carbon California representing approximately 46.96% of the outstanding Class A Units of Carbon California and a profits interest of approximately 38.59%.

  

The following table summarizes the changes in fair value of our financial instruments classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy:

  

(in thousands)   Total  
Balance, December 31, 2017   $ 2,017  
Warrant derivative gain for the period January 1- January 31, 2018     (225 )
CCC Warrant Exercise - liability extinguishment     (1,792 )
Balance, June 30, 2018   $ -  

   

Assets and Liabilities Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

 

The fair value of each of the following assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis are based on unobservable pricing inputs and therefore, are included within the Level 3 fair value hierarchy.

 

We use the income valuation technique to estimate the fair value of asset retirement obligations using the amounts and timing of expected future dismantlement costs, credit-adjusted risk-free rates and time value of money. During the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, we recorded approximately $3.6 million and $5,000, in additions to asset retirement obligations, respectively. Additions during the six months ended June 30, 2018, primarily related to the Carbon California Acquisition. See note 3 for additional information.

 

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The exercise of the California Warrant and the acquisition of the additional ownership interest in Carbon California on February 1, 2018, is accounted for as a step acquisition in which we obtained control in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). We consolidate the results of Carbon California into our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements from the date of the Carbon California Acquisition forward. The Carbon California Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination, and the identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities assumed, were recorded at their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. We have completed our preliminary valuation to determine the fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair value of the assets acquired was determined using various valuation techniques, including an income approach. The fair value measurements were primarily based on significant inputs that are not directly observable in the market and are considered Level 3 under the fair value measurements and disclosure framework. See note 3 for additional information.

 

We assume, at times, certain firm transportation contracts as part of our acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties. The fair value of the firm transportation obligations was determined based upon the contractual obligations assumed by us and discounted based upon our effective borrowing rate. These contractual obligations are being amortized monthly as we pay these firm transportation obligations in the future.

  

Asset Retirement Obligation

 

The fair value of our asset retirement obligation liability is recorded in the period in which it is incurred or assumed by taking into account the cost of abandoning oil and gas wells ranging from $20,000 to $30,000, which is based on industry expectations for similar work; the estimated timing of reclamation ranging from one to 75 years based on estimates from reserve engineers; an inflation rate of 1.92%; and a credit adjusted risk-free rate of 7.24%, which takes into account our credit risk and the time value of money. Given the unobservable nature of the inputs, the initial measurement of the asset retirement obligation liability is deemed to use Level 3 inputs (see note 3). During the six months ended June 30, 2018, we recorded additions to asset retirement obligations of approximately $3.6 million, primarily due to the Carbon California Acquisition. Carbon California estimates the fair value of asset retirement obligations using the amounts and timing of expected future dismantlement costs, credit-adjusted risk-free rates and time value of money. Carbon California’s asset retirement obligation is calculated upon assumption by taking into account the cost of abandoning oil and gas wells based on industry expectations for similar work, the economic lives of its properties between 1-49 years; an inflation rate between 2.01% and 2.03%; and a credit adjusted risk-free rate between 8.09% and 15.5%.

 

Class B Units

 

We received Class B Units from Carbon California and Carbon Appalachia as part of the entry into the Carbon California LLC and Carbon Appalachia LLC agreements. We estimated the fair value of the Class B units, in each case, by utilizing the assistance of third-party valuation specialists. The fair values were based upon enterprise values derived from inputs including estimated future production rates, future commodity prices including price differentials as of the dates of closing, future operating and development costs and comparable market participants.

 

Note 13 - Physical Delivery Contracts and Gas Derivatives

 

We historically have used commodity-based derivative contracts to manage exposures to commodity price on certain of our oil and natural gas production. We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. We also have entered into fixed price delivery contracts to effectively provide commodity price hedges. Because these contracts are not expected to be net cash settled, they are considered to be normal sales contracts and not derivatives. Therefore, these contracts are not recorded at fair value in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Pursuant to the terms of our credit facility, the Note Purchase Agreements and the Securities Purchase Agreement, we have entered into swap and collar derivative agreements to hedge certain of our oil and natural gas production through 2021. As of June 30, 2018, these derivative agreements consisted of the following:

 

Our Physical Delivery Contracts and Oil and Gas Derivatives

  

    Natural Gas Swaps     Natural Gas Collars     Oil Swaps  
          Weighted           Weighted           Weighted  
          Average           Average Price           Average  
Year   MMBtu     Price (a)     MMBtu     Range (a)     Bbl     Price (b)  
                                     
2018     1,740,000     $ 3.00           -           -       35,500     $ 53.23  
2019     2,596,000     $ 2.86       -       -       48,000     $ 53.76  

  

  (a) NYMEX Henry Hub Natural Gas futures contract for the respective period.

 

  (b) NYMEX Light Sweet Crude West Texas Intermediate futures contract for the respective period.

  

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Carbon California Physical Delivery Contracts and Oil and Gas Derivatives

   

    Natural Gas Swaps     Natural Gas Collars     Oil Swaps  
          Weighted           Weighted           Weighted           Weighted  
          Average           Average Price     WTI     Average     Brent     Average  
Year   MMBtu     Price (a)     MMBtu     Range (a)     Bbl     Price (b)     Bbl     Price (c)  
                                                 
2018     180,000     $ 3.03       -       -       85,809     $ 53.20       110,598     $ 66.78  
2019     -     $ -       360,000       $2.60 - $3.03       139,797     $ 51.77       137,486     $ 66.35  
2020     -     $ -       -       -       73,147     $ 50.12       123,882     $ 63.03  
2021     -     $ -       -       -       -     $ -       28,641     $ 66.35  

  

  (a) NYMEX Henry Hub Natural Gas futures contract for the respective period.

 

  (b) NYMEX Light Sweet Crude West Texas Intermediate futures contract for the respective period.

 

  (c) Brent future contracts for the respective period.

 

For our swap instruments, we receive a fixed price for the hedged commodity and pay a floating price to the counterparty. The fixed-price payment and the floating-price payment are netted, resulting in a net amount due to or from the counterparty.

 

Costless collars are designed to establish floor and ceiling prices on anticipated future oil and gas production. The ceiling establishes a maximum price that we will receive for the volumes under contract, while the floor establishes a minimum price.

 

The following table summarizes the fair value of the derivatives recorded in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets (see note 12). These derivative instruments are not designated as cash flow hedging instruments for accounting purposes:

 

(in thousands)      
    June 30,
2018
    December 31,
2017
 
Commodity derivative contracts:            
Commodity derivative asset   $ -     $ 215  
Other long-term assets   $ -     $ 10  
                 
Commodity derivative liabilities   $ 4,570     $ -  
Commodity derivative liabilities, non-current   $ 3,447     $ -  

  

The table below summarizes the commodity settlements and unrealized gains and losses related to our derivative instruments. These commodity settlements and unrealized gains and losses are recorded and included in commodity derivative gain or loss in the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of operations.

 

(in thousands)   For the three months ended
June 30,
    For the six months ended
June 30,
 
    2018     2017     2018     2017  
Commodity derivative contracts:                        
Settlement (loss) gain   $ (674 )   $ 142     $ (1,060 )   $ 118  
Unrealized (loss) gain     (5,348 )     856       (5,587 )     3,023  
 Total settlement and unrealized (loss) gain, net   $ (6,022 )   $ 998     $ (6,647 )   $ 3,141  

 

Commodity derivative settlement gains and losses are included in cash flows from operating activities in our unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows.

  

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The counterparty in all our derivative instruments is BP Energy Company. We and Carbon California have entered into International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”) Master Agreements with BP Energy Company that establish standard terms for the derivative contracts and inter-creditor agreements whereby any credit exposure related to the derivative contracts entered into by us and BP Energy Company is secured by the collateral and backed by the guarantees supporting the credit facility.

 

We and Carbon California net our derivative instrument fair value amounts executed with BP Energy Company pursuant to ISDA master agreements, which provide for the net settlement over the term of the contracts and in the event of default or termination of the contracts. The following table summarizes the location and fair value amounts of all derivative instruments in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets, as well as the gross recognized derivative assets, liabilities and amounts offset in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2018.

 

                    Net  
        Gross           Recognized  
        Recognized     Gross     Fair Value  
        Assets/     Amounts     Assets/  
    Balance Sheet Classification   Liabilities     Offset     Liabilities  
                       
Commodity derivative assets:   Commodity derivative   $ 272     $ (272 )   $ -  
    Other long-term assets     181       (181 )     -  
Total derivative assets       $ 453     $ (453 )   $ -  
                             
Commodity derivative liabilities:                            
    Commodity derivative   $ (4,842 )   $ 272     $ (4,570 )
    Commodity derivative: non-current     (3,628 )     181       (3,447 )
Total derivative liabilities       $ (8,470 )   $ 453     $ (8,017 )

 

The following table summarizes the location and fair value amounts of all derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets, as well as the gross recognized derivative assets, liabilities and amounts offset in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2017.

 

                    Net  
        Gross           Recognized  
        Recognized     Gross     Fair Value  
        Assets/     Amounts     Assets/  
    Balance Sheet Classification   Liabilities     Offset     Liabilities  
                       
Commodity derivative assets:   Commodity derivative   $ 624     $ (409 )   $ 215  
    Other long-term assets     250       (240 )     10  
Total derivative assets       $ 874     $ (649 )   $ 225  
                             
Commodity derivative liabilities:                            
    Commodity derivative   $ (409 )   $ 409     $ -  
    Commodity derivative: non-current     (240 )     240       -  
Total derivative liabilities       $ (649 )   $ 649     $ -  

  

Due to the volatility of oil and natural gas prices, the estimated fair values of our derivatives are subject to large fluctuations from period to period.

  

Note 14 - Commitments

 

We have entered into employment agreements with certain of our executives and officers. The term of the agreements generally ranges from one to two years and provides for renewal provisions in one-year increments thereafter. The agreements provide for, among other items, severance and continuation of benefit payments upon termination of employment or certain change of control events.

 

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We have entered into long-term firm transportation contracts to ensure the transport for certain of our gas production to purchasers. Firm transportation volumes and the related demand charges for the remaining term of these contracts at June 30, 2018 are summarized in the table below.

 

Period   Dekatherms per
day
    Demand
Charges
 
July 2018 - March 2020     3,230     $ 0.20 - $0.62  
April 2020 - May 2020     2,150     $ 0.20  
June 2020 - May 2036     1,000     $ 0.20  

 

A liability of approximately $198,000 related to firm transportation contracts assumed in the EXCO Acquisition in 2016, which represents the remaining commitment, is reflected on our unaudited consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2018. The fair value of these firm transportation obligations was determined based upon the contractual obligations assumed by us and discounted based upon our effective borrowing rate. These contractual obligations are being amortized monthly as we pay these firm transportation obligations in the future.

 

Capital Commitment

 

In our participation as a Class A member of Carbon Appalachia we made a capital commitment of $23.6 million, of which we have contributed $6.9 million as of June 30, 2018.

 

As of June 30, 2018, we had no capital commitments associated with Carbon California.

 

During March 2018, management became aware that one of our field employees had been misappropriating funds from our suspended revenue accounts, or suspense accounts, over a period of several years. Promptly following the discovery of the misappropriation, we terminated the employee and engaged an external forensic specialist to lead an investigation to determine the extent and impact on our financial statements. That investigation revealed that the employee’s ability to misappropriate funds from the suspense accounts was eliminated in 2017 when we moved our revenue accounting function to our Denver office and instituted our current set of revenue accounting practices and internal controls. As a result, the employee no longer had access to the suspense accounts.

 

The discovery of the misappropriation was made in March 2018 when the employee attempted to misappropriate funds from a different source. This attempt was identified under our current internal controls.

 

The investigation is still ongoing, but based on the results so far, we have recorded a provision at June 30, 2018, to reflect the estimated loss of suspended revenue. Depending upon the results of the investigation, which we are seeking to conclude as soon as reasonably practicable, we may determine that the estimate should be increased or decreased. Furthermore, we will no longer be using printed manual checks for payments. Revenue and other checks will require approval from more than one individual and we are evaluating our segregation of duties, specifically related to the cash disbursement process, and will adjust where possible to strengthen the system of internal control. We have determined that this event constituted a significant deficiency, but not a material weakness.

  

Note 15 - Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosure

 

Supplemental cash flow disclosures are presented below:

 

    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands)   2018     2017  
             
Cash paid during the period for:            
Interest   $ 909     $ 433  
Non-cash transactions:                
Increase in asset retirement obligations   $ 3,560     $ 5  
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities included in oil and gas properties   $ (161 )   $ (79 )
Non-cash acquisition of Carbon California interests (see note 3)   $ (18,906 )   $ -  
Carbon California Acquisition on February 1, 2018(see note 3)   $ 17,114     $ -  
Obligations assumed with Seneca asset purchase (see note 2)   $ 330     $ -  
Accrued dividend for convertible preferred stock (see note 9)   $ 71     $ -  
Beneficial conversion feature for convertible preferred stock (see note 9)   $ 1,125     $ -  
Issuance of warrants for investment in affiliates   $ -     $ 7,094  
Exercise of warrant derivative (see note 3)   $ (1,792 )   $ -  

  

Note 16 - Subsequent Events

 

Our Credit Facility Borrowing Base Increase

 

In July 2018, the borrowing base of our credit facility was increased from $25.0 million to $28.0 million.

 

Liberty Acquisition

 

On July 11, 2018, we completed the acquisition of oil and gas producing properties and related facilities located in eastern Kentucky from Liberty Energy, LLC for approximately $3.6 million, subject to normal and customary post-closing adjustments (“Liberty Acquisition”). The Liberty Acquisition was funded through borrowings under our credit facility.

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ITEM 1A. Risk Factors

 

Risk factors relating to us are discussed in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2017 Annual Report and “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our First Quarter 2018 Quarterly Report. There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our 2017 Annual Report and First Quarter 2018 Quarterly Report. 

 

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

 

The following discussion includes forward-looking statements about our business, financial condition and results of operations, including discussions about management’s expectations for our business. These statements represent projections, beliefs and expectations based on current circumstances and conditions, and you should not construe these statements either as assurances of performance or as promises of a given course of action. Instead, various known and unknown factors may cause our actual performance and management’s actions to vary, and the results of these variances may be both material and adverse. A description of material factors known to us that may cause our results to vary, or may cause management to deviate from its current plans and expectations, is set forth under “Risk Factors.” The following discussion should be read in conjunction with “Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the information included or incorporated by reference in the Company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018.

 

Overview

 

Carbon Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation formed in 2007 and formerly known as Carbon Natural Gas Company, is a growth-oriented, independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids properties located in the United States. Our acreage positions provide multiple resource play opportunities and have been delineated largely through drilling by us, as well as by other industry operators.

 

Our assets held through our majority- owned subsidiaries, are characterized by stable, long-lived producing properties in the Appalachian Basin in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia; the Ventura Basin in California; and the Illinois Basin in Illinois and Indiana. We focus on conventional and unconventional reservoirs, including shale, tight sands and coalbed methane. Our executive offices are in Denver, Colorado and we maintain offices in Lexington, Kentucky, and Santa Paula, California from which we conduct our oil and gas operations. 

 

At June 30, 2018, our proved developed reserves and our interest in our equity investee’s proved developed reserves were comprised of 25.7% oil and natural gas liquids (“ NGL” ), and 74.3% natural gas. During 2017 and the first six months of 2018, our capital expenditures consisted principally of oil-related remediation, return to production and recompletion projects in California and the optimization and streamlining of our natural gas gathering and compression facilities in Appalachia to provide more efficient and lower cost operations and greater flexibility in moving our production to markets with more favorable pricing. Our current capital expenditure program is focused on the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas properties in areas where we currently operate. We believe that our asset and lease position, combined with our low operating expense structure and technical expertise, provides us with a portfolio of opportunities for the development of our oil and natural gas properties. Our growth plan is centered on acquiring, developing, optimizing and maintaining a portfolio of low risk, long-lived oil and natural gas properties that provide stable cash flows and attractive risk adjusted rates of return.  

 

Factors That Significantly Affect Our Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Our revenue, profitability and future growth rate depend on many factors which are beyond our control, including but not limited to, economic, political and regulatory developments and competition from other industry participants. Our financial results are sensitive to fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices. Oil and gas prices historically have been volatile and may fluctuate widely in the future due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to, prevailing economic conditions, supply and demand of hydrocarbons in the marketplace, actions by speculators, and geopolitical events such as wars or natural disasters. The following table highlights the quarterly average of NYMEX oil and natural gas prices for the last eight calendar quarters:

 

    2016     2017     2018  
    Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2  
                                                 
Oil (Bbl)   $ 44.94     $ 49.33     $ 51.86     $ 48.29     $ 48.19     $ 55.39     $ 62.89     $ 67.90  
Natural Gas (MMBtu)   $ 2.93     $ 2.98     $ 3.07     $ 3.09     $ 2.89     $ 2.87     $ 3.13     $ 2.77  

  

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Low oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas prices may decrease our revenues, may reduce the amount of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids that we can produce economically and potentially lower our oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas reserves. Our estimated proved reserves and our interest in our equity investee’s estimated proved reserves may decrease if the economic life of the underlying producing wells is shortened as a result of lower oil and natural gas prices. A substantial or extended decline in oil or natural gas prices may result in future impairments of our proved reserves and our equity investee’s proved reserves and may materially and adversely affect our future business, financial condition, cash flows, results of operations or liquidity. Lower oil and natural gas prices may also reduce the amount of borrowing base under our bank credit facility and the Senior Revolving Notes, which is determined at the discretion of our lenders and may make it more difficult to comply with the covenants and other restrictions under these agreements.

  

We use the full cost method of accounting for our oil and gas properties and perform a ceiling test quarterly. The ceiling calculation utilizes a rolling 12-month average commodity price. We did not recognize an impairment in 2017 or for the first six months of 2018.

 

Future write downs or impairments, if any, are difficult to predict and will depend not only on commodity prices, but also other factors that include, but are not limited to, incremental proved reserves that may be added each period, revisions to previous reserve estimates, capital expenditures and operating costs. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in the estimation of proved reserves and accounting for oil and natural gas properties in subsequent periods.

 

We use commodity derivative instruments, such as swaps and costless collars, to manage and reduce price volatility and other market risks associated with our production. These arrangements are structured to reduce our exposure to commodity price decreases, but they can also limit the benefit we might otherwise receive from commodity price increases.

 

Impairment charges do not affect cash flows from operating activities but do adversely affect net income and stockholders’ equity. An extended decline in oil or natural gas prices may materially and adversely affect our future business, financial condition, cash flows and liquidity.

 

Future property acquisitions or dispositions could have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations by increasing or decreasing our reserves, production and revenues as well as expenses and future capital expenditures. We currently anticipate that we would finance any future acquisitions with available borrowings under our credit facility, the Senor Revolving Notes, sales of properties or the issuance of additional equity or debt.

 

Operational Highlights

 

During the last two months of 2017 and first two quarters of 2018, NYMEX oil prices increased substantially, from $55.39 to $71.57. Based on expected future prices for oil and the increased rate of return on oil projects, we will deploy capital primarily to oil drilling and recompletion work in the Appalachia and Ventura basins.

  

During 2017 and the first two quarters of 2018, we concentrated our efforts on the acquisition and enhancement of producing properties through the acquisitions consummated by Carbon California and Carbon Appalachia. Our and our equity investee’s field development activities have consisted principally of oil-related remediation, return to production and recompletion projects in California and the optimization of our natural gas gathering and compression facilities in Appalachia to provide more efficient and lower cost operations and greater flexibility in moving our production to markets with more favorable pricing. Since closing these acquisitions, we have focused on the reduction of operating expenses, optimization of natural gas gathering and compression facilities and the identification of development project opportunities. We have enhanced our well performance. In addition, we have sizeable gathering and compression operations and a significant infrastructure of oil and natural gas gather facilities which is used to gathering and deliver natural gas to costumers and transportation pipelines and which will benefit the economics of any future drilling.

