Table of Contents

 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549  
 
  Form 10-Q
 
 
(Mark One)
  x 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
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                      For the transition period from             to            
Commission File Number 001-36253
 
  EP Energy Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
46-3472728
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
1001 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas
77002
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Telephone Number: (713) 997-1000
 Internet Website: www.epenergy.com
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  x   No  o
 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes  x   No  o
 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the 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  o
 
Accelerated filer  x
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer  o
 
Smaller reporting company  o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 
 
 
 
Emerging Growth Company o
 
 
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 provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  o No  x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share. Shares outstanding as of July 31, 2018 : 257,024,793
Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share. Shares outstanding as of July 31, 2018 : 240,122
 


Table of Contents

EP ENERGY CORPORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS  
Caption
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Below is a list of terms that are common to our industry and used throughout this document:
 
/d
=
per day
Bbl
=
barrel
Boe
=
barrel of oil equivalent
Gal
=
gallons
LLS
=
light Louisiana sweet crude oil
MBoe
=
thousand barrels of oil equivalent
MBbls
=
thousand barrels
Mcf
=
thousand cubic feet
MMBtu
=
million British thermal units
MMBbls
=
million barrels
MMcf
=
million cubic feet
MMGal
=
million gallons
Mt. Belvieu
=
Mont Belvieu natural gas liquids pricing index
NGLs
=
natural gas liquids
NYMEX
=
New York Mercantile Exchange
TBtu
=
trillion British thermal units
WTI
=
West Texas intermediate
 
When we refer to oil and natural gas in “equivalents”, we are doing so to compare quantities of oil with quantities of natural gas or to express these different commodities in a common unit. In calculating equivalents, we use a generally recognized standard in which one Bbl of oil and/or NGLs is equal to six Mcf of natural gas. Also, when we refer to cubic feet measurements, all measurements are at a pressure of 14.73 pounds per square inch. 
When we refer to “us”, “we”, “our”, “ours”, “the Company” or “EP Energy”, we are describing EP Energy Corporation and/or its subsidiaries.
 All references to “common stock” herein refer to Class A common stock.

i

Table of Contents

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS FOR PURPOSES OF THE “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
 
We have made statements in this document that constitute forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations. The words “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “intend”, “could”, “should”, “project” and similar expressions will generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements may relate to information or assumptions about:
 
                  capital and other expenditures;
 
                  financing plans;
 
                  capital structure;
 
                  liquidity and cash flow;
 
                  pending legal proceedings, claims and governmental proceedings, including environmental matters;
 
                  future economic and operating performance;
 
                  operating income;
 
                  management’s plans; and

                  goals and objectives for future operations.
 
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. While we believe the assumptions or bases underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable and are made in good faith, we caution that assumed facts or bases almost always vary from actual results, and these differences can be material, depending upon the circumstances. We cannot assure you that the statements of expectation or belief contained in our forward-looking statements will result or be achieved or accomplished. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements are described in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no material changes to the risk factors described in the Form 10-K.


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Table of Contents

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Financial Statements


EP ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In millions, except per common share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Quarter ended 
 June 30,
 
Six months ended 
 June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Operating revenues
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oil
$
281

 
$
202

 
$
533

 
$
406

Natural gas
18

 
27

 
40

 
57

NGLs
30

 
22

 
56

 
45

Financial derivatives
(64
)
 
45

 
(78
)
 
115

Total operating revenues
265

 
296

 
551

 
623

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oil and natural gas purchases

 
1

 

 
2

Transportation costs
26

 
28

 
51

 
57

Lease operating expense
38

 
39

 
77

 
79

General and administrative
28

 
26

 
47

 
46

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
129

 
124

 
249

 
250

Impairment charges

 
1

 

 
1

Exploration and other expense

 
1

 
1

 
4

Taxes, other than income taxes
21

 
15

 
41

 
34

Total operating expenses
242

 
235

 
466

 
473

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
23

 
61

 
85

 
150

Gain (loss) on extinguishment/modification of debt
7

 
13

 
48

 
(40
)
Interest expense
(88
)
 
(82
)
 
(173
)
 
(165
)
Loss before income taxes
(58
)
 
(8
)
 
(40
)
 
(55
)
Income tax benefit

 
5

 

 
5

Net loss
$
(58
)
 
$
(3
)
 
$
(40
)
 
$
(50
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net loss
$
(0.23
)
 
$
(0.01
)
 
$
(0.16
)
 
$
(0.20
)
Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
248

 
246

 
247

 
246


See accompanying notes.


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Table of Contents

EP ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
June 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
ASSETS
 

 
 

Current assets
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
98

 
$
27

Restricted cash
1

 
18

Accounts receivable
 

 
 

Customer, net of allowance of less than $1 in 2018 and 2017
171

 
158

Other, net of allowance of $1 in 2018 and 2017
27

 
13

Income tax receivable
5

 
9

Materials and supplies
17

 
16

Derivative instruments
6

 
18

Assets held for sale

 
172

Prepaid assets
4

 
35

Total current assets
329

 
466

Property, plant and equipment, at cost
 

 
 

Oil and natural gas properties
8,191

 
7,532

Other property, plant and equipment
65

 
69

 
8,256

 
7,601

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization
3,424

 
3,179

Total property, plant and equipment, net
4,832

 
4,422

Other assets
 

 
 

Derivative instruments
3

 
4

Unamortized debt issue costs - revolving credit facility
9

 
6

Other
1

 
2

 
13

 
12

Total assets
$
5,174

 
$
4,900

 
See accompanying notes.

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Table of Contents

EP ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
June 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 

 
 

Current liabilities
 

 
 

Accounts payable
 

 
 

Trade
$
103

 
$
88

Other
160

 
158

Derivative instruments
52

 
17

Accrued interest
69

 
62

Liabilities related to assets held for sale

 
2

Short-term debt, net of debt issue costs
8

 
21

Other accrued liabilities
87

 
100

Total current liabilities
479

 
448

 
 
 
 
Long-term debt, net of debt issue costs
4,291

 
4,022

Other long-term liabilities
 

 
 

Derivative instruments
9

 

Asset retirement obligations
35

 
33

Other
5

 
5

Total non-current liabilities
4,340

 
4,060

 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)


 


 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ equity
 

 
 

Class A shares, $0.01 par value; 550 million shares authorized; 257 million shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018; 252 million shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017
3

 
3

Class B shares, $0.01 par value; 0.3 million shares authorized, issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017

 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 50 million shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding

 

Treasury stock (at cost), less than one million shares at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017

 
(3
)
Additional paid-in capital
3,526

 
3,526

Accumulated deficit
(3,174
)
 
(3,134
)
Total stockholders’ equity
355

 
392

Total liabilities and equity
$
5,174

 
$
4,900

 
See accompanying notes.


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Table of Contents

EP ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Six months ended 
 June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Cash flows from operating activities
 

 
 

Net loss
$
(40
)
 
$
(50
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities
 

 
 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
249

 
250

Impairment charges

 
1

(Gain) loss on extinguishment/modification of debt
(48
)
 
40

Other non-cash income items
13

 
14

Asset and liability changes
 

 
 

Accounts receivable
(28
)
 
(17
)
Accounts payable
(8
)
 
(7
)
Derivative instruments
57

 
(57
)
Accrued interest
7

 
22

Other asset changes
11

 
(3
)
Other liability changes
4

 
(12
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
217

 
181

 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities
 

 
 

Cash paid for capital expenditures
(384
)
 
(266
)
Proceeds from the sale of assets
169

 

Cash paid for acquisitions
(239
)
 

Net cash used in investing activities
(454
)
 
(266
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities
 

 
 

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
1,665

 
1,385

Repayments and repurchases of long-term debt
(1,291
)
 
(1,253
)
Fees/costs on debt exchange
(62
)
 

Debt issue costs
(20
)
 
(20
)
Other
(1
)
 
(3
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
291

 
109

 
 
 
 
Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
54

 
24

 
 

 
 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - beginning of period
45

 
20

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - end of period
$
99

 
$
44

 
See accompanying notes.


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Table of Contents

EP ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Class A Stock
 
Class B Stock
 
Treasury Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in Capital
 
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)
 
 
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2017
252

 
$
3

 
0.3

 
$

 
$
(3
)
 
$
3,526

 
$
(3,134
)
 
$
392

Share-based compensation
5

 

 

 

 
3

 

 

 
3

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 
(40
)
 
(40
)
Balance at June 30, 2018
257

 
$
3

 
0.3

 
$

 
$

 
$
3,526

 
$
(3,174
)
 
$
355

 
See accompanying notes.


6

Table of Contents

EP ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
 
Basis of Presentation
 
We prepared this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) as it applies to interim financial statements. Because this is an interim period report presented using a condensed format, it does not include all of the disclosures required by U.S. GAAP and should be read along with our 2017 Annual Report on
Form 10-K. The condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2018 and 2017 are unaudited. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 has been derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet included in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  In our opinion, all adjustments which are of a normal, recurring nature are reflected to fairly present these interim period results. The results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the expected results for the entire year.

Significant Accounting Policies
 
In the first quarter of 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue and develops a common revenue standard for U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. As permitted under ASU No. 2014-09, we elected to utilize the modified retrospective approach, which did not have a material impact on our financial statements. There were no other changes in significant accounting policies as described in the 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K
 
New Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted
 
The following accounting standards have been issued but not yet adopted as of June 30, 2018 .

Leases.  In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements.  Adoption of this standard is required beginning in the first quarter of 2019 and early adoption is allowed.  We continue to evaluate our contracts and other agreements to assess the impact this update will have on our financial statements.

2. Acquisitions and Divestitures
 
Acquisitions . In the first quarter of 2018, we completed the acquisition of producing properties and undeveloped acreage in Eagle Ford for approximately $246 million , after customary adjustments. Our balance sheet reflects the cost of the assets acquired as proved properties. Of the total purchase price, we paid $221 million upon closing during the first quarter of 2018 and $25 million to the buyer as a deposit in December 2017. Subsequent to June 30, 2018, we completed an acquisition of additional working interests in certain producing properties in Eagle Ford for approximately $31 million , subject to customary post-closing adjustments.

Divestitures. In the first quarter of 2018, we completed the sale of certain assets in the Altamont area for approximately $177 million , after customary adjustments. Of the total sales price, we received a deposit of $18 million (reflected in restricted cash in the balance sheet) in December 2017 and additional cash proceeds of $159 million upon closing. We treated this sale as a normal retirement reflecting the difference between net cash proceeds and the underlying net book value of the assets sold in accumulated depreciation rather than recording a gain on sale of assets. As of December 31, 2017, we classified the assets and liabilities associated with the assets to be sold as held for sale in our consolidated balance sheet.
    
3. Income Taxes
 
Effective Tax Rate. Interim period income taxes are computed by applying an anticipated annual effective tax rate to year-to-date income or loss, except for significant, unusual or infrequently occurring items, which income tax effects are recorded in the period in which they occur. Changes in tax laws or rates are recorded in the period they are enacted.

7


For both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 , our effective tax rates were approximately 0% . For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017, our effective tax rates were approximately 59% and 8% , respectively. Our effective tax rates in 2018 and 2017 differed from the statutory rates of 21% and 35% , respectively, primarily as a result of our recognition of a full valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets. For the quarters ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, we recorded adjustments to the valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets, which offset deferred income tax benefit and deferred income tax expense of $13 million and $3 million , respectively, and offset deferred income tax benefit of $8 million and $12 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Other. During 2017, we recorded a provisional effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Act). While there was no overall impact on our financial statements from the Act, we are still analyzing certain aspects of the Act with available guidance and have no adjustments to the recorded provisional amounts.

We evaluate the realization of our deferred tax assets and record any associated valuation allowance after considering cumulative book losses, the reversal of existing temporary differences, the existence of taxable income in prior carryback years, tax planning strategies and future taxable income for each of our taxable jurisdictions. Based upon the evaluation of the available evidence, we maintained a valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets of $652 million as of June 30, 2018 .

The Company’s and certain subsidiaries’ income tax years after 2013 remain open and subject to examination by both federal and state tax authorities, and in the second quarter of 2018 we were notified of an IRS examination of our 2016 U.S. tax return. During the six months ended June 30, 2018 , we also received federal and state refunds of $5 million .

4. Earnings Per Share
 
We exclude potentially dilutive securities from the determination of diluted earnings per share (as well as their related income statement impacts) when their impact on net income per common share is antidilutive. Potentially dilutive securities consist of our stock options, restricted stock, performance share unit awards and performance unit awards. For the quarters and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, we incurred net losses and accordingly excluded all potentially dilutive securities from the determination of diluted earnings per share as their impact on loss per common share was antidilutive.
5. Fair Value Measurements  
We use various methods to determine the fair values of our financial instruments. The fair value of a financial instrument depends on a number of factors, including the availability of observable market data over the contractual term of the underlying instrument. We separate the fair value of our financial instruments into three levels (Levels 1, 2 and 3) based on our assessment of the availability of observable market data and the significance of non-observable data used to determine fair value.  As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , all of our derivative financial instruments were classified as Level 2. Our assessment of the level of an instrument can change over time based on the maturity or liquidity of the instrument.

The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our financial instruments:
 
June 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Carrying
  Amount
 
Fair
  Value
 
Carrying
  Amount
 
Fair
  Value
 
(in millions)
Short-term debt
$
8

 
$
8

 
$
21

 
$
19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt (see Note 7)
$
4,395

 
$
3,816

 
$
4,072

 
$
3,248

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments
$
(52
)
 
$
(52
)
 
$
5

 
$
5

 
As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable represent fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. We hold long-term debt obligations with various terms. We estimated the fair value of debt (representing a Level 2 fair value measurement) primarily based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issuances, considering our credit risk.
 
Oil, Natural Gas and NGLs Derivative Instruments.  We attempt to mitigate a portion of our commodity price risk and stabilize cash flows associated with forecasted sales of oil, natural gas and NGLs through the use of financial derivatives.  As of

8


June 30, 2018 , we had derivative contracts in the form of fixed price swaps, collars and three-way collars on 16 MMBbls of oil ( 8 MMBbls in 2018 and 8 MMBbls in 2019). In addition to our oil derivatives, we had derivative contracts in the form of fixed price swaps on 20 TBtu of natural gas ( 13 TBtu in 2018 and 7 TBtu in 2019) and 46 MMGal of ethane and propane fixed price swaps in 2018. As of December 31, 2017 , we had derivative contracts for 14 MMBbls of oil, 33 TBtu of natural gas and 92 MMGal of ethane and propane. In addition to the contracts above, we have derivative contracts related to locational basis differences on our oil and natural gas production. None of our derivative contracts are designated as accounting hedges.

The following table presents the fair value associated with our derivative financial instruments as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 . All of our derivative instruments are subject to master netting arrangements which provide for the unconditional right of offset for all derivative assets and liabilities with a given counterparty in the event of default. We present assets and liabilities related to these instruments in our consolidated balance sheets as either current or non-current assets or liabilities based on their anticipated settlement date, net of the impact of master netting agreements.  On derivative contracts recorded as assets in the table below, we are exposed to the risk that our counterparties may not perform.
 
Level 2
 
Derivative Assets
 
Derivative Liabilities
 
Gross
Fair Value
 
 
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Gross  
Fair Value
 
 
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
 
Impact of
Netting
 
Current
 
Non-
current
 
 
Impact of
Netting
 
Current
 
Non-
current
 
(in millions)
 
(in millions)
June 30, 2018
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Derivative instruments
$
37

 
$
(28
)
 
$
6

 
$
3

 
$
(89
)
 
$
28

 
$
(52
)
 
$
(9
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Derivative instruments
$
33

 
$
(11
)
 
$
18

 
$
4

 
$
(28
)
 
$
11

 
$
(17
)
 
$


     For the quarters ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 , we recorded a derivative loss of $64 million and a derivative gain of $45 million , respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, we recorded a derivative loss of $78 million and a derivative gain of $115 million , respectively. Derivative gains and losses on our oil, natural gas and NGLs financial derivative instruments are recorded in operating revenues in our consolidated income statements. 

6.  Property, Plant and Equipment  
Oil and Natural Gas Properties .  As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , we had approximately $4.8 billion and $4.4 billion , respectively, of total property, plant, and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization on our consolidated balance sheets, substantially all of which relates to proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties.
Our capitalized costs related to proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties by area were as follows:
 
June 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
(in millions)
Proved
 
 
 
Eagle Ford
$
3,734

 
$
3,219

Permian
2,799

 
2,705

Altamont
1,599

 
1,542

Total Proved
8,132

 
7,466

Unproved
 
 
 
Permian
59

 
66

Less accumulated depletion
(3,384
)
 
(3,137
)
Net capitalized costs for oil and natural gas properties
$
4,807

 
$
4,395

For the quarter ended June 30, 2018 , we did not record any amortization of unproved leasehold costs in exploration expense in our consolidated income statement. For the quarter ended June 30, 2017 , we recorded approximately $1 million of amortization of unproved leasehold costs in exploration expense in our consolidated income statement. For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 , we recorded less than $1 million and approximately $2 million , respectively, of amortization of unproved leasehold costs. Suspended well costs were not material as of June 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017

9


We evaluate capitalized costs related to proved properties upon a triggering event (such as a significant continued decline in forward commodity prices) to determine if an impairment of such properties has occurred. Capitalized costs associated with unproved properties (e.g., leasehold acquisition costs associated with non-producing areas) are also assessed upon a triggering event for impairment based on estimated drilling plans and capital expenditures which may also change relative to forward commodity prices and/or potential lease expirations. Commodity price declines may cause changes to our capital spending levels, production rates, levels of proved reserves and development plans, which may result in an impairment of the carrying value of our proved and/or unproved properties in the future.

Generally, economic recovery of unproved reserves in non-producing or unproved areas is not yet supported by actual production or conclusive formation tests, but may be confirmed by continuing exploration and development activities.  Our ability to retain our leases and thus recover our non-producing leasehold costs is dependent upon a number of factors including our levels of drilling activity, which may include drilling the acreage on our own behalf or jointly with partners, or our ability to modify or extend our leases. Should commodity prices not justify sufficient capital allocation to the continued development of properties where we have non-producing leasehold costs, we could incur impairment charges of our unproved property costs.

Asset Retirement Obligations. We have legal asset retirement obligations associated with the retirement of our oil and natural gas wells and related infrastructure. We settle these obligations when production on those wells is exhausted, when we no longer plan to use them or when we abandon them. We accrue these obligations when we can estimate the timing and amount of their settlement.

In estimating the liability associated with our asset retirement obligations, we utilize several assumptions, including a credit-adjusted risk-free rate between 7 percent and 9 percent on a significant portion of our obligations and a projected inflation rate of 2.5 percent . Changes in estimates in the table below represent changes to the expected amount and timing of payments to settle our asset retirement obligations. Typically, these changes primarily result from obtaining new information about the timing of our obligations to plug and abandon oil and natural gas wells and the costs to do so, or reassessing our assumptions in light of changing market conditions. The net asset retirement liability as of June 30, 2018 on our consolidated balance sheet in other current and non-current liabilities and the changes in the net liability from January 1 through June 30, 2018 were as follows:
 
2018
 
(in millions)
Net asset retirement liability at January 1
$
35

Accretion expense
1

Changes in estimate
1

Net asset retirement liability at June 30
$
37

 
Capitalized Interest.   Interest expense is reflected in our financial statements net of capitalized interest. We capitalize
interest primarily on the costs associated with drilling and completing wells until production begins using a weighted average interest rate on our outstanding borrowings. Capitalized interest for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 was approximately $2 million and $3 million , respectively. Capitalized interest for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017 was approximately $1 million and $2 million , respectively.



10


7. Long-Term Debt
Listed below are our debt obligations as of the periods presented:
 
Interest Rate
 
June 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
(in millions)
RBL credit facility - due November 23, 2021 (1)
Variable
 
$

 
$
595

Senior secured term loans:
 
 
 
 
 
Due May 24, 2018 (2)(3)
Variable
 

 
21

Due April 30, 2019 (4)
Variable
 
8

 
8

Senior secured notes:
 
 
 
 
 
Due May 1, 2024
9.375%
 
1,092

 

Due November 29, 2024
8.00%
 
500

 
500

Due February 15, 2025
8.00%
 
1,000

 
1,000

Due May 15, 2026
7.75%
 
1,000

 

Senior unsecured notes:
 
 
 
 
 
Due May 1, 2020
9.375%
 
246

 
1,200

Due September 1, 2022
7.75%
 
195

 
250

Due June 15, 2023
6.375%
 
362

 
519

Total debt
 
 
4,403

 
4,093

Less short-term debt, net of debt issue costs of less than $1 million
 
 
(8
)
 
(21
)
Total long-term debt
 
 
4,395

 
4,072

Less debt discount and non-current portion of unamortized debt issue costs
 
 
(104
)
 
(50
)
Total long-term debt, net
 
 
$
4,291

 
$
4,022

 
(1)
Carries interest at a specified margin over LIBOR of 2.50% to 3.50% , based on borrowing utilization.
(2)                                      Issued at 99% of par and carries interest at a specified margin over LIBOR of 2.75% , with a minimum LIBOR floor of 0.75% . As of December 31, 2017 , the effective interest rate of the term loan was 4.23% .
(3)
In April 2018, we retired the term loan in full.
(4)                                       Carries interest at a specified margin over the LIBOR of 3.50% , with a minimum LIBOR floor of 1.00% . As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , the effective interest rate for the term loan was 5.81% and 4.98% , respectively.

In April 2018, we paid approximately $10 million in cash to repurchase a total of approximately $19 million in aggregate principal amount of our senior unsecured notes due 2022 and 2023. In connection with these repurchases, we recorded a gain on extinguishment of debt of approximately $9 million (including less than $1 million of non-cash expense related to eliminating associated unamortized debt issue costs).

In addition, in May 2018, we issued $1 billion of 7.75% senior secured notes which mature in 2026 and used the proceeds (less fees and expenses) to repay $907 million of the amounts outstanding at that time under our Reserve-Based Loan Facility (RBL Facility). In conjunction with issuing the notes, we also reduced the amount of RBL Facility commitments to $629 million , which resulted in recording a loss of $2 million reflecting the elimination of associated unamortized debt-issue costs.
    
During the first quarter of 2018, we completed an exchange of $954 million , $54 million and $139 million of the outstanding amount of our senior unsecured notes maturing in May 2020, September 2022 and June 2023, respectively, for new 9.375% senior secured notes maturing in 2024 with an aggregate principal amount of approximately $1,092 million . The exchange transaction was accounted for as a modification of debt for our senior unsecured notes maturing in May 2020 and an extinguishment of debt for our senior unsecured notes maturing in September 2022 and June 2023. In conjunction with the exchange, we incurred approximately $62 million in related fees, of which we (i) recorded $48 million as debt discount primarily reflecting amounts paid to our 2020 noteholders associated with the exchange of our 2020 notes, (ii) capitalized $2 million as debt issuance costs, and (iii) recorded $12 million in loss on modification of debt. In addition, we recorded a gain on extinguishment of debt in the amount of $53 million primarily associated with retiring a portion of our 2022 and 2023 notes at less than face value, net of the write-off of $2 million in previously unamortized debt issue costs.


11


During the six months ended June 30, 2017 , we paid approximately $42 million in cash to repurchase a total of approximately $56 million in 2020 notes which resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of approximately $13 million (including $1 million of non-cash expense related to eliminating associated unamortized debt issue costs). In addition, we issued $1 billion of 8.00% senior secured notes maturing in 2025 using the proceeds to repay certain senior secured term loans and notes and repay a portion of the amounts outstanding under our RBL Facility. In conjunction with these transactions, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $53 million (including $30 million in non-cash expense related to eliminating associated unamortized debt issue costs and debt discounts).

Unamortized Debt Issue Costs and Debt Discounts. As of June 30, 2018 , we had total debt discount of $46 million associated with our senior secured notes maturing in 2024 and as of December 31, 2017 , we had less than $1 million . As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , we had total unamortized debt issue costs of $67 million and $56 million , respectively. Of these amounts, $9 million and $6 million , respectively, are associated with our RBL Facility and $58 million and $50 million , respectively, are associated with our senior secured term loans and senior notes. Debt discounts and unamortized debt issue costs associated with our senior secured term loans and senior notes are reflected net of the face value of debt on our consolidated balance sheet.

Reserve-based Loan Facility. We have an RBL Facility which allows us to borrow funds or issue letters of credit (LCs) up to $629 million . The RBL Facility matures in November 2021. As of June 30, 2018 , we had $610 million of capacity remaining with approximately $19 million of LCs issued and no amounts outstanding under the RBL Facility.
The RBL Facility is collateralized by certain of our oil and natural gas properties and has a borrowing base subject to semi-annual redetermination. In January 2018, as a result of our debt exchange, our borrowing base was reduced from $1.4 billion to $1.36 billion . Subsequently in May 2018, we amended our RBL credit agreement, which extended the RBL Facility maturity date to November 23, 2021, reaffirmed the borrowing base at $1.36 billion and reduced the amount of total available commitments to $629 million . The next scheduled redetermination of the borrowing base will be in October 2018. Downward revisions of our oil and natural gas reserves volume and value due to declines in commodity prices, the impact of lower estimated capital spending in response to lower prices, performance revisions, or sales of assets or the incurrence of certain types of additional debt, among other items, could cause a reduction of our borrowing base in the future, and these reductions could be significant.
Restrictive Provisions/Covenants.   The availability of borrowings under our RBL Facility and our ability to incur additional indebtedness is subject to various financial and non-financial covenants and restrictions. As part of our RBL Facility amendment in May 2018, we (i) extended our first lien debt to EBITDAX financial covenant and reduced the ratio to 2.25 to 1.00 and (ii) included a financial covenant for a current ratio (as defined in the RBL credit agreement) to be not less than 1.00 to 1.00. As of June 30, 2018 , we were in compliance with our debt covenants.
Under our various debt agreements, we are limited in our ability to repurchase certain tranches of non-RBL Facility debt. Certain other covenants and restrictions, among other things, also limit or place certain conditions on our ability to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness, make restricted payments, pay dividends on equity interests, redeem, repurchase or retire equity interests or subordinated indebtedness, sell assets, make investments, create certain liens, prepay debt obligations, engage in certain transactions with affiliates, and enter into certain hedging agreements.