 

As of June 30, 2018, we owned working interests in 3,800 gross wells (3,400 net) and royalty interests located in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, and California and had leasehold positions in approximately 194,000 net developed acres and approximately 229,000 net undeveloped acres. Approximately 42% of the undeveloped acreage is held by production and of the remaining undeveloped acreage, approximately 68% have lease terms of greater than five years remaining in the primary term or contractual extension periods.

  

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As of June 30, 2018, Carbon Appalachia owned working interests in 5,200 gross wells (4,800 net) located in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, and had leasehold positions in approximately 851,000 net developed acres and approximately 373,000 net undeveloped acres. Approximately 74% of the undeveloped acreage is held by production and of the remaining undeveloped acreage, approximately 89% have lease terms of greater than five years remaining in the primary term or contractual extension periods. As described below, as of June 30, 2018, our proportionate share in Carbon Appalachia was 27.24%.

 

Carbon California is utilizing the revenues from its sales to perform scheduled maintenance and recompletion projects.

 

Our oil and natural gas assets and those of our equity investee contain an inventory of parallel construction properties and potential drilling locations which may provide drilling and completion opportunities when oil and natural gas commodity prices warrant capital investment to develop the properties.

  

Recent Developments and Factors Affecting Comparability

  

We are continually evaluating producing property and land acquisition opportunities in our operating areas and our equity investee’s operating area which would expand our or our equity investee’s operations and provide attractive risk adjusted rates of return on invested capital. The drilling of additional oil and natural gas wells is contingent on our expectation of future oil and natural gas prices. 

 

Consolidation of Carbon California

 

On February 1, 2018, Yorktown exercised a warrant it held to purchase shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $7.20 per share (the “ California Warrant ” ), resulting in the issuance of 1,527,778 shares of our common stock in exchange for Yorktown’s Class A Units of Carbon California representing approximately 46.96% of the outstanding Class A Units of Carbon California and a profits interest of approximately 38.59%. After giving effect to the exercise on February 1, 2018, we owned 56.4% of the voting and profits interests of Carbon California. As of February 1, 2018, we consolidate Carbon California for financial reporting purposes.

 

Closing of the Seneca Acquisition

 

In October 2017, Carbon California signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement to acquire 309 operated and one non-operated oil wells covering approximately 5,700 gross acres (5,500 net), and fee interests in and to certain lands, situated in the Ventura Basin, together with associated wells, pipelines, facilities, equipment and other property rights for a purchase price of $43.0 million, subject to customary and standard purchase price adjustments, from Seneca Resources Corporation (the “ Seneca Acquisition ”). We contributed approximately $5.0 million to Carbon California to fund our portion of the purchase price with the remainder funded by Prudential Capital Energy Partners, L.P. and debt. We raised our $5.0 million through the issuance of 50,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”), to Yorktown. The Seneca Acquisition closed on May 1, 2018 with an effective date as of October 1, 2017. We recorded $639,000 in ARO and $330,000 in assumed liabilities in connection with the Seneca Acquisition. Below is the summary of the assets acquired (in thousands):

 

Identifiable assets acquired:      
Assets:      
Proved oil and gas properties   $ 37,386  
Unproved oil and gas properties     100  
Other property and equipment     545  
Intangible assets     300  
Total identified assets   $ 38,331  

  

Reverse Stock Split

 

Our stockholders and board of directors approved a reverse stock split of our common stock, effective March 15, 2017, pursuant to which every 20 shares of issued and outstanding common stock became one share of common stock and no fractional shares were issued. All references to the number of shares of common stock and per share amounts give retroactive effect to the reverse stock split for all periods presented. In connection with the reverse stock split, the number of authorized shares decreased from 200,000,000 to 10,000,000. On June 14, 2018, we increased the number of authorized shares of our common stock from 10,000,000 to 35,000,000.

   

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Preferred Stock Issuance to Yorktown

 

In connection with the closing of the Seneca Acquisition, we raised $5.0 million through the issuance of 50,000 shares of Preferred Stock, to Yorktown.

 

Principal Components of Our Cost Structure

 

Lease operating expenses.  These are costs incurred to bring oil and natural gas out of the ground and to market, together with the costs incurred to maintain our producing properties. Such costs include maintenance, repairs and workover expenses related to our oil and natural gas properties.

 

Transportation and gathering costs.  Transportation and gathering costs are incurred to bring oil and natural gas to market. Gathering refers to using groups of small pipelines to move the oil and natural gas from several wells into a major pipeline, or in case of oil, into a tank battery.

  

Production and property taxes.   Production taxes consist of severance and property taxes and are paid on oil and natural gas produced based on a percentage of market prices or at fixed rates established by federal, state or local taxing authorities.
   
Depreciation, amortization and impairment . We use the full cost method of accounting for oil and gas properties. All costs incidental to the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas properties, including costs of undeveloped leasehold, dry holes and leasehold equipment, are capitalized. We perform a quarterly ceiling test. The full cost ceiling test is a limitation on capitalized costs prescribed by the SEC. The ceiling test is not a fair value-based measurement; rather, it is a standardized mathematical calculation that compares the net capitalized costs of our full cost pool to estimated discounted cash flows. Should the net capitalized cost exceed the sum of the estimated discounted cash flows, a ceiling test write-down would be recognized to the extent of the excess.

 

We perform our ceiling tests based on average first-of-the-month prices during the twelve-month period prior to the reporting date. For six months ended June 30, 2018, we did not incur a ceiling test impairment.

 

Depletion.  Depletion is calculated using capitalized costs in the full cost pool, including estimated asset retirement costs and estimated future expenditures to be incurred in developing proved reserves, net of estimated salvage values and depleted based on a unit-of-production method.

 

General and administrative expense.   These costs include payroll and benefits for our corporate staff, non-cash stock-based compensation, costs of maintaining our offices, costs of managing our production, development and acquisition operations, franchise taxes, audit, tax, legal and other professional fees and legal compliance. Certain of these costs are recovered as management reimbursements in place with Carbon California and Carbon Appalachia.

 

Interest expense.  We finance a portion of our working capital requirements for drilling and completion activities and acquisitions with borrowings under our credit facilities. As a result, we incur interest expense that is affected by both fluctuations in interest rates and our financing decisions.

 

Income tax expense.  We are subject to state and federal income taxes but typically have not been in a tax paying position for regular federal income taxes, primarily due to the current deductibility of intangible drilling costs (“ IDC ”) and net operating loss (“ NOL ”) carryforwards. We pay alternative minimum tax, state income or franchise taxes where IDC or NOL deductions do not exceed taxable income or where state income or franchise taxes are determined on another basis.

 

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (“ TCJA ”) was enacted. The TCJA significantly changes the U.S. corporate tax law by, among other things, lowering the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% beginning in January 2018. FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes , requires companies to recognize the impact of the changes in tax law in the period of enactment.

 

Amounts recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, related to the TCJA principally relate to the reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate to 21%, which resulted in (i) income tax expense of approximately $6.0 million from the revaluation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities as of the date of enactment as well as (ii) an income tax benefit totaling $74,000 related to a reduction in our existing valuation allowances relating to refundable Alternative Minimum Tax credits. Reasonable estimates were made based on our analysis of the remeasurement of our deferred tax assets and liabilities and valuation allowances under tax reform. These provisional amounts may be adjusted in future periods if additional information is obtained or further clarification and guidance is issued by regulatory authorities regarding the application of the law.

 

Other provisions of the TCJA that may impact income taxes in future years include (i) a limitation on the current deductibility of net interest expense in excess of 30% of adjusted taxable income, (ii) a limitation on the usage of NOLs generated after 2017 to 80% of taxable income, (iii) the current deductibility of tangible drilling costs, (iv) performance-based compensation in determining the excessive compensation limitation, and (iv) the unlimited carryforward of NOLs.

    

  32  

 

 

  Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2017

 

The following discussion and analysis relates to items that have affected our results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. The following table sets forth for the periods presented our selected historical unaudited consolidated statements of operations and production data and does not include results of operations from Carbon Appalachia.

 

    Three Months Ended        
    June 30,     Percent  
(in thousands except production and per unit data)   2018     2017     Change  
Revenue:                  
Natural gas sales   $ 3,523     $ 4,023       (12 %)
Natural gas liquids sales     550       -       *  
Oil sales     8,091       1,146       606 %
Commodity derivative (loss) gain     (6,022 )     998       *  
Other income     6       10       (40 %)
Total revenues     6,148       6,177       (0.5 %)
                         
Expenses:                        
Lease operating expenses     3,970       1,501       165 %
Transportation costs     1,498       525       185 %
Production and property taxes     615       443       39 %
General and administrative     2,542       1,748       114 %
General and administrative - related party reimbursement     (1,096 )     (225 )     366 %
Depreciation, depletion and amortization     1,979       662       198 %
Accretion of asset retirement obligations     162       78       108 %
Total expenses     9,670       4,732       117 %
                         
Operating income (loss)   $ (3,522 )   $ 1,445       *  
                         
Other income and (expense):                        
Interest expense     (1,201 )     (254 )     (372 %)
Warrant derivative gain     -       853       *  
Equity investment income (loss)     525       (7 )     *  
Total other income (expense)   $ (676 )   $ 592       (214 %)
                         
Production data:                        
Natural gas (Mcf)     1,525,436       1,196,088       28 %
Oil (Bbl)     112,776       24,457       361 %
Natural gas liquids (Bbl)     13,897       -       *  
Combined (Mcfe)     2,285,474       1,342,830       70 %
                         
Average prices before effects of hedges:                        
Natural gas (per Mcf)   $ 2.31     $ 3.36       (31 %)
Oil (per Bbl)   $ 71.74     $ 46.86       53 %
Natural gas liquids (per Bbl)   $ 39.50       -        
Combined (per Mcfe)   $ 5.32     $ 3.85       160 %
                         
Average prices after effects of hedges**:                        
Natural gas (per Mcf)   $ 2.44     $ 3.83       (36 %)
Oil and (per Bbl)   $ 63.89     $ 64.64       (6 %)
Natural gas liquids (per Bbl)   $ 39.50     $ -        *  
Combined (per Mcfe)   $ 5.02     $ 4.59       1 %
                         
Average costs (per Mcfe):                        
Lease operating expenses   $ 1.74     $ 1.12       55 %
Transportation costs   $ 0.66     $ 0.39       69 %
Production and property taxes   $ 0.27     $ 0.33       (18 %)
Cash-based general and administrative expense, net of related party reimbursement   $ 0.55     $ 1.01       (38 %)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization   $ 0.87     $ 0.49       78 %

    

* Not meaningful or applicable

 

** Includes settled commodity derivative gains and losses. 

    

  33  

 

 

Oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids sales - Revenues from sales of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids increased approximately 135% to approximately $12.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, from approximately $5.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. This increase was primarily due to the consolidation of Carbon California on February 1, 2018, which contributed approximately $7.4 million in oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas sales. Additionally, we had an increase in oil prices of $24.88 per Bbl (or 53%), before hedges, and a decrease in natural gas prices, before hedge, of $1.05 per Mcf (or 31%).

 

Commodity derivative gains and losses - To achieve more predictable cash flows and to reduce our exposure to downward price fluctuations, we enter into derivative contracts using fixed price swap contracts and costless collars. Because we do not designate these derivatives as cash flow hedges, they do not receive hedge accounting treatment and all mark-to-market gains or losses, as well as settlement gains or losses on the derivative instruments, are currently recognized in our results of operations. The unrealized gains and losses represent the changes in the fair value of these contracts as oil and natural gas futures prices fluctuate relative to the fixed price we will receive from these contracts. For the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, we had commodity derivative losses of approximately $6.0 million and gains of approximately $998,000, respectively.

 

Lease operating expenses- Lease operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2018, increased approximately 165% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2017. This increase is primarily attributed to the consolidation of Carbon California properties. On a per Mcfe basis, lease operating expenses increased from $1.12 per Mcfe for the three months ended June 30, 2017 to $1.74 per Mcfe for the three months ended June 30, 2018. This increase was primarily attributed to the consolidation of Carbon California which is comprised of oil properties and have higher lease operating expenses per unit of production compared to Carbon’s Appalachian based production which is primarily comprised of natural gas properties.

 

Transportation costs- Transportation costs for the three months ended June 30, 2018, increased approximately 185% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2017. This increase is attributed to an increase in production as a result of the consolidation of Carbon California that occurred on February 1, 2018. On a per Mcfe basis, these expenses increased from $0.39 per Mcfe for the three months ended June 30, 2017 to $0.66 per Mcfe for the three months ended June 30, 2018. The increase on a per Mcfe basis is primarily due to higher transportation and processing costs per unit for the Carbon California properties as compared to our Appalachia properties.

 

Production and property taxes- Production and property taxes increased from approximately $443,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017, to approximately $615,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018. This increase is primarily attributable to the consolidation Carbon California as of February 1, 2018. Production and property taxes were $0.27 and $0.33 per Mcfe for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Production taxes averaged approximately 4.6% and 4.7% of oil and natural gas sales for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Ad valorem tax rates, which can fluctuate by year, are determined by individual counties where we have production and are assessed on our sales one or two years in arrears depending on the location of the production.

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A)- DD&A increased from approximately $662,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017, to approximately $2.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, primarily due to an increase in oil and natural gas production. On a per Mcfe basis, DD&A increased from $0.49 per Mcfe for the three months ended June 30, 2017 to $0.87 per Mcfe for the three months ended June 30, 2018. The increase in depletion rate is primarily attributable to the consolidation of Carbon California in the first quarter of 2018 which increased our blended depletion rate.

 

General and administrative expenses- Cash-based general and administrative expenses, net of related party reimbursement, were approximately $1.3 million for both three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. Non-cash stock-based compensation and other general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are summarized in the following table:

  

General and administrative expenses   Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands)               Increase/  
    2018     2017     (Decrease)  
                   
Stock-based compensation   $ 190     $ 219     $ (29 )
Other general and administrative expenses     2,352       1,529       823  
General and administrative - related party reimbursement     (1,096 )     (225 )     (871 )
General and administrative expense, net   $ 1,446     $ 1,523     $ (77 )

  

Interest expense - Interest expense increased from approximately $254,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017, to approximately $1.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, primarily due to the consolidation of Carbon California on February 1, 2018, higher interest rates on our credit facility and higher debt balances on our credit facility for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. 

    

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Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2017

 

The following discussion and analysis relates to items that have affected our results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. The following table sets forth for the periods presented our selected historical unaudited consolidated statements of operations and production data and does not include results of operations from Carbon Appalachia.

 

    Six Months Ended        
    June 30,     Percent  
(in thousands except production and per unit data)   2018     2017     Change  
Revenue:                  
Natural gas sales   $ 7,462     $ 8,017       (7 %)
Natural gas liquids sales     713       -       *  
Oil sales     11,074       2,192       405 %
Commodity derivative (loss) gain     (6,647 )     3,141       *  
Other income     19       20       (5 %)
Total revenues     12,621       13,370       (6 %)
                         
Expenses:                        
Lease operating expenses     6,058       2,706       124 %
Transportation costs     2,353       1,015       132 %
Production and property taxes     1,048       855       23 %
General and administrative     5,491       3,494       57 %
General and administrative - related party reimbursement     (2,213 )     (300 )     637 %
Depreciation, depletion and amortization     3,471       1,234       181 %
Accretion of asset retirement obligations     303       155       96 %
Total expenses     16,511       9,159       80 %
                         
Operating income (loss)   $ (3,890 )   $ 4,211       *  
                         
Other income and (expense):                        
Interest expense     (2,203 )     (522 )     (322 %)
Warrant derivative gain     225       1,683       (87 %)
Gain on derecognized equity investments in affiliate-Carbon California     5,390       -       *  
Equity investment income (loss)     962       -       *  
Total other income (expense)   $ 4,374     $ 1,161       277 %
                         
Production data:                        
Natural gas (Mcf)     2,848,528       2,359,995       21 %
Oil (Bbl)     159,879       45,111       256 %
Natural gas liquids (Bbl)     18,399       -       *  
Combined (Mcfe)     3,918,196       2,627,661       49 %
                         
Average prices before effects of hedges:                        
Natural gas (per Mcf)   $ 2.62     $ 3.40       (23 %)
Oil (per Bbl)   $ 69.26     $ 48.59       42 %
Natural gas liquids (per Bbl)   $ 38.70       -        
Combined (per Mcfe)   $ 4.91     $ 3.89       21 %
                         
Average prices after effects of hedges**:                        
Natural gas (per Mcf)   $ 2.62     $ 4.27       (37 %)
Oil and (per Bbl)   $ 69.26     $ 73.09       (17 %)
Natural gas liquids (per Bbl)   $ 38.70     $ -        *  
Combined (per Mcfe)   $ 4.91     $ 5.08       (12 %)
                         
Average costs (per Mcfe):                        
Lease operating expenses   $ 1.55     $ 1.03       50 %
Transportation costs   $ 0.60     $ 0.39       54 %
Production and property taxes   $ 0.27     $ 0.33       (18 %)
                         
Cash-based general and administrative expense, net of related party reimbursement   $ 0.71     $ 1.01       15 %
Depreciation, depletion and amortization   $ 0.89     $ 0.47       87 %

  

* Not meaningful or applicable

 

** Includes settled derivative gains and losses. 

  

  35  

 

 

Oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids sales - Revenues from sales of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids increased approximately 89% to approximately $19.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 from approximately $10.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. This increase was primarily due to the consolidation of Carbon California on February 1, 2018 which contributed approximately $9.7 million in oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids sales.

 

Commodity derivative gains and losses - To achieve more predictable cash flows and to reduce our exposure to downward price fluctuations, we enter into derivative contracts using fixed price swap contracts and costless collars. Because we do not designate these derivatives as cash flow hedges, they do not receive hedge accounting treatment and all mark-to-market gains or losses, as well as settlement gains or losses on the derivative instruments, are currently recognized in our results of operations. The unrealized gains and losses represent the changes in the fair value of these contracts as oil and natural gas futures prices fluctuate relative to the fixed price we will receive from these contracts. For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, we had commodity derivative losses of approximately $6.6 million and gains of approximately $3.1 million, respectively.

 

Lease operating expenses- Lease operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2018 increased approximately 124% compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017. This increase is primarily attributed to the consolidation of Carbon California. On a per Mcfe basis, lease operating expenses increased from $1.03 per Mcfe for the six months ended June 30, 2017 to $1.54 per Mcfe for the six months ended June 30, 2018. This increase was primarily attributed to the consolidation of Carbon California, which is comprised of oil properties that have higher lease operating expenses per unit of production compared to Carbon’s Appalachian based production that is primarily comprised of natural gas properties.

 

Transportation costs- Transportation costs for the six months ended June 30, 2018, increased approximately 132% compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017. This increase is attributed to an increase in production as a result of the consolidation of Carbon California which occurred on February 1, 2018. On a per Mcfe basis, these expenses increased from $0.39 per Mcfe for the six months ended June 30, 2017, to $0.60 per Mcfe for the six months ended June 30, 2018. The increase on a per Mcfe basis is primarily due to higher transportation and processing costs per unit for the Carbon California properties as compared to our Appalachia properties.

 

Production and property taxes- Production and property taxes increased from approximately $855,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017 to approximately $1.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018. This increase is primarily attributed to the consolidation Carbon California as of February 1, 2018. Production and property taxes were $0.27 and $0.33 per Mcfe for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Production taxes averaged approximately 5.2% and 4.5% of oil and natural gas sales for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Ad valorem tax rates, which can fluctuate by year, are determined by individual counties where we have production and are assessed on our sales one or two years in arrears depending on the location of the production.