8. Commitments and Contingencies
 
Legal Matters
 
We and our subsidiaries and affiliates are parties to various legal actions and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business. For each matter, we evaluate the merits of the case or claim, our exposure to the matter, possible legal or settlement strategies and the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome. If we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and can be estimated, we establish the necessary accruals. While the outcome of our current matters cannot be predicted with certainty and there are still uncertainties related to the costs we may incur, based upon our evaluation and experience to date, we believe we have established appropriate reserves for these matters. It is possible, however, that new information or future developments could require us to reassess our potential exposure and adjust our accruals accordingly, and these adjustments could be material. As of June 30, 2018 , we had approximately $8 million accrued for all outstanding legal matters. 
FairfieldNodal v. EP Energy E&P Company , L.P. On March 3, 2014, Fairfield filed suit against one of our subsidiaries in the 157th District Court of Harris County, Texas, claiming we were contractually obligated to pay a transfer fee of approximately $21 million for seismic licensing, triggered by a change in control with the Sponsors’ (affiliates of Apollo Global Management LLC, Riverstone Holdings LLC, Access Industries and Korea National Oil Corporation, collectively, the

12


Sponsors) acquisition of our predecessor entity in 2012. Prior to the change in control, we had unilaterally terminated the seismic licensing agreements, and we returned the applicable seismic data. Fairfield also claimed EP Energy did not properly maintain the confidentiality of the seismic data and interpretations made from it. In April 2015, the district court granted summary judgment to EP Energy, and Fairfield then appealed. On July 6, 2017, an intermediate court of appeals in Texas reversed the judgment related to the transfer fee and denied rehearing on October 5, 2017. We filed a petition for review in the Texas Supreme Court in December 2017. At this time, we are unable to estimate the amount or range of possible loss, if any, on this matter.
Weyerhaeuser Company v. Pardee Minerals LLC, et al. On July 5, 2017, Weyerhaeuser filed suit against one of our subsidiaries, among other defendants, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.  Weyerhaeuser seeks to recoup the value of production (approximately $19 million ) plus judicial interest (approximately $11 million at this time) from certain wells drilled by EP Energy between 2002 and 2013 on leases Weyerhaeuser claims were invalid.  Weyerhaeuser alleges that lessees prior to EP Energy had not drilled wells in good faith to perpetuate the associated mineral servitude (rights conveyed to produce minerals), rendering EP Energy’s subsequent lease invalid. A trial date has been set for May 13, 2019. At this time, we are unable to estimate the amount or range of possible loss, if any, on this matter.
Indemnifications and Other Matters. We periodically enter into indemnification arrangements as part of the divestiture of assets or businesses. These arrangements include, but are not limited to, indemnifications for income taxes, the resolution of existing disputes, environmental and other contingent matters. In addition, under various laws or regulations, we could be subject to the imposition of certain liabilities. For example, the decline in commodity prices has created an environment where there is an increased risk that owners and/or operators of assets previously purchased from us may no longer be able to satisfy plugging and abandonment obligations that attach to such assets. In that event, under various laws or regulations, we could be required to assume all, or a portion of the plugging or abandonment obligations on assets we no longer own or operate. As of June 30, 2018 , we had approximately $4 million accrued related to these indemnifications and other matters.
Non-Income Tax Matters. We are under a number of examinations by taxing authorities related to non-income tax matters. As of June 30, 2018 , we had approximately $43 million accrued (in other accrued liabilities in our consolidated balance sheet) in connection with ongoing examinations related to certain prior period non-income tax matters.

Environmental Matters
We are subject to existing federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental quality, pollution control and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  Numerous governmental agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), issue regulations which often require difficult and costly compliance measures that carry substantial administrative, civil and criminal penalties and may result in injunctive obligations for non-compliance. Our management believes that we are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations, and we have not experienced any material adverse effect from compliance with these environmental requirements. For additional details on certain environmental matters, including matters related to climate change, air quality and other emissions, hydraulic fracturing regulations and waste handling, refer to the Risk Factors section of our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
While our reserves for environmental matters are currently not material, there are still uncertainties related to the ultimate costs we may incur in the future in order to comply with increasingly strict environmental laws, regulations, and orders of regulatory agencies, as well as claims for damages to property and the environment or injuries to employees and other persons resulting from our current or past operations. Based upon our evaluation and experience to date, however, we believe our accruals for these matters are adequate. It is possible that new information or future developments could result in substantial additional costs and liabilities which could require us to reassess our potential exposure related to these matters and to adjust our accruals accordingly, and these adjustments could be material.


13


9. Long-Term Incentive Compensation  
Our long-term incentive (LTI) programs consist of restricted stock, stock options and performance shares/units awards. Refer to our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K for further description regarding the terms and details of these awards.
Restricted Stock. A summary of the changes in our non-vested restricted shares for the six months ended June 30, 2018 is presented below:
 
 
Number of Shares
 
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
per Share
Non-vested at December 31, 2017
 
5,283,986

 
$
4.93

Granted
 
6,905,525

 
$
1.94

Vested
 
(1,881,894
)
 
$
5.66

Forfeited
 
(1,125,898
)
 
$
4.62

Non-vested at June 30, 2018
 
9,181,719

 
$
2.57

Performance Share Units. In May 2018, we granted 599,040 PSUs to certain EP Energy employees. The grant date fair value of the 2018 awards was approximately $4 million as determined by a Monte Carlo simulation, utilizing an expected volatility of approximately 90% and a risk free rate of approximately 3% . As of June 30, 2018 , we had a total of 1,508,640 PSUs outstanding. PSUs will be earned based upon the achievement of specified stock price goals over a four -year performance period and will vest over a weighted average period of five years. Our PSUs are treated as an equity award with the expense recognized on an accelerated basis over the life of the award.
Performance Unit Awards. Our performance unit awards are based upon achievement of a level of total shareholder return and may be settled in either stock or cash at the election of the Board of Directors. These awards are treated as a liability award for accounting purposes with the expense recognized on an accelerated basis over the life of the award and fair value remeasured at each reporting period. During the six months ended June 30, 2018 , we made no payments in connection with awards that vested and had less than $1 million accrued related to unvested outstanding performance unit awards.
We record compensation expense on all of our LTI awards as general and administrative expense over the requisite service period. Pre-tax compensation expense related to all of our LTI awards (both equity and liability based), net of the impact of forfeitures, was approximately $3 million and $6 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, and $4 million and $5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Included in pre-tax compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was approximately $7 million of forfeitures recorded during the quarter ended March 31, 2017. As of June 30, 2018 , we had unrecognized compensation expense of $34 million .  We will recognize an additional $9 million related to our outstanding awards during the remainder of 2018, $23 million over the remaining requisite service periods subsequent to 2018 and $2 million should a specified capital transaction occur and the right to such amounts become non-forfeitable.

10. Related Party Transactions
 
Joint Venture. In 2017, we entered into a drilling joint venture with Wolfcamp Drillco Operating L.P. (the Investor), which is managed and controlled by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management LLC, to fund future oil and natural gas development in the Permian basin. Subsequently, Access Industries acquired an indirect minority ownership interest in the Investor and therefore is also indirectly responsible for funding a portion of the Investor’s capital commitment. The Investor agreed to fund 60 percent of the estimated drilling, completion and equipping costs in the joint venture wells, divided into two approximately $225 million investment tranches, in exchange for a 50 percent working interest. Once the Investor achieves a 12 percent internal rate of return on its invested capital in each tranche, its working interest reverts to 15 percent . We have substantially completed the planned activity in the first tranche. In April 2018, we amended the drilling joint venture to direct the second tranche investment to the Eagle Ford. The first wells in the second tranche are expected to begin producing in the third quarter of 2018. We are the operator of the joint venture assets.

14


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the accompanying notes presented in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. This discussion contains forward-looking statements and involves numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in the “Risk Factors” section of our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.  Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this MD&A section to “we”, “our”, “us” and “the Company” refer to EP Energy Corporation and each of its consolidated subsidiaries.
 
Our Business
Overview .  We are an independent exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition and development of unconventional onshore oil and natural gas properties in the United States.  We operate through a diverse base of producing
assets and are focused on providing returns to our shareholders through the development of our drilling inventory located in three areas: the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas, the Permian basin in West Texas, and the Altamont Field in the Uinta basin in Northeastern Utah. 

Our strategy is to invest in opportunities that provide the highest return across our asset base, continually seek out operating and capital efficiencies, effectively manage costs, and identify accretive acquisition opportunities and divestitures, all with the objective of enhancing our portfolio, growing asset value, improving cash flow, increasing financial flexibility and providing an attractive return to our shareholders. We evaluate opportunities in our portfolio that are aligned with this strategy and our core competencies and that offer a competitive advantage. In addition to opportunities in our current portfolio, strategic acquisitions of leasehold acreage or acquisitions of producing assets allow us to leverage existing expertise in our areas, balance our exposure to regions, basins and commodities, help us to achieve or enhance risk-adjusted returns competitive with those available in our existing programs and increase our reserves. We also continuously evaluate our asset portfolio and will sell oil and natural gas properties if they no longer meet our long-term objectives.

During the first half of 2018, we completed the acquisition of producing properties and undeveloped acreage in Eagle Ford, primarily in La Salle County, for approximately $246 million , after customary closing adjustments. The acquisition represents a 26 percent expansion of our Eagle Ford acreage position at December 31, 2017 or approximately 24,500 net acres. We also completed the sale of certain assets in the Altamont area for approximately $177 million , after customary closing adjustments. The divestiture represents approximately 13 percent of our Altamont acreage position at December 31, 2017, or approximately 23,330 net acres. Subsequent to June 30, 2018, we completed an acquisition of additional working interests in certain producing properties in Eagle Ford for approximately $31 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments.
Factors Influencing Our Profitability.   Our profitability is dependent on the prices we receive for our oil and natural gas, the costs to explore, develop, and produce our oil and natural gas, and the volumes we are able to produce, among other factors. Our long-term profitability will be influenced primarily by: 

growing our proved reserve base and production volumes through the successful execution of our drilling
programs or through acquisitions; 
finding and producing oil and natural gas at reasonable costs; 
managing operating costs; and
managing commodity price risks on our oil and natural gas production. 
In addition to these factors, our future profitability and performance will be affected by volatility in the financial and commodity markets, changes in the cost of drilling and oilfield services, operating and capital costs, and our debt level and related interest costs. Future commodity price changes may affect our future capital spending levels, production rates and/or related operating revenues (net of any associated royalties), levels of proved reserves and development plans, all of which impact performance. Additionally, we may be impacted by weather events, regulatory issues or other third party actions outside of our control.
 
Forward commodity prices play a significant role in determining the recoverability of proved or unproved property
costs on our balance sheet. While prices have generally improved over the past two years, future price declines, along with changes to our future capital spending levels, production rates, levels of proved reserves and development plans may result in

15

Table of Contents

an impairment of the carrying value of our proved and/or unproved properties in the future, and such charges could be significant.

  Derivative Instruments.   Our realized prices from the sale of our oil, natural gas and NGLs are affected by (i) commodity price movements, including locational or basis price differences that exist between the commodity index price (e.g., WTI) and the actual price at which we sell our commodities and (ii) other contractual pricing adjustments contained in our underlying sales contracts.  In order to stabilize cash flows and protect the economic assumptions associated with our capital investment programs, we enter into financial derivative contracts to reduce the financial impact of downward commodity price movements and unfavorable movements in locational prices. Adjustments to our strategy and the decision to enter into new contracts or positions to alter existing contracts or positions are made based on the goals of the overall company. Because we apply mark-to-market accounting on our derivative contracts, our reported results of operations and financial position can be impacted significantly by commodity price movements from period to period.
During the six months ended June 30, 2018 , we settled commodity index hedges on approximately 88% of our oil production, 77% of our total liquids production and 56% of our natural gas production at average floor prices of $58.48 per barrel of oil, $0.45 per gallon of NGLs and $3.04 per MMBtu of natural gas, respectively. To the extent our oil, natural gas and NGLs production is unhedged, either from a commodity index or locational price perspective, our operating revenues will be impacted from period to period. The following table and discussion reflects the contracted volumes and the prices we will receive under derivative contracts we held as of June 30, 2018 .
 
 
2018
 
2019
 
 
Volumes (1)
 
Average
Price (1)
 
Volumes (1)
 
Average
Price (1)
Oil
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Fixed Price Swaps
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
WTI
 
2,576

 
$
56.49

 
730

 
$
55.88

Collars
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling - WTI
 
552

 
$
64.98

 
1,275

 
$
65.80

Floors - WTI
 
552

 
$
55.00

 
1,275

 
$
55.00

Three Way Collars
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling - WTI
 
4,466

 
$
68.15

 
6,205

 
$
67.77

Floors - WTI
 
4,466

 
$
60.00

 
6,205

 
$
58.24

 Sub-Floor - WTI
 
4,466

 
$
50.00

 
6,205

 
$
45.00

Basis Swaps
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LLS vs. WTI (2)
 
2,576

 
$
2.84

 

 
$

Midland vs. Cushing (3) 
 
1,902

 
$
(1.02
)
 

 
$

NYMEX Roll (4) 
 
1,840

 
$
0.09

 

 
$

Natural Gas
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed Price Swaps
 
13

 
$
3.04

 
7

 
$
2.97

Basis Swaps
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WAHA vs. Henry Hub (5)
 
7

 
$
(0.46
)
 
7

 
$
(0.39
)
NGLs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed Price Swaps - Ethane
 
31

 
$
0.30

 

 
$

Fixed Price Swaps - Propane
 
15

 
$
0.75

 

 
$

 
(1)
Volumes presented are MBbls for oil, TBtu for natural gas and MMGal for NGLs. Prices presented are per Bbl of oil, MMBtu of natural gas and Gal for NGLs.
(2)
EP Energy receives WTI plus the basis spread listed and pays LLS.
(3)
EP Energy receives Cushing plus the basis spread listed and pays Midland. These positions do not include 306 MBbls of oil at an average price of $1.06 per barrel of oil, which offset our 2.2 MBbls Midland vs. Cushing basis swaps positions.
(4)
These positions hedge the timing risk associated with our physical sales. We generally sell oil for the delivery month at a sales price based on the average NYMEX WTI
price during that month, plus an adjustment calculated as a spread between the weighted average prices of the delivery month, the next month and the following month
during the period when the delivery month is prompt (the “trade month roll”).
(5)
EP Energy receives Henry Hub plus the basis spread listed and pays WAHA.






16

Table of Contents


For the period from July 1, 2018 through August 8, 2018, we entered into additional derivative contracts on 0.4 MMBbls of 2019 WTI oil three-way collars with a ceiling price of $70.85, a floor of $60.00 and sub-floor of $45.00 and 1.1 MMBbls of 2019 Midland vs. Cushing oil basis swaps with an average price of $(6.47) per barrel of oil.

For our three-way collar contracts in the tables above, the sub-floor prices represent the price below which we receive WTI plus a weighted average spread of $10.00 in 2018 and $13.24 in 2019 on the indicated volumes. If WTI is above our sub-floor prices, we receive the noted floor price until WTI exceeds that floor price. Above the floor price, we receive WTI until prices exceed the noted ceiling price in our three-way collars, at which time we receive the fixed ceiling price. As of June 30, 2018 , the average forward price of oil was $70.66 per barrel of oil for the remainder of 2018 and $65.36 per barrel of oil for 2019.

Summary of Liquidity and Capital Resources.   As of June 30, 2018 , we had available liquidity of approximately $708 million , reflecting $610 million of available liquidity on our Reserve-Based Loan facility (RBL Facility) borrowing base and $98 million of available cash. Our RBL Facility is our primary source of liquidity beyond our operating cash flow and matures in November of 2021. In the first half of 2018, we took a number of steps to improve our liquidity, expand our financial flexibility and manage our leverage by (i) exchanging approximately $1,147 million of the outstanding amounts of our senior unsecured notes maturing in 2020, 2022 and 2023 for new 9.375% senior secured notes maturing in 2024, (ii) issuing $1 billion of 7.75% senior secured notes which mature in 2026 and using the net proceeds to repay in full the outstanding amounts at that time under our RBL Facility and (iii) extending the maturity of our RBL Facility from May 2019 to November 2021.

During the first half of 2018, we also (i) completed our largest acquisition to date in the Eagle Ford for approximately $246 million , after customary adjustments, and at the same time (ii) completed the sale of certain assets in Altamont for approximately $177 million after customary adjustments. Subsequent to June 30, 2018, we completed an acquisition of additional working interests in certain producing properties in Eagle Ford for approximately $31 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. For a further discussion of our liquidity and capital resources, including factors that could impact our liquidity, see Liquidity and Capital Resources .

Outlook. For the full year 2018, we expect to spend approximately $630 million to $670 million in capital in our programs, with approximately 65% allocated to the Eagle Ford Shale, approximately 15% allocated to the Permian basin and approximately 20% allocated to Altamont. We anticipate our average daily production volumes for the year to be approximately 79 MBoe/d to 82 MBoe/d, including average daily oil production volumes of approximately 45 MBbls/d to 47 MBbls/d.










17

Table of Contents

Production Volumes and Drilling Summary
 
Production Volumes . Below is an analysis of our production volumes for the six months ended June 30 :
 
 
2018
 
2017
Equivalent Volumes (MBoe/d)
 

 
 

Eagle Ford Shale
37.6

 
39.6

Permian
26.7

 
26.4

Altamont
17.0

 
17.7

Total
81.3

 
83.7

 
 
 
 
Oil (MBbls/d)
46.3

 
48.0

Natural Gas (MMcf/d)
125

 
126

NGLs (MBbls/d)
14.2

 
14.8


Eagle Ford Shale —Our Eagle Ford Shale equivalent volumes decreased 2.0  MBoe/d (approximately 5% ) and oil production decreased by 0.3 MBbls/d (approximately 1% ) for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 . During the six months ended June 30, 2018 , we frac’d (wells fracture stimulated) 41 gross wells, of which 35 wells were completed for a total of 763 net operated wells.

Permian —Our Permian basin equivalent volumes increased 0.3 MBoe/d (approximately 1% ) and oil production decreased by 0.8 MBbls/d (approximately 8% ) for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 . During the six months ended June 30, 2018 , we frac’d 21 gross wells, all of which were completed for a total of 349 net operated wells.

Altamont —Our Altamont equivalent volumes decreased 0.7 MBoe/d (approximately 4% ) and oil production decreased by 0.6 MBbls/d (approximately 5% ) for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 . During the six months ended June 30, 2018 , we frac’d 16 gross wells, all of which were completed for a total of 336 net operated wells. We also recompleted 52 gross wells during 2018.

Future volumes across all our assets will be impacted by the level of natural declines, and the level and timing of capital spending in each respective area.

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Table of Contents

Results of Operations
 
The information in the table below provides a summary of our financial results.
 
Quarter ended 
 June 30,
 
Six months ended 
 June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Operating revenues
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oil
$
281

 
$
202

 
$
533

 
$
406

Natural gas
18

 
27

 
40

 
57

NGLs
30

 
22

 
56

 
45

Total physical sales
329

 
251

 
629

 
508

Financial derivatives
(64
)
 
45

 
(78
)
 
115

Total operating revenues
265

 
296

 
551

 
623

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oil and natural gas purchases

 
1

 

 
2

Transportation costs
26

 
28

 
51

 
57

Lease operating expense
38

 
39

 
77

 
79

General and administrative
28

 
26

 
47

 
46

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
129

 
124

 
249

 
250

Impairment charges

 
1

 

 
1

Exploration and other expense

 
1

 
1

 
4

Taxes, other than income taxes
21

 
15

 
41

 
34

Total operating expenses
242

 
235

 
466

 
473

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
23

 
61

 
85

 
150

Gain (loss) on extinguishment/modification of debt
7

 
13

 
48

 
(40
)
Interest expense
(88
)
 
(82
)
 
(173
)
 
(165
)
Loss before income taxes
(58
)
 
(8
)
 
(40
)
 
(55
)
Income tax benefit

 
5

 

 
5

Net loss
$
(58
)
 
$
(3
)
 
$
(40
)
 
$
(50
)


19

Table of Contents

Operating Revenues
 
The table below provides our operating revenues, volumes and prices per unit for the quarters and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 . We present (i) average realized prices based on physical sales of oil, natural gas and NGLs as well as (ii) average realized prices inclusive of the impacts of financial derivative settlements and premiums which reflect cash received or paid during the respective period.
 
 
Quarter ended 
 June 30,
 
Six months ended 
 June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Operating revenues:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oil
$
281

 
$
202

 
$
533

 
$
406

Natural gas
18

 
27

 
40

 
57

NGLs
30

 
22

 
56

 
45

Total physical sales
329

 
251

 
629

 
508

Financial derivatives
(64
)
 
45

 
(78
)
 
115

Total operating revenues
$
265

 
$
296

 
$
551

 
$
623

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volumes:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oil (MBbls)
4,299


4,452

 
8,386

 
8,671

Natural gas (MMcf)
11,274


11,353

 
22,609

 
22,818

NGLs (MBbls)
1,334


1,386

 
2,566

 
2,682

Equivalent volumes (MBoe)
7,512


7,730

 
14,720

 
15,156

Total MBoe/d
82.5


84.9

 
81.3

 
83.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prices per unit (1) :
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oil
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Average realized price on physical sales ($/Bbl) (2)  
$
65.53


$
45.27

 
$
63.60

 
$
46.81

Average realized price, including financial derivatives ($/Bbl) (2)(3) 
$
62.30


$
51.83

 
$
60.62

 
$
53.33

Natural gas
 

 
 
 
 
 
Average realized price on physical sales ($/Mcf) (2) 
$
1.58


$
2.40

 
$
1.76

 
$
2.45

Average realized price, including financial derivatives ($/Mcf) (2)(3)
$
1.96


$
2.49

 
$
2.00

 
$
2.48

NGLs
 

 
 
 
 
 
Average realized price on physical sales ($/Bbl)
$
22.65


$
16.00

 
$
21.82

 
$
16.79

Average realized price, including financial derivatives ($/Bbl) (3)
$
22.07


$
16.56

 
$
21.51

 
$
17.14

 
(1)
For both of the quarters and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, there were no oil purchases associated with managing our physical oil sales. Natural gas prices for both of the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 reflect operating revenues for natural gas reduced by less than $1 million for natural gas purchases associated with managing our physical sales. Natural gas prices for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017 reflect operating revenues for natural gas reduced by approximately $1 million and $2 million, respectively, for natural gas purchases associated with managing our physical sales.
(2)
Changes in realized oil and natural gas prices reflect the effects of unhedged locational or basis differentials, unhedged volumes and contractual deductions between the commodity price index and the actual price at which we sold our oil and natural gas.
(3)
The quarters ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 , include cash paid of approximately $14 million and cash received of approximately $30 million, respectively, for the settlement of crude oil derivative contracts and approximately $4 million and $1 million of cash received, respectively, for the settlement of natural gas financial derivatives. The six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 , include cash paid of approximately $25 million and cash received of approximately $57 million, respectively, for the settlement of crude oil derivative contracts and approximately $5 million and $1 million of cash received, respectively, for the settlement of natural gas financial derivatives. The quarters ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 also include cash paid of approximately $1 million and cash received of less than $1 million, respectively, for the settlement of NGLs derivative contracts. The six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 , include cash paid of approximately $1 million and cash received of approximately $1 million, respectively, for the settlement of NGLs derivative contracts.











20

Table of Contents

Physical sales.   Physical sales represent accrual-based commodity sales transactions with customers. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 , physical sales increased by $ 78 million ( 31% ) and $121 million ( 24% ), respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017 . The table below displays the price and volume variances on our physical sales when comparing the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 .
 
Quarter ended
 
Oil
 
Natural gas
 
NGLs
 
Total
 
(in millions)
June 30, 2017 sales
$
202

 
$
27

 
$
22

 
$
251

Change due to prices
86

 
(9
)
 
9

 
86

Change due to volumes
(7
)
 

 
(1
)
 
(8
)
June 30, 2018 sales
$
281

 
$
18

 
$
30

 
$
329

 
Six months ended
 
Oil
 
Natural gas
 
NGLs
 
Total
 
(in millions)
June 30, 2017 sales
$
406

 
$
57

 
$
45

 
$
508

Change due to prices
140

 
(17
)
 
13

 
136

Change due to volumes
(13
)
 

 
(2
)
 
(15
)
June 30, 2018 sales
$
533

 
$
40

 
$
56

 
$
629


Oil sales for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 , compared to the same periods in 2017 , increased by $79 million ( 39% ) and $127 million ( 31% ), respectively, due primarily to higher oil prices in all areas, partially offset by slightly lower oil production overall. 
 
Natural gas sales decreased by $9 million ( 33% ) and $17 million ( 30% ) for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 , respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017 primarily due to lower natural gas prices.

Our oil, natural gas and NGLs are sold at index prices (WTI, LLS, Henry Hub and Mt. Belvieu) or refiners’ posted prices at various delivery points across our producing basins.  Realized prices received (not considering the effects of hedges) are generally less than the stated index price as a result of fixed or variable contractual deductions, differentials from the index to the delivery point, adjustments for time, and/or discounts for quality or grade. 
 
In the Eagle Ford, our oil is largely sold at prices tied to benchmark LLS crude oil, with the addition of Brent-based pricing in June 2018.  In the Permian, physical barrels are generally sold at the WTI Midland Index, which trades at a spread to WTI Cushing.  In Altamont, market pricing of our oil is based upon NYMEX-based agreements which reflect a locational difference at the wellhead.  Across all regions, natural gas realized pricing is influenced by factors such as excess royalties paid on flared gas and the percentage of proceeds retained under processing contracts, in addition to the normal seasonal supply and demand influences and those factors discussed above. The table below displays the weighted average differentials and deducts on our oil and natural gas sales on an average NYMEX price.
 