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A)- DD&A increased from approximately $1.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, to approximately $3.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, primarily due to an increase in oil and natural gas production. On a per Mcfe basis, DD&A increased from $0.47 per Mcfe for the six months ended June 30, 2017 to $0.88 per Mcfe for the six months ended June 30, 2018. The increase in depletion rate is primarily attributable to the consolidation of Carbon California in the first quarter of 2018 which increased our blended depletion rate.

  

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General and administrative expenses- Cash-based general and administrative expenses, net of related party reimbursement, increased from approximately $2.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, to approximately $2.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 Non-cash stock-based compensation and other general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, are summarized in the following table:

 

General and administrative expenses   Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands)               Increase/  
    2018     2017     (Decrease)  
                   
Stock-based compensation   $ 483     $ 539     $ (56 )
Other general and administrative expenses     5,008       2,955       2,053  
General and administrative - related party reimbursement     (2,213 )     (300 )     (1,913 )
General and administrative expense, net   $ 3,278     $ 3,194     $ 84  

  

Interest expense - Interest expense increased from approximately $522,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017, to approximately $2.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, primarily due the consolidation of Carbon California on February 1, 2018, higher interest rates on our credit facility and higher debt balances on our credit facility for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. 

 

Carbon Appalachia

 

The following table sets forth selected historical unaudited consolidated statements of operations and production data for Carbon Appalachia.

 

(in thousands)   As of 
June 30,
2018
 
Current assets   $ 21,475  
Total oil and gas properties, net   $ 83,541  
Total other property and equipment, net   $ 10,842  
Other long-term assets   $ 1,109  
Current liabilities   $ 14,531  
Non-current liabilities   $ 58,028  
Total members’ equity   $ 44,408  

  

    Three months ended     April 3,
2017 to
 
(in thousands)   June 30,
2018
    June 30,
2017
 
Revenues   $ 18,679     $ 1,557  
Operating expenses     16,221       1,757  
Income from operations     2,458       (200 )
Net income   $ 1,853     $ (329 )

   

    Six months ended     April 3,
2017 to
 
(in thousands)   June 30,
2018
    June 30,
2017
 
Revenues   $ 44,422     $ 1,557  
Operating expenses     39,756       1,757  
Income from operations     4,666       (200 )
Net income   $ 3,479     $ (329 )

  

  37  

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our exploration, development and acquisition activities may require us to make significant operating and capital expenditures. Historically, we have used cash flow from operations and our credit facilities as our primary sources of liquidity and on occasion, we have engaged in the sale of assets. Changes in the market prices for oil and natural gas directly impact our level of cash flow generated from operations. The prices we receive for our production are determined by prevailing market conditions and greatly influence our revenue, cash flow, profitability, access to capital and future rate of growth. We employ a commodity hedging strategy in an attempt to moderate the effects of commodity price fluctuations on our cash flow.

 

The following tables reflect our outstanding derivative agreements as of June 30, 2018:

 

Our Physical Delivery Contracts and Oil and Gas Derivatives

  

    Natural Gas Swaps     Natural Gas Collars     Oil Swaps  
          Weighted           Weighted           Weighted  
          Average           Average Price           Average  
Year   MMBtu     Price (a)     MMBtu     Range (a)     Bbl     Price (b)  
                                     
2018     1,740,000     $ 3.00       -       -       35,500     $ 53.23  
2019     2,596,000     $ 2.86       -       -       48,000     $ 53.76  

  

  (a) NYMEX Henry Hub Natural Gas futures contract for the respective period.

 

  (b) NYMEX Light Sweet Crude West Texas Intermediate futures contract for the respective period.

  

Carbon California Physical Delivery Contracts and Oil and Gas Derivatives

   

    Natural Gas Swaps     Natural Gas Collars     Oil Swaps  
          Weighted           Weighted           Weighted           Weighted  
          Average           Average Price     WTI     Average     Brent     Average  
Year   MMBtu     Price (a)     MMBtu     Range (a)     Bbl     Price (b)     Bbl     Price (c)  
                                                 
2018     180,000     $ 3.03       -       -       85,809     $ 53.20       110,598     $ 66.78  
2019     -     $ -       360,000       $2.60 - $3.03       139,797     $ 51.77       137,486     $ 66.35  
2020     -     $ -       -       -       73,147     $ 50.12       123,882     $ 65.03  
2021     -     $ -       -       -       -     $ -       28,641     $ 66.35  

 

  (a) NYMEX Henry Hub Natural Gas futures contract for the respective period.

 

  (b) NYMEX Light Sweet Crude West Texas Intermediate futures contract for the respective period.
     
  (c)   Brent future contracts for the respective period.

 

For our swap instruments, we receive a fixed price for the hedged commodity and pay a floating price to the counterparty. The fixed-price payment and the floating-price payment are netted, resulting in a net amount due to or from the counterparty.

 

Costless collars are designed to establish floor and ceiling prices on anticipated future oil and gas production. The ceiling establishes a maximum price that we will receive for the volumes under contract, while the floor establishes a minimum price.

 

This hedge program mitigates uncertainty regarding cash flow that we will receive with respect to a portion of our expected production through 2021. Future hedging activities may result in reduced income or even financial losses to us. See “ Risk Factors- We have entered into natural gas and oil derivative contracts and may in the future enter into additional commodity derivative contracts for a portion of our production, which may result in future cash payments or prevent us from receiving the full benefit of increases in commodity prices ,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details of the risks associated with our hedging activities. In the future, we may determine to increase or decrease our hedging positions.

 

We have derivative contracts with BP Energy Company pursuant to ISDA Master Agreements. BP Energy Company is currently our only derivative contract counterparty.

  

  38  

 

 

Management Reimbursements

 

In our role as manager of Carbon California and Carbon Appalachia, we receive management reimbursements. We received approximately $750,000 and $1.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, from Carbon Appalachia, and $50,000 for the one month ended January 31, 2018, from Carbon California. These reimbursements are included in general and administrative - related party reimbursement on our unaudited consolidated statements of operations. Effective February 1, 2018, the management reimbursements received from Carbon California are eliminated at consolidation. This elimination includes $350,000 for the period February 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018.

 

In addition to the management reimbursements, approximately $298,000 and $595,000 in general and administrative expenses were reimbursed for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 from Carbon Appalachia, and $14,000 for the one month ended January 31, 2018, by Carbon California. The elimination of Carbon California in consolidation includes approximately $42,000 in general and administrative expenses that were reimbursed for the period February 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018.

 

Operating Reimbursements

 

In our role as operator of Carbon Appalachia, we receive reimbursements of operating expenses. These expenses are recorded directly to receivable - related party on our unaudited consolidated balance sheets and are therefore not included in our operating expenses on our unaudited consolidated statements of operations.

 

Historically, the primary source of liquidity has been our credit facilities (described below). We may use other sources of capital, including the issuance of debt or equity securities, to fund acquisitions or maintain our financial flexibility.

 

If low commodity prices continue, we may continue to defer our planned capital expenditures. We believe that our financial flexibility to adjust our spending levels will provide us with sufficient liquidity to meet our financial obligations should economic conditions deteriorate. See “ Risk Factors ” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the risks and uncertainties that affect our business and financial and operating results.

 

Bank Credit Facility 

 

Our Credit Facility

 

In 2016, we entered into a 4-year $100.0 million senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility with LegacyTexas Bank. LegacyTexas Bank is the initial lender and acts as administrative agent.

 

The credit facility has a maximum availability of $100.0 million (with a $500,000 sublimit for letters of credit), which availability is subject to the amount of the borrowing base. The borrowing base is subject to semi-annual redeterminations in March and September. On March 28, 2018, the borrowing base was increased to $25.0 million, of which approximately $23.1 million was drawn as of June 30, 2018. Our effective interest rate as of June 30, 2018 was 5.54%. On July 11, 2018, the borrowing base increased from $25.0 million to $28.0 million.

 

On March 27, 2018, the credit facility was amended to revise the calculation of the Leverage Ratio from a Debt/EBITDA ratio to a Net Debt/Adjusted EBITDA ratio, reset the testing period used in the determination of Adjusted EBITDA, eliminated the minimum current ratio and substituted alternative liquidity requirements, including maximum allowed current liabilities in relation to current assets, a minimum liquidity covenant of $750,000 and maximum aged trade payable requirements. As of June 30, 2018, we were in compliance with our financial covenants.

  

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Carbon California’s Private Placement Notes

 

On February 15, 2017, Carbon California (i) entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the “ Note Purchase Agreement ”) for the issuance and sale of Senior Secured Revolving Notes to Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey and Prudential Insurance Company of America with a revolving borrowing capacity of $25.0 million (the “ Senior Revolving Notes ”) which mature on February 15, 2022 and (ii) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “ Securities Purchase Agreement ”) with Prudential for the issuance and sale of $10.0 million of Senior Subordinated Notes (the “ Subordinated Notes” ) due February 15, 2024. We are not a guarantor of the Senior Revolving Notes or the Subordinated Notes. The closing of the Note Purchase Agreement and the Securities Purchase Agreement on February 15, 2017, resulted in the sale and issuance by Carbon California of (i) Senior Revolving Notes in the principal amount of $10.0 million and (ii) Subordinated Notes in the original principal amount of $10.0 million. The maximum principal amount available under the Senior Revolving Notes is based upon the borrowing base attributable to Carbon California’s proved oil and gas reserves which is to be determined upon delivery of any reserve report. On May 1, 2018, the borrowing base increased to $41.0 million, of which $38.5 million is outstanding as of June 30, 2018. On May 1, 2018, Carbon California entered into a securities purchase agreement with Prudential, which resulted in (i) the issuance and sale of $3.0 million of Senior Subordinated Notes due February 15, 2024 and (ii) the issuance of 585 Class A Units of Carbon California as partial consideration for the Subordinated Notes. The ability of Carbon California to make distributions to its owners, including us, is dependent upon the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement and Securities Purchase Agreement, which currently prohibit distributions unless they are agreed to by Prudential.

 

Interest is payable quarterly and accrues on borrowings under the Senior Revolving Notes at a rate per annum equal to either (i) the prime rate plus an applicable margin of 4.00% or (ii) the LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin of 5.00% at our option. Carbon California is obligated to pay certain fees and expenses in connection with the Senior Revolving Notes, including a commitment fee for any unused amounts of 0.50%. Interest is payable quarterly and accrues on the Subordinated Notes at a fixed rate of 12.0% per annum.

 

The Senior Revolving Notes and the Subordinated Notes contain affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, limit Carbon California’s ability to (i) incur additional debt; (ii) incur additional liens; (iii) sell, transfer or dispose of assets; (iv) merge or consolidate, wind-up, dissolve or liquidate; (v) make dividends and distributions on, or repurchases of, equity; (vi) make certain investments; (vii) enter into certain transactions with our affiliates; (viii) enter into sales-leaseback transactions; (ix) make optional or voluntary payments of debt; (x) change the nature of our business; (xi) change our fiscal year to make changes to the accounting treatment or reporting practices; (xii) amend constituent documents; and (xiii) enter into certain hedging transactions.

 

Carbon California may at any time repay the Senior Revolving Notes, in whole or in part, without penalty. Carbon California must pay down Senior Revolving Notes or provide mortgages of additional oil and natural gas properties to the extent that outstanding loans and letters of credit exceed the borrowing base. Carbon California may not voluntarily prepay the Subordinated Notes prior to February 15, 2019, and thereafter may do so subject to a premium of 3% which reduces to 0% from and after February 17, 2020. In the event the Subordinated Notes are accelerated prior to February 15, 2019, Carbon California would owe a make-whole premium calculated using a discount rate of 1% over United States Treasury securities rates, and otherwise calculated as provided in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

Additional borrowings under the Senior Revolving Notes may be used to fund field development projects and to fund future complementary acquisitions and for general working capital purposes of Carbon California.

 

As of June 30, 2018, Carbon California was in compliance with its financial covenants.

 

Carbon Appalachia’s Credit Facility

 

In 2017, Carbon Appalachia Enterprises, LLC, formerly known as Carbon Tennessee Company, LLC (“ CAE ”), a subsidiary of Carbon Appalachia, entered into a 4-year $100.0 million senior secured asset based revolving credit facility with LegacyTexas Bank with an initial borrowing base of $10.0 million (the “ CAE Credit Facility ”).

 

The CAE Credit Facility borrowing base was adjusted for acquisitions completed in 2017. Most recently, on April 30, 2018, CAE amended the CAE Credit Facility, which increased the borrowing base to $70.0 million with redeterminations as of April 1 and October 1 each year. As of June 30, 2018, there was approximately $38.0 million outstanding under the CAE Credit Facility. As of June 30, 2018, CAE was in compliance with its financial covenants.

 

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources are operating cash flow and borrowings under our credit facilities. We have also filed a registration statement with our intent to raise additional equity to be used to fund the buyout of Carbon Appalachia membership interest from Old Ironsides, pay down debt and other general corporate purposes, including to fund potential expansion capital expenditures and acquisitions. Our primary uses of funds are expenditures for acquisition, exploration and development activities, leasehold and property acquisitions, other capital expenditures and debt service.

 

Low prices for our oil and natural gas production may adversely impact our operating cash flow and amount of cash available for development activities.

  

The following table presents net cash provided by or used in operating, investing and financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

  

    Six Months Ended  
    June 30,  
(in thousands)   2018     2017  
             
Net cash provided by operating activities   $ 1,615     $ 2,336  
Net cash used in investing activities   $ (40,197 )   $ (1,437 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   $ 40,962     $ (743 )

   

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Net cash provided by or used in operating activities is primarily affected by production volumes and commodity prices, net of the effects of settlements of our derivative contracts, and changes in working capital. Operating cash flows decreased approximately $721,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to the same period in 2017. The decrease was primarily due to an increase in working capital and increased cash interest payments.

 

Net cash provided by or used in investing activities is primarily comprised of the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties, net of dispositions of oil and natural gas properties in addition to expenditures to fund our equity investment in Carbon Appalachia. Net cash used in investing activities increased approximately $38.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 primarily due to the Seneca Acquisition.

 

The increase in cash provided by financing cash flows of approximately $41.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017 was primarily due to $30.9 million in proceeds from borrowings under our credit facilities, $5.0 million in proceeds from the Preferred Stock and $5.0 million in proceeds from Prudential for the Seneca Acquisition.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

Capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, are summarized in the following table:

 

    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands)   2018     2017  
             
Unevaluated property acquisitions   $ 100     $ 215  
Oil and gas asset purchase     39,039       -  
Drilling and development     788       781  
Other     545       186  
Total capital expenditures   $ 40,472     $ 1,182  

  

Capital expenditures presented in the table above represent cash used for capital expenditures.

 

Due to low commodity prices in recent years, we have focused on the optimization and streamlining of our natural gas gathering and compression facilities and marketing arrangements to provide greater flexibility in moving production to markets with more favorable pricing. Other factors impacting the level of our capital expenditures include the cost and availability of oil field services, general economic and market conditions and weather disruptions. 

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

From time-to-time, we enter into off-balance sheet arrangements and transactions that can give rise to off-balance sheet obligations. As of June 30, 2018, the off-balance sheet arrangements and transactions that we entered into included (i) operating lease agreements, (ii) contractual obligations for which the ultimate settlement amounts are not fixed and determinable, such as natural gas transportation contracts, and (iii) oil and natural gas physical delivery contracts that are not expected to be net cash settled and are considered to be normal sales contracts and not derivatives. We do not believe that any of these arrangements are reasonably likely to materially affect our liquidity or availability of, or requirements for, capital resources.

   

Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates, Judgments, and Assumptions

 

Our critical accounting policies and estimates are set forth in “Part II. Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations- Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates, Judgments, and Assumptions ” in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. As of June 30, 2018, there have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates since our 2017 Annual Report was filed.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

The information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements other than statements of historical or present facts, that address activities, events, outcomes, and other matters that the Company plans, expects, intends, assumes, believes, budgets, predicts, forecasts, projects, estimates, or anticipates (and other similar expressions) will, should, or may occur in the future. Generally, the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “future,” “potential,” “continue,” variations of such words, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events.

  

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These forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this report and include statements with respect to, among other things:

 

  estimates of our oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas reserves;

 

  estimates of our future oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas production, including estimates of any increases or decreases in our production;

 

  our future financial condition and results of operations and acquisitions;

 

  our future revenues, cash flows, and expenses;

 

  our access to capital and our anticipated liquidity;

  

  our future business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations;

 

  our outlook on oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas prices;

 

  the amount, nature, and timing of future capital expenditures, including future development costs;

  

  our ability to access the capital markets to fund capital and other expenditures;

 

  our assessment of our counterparty risk and the ability of our counterparties to perform their future obligations; and

 

  the impact of federal, state and local political, regulatory, and environmental developments in the United States of America

  

We believe the expectations and forecasts reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, but we can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. We caution you that these forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions and are subject to all the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, incident to the exploration for and development, production, and sale of oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading “ Risk Factors ” included in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K and our First Quarter 2018 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q..

 

Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described above or elsewhere in this Form 10-Q occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

 

We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report, and we undertake no obligation to update this information to reflect events or circumstances after the filing of this report with the SEC, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we may make or persons acting on our behalf may issue.

 

ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the information otherwise required by this item.

 

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures .   

 

We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to us and our consolidated subsidiaries is made known to the officers who certify our financial reports and the Board of Directors.

 

Our Chief Executive Officer, Patrick R. McDonald, and our Chief Financial Officer, Kevin D. Struzeski, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “ Evaluation Date ”). Based on this evaluation, they believe that as of the Evaluation Date our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act (i) is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms; and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

Changes in internal control over financial reporting .   There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2018, that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

   

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings

 

We are subject to legal claims and proceedings in the ordinary course of our business. Management believes that should the controversies be resolved against us, none of the current pending proceedings would have a material adverse effect on us.

 

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

 

All sales of unregistered equity securities that occurred during the period covered by this report, and through August 13, 2018, have been previously reported on a Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

ITEM 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Carbon Natural Gas Company, dated as of April 27, 2011, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(a) to Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2017.
3.2   Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Carbon Natural Gas Company, dated as of July 14, 2011, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to Form 8-K filed on July 19, 2011.
3.3   Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Carbon Natural Gas Company, dated as of March 15, 2017, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K filed on March 16, 2017.
3.4  

Certificate of Correction to the Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Carbon Natural Gas Company, dated as of March 23, 2018, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2018.

3.5  

Certificate of Designation with respect to Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to Form 8-K filed on April 9, 2018.

3.6   Amended and Restated Bylaws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to Form 8-K filed on May 5, 2015.
3.7   Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Bylaws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to Form 8-K filed on June 4, 2018.
10.1*  

Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018, by and among Old Ironsides Fund II-A Portfolio Holding Company, LLC, Old Ironsides Fund II-B Portfolio Holding Company, LLC, and Carbon Natural Gas Company.

10.2*   Letter Amendment, dated July 20, 2018, to Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018, by and among Old Ironsides Fund II-A Portfolio Holding Company, LLC, Old Ironsides Fund II-B Portfolio Holding Company, LLC, and Carbon Natural Gas Company.
31.1*   Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) - Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
31.2*   Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) - Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
32.1*†   Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*†   Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101*   Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T.

   

* Filed herewith
Not considered to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section

   

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Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) 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.