Quarter ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Oil
(Bbl)
 
Natural gas
(MMBtu)
 
Oil
(Bbl)
 
Natural gas
(MMBtu)
Differentials and deducts
$
(2.27
)

$
(1.10
)

$
(3.16
)

$
(0.79
)
NYMEX
$
67.88


$
2.80


$
48.29


$
3.19

Net back realization %
96.7
%
 
60.7
%
 
93.5
%
 
75.2
%

 
Six months ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Oil
(Bbl)
 
Natural gas
(MMBtu)
 
Oil
(Bbl)
 
Natural gas
(MMBtu)
Differentials and deducts
$
(1.67
)
 
$
(1.07
)
 
$
(3.52
)
 
$
(0.80
)
NYMEX
$
65.37

 
$
2.90

 
$
50.10

 
$
3.25

Net back realization %
97.4
%
 
63.1
%
 
93.0
%
 
75.4
%

21

Table of Contents

     The higher oil realization percentage in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 was primarily a result of the improvement of both physical sales contracts in Eagle Ford and NYMEX pricing, which increased our realized prices that are based on a fixed percentage of NYMEX. The lower natural gas realization percentage in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018  was primarily a result of presenting certain transportation costs as a deduction from natural gas sales in conjunction with adopting Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers in the first quarter of 2018.
 
NGLs sales increased by $8 million ( 36% ) and $11 million ( 24% ) for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 , respectively, compared with the same periods in 2017 . Average realized prices for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 were higher compared to the same periods in 2017 , due to higher pricing on all liquids components. NGLs pricing is largely tied to crude oil prices.
Future growth in our overall oil, natural gas and NGLs sales (including the impact of financial derivatives) will largely be impacted by commodity prices, our level of hedging, our ability to maintain or grow oil volumes and by the location of our production and the nature of our sales contracts. See Our Business and Liquidity and Capital Resources for further information on our derivative instruments.
Gains or losses on financial derivatives.   We record gains or losses due to changes in the fair value of our derivative contracts based on forward commodity prices relative to the prices in the underlying contracts. We realize such gains or losses when we settle the derivative position. During the quarter ended June 30, 2018 , we recorded $64 million of derivative losses compared to a derivative gain of $ 45 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2017 . For the six months ended June 30, 2018 , we recorded $78 million of derivative losses compared to a derivative gain of $115 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017 .
Operating Expenses
The table below provides our operating expenses, volumes and operating expenses per unit for each of the periods presented:
 
Quarter ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Total
 
Per Unit (1)
 
Total
 
Per Unit (1)
 
(in millions, except per unit costs)
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and natural gas purchases
$

 
$

 
$
1

 
$
0.09

Transportation costs
26

 
3.49

 
28

 
3.66

Lease operating expense
38

 
4.95

 
39

 
5.07

General and administrative (2)
28

 
3.74

 
26

 
3.43

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
129

 
17.20

 
124

 
15.99

Impairment charges

 

 
1

 
0.05

Exploration and other expense

 

 
1

 
0.20

Taxes, other than income taxes
21

 
2.82

 
15

 
1.97

Total operating expenses
$
242

 
$
32.20

 
$
235

 
$
30.46

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total equivalent volumes (MBoe)
7,512

 
 

 
7,730

 
 



22

Table of Contents

 
Six months ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Total
 
Per Unit (1)
 
Total
 
Per Unit (1)
 
(in millions, except per unit costs)
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and natural gas purchases
$

 
$

 
2

0.12

$
0.12

Transportation costs
51

 
3.46

 
57

3.75

3.75

Lease operating expense
77

 
5.21

 
79

5.21

5.21

General and administrative (2)
47

 
3.17

 
46

3.05

3.05

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
249

 
16.95

 
250

16.48

16.48

Impairment charges

 

 
1

 
0.04

Exploration and other expense
1

 
0.09

 
4

 
0.29

Taxes, other than income taxes
41

 
2.78

 
34

 
2.28

Total operating expenses
$
466

 
$
31.66

 
$
473

 
$
31.22

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total equivalent volumes (MBoe)
14,720

 
 
 
15,156

 
 

 
(1)
Per unit costs are based on actual amounts rather than the rounded totals presented.
(2)
For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 , amount includes approximately $2 million or $0.38 per Boe and $4 million or $0.30 per Boe, respectively, of non-cash compensation expense. The quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 also include approximately $6 million or $0.77 per Boe and $6 million or $0.40 per Boe, respectively, of transition and severance costs related to workforce reductions. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017 , amount includes approximately $6 million or $0.80 per Boe and $2 million or $0.14 per Boe, respectively, of non-cash compensation expense.
Transportation costs.  Transportation costs for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 decreased by $2 million and $6 million , respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017 as a result of presenting certain transportation costs as a deduction from natural gas sales in conjunction with adopting ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers in the first quarter of 2018.

Lease operating expense.  Lease operating expense decreased by $1 million and $2 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 , respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017 . The decrease for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 compared to 2017 is due to lower maintenance and repair costs in all areas, partially offset by higher compression, disposal and chemical costs in the Permian and Eagle Ford. The decrease for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 is due to lower maintenance and repair costs in Altamont and Eagle Ford, partially offset by higher compression and disposal costs in Eagle Ford and higher chemical and disposal costs in the Permian.

  General and administrative expenses.   General and administrative expenses for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 increased by $2 million and $1 million , respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017 . Higher costs during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017 were primarily due to higher severance expense of $6 million in both periods in 2018, partially offset by lower payroll costs as a result of a reduction in headcount in 2018 when compared to the same periods in 2017.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense increased for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 and decreased for the six months ended June 30, 2018 due to increased capital spending and slightly lower production volumes when compared to the same periods in 2017. Our depreciation, depletion and amortization rate in the future will be impacted by the level, the location, and timing of capital spending, the overall cost of capital and the level and type of reserves recorded on completed projects. For the full year 2018, we currently anticipate our depreciation, depletion and amortization costs per unit to be between $17.00 and $17.50 per Boe. Our average depreciation, depletion and amortization costs per unit for the quarter and six months ended June 30 were:
 
Quarter ended 
 June 30,
 
Six months ended 
 June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Depreciation, depletion and amortization ($/Boe)
$
17.20


$
15.99

 
$
16.95

 
$
16.48

 

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Table of Contents

Taxes, other than income taxes. Taxes, other than income taxes for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 increased by $6 million and $7 million , respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017 primarily due to an increase in severance taxes as a result of higher commodity prices.

Other Income Statement Items.

Gain (loss) on extinguishment/modification of debt. During the quarter ended June 30, 2018 , we recorded a gain on extinguishment of debt of approximately $9 million as a result of our repurchase of approximately $19 million in aggregate principal amount of our senior unsecured notes. In addition, we recorded a loss of $2 million reflecting eliminating associated unamortized debt-issue costs as a result of amending our RBL credit agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2018 , we also completed an exchange of $1,147 million in amounts outstanding under certain senior unsecured notes for approximately $1,092 in new senior secured notes. In conjunction with the exchange, we recorded a net gain on the extinguishment of debt of approximately $41 million ($2 million of which was non-cash) as further discussed in Part I, Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 7.

For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017 , we paid approximately $42 million in cash to repurchase approximately $56 million in aggregate principal amount of our senior unsecured notes due 2020. We recorded a gain on extinguishment of debt of approximately $13 million (including $1 million in non-cash expense related to eliminating associated unamortized debt issue costs). In addition, during the six months ended June 30, 2017 , we retired our senior secured term loans due 2021 and a portion of our 9.375% senior notes due 2020, recording a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $53 million (including $30 million in non-cash expense related to eliminating associated unamortized debt issue costs and debt discounts).
    
Interest expense. Interest expense for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 increased by $6 million and $8 million , respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017 due primarily to higher average borrowings under our RBL Facility in 2018.

Income taxes. For both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 , our effective tax rates were approximately 0% . For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017 , our effective tax rates were approximately 59% and 8% , respectively. Our effective tax rates in 2018 and 2017 differed from the statutory rates of 21% and 35%, respectively, primarily as a result of our recognition of a full valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets. For the quarters ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 , we recorded adjustments to the valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets, which offset deferred income tax benefit and deferred income tax expense of $13 million and $3 million , respectively, and offset deferred income tax benefit of $8 million and $12 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively.


24

Table of Contents

Supplemental Non-GAAP Measures
 
We use the non-GAAP measures “EBITDAX” and “Adjusted EBITDAX” as supplemental measures. We believe these supplemental measures provide meaningful information to our investors. We define EBITDAX as net income (loss) plus interest and debt expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization and exploration expense. Adjusted EBITDAX is defined as EBITDAX, adjusted as applicable in the relevant period for the net change in the fair value of derivatives (mark-to-market effects of financial derivatives, net of cash settlements and cash premiums related to these derivatives), the non-cash portion of compensation expense (which represents non-cash compensation expense under our long-term incentive programs adjusted for cash payments made under these plans), transition, severance and other costs that affect comparability, gains and losses on extinguishment/modification of debt and impairment charges.
 
We believe that the presentation of EBITDAX and Adjusted EBITDAX is important to provide management and investors with additional information (i) to evaluate our ability to service debt adjusting for items required or permitted in calculating covenant compliance under our debt agreements, (ii) to provide an important supplemental indicator of the operational performance of our business without regard to financing methods and capital structure, (iii) for evaluating our performance relative to our peers, (iv) to measure our liquidity (before cash capital requirements and working capital needs) and (v) to provide supplemental information about certain material non-cash and/or other items that may not continue at the same level in the future. EBITDAX and Adjusted EBITDAX have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP or as an alternative to net income (loss), operating income (loss), operating cash flows or other measures of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP.
 
Below is a reconciliation of our consolidated net (loss) income to EBITDAX and Adjusted EBITDAX:
 
 
Quarter ended 
 June 30,
 
Six months ended 
 June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Net loss
$
(58
)
 
$
(3
)
 
$
(40
)
 
$
(50
)
Income tax benefit

 
(5
)
 

 
(5
)
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest
88

 
82

 
173

 
165

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
129

 
124

 
249

 
250

Exploration expense
1

 
1

 
2

 
4

EBITDAX
160

 
199

 
384

 
364

Mark-to-market on financial derivatives (1)
64

 
(45
)
 
78

 
(115
)
Cash settlements and cash premiums on financial derivatives (2) 
(10
)
 
31

 
(20
)
 
59

Non-cash portion of compensation expense (3) 
2

 
6

 
4

 
2

Transition, severance and other costs (4)
6

 

 
6

 

(Gain) loss on extinguishment/modification of debt
(7
)
 
(13
)
 
(48
)
 
40

Impairment charges

 
1

 

 
1

Adjusted EBITDAX
$
215

 
$
179

 
$
404

 
$
351

 
 
(1)
Represents the income statement impact of financial derivatives.
(2)
Represents actual cash settlements related to financial derivatives.  No cash premiums were received or paid for the quarters and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.  
(3)
There were no cash payments for the quarters ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 and none for the six months ended June 30, 2018 . For the six months ended June 30, 2017 , cash payments were approximately $4 million.
(4)
Reflects transition and severance costs related to workforce reductions.







25

Table of Contents

Commitments and Contingencies
 
For a further discussion of our commitments and contingencies, see Part I, Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 8.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated by our operations and borrowings under our RBL Facility. Our primary uses of cash are capital expenditures, debt service, including interest, and working capital requirements. Our available liquidity was approximately $708 million as of June 30, 2018 .

From a liquidity standpoint, our near-term strategic goal is to work towards cash flow neutrality by focusing on operating and capital efficiency, reducing cash costs and identifying accretive acquisition opportunities and divestitures while maintaining financial flexibility and managing our leverage. Our longer-term goal is to improve our cash flow to enhance our portfolio, grow our asset value and generate positive total returns for our shareholders. In 2018, we continued to take steps to improve our liquidity, expand our financial flexibility, and manage our leverage. These actions included (i) exchanging $954 million, $54 million and $139 million of the outstanding amount of our senior unsecured notes maturing in May 2020, September 2022 and June 2023, respectively, for new 9.375% senior secured notes maturing in 2024 with an aggregate principal amount of approximately $1,092 million, (ii) issuing $1 billion of 7.75% senior secured notes, which mature in 2026 and using the net proceeds to repay in full the outstanding amounts at that time under our RBL Facility and (iii) extending the maturity of our RBL Facility from May 2019 to November 2021.

Availability of borrowings under our RBL Facility is an important source of liquidity for us. In May 2018, we amended our RBL credit agreement, which extended our RBL Facility maturity date to November 23, 2021, reaffirmed the borrowing base at $1.36 billion and reduced the amount of total available commitments to $629 million. The next scheduled redetermination of the borrowing base will be in October 2018. Downward revisions of our oil and natural gas reserves volume and value due to declines in commodity prices, the impact of lower estimated capital spending in response to lower prices, performance revisions, sales of assets, or the incurrence of certain types of additional debt, among other items, could cause a reduction of our borrowing base in the future, and these reductions could be significant. Conversely, future acquisitions, reserve additions and higher commodity prices may have the effect of increasing our borrowing base.

As part of amending our RBL credit agreement in May 2018, we (i) extended our first lien debt to EBITDAX financial covenant and reduced the ratio to 2.25 to 1.00 and (ii) included a financial covenant for a current ratio (as defined in the RBL credit agreement) to be not less than 1.00 to 1.00. Under our various debt agreements, we are also limited in our ability to repurchase certain tranches of non-RBL Facility debt. As of June 30, 2018 , we were in compliance with our debt covenants.