 

  CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION
  (Registrant)
   
Date: August 13, 2018 By: /s/ Patrick R. McDonald
    PATRICK R. MCDONALD,
    Chief Executive Officer
     
Date: August 13, 2018 By: /s/ Kevin D. Struzeski
    KEVIN D. STRUZESKI
    Chief Financial Officer

 

  

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Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution

 

MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of May 4, 2018 (the “ Execution Date ”), is made and entered into by and among Old Ironsides Fund II-A Portfolio Holding Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ OIE Fund II-A ”) and Old Ironsides Fund II-B Portfolio Holding Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ OIE Fund II-B , ” and each of OIE Fund II-A and OIE Fund II-B, a “ Seller , ” and together, the “ Sellers ”), and Carbon Natural Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (the “ Purchaser ”) and concerns the Class A Units of Carbon Appalachian Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) held by the Sellers. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to such terms in the LLC Agreement (as defined herein).

 

A. The Company is engaged in the business of evaluating, acquiring, exploring, drilling, developing, producing and transporting oil, gas and other hydrocarbons (the “ Business ”) within the AMI (as such term is defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement dated August 15, 2017 (the “ LLC Agreement ”) through the operations of direct and indirect subsidiaries (each, a “ Subsidiary ” and collectively, the “ Subsidiaries ”);

 

B. The Sellers collectively own Twenty-seven Thousand One Hundred Ninety Five Class A Units of the Company, (the “ Subject Class A Units ”), which constitutes Seventy-three and one-half percent (73.50%) of the issued and outstanding Class A Units of the Company (the respective ownership of the Subject Class A Units between the Sellers is set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto; and

 

C. The Purchaser desires to purchase from the Sellers and Sellers desire to sell to the Purchaser, all of the Subject Class A Units, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter expressed, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1
PURCHASE AND SALE

 

1.1  Purchase and Sale of Subject Class A Units . Upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and in reliance on the representations, warranties and covenants contained herein, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Sellers, and the Sellers hereby agree to sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to the Purchaser all of the Subject Class A Units.

 

1.2  Purchase Price . The price to be paid for the Subject Class A Units shall be Fifty-Six Million Eight Hundred Five Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty-Four Dollars ($56,805,854.00) (the “ Base Purchase Price ,” and as adjusted in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof, the “ Purchase Price ”). The Purchase Price shall be paid in cash at Closing, allocated and payable to each Seller in the respective percentages set forth on Exhibit A opposite such Seller’s name.

 

1.3  Purchase Price Adjustments .

 

(a) Attached hereto as Exhibit B is a spreadsheet setting forth the calculation and components of the Purchase Price as of December 31, 2017.

 

 

 

(b) The Sellers and the Purchaser acknowledge and agree that the Base Purchase Price and the Purchase Price shall be calculated in accordance with Exhibit B using the same methodology thereof. The Purchase Price shall be calculated by adjusting the following items reflected in Exhibit B and recomputing the line item identified as “Equity Purchase Price” under the heading “Old Ironsides”: (i)  the Priority Amount allocable to the outstanding Class A Units as of December 31, 2017 shall be adjusted to reflect the Priority Amount allocable to the outstanding Class A Units on the day immediately prior to the Closing Date, (ii)  the Company’s Working Capital as of December 31, 2017 shall be adjusted to reflect the Company’s Working Capital on the day immediately preceding the Closing Date, and (iii)  the outstanding principal amount owed by Carbon Appalachia Enterprises, LLC to the Lenders under that certain Credit Agreement dated April 3, 2017, as amended (the “ Credit Agreement ”), as of December 31, 2017, shall be adjusted to reflect the outstanding principal amount owed to the Lenders under the Credit Agreement on the day immediately preceding the Closing Date.

 

(c) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Working Capital ” means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, as of the time of determination, the positive or negative amount obtained by subtracting (x) the sum of all current Liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any income Tax Liabilities, any outstanding principal amount under the Credit Agreement and any fees associated with the amendment of the Credit Agreement) from (y) the sum of all current assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any income Tax assets), in each case as of such time of determination. Working Capital shall be calculated in accordance with the methodology and the sample calculations set forth on Exhibit C and otherwise in accordance with GAAP.

 

(d)  Preliminary Settlement Statement . Not later than two (2) Business Days prior to Closing, Purchaser shall prepare and submit to Sellers for review a draft settlement statement (the “ Preliminary Settlement Statement ”) that shall set forth Purchaser’s good faith estimate of the Purchase Price, reflecting each adjustment made in accordance with this Agreement and the calculation of the adjustments used to determine such amount. The Preliminary Settlement Statement will be used to adjust the Base Purchase Price at Closing.

 

(e)  Final Settlement Statement . On or before ninety (90) days after Closing, a final settlement statement (the “ Final Settlement Statement ”) will be prepared by Purchaser and delivered to Sellers, setting forth Purchaser’s good faith calculation of the Purchase Price and reflecting each adjustment made in accordance with this Agreement and the resulting final Purchase Price (the “ Final Price ”). As soon as practicable, and in any event within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Final Settlement Statement, Sellers shall return to Purchaser a written report containing any proposed changes to the Final Settlement Statement and an explanation of any such changes and the reasons therefor (the “ Dispute Notice ”). Any changes not so specified in the Dispute Notice shall be deemed waived, and Purchaser’s determinations with respect to all such elements of the Final Settlement Statement that are not addressed specifically in the Dispute Notice shall prevail. If Sellers fail to timely deliver a Dispute Notice to Purchaser containing changes Sellers propose to be made to the Final Settlement Statement, the Final Settlement Statement as delivered by Purchaser will be deemed to be correct and will be final and binding on the parties hereto and not subject to further audit or arbitration. If the Final Price set forth in the Final Settlement Statement is mutually agreed upon in writing by Sellers and Purchaser, the Final Settlement Statement and the Final Price, shall be final and binding on the parties hereto and not subject to further audit or arbitration. Any difference in the Purchase Price as paid at Closing pursuant to the Preliminary Settlement Statement and the Final Price shall be paid by the owing party within five (5) Business Days of final determination of such owed amounts in accordance herewith to the owed party.

 

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(f)  Disputes . Sellers and Purchaser shall work together in good faith to resolve any matters addressed in the Dispute Notice. If Sellers and Purchaser are unable to resolve all of the matters addressed in the Dispute Notice within ten (10) Business Days after the delivery of such Dispute Notice by Sellers to Purchaser, either party hereto may, upon notice to the other party hereto, submit all unresolved matters addressed in the Dispute Notice to arbitration in accordance with this Section 1.3(f) by such Person as the parties hereto may mutually select in writing (the “ Accounting Arbitrator ”), together with the Dispute Notice, the Final Settlement Statement and any other documentation such party may desire to submit. If the parties hereto fail to agree on an Accounting Arbitrator within ten (10) Business Days after a party’s election to submit such matters to arbitration under this Section 1.3(f) , then either party hereto may request the Denver, Colorado office of the American Arbitration Association to select the Accounting Arbitrator. Within ten (10) Business Days after receiving the respective submissions of the parties hereto, the Accounting Arbitrator shall render a decision choosing either Sellers’ position or Purchaser’s position with respect to each matter addressed in any Dispute Notice, based on the materials described above. Any decision rendered by the Accounting Arbitrator pursuant hereto shall be final, conclusive and binding on Sellers and Purchaser and enforceable against any of the parties hereto in any court of competent jurisdiction. The costs of the Accounting Arbitrator shall be borne fifty percent (50%) by Sellers and fifty percent (50%) by Purchaser.

 

(g)  Cooperation . Purchaser and shall cooperate and provide Sellers with access to the books, records and personnel of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Purchaser and its Affiliates as reasonably requested by Sellers and related to the matters addressed in this Section 1.3 .

 

ARTICLE 2
CLOSING

 

2.1  Closing . The closing of the sale and purchase of the Subject Class A Units (the “ Closing ”) shall take place on the third Business Day following the date on which there first occurs the satisfaction (or, to the extent permitted, the waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 (other than any condition which by its nature is to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to satisfaction of all such conditions) or at such other place, time and date as may be agreed by Seller and Purchaser (such date upon which the Closing occurs, the “ Closing Date ”) and the benefits of the transaction, including, but not limited to the entitlement to the revenue, deductions, expenses and other financial and/or Tax matters, shall be effective as of 12:01 a.m. on that date. The Closing shall take place at the offices of the Purchaser, at 1700 Broadway, Suite 1170, Denver, Colorado 80290, at such time as the parties may agree, or via email exchange of documents. The date of the Closing is sometimes herein referred to as the “Closing,” provided , however , that all references to the “Closing” as a point in time from which, or to which, a period of time is to be measured shall be deemed references to the Closing Date, unless otherwise set forth herein. At Closing, (x) Sellers’ shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to Purchaser the items described in Sections 5.1(c) and 5.1(g) and (y) Purchaser shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to Sellers the items described in Sections 5.2(c) and 5.2(e) .

 

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ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

3.1  Representations and Warranties of the Seller . Each Seller severally, and not jointly, solely as to such Seller, represents and warrants to Purchaser as of the date of this Agreement the following:

 

(a)  Authority of the Sellers . Such Seller has all requisite capacity, power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement. This Agreement, the underlying transactions contemplated hereby, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Seller have been duly authorized by all necessary actions of such Seller. This Agreement has been, and the other agreements, documents and instruments required to be delivered by such Seller in accordance with the provisions hereof (the “ Sellers’ Documents ”) will be, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Seller; and this Agreement constitutes, and the Sellers’ Documents, when executed and delivered, will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of such Seller, enforceable against such Seller in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws, as well as to principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).

 

(b)  Ownership .

 

(i) Such Seller is the record and beneficial owner of the Subject Class A Units set forth opposite its respective name on Exhibit A , free and clear of all Liens other than (A) restrictions on transfer that may be imposed by state or federal securities Laws and (B) restrictions on transfer that are set forth in the LLC Agreement. Such Seller has full right, power and authority to transfer and deliver to the Purchaser valid title to such respective Subject Class A Units, free and clear of all Liens other than (A) restrictions on transfer that may be imposed by state or federal securities Laws and (B) restrictions on transfer that are set forth in the LLC Agreement. The portion of the Subject Class A Units held by such Seller represents such Seller’s entire ownership and rights to ownership in and to the Company.

 

(ii) Except pursuant to this Agreement, there is no contractual obligation pursuant to which such Seller has, directly or indirectly, granted any option, warrant or other right to any individual or corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, joint stock or other company, business trust, trust, organization or other entity of any kind (“ Person ”) to acquire any of the Subject Class A Units held by such Seller or any interest therein.

 

(iii) There are no Liens on, or other contractual obligations relating to, the ownership, transfer or voting of such Seller’s portion of the Subject Class A Units, or otherwise affecting the rights of such Seller in the Company (except as set forth in the organizational documents of the Company (including the LLC Agreement)). Except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the LLC Agreement, there is no contractual obligation, which obligates the Company to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or make any payment (including any distribution) in respect of, such Seller’s portion of the Subject Class A Units.

 

(iv) At the Closing, the Purchaser will acquire the record and beneficial ownership of such Seller’s portion of the Subject Class A Units, free and clear of all Liens, except as are created by the Purchaser and (A) restrictions on transfer that may be imposed by state or federal securities Laws and (B) restrictions on transfer that are set forth in the LLC Agreement.

 

(c)  Existence; Organization .

 

(i) The Company is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware. The Company has full power and authority to conduct its business and own and operate its properties as now conducted, owned and operated.

 

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(ii) Such Seller is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware. Such Seller has full power and authority to conduct its respective business and own and operate its respective properties as now conducted, owned and operated.

 

(d)  Validity of Contemplated Transaction .

 

(i) The execution, delivery and performance of such Seller’s obligations under this Agreement by such Seller does not and will not violate, conflict with or result in the breach of any term, condition or provision of, or require the consent of any Person under (i) any existing regulation of any Governmental Body to which such Seller or, to such Seller’s Knowledge, the Company is subject, (ii) any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or award of any court, arbitrator or governmental or regulatory official, body or authority (each a Governmental Body and collectively, “ Governmental Bodies ”) that is applicable to such Seller or, to such Seller’s Knowledge, the Company, (iii) to such Seller’s Knowledge, the organizational documents of the Company or any securities issued by the Company, (iv) the organizational documents of such Seller, or (v) any mortgage, indenture, agreement, contract, commitment, lease, plan, authorization, or other instrument, document or understanding (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Credit Agreement and all documents contemplated thereunder), oral or written, to which such Seller or, to such Seller’s Knowledge, the Company is a party, by which such Seller or, to such Seller’s Knowledge, the Company may have rights or by which, to such Seller’s Knowledge, any of the Company’s assets or its Subsidiaries may be bound or affected, or, to such Seller’s Knowledge, give any party with rights thereunder the right to terminate, modify, accelerate or otherwise change the existing rights or obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary thereunder, in each case (i) through (v), other than (A) in the case of consents, those that have already been obtained or that are to be obtained prior to Closing and (B) such as could not reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined herein). As used in this Agreement, the term “ Material Adverse Effect ” means any change in, or effect on, the Business, the Company’s assets, Subsidiaries, operations, or condition (financial or otherwise) which, when considered either individually or in the aggregate together with all other adverse changes or effects with respect to which such phrase is used in this Agreement, is materially adverse to the Business, the Company’s assets, Subsidiaries, operations or condition (financial or otherwise), taken as a whole; provided , however , that a Material Adverse Effect shall not include any material adverse effects resulting from: (i) entering into this Agreement or the announcement or pendency of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) changes in general market, economic, financial or political conditions (including changes in commodity prices (including hydrocarbons), fuel supply or transportation markets, interest or rates); (iii) conditions (or changes in such conditions) generally affecting the oil and gas and/or gathering, processing or transportation industry; (iv) acts of God, including storms or meteorological events; (v) orders, actions or failures to act of Governmental Bodies; (vi) civil unrest or similar disorder, the outbreak of hostilities, terrorist acts or war; (vii) any actions taken or omitted to be taken (A) by or at the written request or with the prior written consent of Purchaser or (B) as expressly permitted or prescribed hereunder; (viii) matters that are cured or no longer exist by the earlier of Closing and the termination of this Agreement; (ix) any casualty losses; (x) a change in any applicable statute, law (including common law), rule, regulation, ordinance, order, code, ruling, writ, injunction, decree or other official act of or by any Governmental Body (collectively, “ Laws ”) or in the interpretation of generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, consistently applied (“ GAAP ”) from and after the Execution Date; (xi) reclassification or recalculation of reserves in the ordinary course of business; or (xii) natural declines in well performance. No authorization, approval or consent of, and no registration or filing with, any Governmental Body is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by such Seller.

 

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(e)  No Undisclosed Liabilities . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(e) , to such Seller’s Knowledge, as of the Execution Date, the Company does not have any Liabilities (as defined herein) except (i) as and to the extent of the amounts reflected or reserved against on the balance sheet of the Company as at December 31, 2017 (the “ Balance Sheet ”), (ii) Liabilities incurred by the Company in the ordinary course of the Business since the date of the Balance Sheet or (iii) Liabilities that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Liability ” or “ Liabilities ” shall include, without limitation, any direct or indirect indebtedness, guarantee, claim, loss, damage, cost, expense, obligation or fixed or unfixed, known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, choate or inchoate, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, matured or unmatured, absolute or contingent, whether arising under contract, tort or by statute.

 

(f)  Absence of Certain Developments . To such Seller’s Knowledge, since March 31, 2018 and prior to the date hereof, except for the matters disclosed in Schedule 3.1(f) or approved, consented to or ratified by Purchaser, or actions taken in the ordinary course of business:

 

(i) the Company has not authorized the issuance of or issued any additional Units or other Interests of the Company (other than pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement);

 

(ii) the Company has not borrowed any money or otherwise incurred, guaranteed or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness (other than pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement);

 

(iii) the Company has not mortgaged, pledged, assigned in trust or otherwise encumbered any property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or assigned any monies owed or to be owed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for customary Liens contained in or arising under operating or similar agreements executed by or binding on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to secure Indebtedness;

 

(iv) the Company has not made any distributions to the Members pursuant to Section 5.4 or Section 5.5 of the LLC Agreement;

 

(v) the Company has not adjusted the compensation or benefits of any manager, officer or employee of the Company;

 

(vi) the Company has not incurred any expenditure or series of related expenditures not otherwise a part of an approved Budget, except any expenditure or series of related expenditures (x) as required under Section 2.7 of the LLC Agreement, (y) as permitted under Section 2.8 of the LLC Agreement or (z) that constitute a Permitted Variance;

 

(vii) the Company has not entered into any binding contractual obligation to do any of the things referred to elsewhere in this Section 3.1(f) ; and

 

(viii) to the Seller’s Knowledge, the Company has not experienced a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(g)  Tax Matters . To the Knowledge of the Sellers, for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, the Company is currently treated as a partnership.

 

(i) To the Knowledge of the Sellers, all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “ Company Tax Return ” and collectively, the “ Company Tax Returns ”) have been filed with the appropriate Governmental Body in all jurisdictions in which such Company Tax Returns are required to be filed, and all such Company Tax Returns properly reflect the Liabilities of the Company for Taxes for the periods, property or events covered thereby.

 

(ii) To the Knowledge of the Sellers, all Taxes owed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including without limitation those which are called for by the Company Tax Returns, or heretofore or hereafter claimed to be due by any Taxing authority from the Company, have been properly accrued or paid and no such Taxes are currently delinquent.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, the representations and warranties in this Section 3.1(g) are the only representations and warranties in this Agreement with respect to the Tax matters of the Company.

 

(h)  Brokers’ Fees . None of such Seller or any of such Seller’s Affiliates will have any Liability for any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission payable to any broker, finder, investment banker or other Person in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder based on arrangements made by or on behalf of such Seller or any of such Seller’s Affiliates for which Purchaser or Purchaser’s Affiliates could become liable.

 

3.2  Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser . The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Sellers the following:

 

(a)  Corporate Existence . The Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the state of Delaware. The Purchaser has full power and authority to conduct its business and own and operate its respective properties as now conducted, owned and operated.

 

(b)  Corporate Power and Authorization . The Purchaser has the requisite capacity, power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement. The Agreement, the underlying transactions contemplated hereby, and the execution, delivery and performance of the obligations under this Agreement by the Purchaser has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Purchaser. This Agreement has been, and the other agreements, documents and instruments required to be delivered by the Purchaser in accordance with the provisions hereof (the “ Purchaser Documents ”) will be, duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Purchaser by a duly authorized officer of the Purchaser and this Agreement constitutes, and the Purchaser Documents, when executed and delivered, will constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws, as well as to principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).

 

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(c)  Validity of Contemplated Transactions, Etc . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Purchaser does not and will not violate, conflict with or result in the breach of any term, condition or provision of, or require the consent of any other Person under (i) any existing regulation of any Governmental Body to which the Purchaser, or to Purchaser’s Knowledge, the Company is subject, (ii) any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or award of any Governmental Body that is applicable to Purchaser or, to such Purchaser’s Knowledge, the Company, (iii) to Purchaser’s Knowledge, the organizational documents of the Company or any securities issued by the Company, or (iv) the organizational documents of the Purchaser or any securities issued by the Purchaser, or (v) any mortgage, indenture, agreement, contract, commitment, lease, plan, authorization, or other instrument, document or understanding (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) the Credit Agreement and all documents contemplated thereunder and (y) that certain Credit Agreement among Purchaser, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and LegacyTexas Bank dated October 3, 2016, as amended, and all documents contemplated thereunder (the “ CRBO Credit Agreement ”)), oral or written, to which Purchaser or, to Purchaser’s Knowledge, the Company is a party, by which Purchaser or the Company may have rights or by which any of the Company’s assets or its Subsidiaries may be bound or affected, or give any party with rights thereunder the right to terminate, modify, accelerate or otherwise change the existing rights or obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary thereunder, in each case (i) through (v), other than (A) in the case of consents, those that have already been obtained or that are to be obtained prior to Closing and (B) such as could not reasonably be likely to have a material adverse effect. No authorization or approval of, and no filing with, any Governmental Body is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Purchaser, except as otherwise set forth herein.