During the first half of 2018, we entered into transactions to enhance capital efficiency and pursue acquisitions while doing so in a cash or leverage enhancing manner, including (i) the completion of our largest acquisition to date for approximately $246 million, after customary adjustments, in the Eagle Ford while at the same time (ii) completing the sale of certain assets in Altamont for approximately $177 million, after customary closing adjustments. Subsequent to June 30, 2018, we completed an acquisition of additional working interests in certain producing properties in Eagle Ford for approximately $31 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments.

To protect our cash flows and preserve our liquidity, we enter into derivative contracts on a substantial portion of our anticipated future production volumes. As of June 30, 2018 , we have derivative contracts (swaps, collars and three-way collars) on 8 MMBbls and 8 MMBbls of our anticipated oil production at a weighted average price of $58.45 and $57.52 per barrel of oil for 2018 and 2019, respectively. Approximately 80% of these crude oil contracts will also allow for upside participation (to a weighted average price of approximately $63.96 per barrel for 2018 and $66.41 for 2019). Additionally, our 2018 and 2019 three-way collar contracts contain certain sub-floor prices (weighted average prices of $50 and $45 per barrel) that limit the amount of our derivative settlements under these three-way contracts should prices drop below the sub-floor prices. For 2018 and 2019, we also have derivative swap contracts on 13 TBtu and 7 TBtu of our anticipated natural gas production at a weighted average price of $3.04 and $2.97 per MMBtu, respectively. As of June 30, 2018 based on the mid-point of our forecasted 2018 guidance, our oil and natural gas derivative contracts provide price protection on approximately 90% and 56%, respectively, of our anticipated 2018 oil and natural gas production. Refer to Our Business for more detailed information on our derivative instruments.

For 2018, we expect to spend approximately $630 million to $670 million in capital (not including acquisition capital) in our programs. Based upon our current price and cost assumptions and our hedge program, we believe that our current capital program will exceed our estimated operating cash flows after interest payments. We believe the borrowing capacity under our RBL Facility together with expected cash flows from our operations, including cash flows generated by our recent Eagle Ford

26

Table of Contents

acquisition, will be sufficient to fund our capital program and meet current obligations and projected working capital requirements through the next twelve months.

Our ability to (i) generate sufficient cash flows from operations or obtain future borrowings under the RBL Facility, (ii) repay or refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or (iii) obtain additional capital if required on acceptable terms or at all to fund our capital programs or any potential future acquisitions, joint ventures or other similar transactions, will depend on prevailing economic conditions many of which are beyond our control. The ongoing volatility in the energy industry and in commodity prices will likely continue to impact our outlook. Our plans are intended to address the impacts of the current volatility in commodity prices while (i) maintaining sufficient liquidity to fund capital in our drilling programs, (ii) meeting our debt maturities, and (iii) managing and working to strengthen our balance sheet. We will continue to be opportunistic and aggressive in managing our cost structure and in turn, our liquidity, to meet our capital and operating needs. Accordingly, we will continue to pursue cost saving measures where possible to reduce our capital, operating, and general and administrative costs, which may include renegotiating contracts with contractors, suppliers and service providers, deferring and eliminating various discretionary costs, and/or reducing the number of staff and contractors, if necessary.

Should commodity prices decline significantly from current levels, or we experience disruptions in the financial markets impacting our longer-term access to them or that affect our cost of capital, our ability to fund future growth projects may be impacted. We continually monitor the capital markets and our capital structure and make changes from time to time, with the goal of maintaining financial flexibility, preserving or improving liquidity and/or achieving cost efficiency. For example, we could (i) elect to continue to repurchase additional amounts of our outstanding debt in the future for cash through open market repurchases or privately negotiated transactions with certain of our debtholders, subject to the limitations in our debt agreements or (ii) issue additional secured debt as permitted under our debt agreements, although there is no assurance we would do so. It is also possible that additional adjustments to our plan and outlook may occur based on market conditions and the needs of the Company at that time, which could include selling assets, liquidating all or a portion of our hedge portfolio, seeking additional partners to develop our assets, issuing equity, and/or further reducing our planned capital spending program.

Capital Expenditures.   Our capital expenditures and average drilling rigs by area for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were:
 
Capital
Expenditures (1)
(in millions)
 
Average Drilling
Rigs
Eagle Ford Shale
$
257


3.0

Permian
91


0.6

Altamont
63


2.0

Total
$
411


5.6

Acquisition capital (2)
$
264

 
 
Total Capital Expenditures
$
675

 
 
 
(1)
Represents accrual-based capital expenditures.
(2)
Includes a deposit made in December 2017.


      Debt. As of June 30, 2018 , our total debt was approximately $4.4 billion , comprised of $8 million in senior secured term loans maturing in 2019, $803 million in senior unsecured notes due in 2020, 2022 and 2023, and $3.6 billion in senior secured notes due in 2024, 2025 and 2026. For additional details on our long-term debt, including maturities, borrowing capacity and restrictive covenants under our debt agreements, see above and Part I, Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 7.


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Table of Contents

Overview of Cash Flow Activities.   Our cash flows are summarized as follows (in millions):
 
 
Six months ended 
 June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Cash Inflows
 

 
 

Operating activities
 

 
 

Net loss
$
(40
)
 
$
(50
)
(Gain) loss on extinguishment/modification of debt
(48
)
 
40

Other income adjustments
262

 
265

Changes in assets and liabilities
43

 
(74
)
Total cash flow from operations
217

 
181

 
 
 
 
Investing activities
 

 
 

Proceeds from the sale of assets
169

 

Cash inflows from investing activities
169

 

 


 


Financing activities
 

 
 

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
1,665

 
1,385

Cash inflows from financing activities
1,665

 
1,385

 
 
 
 
Total cash inflows
$
2,051

 
$
1,566

 
 
 
 
Cash Outflows
 

 
 

Investing activities
 

 
 

Capital expenditures
$
384

 
$
266

Cash paid for acquisitions
239

 

Cash outflows from investing activities
623

 
266

 


 


Financing activities
 

 
 

Repayments and repurchases of long-term debt
1,291

 
1,253

Fees/costs on debt exchange
62

 

Debt issue costs
20

 
20

Other
1

 
3

Cash outflows from financing activities
1,374

 
1,276

 
 
 
 
Total cash outflows
$
1,997

 
$
1,542

 
 
 
 
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
54

 
$
24


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Table of Contents

Contractual Obligations

We are party to various contractual obligations. Some of these obligations are reflected in our financial statements,
such as liabilities from financing obligations and commodity-based derivative contracts, while other obligations, such as operating leases and capital commitments, are not reflected on our consolidated balance sheet. The following table and discussion summarizes our contractual cash obligations as of June 30, 2018 , for each of the periods presented:
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021 - 2022
 
Thereafter
 
Total
 
(in millions)
Financing obligations:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Principal
$


$
8

 
$
246


$
195


$
3,954


$
4,403

Interest
182


364

 
348


671


653


2,218

Liabilities from derivatives
48

 
13

 

 

 

 
61

Operating leases
5


4

 
4


8


13


34

Other contractual commitments and purchase obligations:



 
 











Volume and transportation commitments
31


62

 
57


92


7


249

Other obligations
28


21

 
8


14


3


74

Total contractual obligations
$
294


$
472

 
$
663


$
980


$
4,630


$
7,039


Financing Obligations (Principal and Interest). Debt obligations included in the table above represent stated maturities. Interest payments are shown through the stated maturity date of the related debt based on (i) the contractual
interest rate for fixed rate debt and (ii) current market interest rates and the contractual credit spread for variable rate debt. See Part 1, Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 7 for more information on the maturities of our long-term debt.

Operating Leases. Amounts include leases related to our office space and various equipment.

Other Contractual Commitments and Purchase Obligations. Other contractual commitments and purchase obligations
are legally enforceable agreements to purchase goods or services that have fixed or minimum quantities and fixed or minimum
variable price provisions. Amounts in the schedule above approximate the timing of the underlying obligations. Included are the following:

Volume and Transportation Commitments. Included in these amounts are commitments for demand charges for firm access to natural gas transportation, volume deficiency contracts and firm oil capacity contracts.

Other Obligations. Included in these amounts are commitments for drilling, completion and seismic
activities for our operations and various other maintenance, engineering, procurement and construction
contracts. Our future commitments under these contracts may change reflecting changes in commodity prices
and any related effect on the supply and demand for these services. We have excluded asset retirement
obligations and reserves for litigation and environmental remediation, as these liabilities are not contractually
fixed as to timing and amount.


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Table of Contents

Item 3. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
This information updates, and should be read in conjunction with the information disclosed in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, in addition to the information presented in Items 1 and 2 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  There have been no material changes in our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risks from those reported in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as presented below:
 
Commodity Price Risk
 
The table below presents the change in fair value of our commodity-based derivatives due to hypothetical changes in oil and natural gas prices, discount rates and credit rates at June 30, 2018 :
 
 
 
 
Oil, Natural Gas and NGLs Derivatives
 
 
 
10 Percent Increase
 
10 Percent Decrease
 
Fair Value
 
Fair Value
 
Change
 
Fair Value
 
Change
 
(in millions)
Price impact (1) 
$
(52
)

$
(146
)

$
(94
)

$
30


$
82

 
 
 
 
Oil, Natural Gas and NGLs Derivatives
 
 
 
1 Percent Increase
 
1 Percent Decrease
 
Fair Value
 
Fair Value
 
Change
 
Fair
Value
 
Change
 
(in millions)
Discount rate (2) 
$
(52
)

$
(52
)

$


$
(53
)

$
(1
)
Credit rate (3) 
$
(52
)

$
(52
)

$


$
(53
)

$
(1
)
 
(1)
Presents the hypothetical sensitivity of our commodity-based derivatives to changes in fair values arising from changes in oil, natural gas and NGLs prices.
(2)
Presents the hypothetical sensitivity of our commodity-based derivatives to changes in the discount rates we used to determine the fair value of our derivatives.
(3)
Presents the hypothetical sensitivity of our commodity-based derivatives to changes in credit risk of our counterparties.
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
As of June 30, 2018 , we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and our Chief Financial Officer (CFO), as to the effectiveness, design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. This evaluation considered the various processes carried out under the direction of our disclosure committee in an effort to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), is accurate, complete and timely. Our management, including our CEO and our CFO, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent and/or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) were effective as of June 30, 2018 .
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
There were no changes in EP Energy Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting during the first six months of 2018 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


30

Table of Contents

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 
See Part I, Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 8.
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in the 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
None.
 
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
None.
 
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 5. Other Information
 
Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

In April 2018, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors approved a grant of performance-based restricted stock to our Chief Executive Officer, Russell E. Parker, effective as of May 16, 2018. The award was issued with a grant value equal to Mr. Parker’s target cash bonus opportunity for 2018 performance ($500,000), with such value converted into shares using the 10 day average closing sales price of our common stock immediately prior to and including the grant date (the 10 day average over this measurement period was $2.54, resulting in a grant of 196,850 shares). The grant was made in lieu of Mr. Parker’s opportunity to earn a cash bonus for 2018 performance up to his target bonus amount (anything in excess of target to be paid in cash in ordinary course). The grant is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and will vest in the first quarter of 2019 in an amount equal to the achievement level of the 2018 Scorecard used for bonus pool funding. For example, if the Compensation Committee certifies a 2018 Scorecard achievement level of 100% or above, then Mr. Parker’s grant will vest in full, with a lower vesting percentage in the event of lower scorecard achievement. Any shares that do not vest based upon the 2018 Scorecard achievement level will be forfeited immediately. The grant was issued to further align Mr. Parker’s interests with those of our stockholders, to incentive stock price appreciation and to preserve liquidity.
The foregoing description of the performance-based restricted stock award is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award Agreement, the form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 6. Exhibits
 
The agreements included as exhibits to this report are intended to provide information regarding their terms and not to provide any other factual or disclosure information about us or the other parties to the agreements. The agreements may contain representations and warranties by the parties to the agreements, including us, solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and:
 
          should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate;

          may have been qualified by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement, which disclosures are not necessarily reflected in the agreement;
 
            may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material to certain investors; and

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Table of Contents


             were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement and are subject to more recent developments.
 
Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.

Each exhibit identified below is filed as part of this Report. Exhibits filed with this Report are designated by “*”.  All exhibits not so designated are incorporated herein by reference to a prior filing as indicated. 

Exhibit
  Number
 
Description
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consent and Acknowledgement, dated as of May 23, 2018, by Wilmington Trust, National Association, as an Other First-Priority Lien Obligations Agent, and acknowledged by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Applicable First Lien Agent, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as an Other First-Priority Lien Obligations Agent for the holders of the 8.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2024, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Term Facility Agent for the holders of the 8.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 and Applicable Second Lien Agent, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as an Other Second-Priority Lien Obligations Agent for the holders of the 9.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 and EP Energy LLC (on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries), with respect to the Priority Lien Intercreditor Agreement dated as of August 24, 2016 (Exhibit 10.6 to Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 24, 2018).