 

(d)  Independent Investigation . The Purchaser is a current member of the Company and has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, results of operations, prospects, and the assets of the Business and acknowledges that it has been provided sufficient access to the personnel, properties, assets, premises, books and records, and other documents and data of the Business for such purpose. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that in making its decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, the Purchaser has relied solely upon its own investigation and the express representations and warranties of the Sellers as set forth in Section 3.1 of this Agreement (including the related portions of the disclosure schedules), and based on such investigation, has formed an independent judgment concerning the Sellers, the Subject Class A Units, the Company, the Subsidiaries, the assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries, the Business, and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(e)  Ownership . To Purchaser’s Knowledge, except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, there is no contractual obligation, or provision in the organizational documents of the Company which obligates the Company to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or make any payment (including any distribution (other than Tax distributions)) in respect of, any Seller’s portion of the Subject Class A Units.

 

(f)  Investment Representation . Purchaser is acquiring the Subject Class A Units for its own account as an investment and not with a view to sell, transfer or otherwise distribute all or any part thereof to any other Person in any transaction that would constitute a “distribution” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Securities Act ”). Purchaser acknowledges that it can bear the economic risk of its investment in the Subject Class A Units, and has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in all of the Subject Series A Units. Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act. Purchaser understands that neither the offer nor sale of the Subject Class A Units has or will have been registered pursuant to the Securities Act or any applicable state securities Laws, that all of the Subject Class A Units will be characterized as “restricted securities” under federal securities Laws and that, under such Laws and applicable regulations, none of the Subject Class A Units can be sold or otherwise disposed of without registration under the Securities Act or an exemption thereunder.

 

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(g)  Brokers’ Fees . None of Purchaser or its Affiliates will have any Liability for any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission payable to any broker, finder, investment banker or other Person in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder based on arrangements made by or on behalf of Purchaser or any of its Affiliates for which any Seller or such Seller’s respective Affiliates could become liable.

 

3.3  Survival of Representations and Warranties; Limitations on Breaches of Representations and Warranties . All representations and warranties made by the Parties in this Agreement or in any certificate, schedule, statement, document or instrument furnished hereunder or in connection with negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement shall survive the Closing for a period of nine (9) months, except with respect to (i) occurrences of actual fraud and (ii) the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.1(a) , 3.1(b) , 3.1(h) , 3.2(a) , 3.2(b) , 3.2(d) , 3.2(e) , 3.2(f) and 3.2(g) (collectively, the “ Fundamental Representations ”), which shall survive Closing indefinitely.

 

ARTICLE 4
AGREEMENT PENDING CLOSING

 

4.1  Agreements of Sellers Pending the Closing . Each Seller covenants and agrees, severally and not jointly, on behalf of itself and, through its application of commercially reasonable efforts, on behalf of the Company that, during the period after the date this Agreement is signed and before the earlier of the termination of this Agreement and the Closing:

 

(a)  Conduct of Business . The Company shall conduct the Business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and, absent the consent of the Purchaser, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, will make no material changes to present accounting practices or methods, employee salaries, or officer compensation.

 

(b)  Maintenance of Physical Assets and Inventories . The Company shall continue to maintain and service its assets and Subsidiaries in substantially the same manner as has been its consistent past practice.

 

(c)  Maintenance of Authorizations . The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain in full force and effect all governmental or quasi-governmental licenses, permits, certificates, authorizations, registrations, consents and permits used in or relating to the Business, including, without limitation, all federal, state and other authorities, permits and licenses.

 

(d)  Compliance with Laws . The Company shall comply in all material respects with all regulations applicable to the Business or the Company’s assets and Subsidiaries.

 

(e)  Actions of Sellers . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, such Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with Purchaser in order to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(f)  Updated Schedules . The Sellers and the Company may promptly disclose to the Purchaser any information contained in the representations and warranties and Schedules delivered pursuant hereto that, because of an event occurring after the date hereof, is incomplete or is no longer correct as of all times after the date hereof until the Closing; provided , however , that none of such disclosures shall be deemed to modify, amend or supplement the representations and warranties of the Sellers contained herein or in any other agreement, document or instrument for any purpose, unless the Purchaser shall have consented in writing thereto.

 

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(g)  Sale of Assets . Absent the consent of the Purchaser, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, the Company shall not directly or indirectly sell or encumber all or any part of its assets or those of any Subsidiary other than, in any such case, in the ordinary course of the Business consistent with past practice.

 

(h)  Exclusive Dealing . Until the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 9.1 below and the Closing:

 

(a)  such Seller will not directly or indirectly, through any representative or otherwise, solicit or entertain offers from, negotiate with or in any manner encourage, discuss, accept, or consider any proposal of any other Person relating to the acquisition of the Subject Class A Units, in whole or in part, whether directly or indirectly, through purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise; and

 

(b)  such Seller will immediately notify the Purchaser regarding any contact between the Seller and any other Person regarding any such offer or proposal or any related inquiry.

 

4.2  Agreements of Purchaser Pending the Closing . The Purchaser covenants and agrees, on behalf of itself and, through its application of commercially reasonable efforts, on behalf of the Company that, during the period after the date this Agreement is signed and before the earlier of the termination of this Agreement and the Closing:

 

(a)  Conduct of Business . The Company shall conduct the Business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and, absent the consent of the Sellers, will make no material changes to present accounting practices or methods, employee salaries, or officer compensation.

 

(b)  Maintenance of Physical Assets and Inventories . The Company shall continue to maintain and service its assets and Subsidiaries in substantially the same manner as has been its consistent past practice.

 

(c)  Maintenance of Authorizations . The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain in full force and effect all governmental or quasi-governmental licenses, permits, certificates, authorizations, registrations, consents and permits used in or relating to the Business, including, without limitation, all federal, state and other authorities, permits and licenses.

 

(d)  Compliance with Laws . The Company shall comply in all material respects with all regulations applicable to the Business or the Company’s assets and Subsidiaries.

 

(e)  Actions of Purchaser . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Purchaser shall reasonably cooperate with Seller in order to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(f)  Updated Schedules . Purchaser may promptly disclose to the Sellers any information contained in the representations and warranties and Schedules delivered pursuant hereto that, because of an event occurring after the date hereof, is incomplete or is no longer correct as of all times after the date hereof until the Closing; provided , however , that none of such disclosures shall be deemed to modify, amend or supplement the representations and warranties of Purchaser contained herein or in any other agreement, document or instrument for any purpose, unless each Seller shall have consented in writing thereto.

 

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(g)  Sale of Assets . Absent the consent of the Sellers, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, the Company shall not directly or indirectly sell or encumber all or any part of its assets or those of any Subsidiary other than, in any such case, in the ordinary course of the Business consistent with past practice.

 

(h)  Financing . Purchaser shall take, or cause to be taken, all commercially reasonable actions authorized by its board of directors and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to arrange and consummate the Public Offering (or any permitted replacement, amended, modified or any applicable Alternative Financing (as defined herein)), including (i) filing a draft registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder as the primary use of proceeds (the “ SEC ”), (ii) promptly responding to any comments received from the SEC with respect to such draft registration statement and filing updated drafts of the registration statement, (iii) preparing any required financial statements for the Public Offering, (iv) engaging investment banks or underwriters for the Public Offering, and (v) complying in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act, as applicable. Purchaser shall keep Sellers informed with respect to any material activity concerning the status of the Public Offering, including if for any reason Purchaser no longer believes in good faith that it will be able to obtain all or any portion of the proceeds of the Public Offering. If the Public Offering becomes unavailable, the Purchaser shall, if authorized by its board of directors, use commercially reasonable efforts authorized by its board of directors to arrange to obtain alternative financing from alternative sources in an amount sufficient to consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder (“ Alternative Financing ”). If the Public Offering or any Alternative Financing is consummated, Purchaser shall use the net proceeds of such offering, such Alternative Financing or other funds available to it to pay the Purchase Price at the Closing.

 

(i)  Lender Consent . Purchaser shall use reasonable efforts to obtain, prior to the Closing, the consent of the necessary lenders under the Credit Agreement and the CRBO Credit Agreement to permit (i) the acquisition by Purchaser of the Subject Class A Units and (ii) any other action required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (together, the “ Credit Agreement Consents ”).

 

4.3  Survival of Covenants; Limitations on Breach of Covenants . All covenants made by Sellers or Purchaser in this Agreement that are to be performed at or prior to Closing shall terminate upon the Closing. All other covenants and agreements shall terminate in accordance with their respective terms.

 

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ARTICLE 5
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING

 

5.1  Conditions Precedent to the Purchaser’s Obligations . The obligation of the Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the fulfillment or satisfaction, at the times indicated herein, of each of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)  Representations and Warranties True as of the Closing . The Fundamental Representations of Sellers shall be true and correct in all material respects and the representations and warranties of Sellers in Section 3.1 that are not Fundamental Representations (the “ Sellers’ Non-Fundamental Representations ”) shall be true and correct in all respects (in each case, without regard to materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifiers), on and as of the Closing Date, with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made or given on and as of the Closing Date (other than representations and warranties that refer to a specified date, which need only be true and correct on and as of such specified date (excluding the reference to “as of the date of this Agreement” in the lead in to Section 3.1 ), except for all such breaches, if any, of such Sellers’ Non-Fundamental Representations that individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)  Compliance with this Agreement . The Sellers shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them prior to or at the Closing.

 

(c)  Closing Certificate . The Purchaser shall have received a certificate from the Sellers dated the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions specified in Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b) hereof have been fulfilled (the “ Sellers’ Certificate ”).

 

(d)  No Threatened or Pending Litigation . At the Closing, no suit, action or other proceeding, or injunction or final judgment relating thereto shall be threatened in writing or be pending before any Governmental Body in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit or to obtain damages in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(e)  Successful Closing of Public Offering . The Purchaser shall have successfully closed (i) a public offering of its common stock registered on Form S-1 with net proceeds payable to and received by the Seller, after payment of all expenses, brokerage or investment banking commissions, attorneys’ fees, auditors’ fees, accountant fees, road show expenses, consulting fees and the other costs and expenses associated therewith, equal to or in excess of the Base Purchase Price (the “ Public Offering ”) or (ii) an Alternative Financing.

 

(f)  Approval of Lenders and Administrative Agents . Purchaser shall have obtained the consent of the necessary lenders under the Credit Agreement.

 

(g)  Sellers’ Deliveries . The Sellers shall have delivered to the Purchaser at or prior to the Closing the following, all of which shall be in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser and its counsel:

 

(i) the executed Assignment in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “ Assignment ”);

 

(ii) the Sellers’ Release described in Section 5.1(h) below, executed by the Sellers; and

 

(iii) an affidavit, duly executed and acknowledged by each Seller dated as of the Closing Date, in accordance with Treasury Regulation § 1.1445-2(b)(2) and Section 1446(f) of the Code, certifying that such Seller is not a “foreign person” for such purposes.

 

(h)  Seller Release . Effective as of the Closing, each Seller shall execute the form of Release attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “ Sellers’ Release ”).

 

(i)  No Material Adverse Effect . There shall not have occurred between the date of the execution of this Agreement and the Closing a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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5.2  Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Sellers . The obligation of each Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment or satisfaction, prior to or at the Closing, of each of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)  Representations and Warranties True as of the Closing . The Fundamental Representations of Purchaser shall be true and correct in all material respects and the representations and warranties of Purchaser in Section 3.2 that are not Fundamental Representations (the “ Purchaser’s Non-Fundamental Representations ”) shall be true and correct in all respects (in each case, without regard to materiality qualifiers), on and as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as though such representations and warranties had been made or given on and as of the Closing Date (other than representations and warranties that refer to a specified date, which need only be true and correct on and as of such specified date), except for all such breaches, if any, of such Purchaser’s Non-Fundamental Representations that individually or in the aggregate would not have a material adverse effect.

 

(b)  Compliance with this Agreement . The Purchaser shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing.

 

(c)  Closing Certificate . The Sellers shall have received a certificate from the Purchaser dated the date of the Closing, certifying that the conditions specified in Section 5.2(a) and 5.2(b) hereof have been fulfilled (the “ Purchaser’s Certificate ”).

 

(d)  No Threatened or Pending Litigation . At the Closing, no suit, action or other proceeding, or injunction or final judgment relating thereto shall be threatened in writing or be pending before any Governmental Body in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit or to obtain substantial damages in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(e)  Purchaser’s Deliveries . The Purchaser shall have delivered to the Seller at or prior to Closing the following, all of which shall be in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Sellers and their counsel:

 

(i) the Purchase Price, to the accounts designated in the Preliminary Settlement Statement, by direct bank or wire transfer in immediately available funds;

 

(ii) the Assignment;

 

(iii) the Purchaser’s Release described in Section 5.2(f) below, executed by the Purchaser;

 

(iv) the CA Consents Evidence described in Section 5.2(g) below.

 

(f)  Purchaser’s Release . Effective as of the Closing, Purchaser shall execute the form of Release attached hereto as Exhibit F (the “ Purchaser’s Release ”).

 

(g)  Approval of Lenders and Administrative Agents . Purchaser shall have delivered evidence, to the reasonable satisfaction of Sellers, that the Credit Agreement Consents shall have been obtained (the “ CA Consents Evidence ”).

 

(h)  No Material Adverse Effect . There shall not have occurred between the date of the execution of this Agreement and the Closing a Material Adverse Effect or material adverse effect (as applicable).

 

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ARTICLE 6
INDEMNIFICATION

 

6.1  General Indemnification Obligation of the Seller . From and after the Closing, the Sellers shall reimburse, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Purchaser, its officers, directors, affiliates (including, following the Closing, the Company), shareholders, employees, and their successors and permitted assigns (each a “ Purchaser Party ”) against and in respect of any and all demands, suits, claims, actions or causes of action, assessments, damages, losses, deficiencies, Liabilities, settlements, penalties, forfeitures, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and expenses and clean-up costs) (hereinafter collectively referred to as “ Indemnity Losses ”) and individually an “ Indemnity Loss ”) incurred, suffered, sustained or required to be paid, directly or indirectly, by, or sought to be imposed on, a Purchaser Party resulting from, related to or arising out of any of the following:

 

(a) any breach of any representation or warranty in Section 3.1 (other than Section 3.1(g) ) or the Sellers’ Certificate;

 

(b) any failure to perform any agreement or covenant to be performed on the part of the Sellers under this Agreement following the Closing; and

 

(c) Sellers’ Allocated Portion (as defined herein) of any and all Taxes (1) resulting from, related to or arising out of a breach of any representation or warranty set forth in Section 3.1(g) , or (2) imposed on the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (A) for all taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date and the portion through the end of the Closing Date for any Straddle Period (determined in accordance with Section 9.17(c) ) (the “ Pre-Closing Date Tax Period ”) and (B) as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise, resulting from events, transactions or relationships occurring or existing prior to the Closing, other than such Taxes attributable to a transfer or other transaction between the Company and a Purchaser Party (clause (1) and (2), collectively, “ Seller Taxes ”); provided , however, that Seller Taxes shall not include a Tax to the extent such Tax was included as a current Liability in the determination of Working Capital. As used herein, the “ Sellers’ Allocated Portion ” means 58.06%.

 

6.2  General Indemnification Obligation of the Purchaser . From and after the Closing, the Purchaser shall reimburse, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Sellers, and each Seller’s Affiliates and its and their respective officers, directors, affiliates, partners, members, shareholders, employees, and their successors and permitted assigns (each, a “ Seller Party ”) against and in respect of any Indemnity Losses incurred, suffered, sustained or required to be paid, directly or indirectly, by, or sought to be imposed on, the Seller Party resulting from, related to or arising out of any of the following:

 

(a) any breach of any representation or warranty in Section 3.2 or in the Purchaser’s Certificate;

 

(b) any failure to perform any agreement or covenant to be performed on the part of Purchaser under this Agreement following the Closing; and

 

(c) all Taxes (other than Seller Taxes) imposed on the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

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6.3  Limitation on Liability .

 

(a) Sellers shall not have any Liability for any indemnification under Section 6.1(a) (i) for any individual Indemnity Loss unless the indemnification amount with respect to such Indemnity Loss exceeds $100,000 (the “ De Minimis Threshold ”) and (ii) until and unless the aggregate amount of all Indemnity Losses for which Claim Notices are delivered by Purchaser that exceed the De Minimis Threshold exceeds two and one-half percent (2.5%) of the Base Purchase Price (the “ Indemnity Deductible ”), after which point Sellers shall only be liable for such indemnification to the extent such Indemnity Losses that exceed the De Minimis Threshold exceed the Indemnity Deductible; provided , that the limitations on Sellers’ Liability in this Section 6.3(a) shall not apply to Sellers’ Liability for breaches of the Fundamental Representations and the corresponding representations and warranties in Sellers’ Certificate or Sellers’ Liability for breaches of its representations and warranties in Section 3.1(g) and the corresponding representations and warranties in the Sellers’ Certificate.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Sellers shall not be required to indemnify the Purchaser Parties for, or otherwise have any Liability to the Purchaser Parties for, aggregate Indemnity Losses for any indemnification (i) under Section 6.1(a) (other than any obligation to indemnify the Purchaser Parties pursuant to Section 6.1(a) for any breach of any Fundamental Representations and the corresponding representations and warranties in the Sellers’ Certificate or any breach of representations and warranties in Section 3.1(g) and the corresponding representations and warranties in Sellers’ Certificate) in excess of fifteen percent (15%) of the Base Purchase Price or (ii) otherwise under the terms of this Agreement in excess of one hundred percent (100%) of the Base Purchase Price. Sellers’ shall not have any Liability under Section 6.1(a) with respect to representations and warranties pertaining to the Company in excess of Sellers’ Allocated Portion of the total Indemnity Losses resulting from such breach.

 

(c) Sellers shall have no Liability for any breach by Sellers of this Agreement (or the Sellers’ Certificate) if (i) Purchaser had Knowledge of any fact, circumstance or event prior to Purchaser’s execution and delivery of this Agreement that resulted in such breach or (ii) (A) Purchaser did not have Knowledge any fact, circumstance or event prior to Purchaser’s execution and delivery of this Agreement that resulted in such breach but Purchaser had Knowledge of such fact, circumstance or event prior to the Closing, (B) where due to such breach Purchaser’s conditions to Closing set forth in Section 5.1 were not satisfied and (C) Purchaser consummated the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, no Seller or Seller Party shall have any Liability hereunder for any action taken by Purchaser or its Affiliates in its capacity as manager of the Company or otherwise on behalf of the Company or approved by Purchaser’s designee to the Board regardless of whether (i) such action would give rise to a breach of a representation or warranty or covenant hereunder or in any of the documents contemplated hereby or (ii) any Seller has Knowledge of such action taken.

 

(e) Sellers shall have no liability pursuant to Section 6.1 in respect of and to the extent of any item or any Indemnity Losses that have been reflected as a deduction in determining the Purchase Price hereunder or otherwise reflected as a liability or a reserve in Working Capital as finally determined pursuant to Section 1.3 or that otherwise would result  in a double recovery.

 

(f) Sellers and Purchaser, as applicable, shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to seek third party and insurance recoveries in respect of Indemnity Losses. In the event any insurance proceeds or other recoveries from third parties are actually realized (in each case calculated net of reasonable third party out-of-pocket costs and expenses of such recoveries but not including any costs or expenses attributable to increases in insurance premiums) by Sellers or Purchaser or their respective Affiliates, as applicable, subsequent to the receipt by such Indemnified Party of an indemnification or other payment hereunder in respect of the claims to which such insurance proceeding or third party recovery relate, appropriate refunds shall be made promptly to the Indemnifying Party regarding the amount of such payment.

 

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6.4  Notice of Claim; Right to Contest Claims .

 

(a) In the event either a Purchaser Party or Seller Party seeks indemnification (the “ Indemnified Party ”), the Indemnified Party shall give reasonably prompt written notice (the “ Claim Notice ”) to all indemnifying parties (the “ Indemnifying Party ”). The Claim Notice shall specify the facts constituting the basis for such claim, the breach of representations, warranty, agreement or covenant claimed by the Indemnified Party, as applicable, and the amount, to the extent known, of the claim asserted; provided , that the right of any party to be indemnified hereunder shall not be adversely affected by a failure to give such notice unless, and then only to the extent that, an Indemnifying Party is materially and adversely prejudiced thereby.

 

(b) Upon receipt of a Claim Notice that does not involve a Third Person (as defined herein), the Indemnifying Party shall have thirty (30) days from the receipt of such Claim Notice to notify the Indemnified Party in writing that the Indemnifying Party disputes such claim. If the Indemnifying Party does not timely notify the Indemnified Party of any dispute, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall pay the amount of any valid claim not more than fifteen (15) days after the expiration of the initial thirty (30) day period.

 

(c) If the Indemnifying Party does timely notify the Indemnified Party of such dispute, then the Indemnified Party shall have fifteen (15) days to respond in writing to the objection of the Indemnifying Party. If after such fifteen-day period there remains a dispute, then the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party will attempt in good faith for a period not to exceed thirty (30) additional days to agree upon the rights of the respective parties with respect to such claim. If the parties should so agree, a memorandum setting forth such agreement will be prepared and signed by the Purchaser and the Seller, and subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall pay the amount of any valid claim not more than fifteen (15) days after the execution of such memorandum. If the parties do not agree within such additional thirty-day period, then the Indemnified Party may pursue any and all other remedies available to it hereunder.

 

6.5  Right to Contest Claims of Third Persons .

 

(a) If an Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification hereunder because of a claim asserted by any claimant other than an Indemnified Party (a “ Third Person ”), the Indemnified Party shall promptly deliver to the Indemnifying Party a Claim Notice after such assertion is actually known to the Indemnified Party; provided , however , that the right of a Person to be indemnified hereunder in respect of claims made by a Third Person shall not be adversely affected by a failure to promptly give such Claim Notice unless, and then only to the extent that, an Indemnifying Party is materially and adversely prejudiced thereby. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right, upon written notice to the Indemnified Party to investigate, contest or settle the claim alleged by such Third Person (a “ Third Person Claim ”) so long as (i) the Indemnifying Party gives written notice to the Indemnified Party within twenty (20) days after the Indemnified Party has given notice of the Third Party Claim that the Indemnifying Party will indemnify the Indemnified Party from and against the entirety of any and all Indemnity Losses the Indemnified Party may suffer resulting from, arising out of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the Third Party Claim, (ii) the Third Party Claim involves only money damages and does not seek an injunction or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Party, (iii) the Third Party Claim does not relate to or otherwise arise in connection with any criminal or regulatory enforcement action, (iv) settlement of, an adverse judgment with respect to or the Indemnifying Party’s conduct of the defense of the Third Party Claim is not, in the good faith judgment of the Indemnified Party, likely to include any findings of fact or admissions of culpability as to the Indemnified Party and (v) the Indemnifying Party conducts the defense of the Third Party Claim actively and diligently; provided , that the Indemnifying Party has the right to settle and compromise such Third Person Claim only with the consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) unless there is no finding or admission of any violation of legal requirements or any violation of the rights of any Person and no affect or any other claims that may be made against the Indemnified Party, and the sole relief provided is monetary damages that are paid in full by the Indemnified Party; provided further , that any settlement shall include an unconditional release of such claim against the Indemnified Party.

 

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(b) The Indemnified Party may thereafter participate in (but not control) the defense of any such Third Person Claim with its own counsel at its own expense, unless separate representation is necessary to avoid a conflict of interest, as determined by the Indemnifying Party’s legal counsel in accordance with applicable Law, in which case such representation shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party.

 

(c) Subject to the Indemnified Party’s compliance with Section 6.5(a) , unless and until the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party pursuant to Section 6.5(a) of its intent to investigate, contest or settle a Third Person Claim, the Indemnified Party shall have the right, at its option, to assume and control the defense of the matter and to look to the Indemnifying Party for the full amount of the reasonable costs of defense. The failure of the Indemnifying Party to respond in writing to a Notice of Claim of the Indemnified Party with respect to such Third Person Claim within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof shall be deemed an irrevocable election not to defend the same. If the Indemnifying Party does not notify the Indemnified Party of its intent to investigate, contest or settle a Third Person Claim, (i) the Indemnified Party may defend against such claim using counsel of its choice, in such manner as it may reasonably deem appropriate, including, but not limited to, settling such claim, after giving notice of the same to the Indemnifying Party, on such terms as the Indemnified Party may reasonably deem appropriate, and (ii) the Indemnifying Party may participate in (but not control) the defense of such action, with its own counsel at its own expense. The Parties shall make available to each other all relevant information in their possession relating to any such Third Person Claim and shall cooperate in the defense thereof.

 

6.6  Mitigation . Each Indemnified Party will use all commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate all Indemnity Losses that may give rise to an indemnification claim upon and after becoming aware of any event or circumstance which would reasonably be expected to give rise to such Indemnity Losses.

 

6.7  Exclusive Remedy . From and after the Closing, except for Section 1.3 the indemnification and remedies set forth in this Article 6 shall constitute the sole and exclusive remedies of the Purchaser Parties against Seller and of the Seller Parties against Purchaser with respect to any breach of representation or warranty or non-performance, partial or total, of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement; provided, however , that nothing in this Section 6.7 shall prevent any Party from seeking injunctive or equitable relief in accordance with this Agreement; provided further , that in the event a Purchaser Party or Seller Party should assert rights or obligations in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder under any Law or cause of action not based on the interpretation or application of this Agreement, the Parties agree that the provisions of this Article 6 shall in all instances apply to such claim or cause of action.

 

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6.8  Non-Compensatory Damages . NONE OF THE PURCHASER PARTIES NOR SELLER PARTIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER FROM SELLERS OR PURCHASER, AS APPLICABLE, OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, REMOTE OR SPECULATIVE DAMAGES OR LOST PROFITS OR DIMINUTION IN VALUE ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT (EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SECTION 8.9 ), THE SELLERS’ CERTIFICATE, THE PURCHASER’S CERTIFICATE OR THE OTHER DOCUMENTS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT ANY SUCH PARTY SUFFERS SUCH DAMAGES TO A THIRD PARTY, WHICH DAMAGES (INCLUDING COSTS OF DEFENSE AND REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH DEFENDING AGAINST SUCH DAMAGES) SHALL NOT BE EXCLUDED BY THIS PROVISION AS TO RECOVERY HEREUNDER. SUBJECT TO THE PRECEDING SENTENCE, PURCHASER, ON BEHALF OF EACH OF THE PURCHASER PARTIES, AND SELLERS, ON BEHALF OF EACH OF THE SELLER PARTIES, EACH WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO RECOVER ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, REMOTE OR SPECULATIVE DAMAGES OR LOST PROFITS OR DIMINUTION IN VALUE ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH OR WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT (EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SECTION 8.9 ), THE SELLERS’ CERTIFICATE, THE PURCHASER’S CERTIFICATE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

 

6.9  Waiver of Other Representations .

 

(a) NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, IT IS THE EXPLICIT INTENT OF EACH PARTY HERETO, AND THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE, THAT NEITHER SELLER NOR ANY OF SUCH SELLER’S AFFILIATES OR SUCH SELLER’S AND SUCH SELLER’S RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES HAS MADE OR IS MAKING ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WRITTEN OR ORAL, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY AS TO THE CONDITION, MERCHANTABILITY, USAGE, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT CLASS A UNITS, EXCEPT THOSE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY MADE BY SELLERS IN SECTION 3.1 AND IN THE SELLERS’ CERTIFICATE. IN PARTICULAR, AND WITHOUT IN ANY WAY LIMITING THE FOREGOING, (I) NEITHER SELLER NOR ANY OF SUCH SELLER’S AFFILIATES OR SUCH SELLER’S OR SUCH SELLER’S RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES MAKES ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY REGARDING ANY ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS AND (II) NEITHER SELLER NOR ANY OF SUCH SELLER’S AFFILIATES OR SUCH SELLER’S OR SUCH SELLER’S REPRESENTATIVES MAKES ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY TO BUYER WITH RESPECT TO ANY FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS OR FORECASTS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT CLASS A UNITS.

 

(b) EXCEPT FOR THOSE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY CONTAINED IN SECTION 3.1 AND IN THE SELLERS’ CERTIFICATE: THE SUBJECT CLASS A UNITS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED THROUGH THE SALE OF THE SUBJECT CLASS A UNITS “AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH ALL FAULTS,” AND EACH SELLER AND ITS AFFILIATES AND ITS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM, AND PURCHASER AND ITS AFFILIATES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM RELIANCE UPON ANY AND ALL OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AS TO THE CONDITION, VALUE OR QUALITY OF THE SUBJECT CLASS A UNITS OR THE PROSPECTS, RISKS AND OTHER INCIDENTS OF THE SUBJECT CLASS A UNITS.

 

(c) PURCHASER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES SET FORTH IN SECTION 3.1 AND IN THE SELLERS’ CERTIFICATE ARE THOSE ONLY OF SUCH SELLERS AND NOT OF ANY OTHER PERSON INCLUDING ANY AFFILIATE OR REPRESENTATIVE OF SELLERS OR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES. PURCHASER FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES, ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ITS AFFILIATES, THAT IT HAS NOT RELIED ON ANY REPRESENTATION NOT EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT.

 

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6.10  Waiver of Right of Rescission . Sellers and Purchaser acknowledge that, following Closing, the payment of money, as limited by the terms of this Agreement, shall be adequate compensation for breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein or for any other claim arising in connection with or with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. As the payment of money shall be adequate compensation, following Closing, Purchaser and Sellers waive any right to rescind this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

ARTICLE 7
POST-CLOSING MATTERS

 

7.1  Further Assurances . From and after the Closing, each of the parties hereto will cooperate with the other and execute and deliver to the other parties hereto such other instruments and documents and take such other actions as may be reasonably requested from time to time by any other parties hereto as necessary to carry out, evidence and confirm the intended purposes of this Agreement.

 

7.2  D&O Liability and Indemnification .

 

(a) For a period of six (6) years after the Closing, Purchaser will not, and will not permit the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, amend, repeal or modify any provision in the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other equivalent governing documents relating to the exculpation, indemnification or advancement of expenses of any current and former officers and directors (each, an “ D&O Indemnified Person ”) (unless required by Law), it being the intent of the parties that the current and former officers and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries will continue to be entitled to such exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses to the full extent of the Law.

 

(b) In addition to the other rights provided for in this Section 7.2 and not in limitation thereof, from and after the Closing, Purchaser will, and will cause the Company and its Subsidiaries (each, a “ D&O Indemnifying Party ”) to, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, (i) indemnify and hold harmless (and release from any Liability to Purchaser or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), the D&O Indemnified Persons against all D&O Expenses (as defined herein), losses, claims, damages, judgments or amounts paid in settlement (“ D&O Costs ”) in respect of any threatened, pending or completed claim, action or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, based on or arising out of or relating to the fact that such Person is or was a director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising out of acts or omissions occurring on or prior to the Closing (including in respect of acts or omissions in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby) (a “ D&O Indemnifiable Claim ”) and (ii) advance to such D&O Indemnified Persons all D&O Expenses incurred in connection with any D&O Indemnifiable Claim (including in circumstances where the D&O Indemnifying Party has assumed the defense of such claim) promptly after receipt of reasonably detailed statements therefor; provided , however , that the Person to whom D&O Expenses are to be advanced provides an undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such Person is not entitled to indemnification. Any D&O Indemnifiable Claims will continue until such D&O Indemnifiable Claim is disposed of or all judgments, orders, decrees or other rulings in connection with such D&O Indemnifiable Claim are fully satisfied. For the purposes of this Section 7.2(b) , “ D&O Expenses ” will include attorneys’ fees and all other costs, charges and expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, to be a witness in or participate in any D&O Indemnifiable Claim, but will exclude losses, judgments and amounts paid in settlement (which items are included in the definition of D&O Costs).

 

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(c) On or before the Closing, Purchaser and Sellers will cause the Company to, at the Company’s expense, obtain, maintain and fully pay for irrevocable “tail” insurance policies naming the D&O Indemnified Persons as direct beneficiaries with a claims period of at least six (6) years from the Closing Date from an insurance carrier and in an amount and scope mutually agreed upon by Purchaser and Sellers. For the avoidance of doubt, the cost of such insurance policies shall adjust Working Capital and the Purchase Price at Closing and be reflected in the Preliminary Settlement Statement. From and after Closing, Purchaser will not, and will cause the Company not to, cancel or change such insurance policies in any respect.

 

ARTICLE 8
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

 

8.1  Consideration Acknowledgement. The operational history of the Company has created over time substantial goodwill (proprietary information, customer contacts, etc.) that is currently used in the Business and will be transferred to Purchaser as part of the membership interest purchase transaction contemplated by this Agreement. Consequently, the Purchaser wants to assure that the Sellers will abide by the restrictive covenants set forth in this Article 8 . The Sellers also acknowledge that they will each directly and indirectly receive substantial benefits from the consummation of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement and that such consideration is the consideration for the transfer of the goodwill and the promises and covenants herein. The Sellers hereby acknowledge that such benefits are good and adequate consideration for the promises and covenants granted by it hereunder.

 

8.2  Definitions .

 

(a) “ Affiliate ” means with respect to a specified Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, the specified person or entity.

 

(b) “ Business Activities ” shall mean all activities conducted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in evaluating, acquiring, exploring, drilling, developing, and producing oil, gas and other hydrocarbons.

 

(c) “ Competing Business ” means any (i) Competing Company engaged, whether in whole or in part, in the performance of Business Activities and (ii) which first became known to Sellers in connection with Sellers’ receipt of Confidential Information from the Company and Sellers’ ownership of the Subject Class A Units prior to the Closing.

 

(d) “ Competing Company ” means any of the following Persons: (i) Diversified Gas and Oil PLC, (ii) Energy Corporation of America, Inc., (iii) EnerVest, Ltd., (iv) EQT Corporation, (v) Jetta Operating Company, Inc., (vi) Kinzer Drilling Company, LLC, (vii) Blue Ridge Mountain Resources, Inc., (viii) Vinland Energy, LLC, (ix) WS Atkins Limited, and (x) Core Minerals III, LLC.

 

(e) “ Non-Disclosure Period ” means the period beginning on the Closing date and ending on the second anniversary thereof.

 

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(f) “ Restricted Period ” means the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the first anniversary thereof.

 

(g) “ Territory ” means the AMI.

 

8.3  Covenant Not To Compete . In consideration of the substantial benefits to be received by the Sellers directly and indirectly from the consummation of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, during the Restricted Period, each Seller shall not, and shall direct its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly own, manage, operate, control, or otherwise be in any manner affiliated or connected with, or engage or participate in the ownership, management, operation, financing, or control of any Competing Company engaged in any Competing Business within the Territory.

 

8.4  Agreement Not to Solicit Employees . In addition to and not in limitation of Section 8.3 , and in further consideration of the substantial benefits received by them directly and indirectly from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each Seller agrees that during the Restricted Period it will not directly or indirectly, whether for its own account or for the account of any Affiliate, solicit or recruit or attempt to solicit or recruit, hire or attempt to hire, contract with or attempt to contract with any person that, to such Seller’s Knowledge, is an employee of the Company, the Purchaser or any of their Affiliates; provided , however , that the foregoing provision shall not prevent any Seller or such Seller’s Affiliates from engaging in general solicitations (including, without limitation, use of employment agencies, advertisements and the internet) not specifically directed towards employees of the Company, the Purchaser or any of their Affiliates, or hiring as a result thereof; provided further , that this Section 8.4 shall not restrict any portfolio companies of any Seller or such Seller’s Affiliates who are not acting upon the direction of such Seller or its Affiliates.

 

8.5  Non-Disclosure . In addition to and not in limitation of the covenants contained above, and in consideration of the substantial benefits to be received by them directly and indirectly from the consummation of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, each Seller agrees that during the Non-Disclosure Period, it will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Purchaser, disclose (except to its representatives) or use any Confidential Information (as defined herein); provided , however , that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8.5 , the information subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section will not include any information (i) generally available to, or known by, the public (other than as a result of disclosure in violation hereof), (ii) is or becomes available to any Seller or any of its Affiliates from a source other than the Company or its Affiliates, provided , that, to the Knowledge such Seller, such source is not bound by any contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to the Company with respect to such information or (iii) is or was independently developed or derived by any Seller or any of its Affiliates without reliance on the Confidential Information; and provided further , that the provisions of this Section 8.5 will not prohibit (A) disclosure of Confidential Information (I) required or requested by any applicable Law so long as, to the extent reasonably practicable and legally permissible, prior notice is given of such disclosure and a reasonable opportunity is afforded to contest the same or (II) made in connection with the enforcement of any right or remedy relating to this Agreement or (B) any retention of any Confidential Information as required by Law, professional rules and standards or internal compliance policies or contained in an archived computer system backup in accordance with any Seller’s or its Affiliate’s security and/or disaster recovery procedures. Each Seller agrees that it will be responsible for any breach or violation of the provisions of this Section 8.5 by any of its representatives. For purposes of this Article 8 , “ Confidential Information ” means any and all confidential and/or proprietary information relating to the Company which:

 

(a) was or is used in the business operations of the Company and was created by the Company, in each case prior to the Closing; or

 

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(b) was or is used in the business operations of the Company, in each case prior to the Closing.

 

Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, the following types of confidential and/or proprietary information relating to the Company (whether or not reduced to writing or designated as confidential):

 

(i) existing and prospective business opportunities and transactions information;

 

(ii) customer information;

 

(iii) vendor and supplier information;

 

(iv) employee information;

 

(v) financial information;

 

(vi) marketing, business development, pricing and quoting information;

 

(vii) facilities information;

 

(viii) trade secrets;

 

(ix) information (material or otherwise) regarding the Purchaser that has not been disclosed to the public; and

 

(x) information of a confidential or secret nature directly or indirectly relating to or concerning the affairs, financial position, assets, operations, prospects, business activities or affairs of the Company, the Purchaser and any of their Affiliates.

 

Confidential Information shall be considered a trade secret under all applicable Law. Purchaser, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Company from and after the Closing, hereby acknowledges that Sellers’ and their Affiliates, members, directors, officers or employees may retain mental impressions of the Confidential Information, and the use of such mental impressions shall not be deemed to be a breach hereunder.

 

8.6  Non-Disparagement Covenant . Each of the Sellers and Purchaser agree that, during the Restricted Period or at any time thereafter, it will not in any communications with the press or other media or with any Person who, to the Knowledge of Sellers or Purchaser (as applicable), is customer, employee or supplier of the Sellers, Purchaser or the Company (as applicable), criticize, ridicule or make any statement which disparages or is derogatory of the Sellers, Purchaser, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates, members, directors, officers or employees (as applicable).