 
 
 

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Table of Contents

 
Consent and Acknowledgement, dated as of May 23, 2018, by Wilmington Trust, National Association, as an Other First-Priority Lien Obligations Agent, and acknowledged by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Applicable First Lien Agent, Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB (as successor to Citibank, N.A.), as Applicable Second Lien Agent, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as an Other First-Priority Lien Obligations Agent for the holders of the 8.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2024, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as an Other First-Priority Lien Obligations Agent for the holders of the 8.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2025, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as an Other First-Priority Lien Obligations Agent for the holders of the 9.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2024, and EP Energy LLC (on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries), with respect to the Amended and Restated Senior Lien Intercreditor Agreement dated as of August 24, 2016 (Exhibit 10.7 to Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 24, 2018).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document.
 
 
 
*101.SCH
 
XBRL Schema Document.
 
 
 
*101.CAL
 
XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
*101.DEF
 
XBRL Definition Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
*101.LAB
 
XBRL Labels Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
*101.PRE
 
XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document.

#     Certain exhibits and schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A list of these
exhibits and schedules is included after the table of contents in the Amended and Restated Participation and
Development Agreement. The Company agrees to furnish a supplemental copy of any such omitted exhibit or
schedule to the SEC upon request.

 

33


SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
EP ENERGY CORPORATION
 
 
 
 
Date: August 9, 2018
/s/ Kyle A. McCuen
 
Kyle A. McCuen
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

34
Exhibit 10.1

EP ENERGY CORPORATION
2014 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
PERFORMANCE SHARE GRANT NOTICE
Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the EP Energy Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), EP Energy Corporation (the “ Company ”) hereby grants to the individual listed below (“ you ” or “ Employee ”) an award (this “ Award ”) of Performance Shares (the “ PSUs ”) subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Performance Share Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Agreement ”) and the Plan, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.
Employee:
[___________________________________]
Date of Grant:
[___________]
Threshold PSUs:
[___________] PSUs
Performance Period:
November 1, 2017 (the “ Performance Period Commencement Date ”) through October 31, 2021 (the “ Performance Period End Date ”)
Vesting Schedule:
Except as expressly provided in Section 3(b) of the Agreement, the PSUs shall become vested in accordance with the schedule set forth in the following table, so long as you remain continuously employed by the Company from the Date of Grant through each vesting date set forth below:
 
Vesting Date
 
Portion of PSUs That Become Vested
 
First Anniversary of the Performance Period Commencement Date
 
20%
 
Second Anniversary of the Performance Period Commencement Date
 
20%
 
Third Anniversary of the Performance Period Commencement Date
 
20%
 
Fourth Anniversary of the Performance Period Commencement Date
 
20%
 
Second Anniversary of the Performance Period End Date
 
20%
 
 
 
 
Earning of PSUs:


Subject to the Agreement, the Plan and the other terms and conditions set forth herein, the PSUs shall become earned in the manner set forth below. The number of PSUs, if any, that become earned in the Performance Period will be determined in accordance with the following table (the “ Performance Goals ”):
 
Average Stock Price
 
PSUs Earned
Below Threshold
Less than $5.00
 
Threshold
At least $5.00, but less than $6.00
 
100.00%
 
At least $6.00, but less than $7.00
 
125.00%
 
At least $7.00, but less than $8.00
 
178.57%
 
At least $8.00, but less than $9.00
 
312.50%
 
At least $9.00, but less than $10.00
 
416.67%
 
At least $10.00, but less than $12.00
 
500.00%




 
At least $12.00, but less than $14.00
 
833.33%
Maximum
$14.00 or greater
 
1,041.67%
 
 
 
 
 
As used herein, “ Average Stock Price ” means the highest average closing price per share of the Company’s Common Stock (as reported on the New York Stock Exchange composite tape) during any period of 90 consecutive days on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading during the Performance Period.
Settlement Schedule:
Subject to the Agreement, the Plan and the other terms and conditions set forth herein, the PSUs earned during the Performance Period that have become vested shall be settled in accordance with Section 6 of the Agreement on the schedule set forth in the following table:


 
Settlement Date
 
Cumulative Portion of PSUs Granted Hereunder That Become Settled
 
Performance Period End Date
 
20%
 
First Anniversary of the Performance Period End Date
 
40%
 
Second Anniversary of the Performance Period End Date
 
100%

By your electronic acceptance/signature, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Agreement and this Performance Share Grant Notice (this “ Grant Notice ”). You acknowledge that you have reviewed the Agreement, the Plan and this Grant Notice in their entirety and fully understand all provisions of the Agreement, the Plan and this Grant Notice. You hereby agree to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Plan Administrator regarding any questions or determinations arising under the Agreement, the Plan or this Grant Notice, which are incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, you are consenting to receive documents with respect to the Plan and the PSUs granted hereunder by means of electronic delivery, provided that such delivery complies with the rules, regulations, and guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission and any other applicable government agency. This consent shall be effective for the entire time that you are a participant in the Plan.

 
EP Energy Corporation






EXHIBIT A
PERFORMANCE SHARE AGREEMENT
This Performance Share Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of the Date of Grant set forth in the Grant Notice to which this Agreement is attached (the “ Date of Grant ”) by and between EP Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and [__________________] (“ Employee ”).
1. Definitions . Capitalized terms used but not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan or the Grant Notice. As used herein, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:
(a)      Certificate of Incorporation ” means the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended from time to time.
(b)      Change in Control Protection Period ” means the one-year period following the consummation of a Change in Control.
(c)      Employment Agreement ” means the employment agreement between Employee and the Company.
(d)      Sponsor Sale ” means a Subsequent Sale (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) by one or more of the Sponsors.
(e)      Sponsors ” means, collectively, the Apollo Stockholder and the Principal Stockholders, as such terms are defined in the Certificate of Incorporation.
2.      Award .  Effective as of the Date of Grant, the Company hereby grants to Employee the number of PSUs set forth in the Grant Notice on the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice, this Agreement and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference as a part of this Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control. To the extent earned, each PSU represents the right to receive one share of Stock (“ Common Stock ”), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice, this Agreement and the Plan. Unless and until the PSUs have become earned in the manner set forth in the Grant Notice and this Agreement, Employee will have no right to receive any Common Stock or other payments in respect of the PSUs. Prior to settlement of this Award, the PSUs and this Award represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable only from the general assets of the Company.
3.      Vesting of PSUs
(a)      Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 3 below, the PSUs shall vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice. 
(b)      Notwithstanding anything in the Grant Notice, this Agreement or the Plan to the contrary:

A-1


(i)      If Employee’s employment with the Company terminates as a result of Employee’s death or Disability (as defined in the Employment Agreement), then, provided that Employee (or, if applicable, Employee’s estate) executes within the time provided to do so (and does not revoke within any time provided to do so) a release of claims in a form acceptable to the Plan Administrator, the vesting of 50% of the PSUs, if any, that remain unvested will accelerate automatically on the date of such termination without any further action by the Company or any other person; provided, however , that such vested PSUs (and all other PSUs granted hereunder, if any, that have become vested) shall remain subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice and this Agreement, including Sections 5, 6 and 10 below;
(ii)      If Employee’s employment with the Company terminates before or after a Change in Control Protection Period as a result of (A) the Company’s termination of Employee’s employment without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or (B) Employee’s resignation for Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement), then if such termination occurs (x) prior to the Performance Period End Date or (y) after the first anniversary of the Performance Period End Date and prior to the second anniversary of the Performance Period End Date, any PSUs remain unvested as of the date of such termination, provided that Employee executes within the time provided to do so (and does not revoke within any time provided to do so) a release of claims in a form acceptable to the Plan Administrator, the vesting of a portion of the PSUs granted hereunder equal to the Specified Acceleration Percentage will accelerate automatically on the date of such termination without any further action by the Company or any other person; provided, however , that such vested PSUs (and all other PSUs granted hereunder, if any, that have become vested) shall remain subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice and this Agreement, including Sections 5, 6 and 10 below. As used herein, “ Specified Acceleration Percentage ” means the product of (I) 5% multiplied by (II) the number of complete calendar quarters that have elapsed in the calendar year that includes the date of Employee’s termination of employment prior to the date of such termination; and
(c)      If, during a Change in Control Protection Period, Employee’s employment with the Company terminates as a result of (i) the Company’s termination of Employee’s employment without Cause or (ii) Employee’s resignation for Good Reason, then, provided that Employee executes within the time provided to do so (and does not revoke within any time provided to do so) a release of claims in a form acceptable to the Plan Administrator, (A) if the Performance Period has not ended, the date of such termination of employment shall be deemed to be the Performance Period End Date, (B) all PSUs that remain unvested as of the date of such termination, if any, will accelerate automatically on the date of such termination and become vested without any further action by the Company or any other person, and (C) the date of such termination shall be deemed to be a Settlement Date; provided, however , that such vested PSUs (and all other PSUs granted hereunder, if any, that have become vested) shall remain subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice and this Agreement, including Sections 5, 6 and 10 below.

A-2


4.      Forfeitures Upon Termination of Employment .
(a)      If Employee’s employment with the Company terminates as a result of the Company’s termination of Employee’s employment for Cause, then on the date of such termination, Employee shall forfeit without consideration all of the PSUs (including the PSUs that remain unvested and the PSUs that have become vested) and all rights arising from such PSUs and from being a holder thereof.
(b)      If Employee’s employment with the Company terminates as a result of Employee’s resignation without Good Reason, including, if applicable, a termination of Employee’s employment as a result of the expiration of the term of the Employment Agreement due to Employee providing notice of non-renewal of such agreement, then, on the date of such termination, Employee shall forfeit without consideration (i) all PSUs that remain unvested and (ii) 50% of the PSUs that have become vested and all rights arising from such PSUs and from being a holder thereof.
(c)      If Employee’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason other than as set forth in Section 4(a) or 4(b), Employee shall forfeit without consideration all of the PSUs that remain unvested (after giving effect to any accelerated vesting pursuant to Section 3(b)) and all rights arising from such PSUs and from being a holder thereof.
(d)      The forfeiture of PSUs pursuant to this Section 4 shall occur immediately and automatically (without further action of the Company or any other person) upon the termination giving rise to such forfeitures.
5.      Earning of PSUs . Following the end of the Performance Period, the Plan Administrator will determine the level of achievement of the Performance Goals for the Performance Period. The number of PSUs, if any, that actually become earned for the Performance Period will be determined by the Plan Administrator in accordance with the Grant Notice (and any PSUs that do not become so earned shall be automatically forfeited). Unless and until the PSUs have become earned and been settled in accordance with Section 6, Employee will have no right to receive any dividends or other distributions with respect to the PSUs.
6.      Settlement of PSUs . As soon as administratively practicable following each Settlement Date, but in no event later than 60 days following such Settlement Date, Employee (or Employee’s permitted transferee, if applicable) shall be issued a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of PSUs subject to this Award that have become (i) vested in accordance with the Grant Notice and Section 3, as applicable, and (ii) earned based on the level of achievement of the Performance Goals as determined by the Plan Administrator in accordance with Section 5. Any fractional PSU that becomes earned hereunder shall be rounded to the nearest whole share at the time shares of Common Stock are issued in settlement of such PSU. No fractional shares of Common Stock, nor the cash value of any fractional shares of Common Stock, will be issuable or payable to Employee pursuant to this Agreement. All shares of Common Stock issued hereunder shall be delivered by entering such shares in book-entry form. The value of shares of Common Stock shall not bear any interest owing to the passage of time. Neither this Section 6 nor any action taken pursuant to or in accordance with this Agreement shall be construed to create a trust or a funded or secured obligation of any kind.