 

8.7  Reasonableness of Terms and Consideration . The Sellers and the Purchaser each stipulate and agree that the terms and covenants contained in this Article 8 are fair and reasonable in duration, geographic scope and all other respects to protect the legitimate interests of the Company, the Sellers, the Purchaser and their respective Affiliates, and that these restrictions are designed for the reasonable protection of the value of the Subject Class A Units purchased, the goodwill transferred, and the business operations of the Company, the Sellers, the Purchaser and their respective Affiliates. Each Seller and Purchaser expressly waives any right to challenge the reasonableness or enforceability of the terms and covenants contained in this Article 8 and further stipulates and agrees that it shall be estopped from raising any such challenge. Additionally, each Seller and Purchaser hereby acknowledges and agrees that the restrictions in the covenants of this Article 8 have been supported by adequate consideration as provided throughout this Agreement and the Purchaser’s payment described in Article 1 and the Sellers’ sale of the Subject Class A Units.

 

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8.8  Remedies for Breach . Each party understands and agrees that the Company and/or the other party may suffer irreparable harm if such party shall breach any of the obligations under this Article 8 , and that the monetary damages may be impossible to estimate or determine and may be inadequate to compensate the Company and/or such other party for that breach. Accordingly, each party agrees that, in the event of a breach or a threatened breach of any of the provisions of this Article 8 , the Company, the Purchaser, the Sellers and/or their respective Affiliates, in addition to and not in limitation of any other rights, remedies or damages available to them at Law or in equity, shall be entitled to seek immediate injunctive relief in the form of a temporary restraining order without notice, preliminary injunction, and/or permanent injunction to prevent or restrain such breach by the other party or by any and all Persons directly or indirectly acting for, on behalf of, or with such other party.

 

8.9  Damages . To the extent that any damages are calculable resulting from the breach of Section 8.3 or Section 8.5 , subject to Section 6.8 , the Company, the Purchaser and their Affiliates shall also be entitled to recover any lost profits or diminution in value of the Company, the Purchaser and their Affiliates, from the Sellers, in each case, to the extent, and only to the extent, that such lost profits or diminution in value of the Company constitute direct damages as a matter of Law.

 

8.10  Interpretation . Each Seller and the Purchaser acknowledge and agree that the covenants contained in this Article 8 shall be construed as a series of separate covenants. If any restriction in these covenants are declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable by reason of the extent, duration, geographic scope or otherwise, then the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify the offending terms as necessary to render the restriction enforceable to the maximum extent possible.

 

8.11  Survival . If, and only if, Closing occurs, the terms of the Article 8 shall survive the Closing of the transactions contemplated hereby and be enforceable thereafter for the term of the Restricted Period or the Non-Disclosure Period, as applicable. Following the expiration of the Restricted Period or the Non-Disclosure Period, as applicable, all covenants and agreements set forth under this Article 8 , shall automatically terminate without any action of the parties.

 

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ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.1  Termination .

 

(a)  Causes . Anything herein or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding, this Agreement may be terminated by written notice of termination at any time on or before the Closing only as follows:

 

(i) by mutual written consent of any Seller and the Purchaser;

 

(ii) by Purchaser, if there shall have been a breach by any Seller of such Seller’s representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement, and in each case such breach has not been cured within thirty (30) days after notice thereof has been delivered to such Seller (or is not capable of being cured) and has not been waived in writing by Purchaser (in Purchaser’s sole discretion) and such breach causes (or would cause if Closing were then scheduled to occur) a failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 5.1 ; provided , however , that Purchaser shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder pursuant to this Section 9.1(a)(ii) if Purchaser is in material breach of this Agreement at the time Purchaser desires to terminate;

 

(iii) by any Seller, if there shall have been a breach by Purchaser of Purchaser’s representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement, and in each case such breach has not been cured within thirty (30) days after notice thereof has been delivered to Purchaser (or is not capable of being cured) and has not been waived in writing by such Seller (in such Seller’s sole discretion) and such breach causes (or would cause if Closing were then scheduled to occur) a failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 ; provided , however , that such Seller shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder pursuant to this Section 9.1(a)(iii) if such Seller is in material breach of this Agreement at such time;

 

(iv) by the Purchaser upon written notice to Sellers given at any time on or after September 1, 2018 (the “ Purchaser’s Outside Date ”); provided , however , that Purchaser shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(a)(iv) if Purchaser is in material breach of this Agreement at the time this Agreement would otherwise be terminated by Purchaser;

 

(v) by Sellers upon written notice to Purchaser given at any time on or after September 1, 2018 (the “ Sellers’ Outside Date ”); provided , however , that Sellers shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(a)(v) if Sellers are in material breach of this Agreement at the time this Agreement would otherwise be terminated by Sellers; or

 

(vi) by any Seller or Purchaser if consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby is enjoined, restrained or otherwise prohibited or otherwise made illegal by the terms of a final, non-appealable order.

 

(b)  Effect of Termination.

 

(i) In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to the provisions of this Section 9.1 , this Agreement (except for Section 6.8 , this Section 9.1(b)(i) , the last sentence of Section 9.2 (subject to this Section 9.1(b)(i) ), Sections 9.3 , 9.5 , 9.6 , 9.7 , 9.8 , 9.9 , 9.10 , 9.11 , 9.12 , 9.13 , 9.14 , 9.15 , 9.19 , 9.20 , 9.22 , and 9.23 which shall survive such termination) shall become void and have no effect, without any Liability on the part of any of the parties or their directors, officers, members or stockholders in respect of this Agreement except in the case of fraud or willful and intentional breach or as otherwise set forth in this Section 9.1(b) . In addition, (i) if Sellers terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(a)(iii) or Section 9.1(a)(v) , Sellers shall be entitled to recover from Purchaser (in the case of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(a)(iii) ) or the Company (in the case of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(a)(v) ) all of Sellers’ transaction costs and expenses, including attorney fees and court costs and (ii) if Purchaser terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(a)(ii) , Purchaser shall be entitled to recover from Sellers all of Purchaser’s transaction costs and expenses, including attorney fees and court costs.

 

24

 

 

9.2  Transfer Taxes and Expenses . Each of the Sellers and Purchaser shall bear and pay 50% of all federal, state and local sales, use, documentary and other similar Taxes, fees and charges, if any, due as a result of the sale of the Subject Class A Units contemplated hereby (“ Transfer Taxes ”). Any Tax Returns that must be filed in connection with any such Transfer Taxes shall be prepared and filed when due by the party that is primarily or customarily responsible under the applicable Law for filing such Tax Returns. Such party will use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide such Tax Returns to the other party at least ten (10) days prior to the due date (taking into account any valid extensions) for filing such Tax Returns, and such Tax Returns shall not be filed without the prior written consent of the other party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Purchaser and Sellers shall cooperate in good faith, to the extent reasonably requested by the other party and permissible under applicable Law, to minimize the amount of any such Transfer Taxes. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each party hereto shall pay its own expenses incidental to the preparation of this Agreement, the carrying out of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

9.3  Contents of Agreement; Amendments . This Agreement, the other agreements and documents referenced herein, collectively set forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby. It shall not be amended or modified except by written instrument duly executed by each of the parties hereto. Any and all previous agreements and understandings between or among the parties regarding the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral, are superseded by this Agreement.

 

9.4  Assignment and Binding Effect . This Agreement may not be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties, and any assignment in violation of the foregoing is void ab initio . Subject to the foregoing, all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the successors and permitted assigns of the Sellers and the Purchaser. Prior to execution by all parties, this Agreement shall not be binding upon or enforceable by or against any party, by estoppel or otherwise.

 

9.5  Waiver . Any condition, term or provision of this Agreement may be waived at any time by the party entitled to the benefit thereof by a written instrument duly executed by such party. Any such written waiver shall not imply a waiver as to any other term, condition, circumstance or occasion nor estop any party from enforcing any term, condition, right or remedy not expressly so waived. Failure of a party to insist upon adherence to any term or condition of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon adherence to that term or condition or any other term or condition of this Agreement.

 

9.6  Notices . Any notice or communication under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered (by hand, email or nationally recognized overnight courier in compliance with the provisions of this Section 9.6 ):

 

 

If to the Purchaser:

 

 

Carbon Natural Gas Company

Attention: Patrick R. McDonald

1700 Broadway, Suite 1170

Denver, Colorado 80290

pmcdonald@carbonnaturalgas.com

     
 

With a copy to:

 

 

Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley, P.C.

Attention: Jeffrey J. Peterson

1125 17 th Street, Suite 2200

   

Denver, Colorado 80202

jpeterson@wsmtlaw.com

 

25

 

     
 

If to the Sellers:

 

 

Old Ironsides Energy

Attention: Scott Carson

10 St. James Avenue, 19 th Floor

Boston, Massachussetts 02116

scarson@oldironsidesenergy.com

     
 

With a copy to:

 

 

Vinson & Elkins LLP

Attention: Caroline Phillips

666 Fifth Avenue, 26 th Floor

New York, New York 10103

cphillips@velaw.com

 

Notice by electronic transmission shall be deemed given on the day sent, provided the sender receives confirmation of transmission and the sender contemporaneously sends a copy of the notice to the recipient by first class mail, postage prepaid. Notice by hand delivery against a written receipt or by nationally recognized overnight courier shall be deemed given on the day of delivery. Any party may from time to time specify as its address for purposes of this Agreement any other address upon the giving of five (5) days’ notice thereof to the other party in the manner required by this paragraph. This Section 9.6 shall not prevent the giving of written notice in any other manner, but such notice shall be deemed effective only when and as of its actual receipt at the proper address and by the proper addressee.

 

9.7  Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware. Each party expressly consents to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Wilmington, Delaware for any lawsuit filed there against it by the other party arising from or relating to this Agreement.

 

9.8  Jurisdiction and Venue . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each party hereto (i) agrees that any claim, action or proceeding by such party seeking any relief whatsoever arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement shall be brought only in a Delaware state or federal court located in Wilmington, Delaware, and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country; (ii) agrees to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts located in Wilmington, Delaware, for purposes of all legal proceedings arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement; (iii) waives and agrees not to assert any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court or any claim that any such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum; and (iv) agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Law. Process in any action or proceeding referred to in the preceding sentence may be served on a party anywhere in the world. EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

9.9  No Benefit to Others . Subject to Section 9.18 below, the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement are for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and, in the case of Article 6 hereof, the other Persons entitled to indemnity or defense, and their heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns, and they shall not be construed as conferring any rights on any other Persons.

 

26

 

 

9.10  Headings, Number, Gender, “Person,” and “Knowledge” . All section headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, do not form a part of this Agreement, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Words used herein, regardless of the number specifically used, shall be deemed and construed to include any other number, singular or plural, as the context requires. When the context requires, any reference to the neuter gender herein shall include the masculine and feminine genders, any reference to the masculine gender herein shall include the neuter and feminine genders, and any reference to the feminine gender herein shall include the masculine and neuter genders. In this Agreement, the term “ Knowledge ” means (i) with respect to any Seller, the actual knowledge (without duty of inquiry or investigation) of Scott E. Carson, Daniel A. Rioux, and Christopher L. Stoeckle and (ii) with respect to Purchaser, the actual knowledge (without duty of inquiry or investigation) of Patrick R. McDonald, Kevin D. Struzeki, Mark D. Pierce, Lloyd A. Hall, and Michael J. Potter. Wherever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limiting the foregoing in any respect.” All references to “$” or “dollars” shall be deemed references to United States Dollars. Each accounting term not defined herein will have the meaning given to it under GAAP as interpreted as of the Execution Date. If any period of days referred to in this Agreement shall end on a day that is not a Business Day, then the expiration of such period shall be automatically extended until the end of the first succeeding Business Day. References to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns.

 

9.11  Exhibits and Schedules . All exhibits and schedules referred to herein are intended to be and hereby are specifically made a part of this Agreement.

 

9.12  Attorneys’ Fees . Any party to this Agreement who is the prevailing party in any legal, arbitration or equitable proceeding against any other party brought under this Agreement shall be additionally entitled to recover court costs and reasonable and documented, out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees from the non-prevailing party. For purposes of this Agreement, “prevailing party” shall include, without limitation, a party obtaining substantially the relief sought, whether by compromise, settlement, arbitration award or judgment.

 

9.13  Invalidity; Severability . If a Governmental Body or arbitrator finds any provision unenforceable in a particular jurisdiction, then the following will apply: (a) the Governmental Body or arbitrator considering the matter may amend the unenforceable provision to the least extent necessary to make it enforceable; (b) if an unenforceable provision cannot be reformed under this Section 9.14 , then that provision will be ineffective in that jurisdiction, but only to the least extent necessary to make the rest of this Agreement enforceable there; and (c) reforming any provision must not affect the rest of this Agreement and must not prevent the affected provision, as originally written, from being enforced elsewhere.

 

9.14  Mutual Negotiation . This Agreement has been mutually negotiated by the parties. Therefore, any legal presumptions that contractual ambiguities shall be construed against the drafter shall not apply.

 

9.15  Publicity . The parties agree that, upon execution of this Agreement, (i) the Purchaser shall file a current report on Form 8-K in accordance with the instructions of such Form 8-K announcing the entry into this Agreement and (ii) that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby will be disclosed in connection with the Public Offering. Prior to filing a current report on Form 8-K or a press release pursuant to the foregoing, Purchaser shall furnish a draft of such current report and press release and, except with respect to matters required to be disclosed by Purchaser pursuant to applicable Law or securities exchange regulations, shall consider any reasonable comments that Sellers may have to such drafts. Except as provided in the previous sentence, all press releases or other public communications relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the method of the release for publication thereof, shall be subject to the prior written consent of Purchaser and Sellers, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by any party.

 

27

 

 

9.16  Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and any party hereto may execute any such counterpart, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which counterparts taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts taken together shall have been executed and delivered by the parties. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement or any counterpart hereof to produce or account for any of the other counterparts.

 

9.17  Tax Matters .

 

(a)  Tax Treatment . For U.S. federal income tax purpose (and for the purposes of any applicable state, local or foreign Tax that follows the U.S. federal income tax treatment), Purchaser and Seller agree to treat the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with Revenue Ruling 99-6, 1999-1 C.B. 432 (Situation 1): (i) by Sellers, as a sale of the Subject Class A Units by Sellers to Purchaser, and (ii) by Purchaser, as (A) a purchase of an undivided 73.50% interest in the assets of the Company and (B) the assumption by Purchaser of 73.50% of the liabilities of the Company, following a liquidating distribution by the Company to the Sellers and the Purchaser in respect of their limited liability company interests in the Company. In connection therewith, effective as of the close of business on the Closing Date, the Company shall close its books. The Company, the Sellers and the Purchasers shall each take any and all necessary action to confirm that the status of the Company as a partnership for tax purposes has terminated as of the Closing Date, and that, as of the date immediately following the Closing Date, the Company will be treated as an entity disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Purchaser and Sellers will prepare and file all Tax Returns consistent with the foregoing and will not take any inconsistent position on any Tax Returns, or during the course of any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes, except as otherwise required by applicable law following a final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction or other administrative settlement with or final administrative decision by the relevant Governmental Body.

 

(b)  Tax Returns . The Purchaser shall cause the Company to prepare and file all Company Tax Returns for Pre-Closing Tax Periods (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a final federal partnership tax return on Form 1065) and to prepare and deliver to the Sellers and the Purchaser final Forms K-1 for the final U.S. federal tax year ended on the Closing Date. At least 30 days prior to the due date for filing each such Company Tax Return, Purchaser will deliver a copy of such Company Tax Return, together with all supporting documentation and workpapers, to Sellers for its review and comment. Purchaser will revise such Company Tax Return to reflect any reasonable comments received from Sellers and will timely file such Company Tax Return with the appropriate Governmental Body and will provide a copy to Sellers.

 

(c)  Allocation of Straddle Period Taxes . In the case of Taxes that are payable by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company with respect to any Straddle Period, the portion of any such Taxes that is attributable to the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date shall be:

 

(i) in the case of Taxes that are either (A) based upon or related to income or receipts, or (B) imposed in connection with any sale or other transfer or assignment of property (real or personal, tangible or intangible), deemed equal to the amount that would be payable if the relevant Straddle Period ended with and included the Closing Date; provided that exemptions, allowances or deductions that are calculated on an annual basis (including depreciation and amortization deductions) shall be allocated between the portion of the Straddle Period ending on and including the Closing Date and the portion of the Straddle Period beginning after the Closing Date in proportion to the number of days in each period; and

 

28

 

 

(ii) in the case of Taxes that are imposed on a periodic basis with respect to the assets or capital of the Company or any Subsidiary, deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire Straddle Period (or, in the case of such Taxes determined on an arrears basis, the amount of such Taxes for the immediately preceding period), multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar days in the portion of the period ending on and including the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of calendar days in the entire period.

 

(d)  Cooperation on Tax Matters; Tax Contests .

 

(i) The Purchaser and the Sellers will cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other party, in connection with any Tax matters relating to the Company (including by the provision of reasonably relevant records or information). The party requesting such cooperation will pay the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the other party.

 

(ii) Notwithstanding Section 6.5(a) , after the Closing, the Company shall in good faith control and defend, through counsel of its own choosing, any audit, review, examination, assessment, claim for refund or administrative, judicial or other proceeding of the Company involving (i) U.S. federal income Taxes or any other Tax imposed on a “flow-through” basis, in each case, with respect to a Taxable period (or portion thereof) in which Sellers were a member of the Company or (ii) any other Tax for which Sellers may be required to provide indemnification pursuant to this Agreement (each a “ Tax Contest ”); provided, however, the Purchaser shall (i) give Sellers prompt notice of a Tax Contest, (ii) keep Sellers reasonably informed regarding the progress and substantive aspects of such Tax Contest, (iii) permit the Sellers to participate in the defense of such Tax Contest, with their own counsel at their own expense, and (iv) not settle, compromise or concede any portion of such Tax Contest without the prior written consent of the Sellers, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

(e)  Tax Definitions .

 

(i) “ Straddle Period ” means a Taxable period that begins on or before and ends after the Closing Date.

 

(ii) “ Taxes ” shall mean any United States federal, state, local or foreign taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges or impositions imposed by any Governmental Body, including, without limitation, all income, unemployment compensation, social security, payroll, sales and use, excise, privilege, severance, production, property, ad valorem, franchise, license, school, fuel, mileage, registration fees, and any other tax or similar governmental charge or imposition under laws of the United States or any state, including agreements and compacts thereof or therewith, or municipal or political subdivision thereof or any foreign country or political subdivision thereof), including any interest, deficiency, fines, penalty or addition thereto.

 

(iii) “ Tax Return ” shall mean any United States federal, state, local and foreign tax return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or other similar filing or statement required to be filed with a Governmental Body with respect to Taxes (including any schedules or attachments thereto), and any amendment thereof.

 

29

 

 

9.18  Subsequent Merger . The Purchaser may at its election file articles and/or certificates of merger pursuant to applicable Law and pursuant to resolutions of the boards of directors of the Purchaser and the members of the Company to merge the Company with and into the Purchaser, and the separate organizational existence of the Company would cease and the Purchaser would continue as the surviving entity. The representations, warranties and obligations of the Seller and the Purchaser set forth herein, including without limitation the obligations of indemnification and Section 7.2 , shall survive any such merger of the Purchaser and the Company.

 

9.19  Individual Liability . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Liabilities and obligations of each Seller shall be separate, individual and not joint and several. With respect to any obligation of Sellers to pay money, such obligations shall be borne pro rata by the Sellers in accordance with their relative ownership of the Subject Class A Units.

 

9.20  Affiliate Liability . Each of the following is herein referred to as a “ Party Affiliate ”: with respect to a party, (a) any direct or indirect holder of equity interests or securities in such party (whether limited or general partners, members, stockholders or otherwise), and (b) any director, officer, manager, employee, representative or agent of (i) such party or (ii) any direct or indirect holder of equity interests or securities in such party referred to in clause (a) of this Section 9.20 . No Party Affiliate of a party shall have any liability or obligation to the other party of any nature whatsoever in connection with or under this Agreement or any of the documents contemplated hereby or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, and each party hereby waives and releases all claims of any such liability and obligation.

 

9.21  Specific Performance . Each party hereby acknowledges and agrees that the rights of each party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are special, unique and of extraordinary character and that, if any party violates or fails or refuses to perform any covenant or agreement made by it herein, the non-breaching party may be without an adequate remedy at Law. If any party violates or fails or refuses to perform any covenant or agreement made by such party herein, the non-breaching party, subject to the terms hereof and in addition to any remedy at Law for damages or other relief permitted under this Agreement, may (at any time prior to the valid termination of this Agreement) institute and prosecute an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce specific performance of such covenant or agreement or seek any other equitable relief, without the necessity of proving actual damages or posting of a bond.

 

9.22  Expenses . Except as otherwise specifically provided, all fees, costs and expenses incurred by Purchaser or Sellers in negotiating this Agreement and documents contemplated hereunder or in consummating the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be paid by the party incurring the same, including, legal and accounting fees, costs and expenses.

 

9.23  Disclosure Schedules . No reference to or disclosure of any item or other matter in the disclosure schedules attached hereto (the “ Disclosure Schedules ”) shall be construed as an admission or indication that such item or other matter is material or that such item or other matter is required to be referred to or disclosed in the Disclosure Schedules. No disclosure in the Disclosure Schedules relating to any possible breach or violation of any agreement or Law shall be construed as an admission or indication that any such breach or violation exists or has actually occurred. The inclusion of any information in the Disclosure Schedules shall not be deemed to be an admission or acknowledgment by any Seller that in and of itself, such information is material or is required to be disclosed on the Disclosure Schedules.

 

[Remainder of This Page is Left Intentionally Blank]

 

30

 

 

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

 

  SELLERS:
     
  OLD IRONSIDES FUND II-A PORTFOLIO HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Scott E. Carson
  Scott E. Carson
  Managing Partner
     
  OLD IRONSIDES FUND II-B PORTFOLIO HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Scott E. Carson
  Scott E. Carson
  Managing Partner

 

Signature Page to Membership Interest Purchase Agreement

 

 

 

  PURCHASER:
     
  CARBON NATURAL GAS COMPANY
     
  By: /s/ Patrick R. McDonald
    Patrick R. McDonald,
    Chief Executive Officer

  

Signature Page to Membership Interest Purchase Agreement  

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Seller   Class A Units     Allocable Percentage  
OIE Fund II-A     22,613.69       83.15385 %
OIE Fund II-B     4,581.31       16.84615 %

 

  Exhibit A- 1  

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

PURCHASE PRICE CALCULATION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2017

 

[ attached ]

 

  Exhibit B- 1  

 

 

CARBON NATURAL GAS COMPANY & CARBON APPALACHIAN COMPANY, LLC
Combination Analysis and Old Ironsides Energy Funds Purchase Price Determination
As of December 31, 2017

  

    PV10% - Strip     %     Debt     Net of Debt    

Carbon Appalachia Company, LLC  

Priority Amount Calculations

Carbon (Separate Appalachia Assets)   $ 60,696,000       29.6 %   $ -     $ 60,696,000              
CAC   $ 44,254,000       70.3 %   $ 37,975,000     $ 106,279,000      12/31/17       10 %
Total        $ 204,950,000         100. %                           $ 38,807,233  

 

        Purchase Valuation
(12/31/2017 Audit)
  Contribution Date     Principal   Priority Amount
Valuation (based on indicative third party offer)       $ 175,000,000                
Carbon       $ 51,826,299       $ 37,000,000   $ 38,807,233
CAC       $ 123,173,701                
CAC Debt       $ (37,975,000 ) 3/31/17   $ 12,000,000   $ 12,893,402
CAC Working Capital       $ 2,585,933   7/15/17   $ 14,000,000   $ 14,631,654
CAC - Net of Debt/Working Capital       $ 87,784,634   9/25/17   $ 11,000,000   $ 11,282,178
                           
Priority of CAC Distributions                          
                           
Class C Distribution                          
OIE Fund II-A 0.00 %   $ -                
OIE Fund II-B 0.00 %   $ -                
Carbon 1.00 %   $ 877,846                
Total 1.00 %   $ 877,846                
                           
Remaining Funds to Allocate       $ 86,906,788                
                           
Class A - Priority Amounts                          
OIE Fund II-A 61.12 %   $ 23,718,456                
OIE Fund II-B 12.38 %   $ 4,804,860                
Carbon 26.50 %   $ 10,283,917                
Total 100.00 %   $ 38,807,233                
                           
Class B Distribution                          
OIE Fund II-A 0.00 %   $ -                
OIE Fund II-B 0.00 %   $ -                
Carbon 20.00 %   $ 9,619,911                
Total 20.00 %   $ 9,619,911                
                           
Class A - Tier II                          
OIE Fund II-A 61.12 %   $ 23,518,238                
OIE Fund II-B 12.38 %   $ 4,764,300                
Carbon 26.50 %   $ 10,197,106                
Total 100.00 %   $ 38,479,644                
                           
Total CAC Distributions                          
OIE Fund II-A       $ 47,236,694                
OIE Fund II-B       $ 9,569,160                
Carbon       $ 30,978,780                
Total       $ 87,784,634                
                           
Old Ironsides                          
Equity Purchase Price       $ 56,805,854                

   

  Exhibit B- 2  

 

    

EXHIBIT C

 

WORKING CAPITAL CALCULATION

 

[ attached ]

  

  Exhibit C- 1  

 

 

 

 

Carbon Appalachian Company LLC

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

    Audited Balance Sheet  
    December 31,     Working  
    2017     Capital  
             
ASSETS            
             
Current assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 4,511,695     $ 4,511,695  
Accounts receivable:                
Revenue     10,681,576       10,681,576  
Trade receivables     1,569,484       1,569,484  
Prepaid expenses, deposits and other current assets     487,031       487,031  
Derivative asset     1,883,619       1,883,619  
Gas inventory     1,192,740       1,192,740  
Inventory     466,845       466,845  
Total current assets     20,792,990       20,792,990  
                 
Property, plant and equipment:                
Oil & gas properties                
Proved,net     82,622,337          
Unevaluted     1,779,600          
Other property and equipment, net     12,677,908          
      97,079,845          
                 
Investments in affiliates     -          
Gas inventory - long term     -          
Other long-term assets     683,485          
                 
Total assets   $ 118,556,320          
                 
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY                
                 
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   $ 12,069,985     $ 12,069,985  
Due to related parties     1,852,529       1,852,529  
Firm transportation contract obligations     4,284,543       4,284,543  
Total current liabilities     18,207,057       18,207,057  
Non-current liabilities:                
Asset retirement obligations     4,789,411          
Firm transportation contract obligations     14,843,269          
Ad valorem taxes payable     1,812,502          
Notes payable     37,975,000          
Total non-current liabilities     59,420,182          
                 
Members’ equity:                
Members’ contributions     37,923,763          
Retained earnings     3,005,318          
Total members’ equity     40,929,081          
                 
Total liabilities and members’ equity   $ 118,556,320     $ 2,585,933  

  

  Exhibit C- 2  

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

[ attached ]

  

  Exhibit D- 1  

 

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF CLASS A UNITS

 

This Assignment and Assumption of Class A Units (this “ Assignment ”) is made and entered into as of ____________, 2018 (the “ Execution Date ”), by and among Old Ironsides Fund II-A Portfolio Holdings Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ OIE Fund II-A ”), Old Ironsides Fund II-B Portfolio Holdings Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ OIE Fund II-B ,” and together with OIE Fund II-A, “ Assignors ,” and each, an “ Assignor ”), and Carbon Natural Gas Company, LLC, a Delaware corporation (“ Assignee ”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS , Assignors and Assignee entered into that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS , pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, OIE Fund II-A and OIE Fund II-B are obligated to sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Assignee, and Assignee is obligated to purchase from Assignors, 22,613.69 and 4,581.31 Class A Units, respectively, of Carbon Appalachian Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), (the “ Subject Class A Units ”), which constitute 73.50% of the issued and outstanding Class A Units of the Company; and

 

WHEREAS , in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, Assignee desires to accept the Subject Class A Units from Assignors, on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

AGREEMENT:

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration including the consideration as set forth in the Purchase Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Assignors and Assignee agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Assignment . In accordance with and subject to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, OIE Fund II-A and OIE Fund II-B hereby sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver 22,613.69 and 4,581.31 Subject Class A Units, respectively, to Assignee effective as of Closing, together with all of Assignors’ rights associated with such Subject Class A Units. Assignors recognize and agree that as a result of such assignment, they will no longer have any membership interest in the Company, and upon execution of this Assignment, each Assignor shall cease to be a member of the Company.

 

Section 2. Acceptance . In accordance with and subject to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, Assignee hereby accepts the Subject Class A Units effective as of Closing, and, in consideration therefor, agrees to assume all liabilities associated with the Subject Class A Units, subject to the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement.

 

Section 3. Purchase Agreement . Nothing in this Assignment, express or implied, is intended to or shall be construed to modify, expand or limit in any way the terms of the Purchase Agreement. To the extent that any provision of this Assignment conflicts or is inconsistent with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Purchase Agreement shall govern. This Assignment is executed and delivered pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

Section 4. Governing Law . This Assignment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. Each of Assignors and Assignee expressly consents to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Wilmington, Delaware for any lawsuit filed there against it by the other party arising from or relating to this Assignment.

 

Section 5. Counterparts . This Assignment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

  

  Exhibit D- 2  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , this Assignment has been executed as of the Execution Date.

 

  ASSIGNORS:
   
  OLD IRONSIDES FUND II-A PORTFOLIO HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
   
  By:  
  Name:  Scott Carson
  Title: Managing Partner
   
  OLD IRONSIDES FUND II-B PORTFOLIO HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
   
  By:  
  Name: Scott Carson
  Title: Managing Partner

 

Signature Page to Assignment and Assumption of Class A Units

 

  Exhibit D- 3  

 

 

  ASSIGNEE:
   
  CARBON NATURAL GAS COMPANY
   
  By:  
  Name:  Patrick R. McDonald
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

    

  Exhibit D- 4  

 

 

Execution

 

EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF SELLERS’ RELEASE

 

[ attached ]

    

  Exhibit E- 1  

 

 

RELEASE

  

THIS RELEASE (the “ Release ”) dated ____________, 2018 (the “ Effective Date ”) is made by Old Ironsides Fund II-A Portfolio Holding Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ OIE Fund II-A ”), and Old Ironsides Fund II-B Portfolio Holding Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with OIE Fund II-A, “ Sellers ” and each, a “ Seller ”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , reference is made to that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated May 4, 2018 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) by and among Sellers and Carbon Natural Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (“ Purchaser”) pursuant to which Purchaser purchased from Sellers certain Class A Units of Carbon Appalachian Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”); and

 

WHEREAS , this Release is delivered by Sellers pursuant to Section 5.1(g) of the Purchase Agreement.

 

WHEREAS , in connection with such closing, each Seller desires to waive and release Purchaser, its Affiliates (including the Company and its Subsidiaries) and its and their respective officers, directors, managers, partners, members, shareholders, employees and successors and permitted assigns from certain claims, demands, causes of action, obligations, liabilities, costs and expenses in accordance with the terms set forth herein.

 

RELEASE

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the promises, agreements and covenants contained herein and in the Purchase Agreement, and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Sellers agree as follows:

 

1. Each Seller, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, hereby unconditionally waives and releases Purchaser, its Affiliates (including the Company and its Subsidiaries) and its and their respective officers, directors, managers, partners, members, shareholders, employees and successors and permitted assigns from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, obligations, liabilities (whether absolute, accrued, contingent, fixed or otherwise, or whether due or to become due, whether known or unknown), costs or expenses with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement or any document contemplated thereunder or otherwise with respect to the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, whenever arising or occurring, and whether arising under contract, statute, common law or otherwise; provided , however , that the foregoing release shall not include: (a) any right of any Seller, its Affiliates or its and their respective officers, directors, managers, partners, members, shareholders, employees and successors and permitted assigns to indemnification or advancement of expenses pursuant to the organizational documents of the Company or its Subsidiaries; or (b) any right of any Seller Party pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Purchase Agreement.

 

2. This Release shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

[ Signature Page Follows on the Next Page ]

  

  Exhibit E- 2  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , Sellers have caused this Release to be fully executed as of the Effective Date.

   

  SELLERS:
   
  OLD IRONSIDES FUND II-A PORTFOLIO HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
   
  By:  
  Name: Scott Carson
  Title: Managing Partner
   
  OLD IRONSIDES FUND II-B PORTFOLIO HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
   
  By:  
  Name:  Scott Carson
  Title: Managing Partner

  

  Exhibit E- 3  

 

 

Execution

 

EXHIBIT F

 

FORM OF PURCHASER’S RELEASE

 

[ attached ]

    

  Exhibit F- 1  

 

 

RELEASE

  

THIS RELEASE (the “ Release ”) dated ____________, 2018 (the “ Effective Date ”) is made by Carbon Natural Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (“ Purchaser ”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , reference is made to that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated May 4, 2018 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), by and among Purchaser, Old Ironsides Fund II-A Portfolio Holding Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ OIE Fund II-A ”) and Old Ironsides Fund II-B Portfolio Holding Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with OIE Fund II-A, “ Sellers ”) pursuant to which Purchaser purchased from Sellers certain Class A Units of Carbon Appalachian Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”); and

 

WHEREAS , this Release is delivered by Purchaser pursuant to Section 5.2(e) of the Purchase Agreement.

 

WHEREAS , in connection with such closing, Purchaser, on behalf of itself and the Company, desires to waive and release Sellers, their respective Affiliates and Sellers’ and such Affiliates’ respective officers, directors, managers, partners, members, shareholders, employees and successors and permitted assigns from certain claims, demands, causes of action, obligations, liabilities, costs and expenses in accordance with the terms set forth herein.

 

RELEASE

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the promises, agreements and covenants contained herein and in the Purchase Agreement, and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Purchaser agrees as follows:

 

1.       Purchaser, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates (including the Company), hereby unconditionally waives and releases Sellers, their respective Affiliates and Sellers’ and such Affiliates’ respective officers, directors, managers, partners, members, shareholders, employees and successors and permitted assigns from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, obligations, liabilities (whether absolute, accrued, contingent, fixed or otherwise, or whether due or to become due, whether known or unknown), costs or expenses with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement or any document contemplated thereunder or otherwise with respect to the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, whenever arising or occurring, and whether arising under contract, statute, common law or otherwise; provided , however , that the foregoing release shall not include any right of any Purchaser Party pursuant to the indemnification provisions of Section 6.1 of the Purchase Agreement.

 

2.       This Release shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

[ Signature Page Follows on the Next Page ]

  

  Exhibit F- 2  

 

 

Execution

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Purchaser has caused this Release to be fully executed as of the Effective Date.

 

  PURCHASER:
   
  CARBON NATURAL GAS COMPANY
   
  By:  
  Name:  Patrick R. McDonald
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

   

  Exhibit F- 3  

 

 

Schedule 3.1(e)

 

Undisclosed Liabilities

 

Shonk Land Company LLC v. Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation and Carbon West Virginia Company LLC

    

Schedule 3.1(e)

 

 

SCHEDULE 3.1(f)

 

ABSENCE OF CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTS

       

Schedule 3.1(f)

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

 

July 20, 2018

  

Old Ironsides Energy

10 St. James Avenue, 19 th Floor

Boston, Massachussetts 02116

Attention: Scott Carson

 

Re: Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (“ Purchase Agreement ”) dated as of May 4, 2018 by and among Old Ironsides Fund II-A Portfolio Holding Company, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company, and Old Ironsides Fund II-B Portfolio Holding Company, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (together, the “ Sellers ”); and Carbon Natural Gas Company (n/k/a Carbon Energy Corporation ), a Delaware corporation (the “ Purchaser ”)

 

Gentlemen:

 

In accordance with Section 9.3 of the Purchase Agreement, when executed by you below, this letter shall confirm the agreement between Sellers and Purchaser and amend the Purchase Agreement in the following respects:

 

(1) In Section 9.1(a)(iv) , the first phrase, which currently reads

 

“by the Purchaser upon written notice to Sellers given at any time on or after September 1, 2018 (the “ Purchaser’s Outside Date ”);”

 

is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

“by the Purchaser upon written notice to Sellers given at any time on or after October 15, 2018 (the “ Purchaser’s Outside Date ”);”

 

(2) In Section 9.1(a)(v) , the first phrase, which currently reads

 

“by Sellers upon written notice to Purchaser given at any time on or after September 1, 2018 (the “ Sellers’ Outside Date ”);”

 

is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

“by Sellers upon written notice to Purchaser given at any time on or after October 15, 2018 (the “ Sellers’ Outside Date ”);”

  

Otherwise the Purchase Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, in accordance with its existing terms and provisions.

 

This agreement amending the Purchase Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each counterpart hereof shall be effective as to each party that executes the same whether or not all parties execute the same counterpart. If counterparts of this agreement are executed, the signature pages from various counterparts may be combined into one composite instrument for all purposes. All counterparts together shall constitute only one agreement, but each counterpart shall be considered an original. This agreement may be executed and delivered by exchange by email of PDF copies showing the signatures of the parties, and those PDF copies showing the signatures of the parties will constitute originally signed copies of the same agreement requiring no further execution.

 

[Signatures Page Follows]

  

  1700 Broadway, Suite 1170, Denver, Colorado 80290   Telephone 720 407 7030  Facsimile 720 407 7031  
  2480 Fortune Drive, Suite 300, Lexington, Kentucky 40509   Telephone 859 299 0771  Facsimile 859 299 0772  
  270 Quail Court, Suite B, Santa Paula, California 93060   Telephone 805 933 1901  Facsimile 805 933 9901  

 

 

 

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED as of the date first written above.

  

  SELLERS:
   
  OLD IRONSIDES FUND II-A PORTFOLIO HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Scott E. Carson
    Scott E. Carson
    Managing Partner
   
  OLD IRONSIDES FUND II-B PORTFOLIO HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Scott E. Carson
    Scott E. Carson
    Managing Partner
   
  PURCHASER:
   
  CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION
  (f/k/a Carbon Natural Gas Company
   
  By: /s/ Patrick R. McDonald
    Patrick R. McDonald,
    Chief Executive Officer

  

Signature Page to Amendment

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

I, Patrick R. McDonald, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Carbon Energy 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 registrant’s 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 registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

August 13, 2018 /s/ Patrick R. McDonald
  Patrick R. McDonald
  Chief Executive Officer

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

 

I, Kevin D. Struzeski, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Carbon Energy 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 registrant’s 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 registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

August 13, 2018 /s/ Kevin D. Struzeski
  Kevin D. Struzeski
  Chief Financial Officer

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
OF CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

 

        Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 and in connection with the accompanying report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 that is being filed concurrently with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned officer of Carbon Energy Corporation (the “Company”) hereby certifies 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 the Company.

 

Date:  August 13, 2018 /s/ Patrick R. McDonald
  Patrick R. McDonald
  Chief Executive Officer

 

Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION OF
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
OF CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

 

        Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 and in connection with the accompanying report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 that is being filed concurrently with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned officer of Carbon Energy Corporation (the “Company”) hereby certifies 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 the Company.

 

Date:  August 13, 2018 /s/ Kevin D. Struzeski
  Kevin D. Struzeski
  Chief Financial Officer