A-3


7.      Dividend Equivalent Rights . Each PSU subject to this Award is hereby granted in tandem with a corresponding dividend equivalent. Each dividend equivalent granted hereunder shall remain outstanding from the Date of Grant until the earlier of the settlement or forfeiture of the PSU to which it corresponds. If the Company pays a cash dividend in respect of its outstanding Stock and, on the record date for such dividend, Employee holds PSUs granted pursuant to this Agreement that have not vested and been settled, the Company shall credit to an account maintained by the Company for Employee’s benefit an amount equal to the cash dividends Employee would have received if Employee were the holder of record, as of such record date, of the number of shares of Common Stock related to the portion of the PSUs that have not been settled or forfeited as of such record date. Such account is intended to constitute an “unfunded” account, and neither this Section 7 nor any action taken pursuant to or in accordance with this Section 7 shall be construed to create a trust of any kind. Any dividend equivalent will be subject to the same vesting schedule as the PSUs to which it relates and will be paid to Employee, in cash, on the date that the PSU to which it relates is settled in accordance with Section 6. Employee shall not be entitled to receive any interest with respect to the payment of dividend equivalents. Any dividend equivalent that relates to a PSU that (a) does not become vested or (b) becomes vested and is subsequently forfeited shall be forfeited at the same time the related PSU is forfeited.
8.      Rights as Stockholder .  Neither Employee nor any person claiming under or through Employee shall have any of the rights or privileges of a holder of shares of Common Stock in respect of any shares that may become deliverable hereunder unless and until certificates representing such shares have been issued or recorded in book entry form on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered in certificate or book entry form to Employee or any person claiming under or through Employee.
9.      Tax Withholding . Pursuant to Section 17.8 of the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have the power and right to deduct or withhold, or require Employee to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state and local taxes (including Employee’s FICA obligations) required by law to be withheld with respect to this Award .
10.      Restrictions on Transfer
(a)      None of the PSUs, dividend equivalents or any interest or right therein shall be (i) sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless and until the shares of Common Stock underlying the PSUs have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such shares have lapsed, or (ii) liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of Employee or his or her successors in interest. Except to the extent expressly permitted by the preceding sentence, any purported sale, pledge, assignment, transfer, attachment or encumbrance of the PSUs, dividend equivalents or any interest or right therein shall be null, void and unenforceable against the Company and its affiliates.
(b)      Until the earlier to occur of (i) the third anniversary of the Performance Period End Date or (ii) the date on which the Sponsors hold less than 15% of the shares of Common Stock they held on the Date of Grant, shares of Common Stock issued hereunder may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution except (1) with the prior approval of the Board, (2) to satisfy tax withholding obligations as provided

A-4


in Section 9, or (3) on a pro-rata basis with the Sponsors in the event of a Sponsor Sale following the Performance Period End Date in which the Apollo Stockholder participates (subject to cutback, if applicable, on terms substantially similar to the terms that apply to other holders of Stock that participate in such transaction); provided , that in the event the Apollo Stockholder participates in a Sponsor Sale prior to the Performance Period End Date, the shares of Common Stock sold by the Apollo Stockholder in such Sponsor Sale shall be taken into account for purposes of determining Employee’s pro-rata participation pursuant to this clause (3) in a Sponsor Sale that occurs after the Performance Period End Date.
11.      Execution of Receipts . Any issuance or transfer of shares of Common Stock or other property to Employee or Employee’s legal representative, heir, legatee or distributee, in accordance with this Agreement shall be in full satisfaction of all claims of such person hereunder. As a condition precedent to such payment or issuance, the Company may require Employee or Employee’s legal representative, heir, legatee or distributee to execute a receipt therefor in such form as it shall determine appropriate.
12.      No Right to Continued Employment or Awards . Employee acknowledges that nothing in this Award or the Plan constitutes an express or implied promise of continued engagement as an employee. The grant of the PSUs and dividend equivalents is a one-time benefit and does not create any contractual or other right to receive a grant of Awards or benefits in lieu of Awards in the future.
13.      Notices . Any notices or other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing. In the case of Employee, such notices or communications shall be effectively delivered if hand delivered to Employee at Employee’s principal place of employment or if sent by registered or certified mail to Employee at the last address Employee has filed with the Company. In the case of the Company, such notices or communications shall be effectively delivered if sent by registered or certified mail to the Company at its principal executive offices.
14.      Agreement to Furnish Information . Employee agrees to furnish to the Company all information requested by the Company to enable it to comply with any reporting or other requirement imposed upon the Company by or under any applicable statute or regulation.
15.      Entire Agreement; Amendment . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof, and contains all the covenants, promises, representations, warranties and agreements between the parties with respect to the PSUs and dividend equivalents granted hereby; provided¸ however, that the terms of this Agreement shall not modify and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of any employment and/or severance agreement between the Company (or an affiliate or other entity) and Employee in effect as of the date a determination is to be made under this Agreement. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, except as provided therein, all prior understandings and agreements, if any, among the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof are hereby null and void and of no further force and effect. The Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, amend this Agreement from time to time in any manner that is not inconsistent with the Plan; provided, however , that except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Agreement, any such amendment that (a) materially reduces the rights of Employee or (b) adversely affects the economic rights of Employee under this Award shall be

A-5


effective only if it is in writing and signed by both Employee and an authorized officer of the Company.
16.      Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflicts of law principles thereof.
17.      Successors and Assigns . The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement without Employee’s consent. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein and in the Plan, this Agreement will be binding upon Employee and Employee's beneficiaries, executors, administrators and the person(s) to whom the PSUs and dividend equivalents may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.
18.      Clawback . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Grant Notice or the Plan to the contrary, to the extent required by (a) applicable law, including the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, any Securities and Exchange Commission rule or any applicable securities exchange listing standards and/or (b) the Company’s clawback policy and any other policy that may be adopted or amended by the Board from time to time, all shares of Common Stock issued hereunder shall be subject to forfeiture, repurchase, recoupment and/or cancellation to the extent necessary to comply with such law(s) and/or policy.
19.      Counterparts . The Grant Notice may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of the Grant Notice by facsimile or pdf attachment to electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of the Grant Notice.
20.      Severability . If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
21.      Headings; References; Interpretation . All Section headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All references herein to Sections shall, unless the context requires a different construction, be deemed to be references to the Sections of this Agreement. All references to “including” shall be construed as meaning “including without limitation.” Unless the context requires otherwise, all references herein to a law, agreement, instrument or other document shall be deemed to refer to such law, agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented, modified and restated from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof. All references to “dollars” or “$” in this Agreement refer to United States dollars. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used herein shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns and pronouns shall include the plural and vice versa. Neither this Agreement nor any uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall be construed or

A-6


resolved against any party hereto, whether under any rule of construction or otherwise. On the contrary, this Agreement has been reviewed by each of the parties hereto and shall be construed and interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the words used so as to fairly accomplish the purposes and intentions of the parties hereto.
22.      Code Section 409A . The PSUs, dividend equivalents and any amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement are intended to be exempt from or compliant with Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “ Section 409A ”). If Employee is deemed to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A, as determined by the Plan Administrator, at a time when Employee becomes eligible for settlement of the PSUs or payment of dividend equivalents upon his “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, then to the extent necessary to prevent any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A, such settlement will be delayed until the earlier of: (a) the date that is six months following Employee’s separation from service and (b) Employee’s death. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representations that the payments provided under this Agreement are exempt from or compliant with Section 409A and in no event shall the Company be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by Employee on account of non-compliance with Section 409A.
23.      Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation.
(a)    Employee acknowledges that, in the course of employment with the Company, the Company will provide Employee with confidential information. Employee further acknowledges that the Company’s issuance of the PSUs herein further aligns Employee’s interests with the long-term business interests of the Company, and that the restrictions set forth in this Section 23 are reasonable in all respects and necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, including the protection of the confidential information and its goodwill. Employee further acknowledges that Employee’s commitment to abide by the terms of this Section 23 is a material inducement for the Company to enter into this Agreement and issue the PSUs hereunder.  
(b)    During the Prohibited Period, Employee shall not: (i) within the Market Area, engage in competition with the Company in any material aspect of the Business, which prohibition shall prevent Employee from directly or indirectly owning, managing, operating, joining, becoming an officer, director, employee or consultant of, or otherwise being affiliated with, any person or entity engaged in the Business in the Market Area in competition with the Company; (ii) solicit or encourage any customer or supplier of the Company to cease or lessen such customer’s or supplier’s business with the Company; or (iii) solicit or encourage any employee or contractor of the Company to terminate his, her or its employment or engagement with the Company.
(c)    The following terms shall have the following meanings:
(i)    “ Business ” shall mean the business and operations that are the same or similar to those performed by the Company during the period that Employee is employed by the Company, which business and operations include acquiring, exploiting and developing oil and gas assets in the Market Area.

A-7


(ii)    “ Market Area ” shall mean any principal area in which the Company is engaged in the Business as of Employee’s termination date.
(iii)    “ Prohibited Period ” shall mean the period during which Employee is employed by the Company and continuing as follows:
(A)
if Employee is involuntarily terminated by the Company without Cause, the Prohibited Period shall end on the date that is six months following Employee’s termination date (or such earlier date as corresponds with the number of months of severance pay received by Employee from the Company); and
(B)
if Employee voluntarily resigns or is terminated for Cause, the Prohibited Period shall end on the date that is twelve months following Employee’s termination date.

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]

A-8
Exhibit 10.2

EP ENERGY CORPORATION
2014 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

Notice of Restricted Stock Grant

You (the “Grantee”) have been granted the following award of restricted Class A Common Stock of EP Energy Corporation (the “Company”), par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), pursuant to the EP Energy Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”):

Name of Grantee:
 
Number of Shares of Restricted Stock Granted:
 
Effective Date of Grant:
 
Restriction Period:
Subject to the terms of the Plan and the Restricted Stock Award Agreement attached hereto, the Restriction Period shall lapse, and the Shares shall vest and become free of the forfeiture and transfer restrictions contained in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement on the date the Plan Administrator certifies the results of the 2018 Scorecard for incentive purposes, with such Shares vesting in an amount equal to the 2018 Scorecard achievement level percentage.

For example, if the Plan Administrator certifies a 2018 Scorecard achievement level of 100% or above, then 100% of the Shares shall vest in full as of the date of such certification. If the Plan Administrator certifies a 2018 Scorecard achievement level of 75%, then 75% of the Shares shall vest in full as of such date, with the remaining 25% of Shares forfeited.

For avoidance of doubt, any Shares that do not vest based upon the 2018 Scorecard achievement level shall be forfeited immediately.

If you disagree with any of the terms of this award or choose not to accept this award, please contact the undersigned within 30 days of the Effective Date of Grant. Otherwise, you will be deemed to have accepted this award under the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 
EP Energy Corporation
  







EP ENERGY CORPORATION
2014 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

Restricted Stock Award Agreement

SECTION 1. GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK

(a)      Restricted Stock. On the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice of Restricted Stock Grant and this Restricted Stock Award Agreement (the “Agreement”), the Company grants to the Grantee on the Effective Date of Grant the Restricted Stock set forth in the Notice of Restricted Stock Grant.
(b)      Plan and Defined Terms. The Restricted Stock is granted pursuant to the Plan. All terms, provisions, and conditions applicable to the Restricted Stock set forth in the Plan and not set forth herein are hereby incorporated by reference herein. To the extent any provision hereof is inconsistent with a provision of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan will govern. All capitalized terms that are used in the Notice of Restricted Stock Grant or this Agreement and not otherwise defined therein or herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.
SECTION 2.      FORFEITURE AND TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
(a)      Termination of Employment or Service. Except as set forth in the Plan or otherwise provided below, if the Grantee’s employment, as the case may be, is terminated for any reason, the Grantee shall, for no consideration, forfeit to the Company the Shares of Restricted Stock to the extent such Shares are subject to a Restriction Period at the time of such termination.
(b)      Transfer Restrictions. Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, pledged, exchanged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred, encumbered or disposed of to the extent such Shares are subject to a Restriction Period.
(c)      Lapse of Restrictions . The Restriction Period shall lapse as to the Restricted Stock in accordance with the Notice of Restricted Stock Grant. Subject to the terms of the Plan and Section 4(a) hereof, upon lapse of the Restriction Period, the Grantee shall own the Shares that are subject to this Agreement free of all restrictions otherwise imposed by this Agreement.
SECTION 3.      BOOK ENTRY; DIVIDEND & VOTING RIGHTS
As soon as practicable following the grant of Restricted Stock, the Shares of Restricted Stock shall be registered in the Grantee’s name in book-entry form.
Except for the transfer restrictions, and subject to such other restrictions, if any, as determined by the Plan Administrator, the Participant shall have all other rights of a holder of Shares, including the right to receive dividends paid (whether in cash or property) with respect to the Restricted Stock and the right to vote (or to execute proxies for voting) such Shares. Unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator, if all or part of a dividend in respect of the Restricted Stock is paid in Shares or any other security issued by the Company, such Shares or other securities shall be held by the Company subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Stock in respect of which the dividend was paid.
SECTION 4.      MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS






(a)      Tax Withholding. Pursuant to Section 17.8 of the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have the power and right to deduct or withhold, or require the Grantee to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state and local taxes (including the Grantee’s FICA obligations) required by law to be withheld with respect to this Award. Unless the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion determines otherwise, the withholding requirement shall be satisfied by having the Company withhold Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to minimum statutory withholding (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes) that could be imposed on the transaction.

(b)      Ratification of Actions. By accepting this Agreement, the Grantee and each person claiming under or through the Grantee shall be conclusively deemed to have indicated the Grantee’s acceptance and ratification of, and consent to, any action taken under the Plan or this Agreement and Notice of Restricted Stock Grant by the Company or the Plan Administrator.

(c)      Choice of Law. This Agreement and the Notice of Restricted Stock Grant shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Texas, without regard to any conflicts of law or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise cause the Agreement or Notice of Restricted Stock Grant to be governed by or construed in accordance with the substantive law of another jurisdiction.
(d)      Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
(e)      References to Plan. All references to the Plan shall be deemed references to the Plan as may be amended from time to time.
(f)      Section 409A Compliance. This Award is not intended to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, “Section 409A”). However, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Notice of Stock Option Grant or this Agreement, if at any time the Plan Administrator determines that this Award (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the Plan Administrator shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan, the Notice of Stock Option Grant or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Plan Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate for this Award either to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.


-2-

Exhibit 12.1


EP ENERGY CORPORATION
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(In millions)

 
Six months ended 
 June 30,
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Earnings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes
$
(40
)
 
$
(55
)
 
$
(203
)
 
$
(26
)
 
$
(4,326
)
 
$
1,159

 
$
8

Loss from equity investees

 

 

 

 

 

 
12

(Loss) income before income taxes before adjustment for loss from equity investees
(40
)
 
(55
)
 
(203
)
 
(26
)
 
(4,326
)
 
1,159

 
20

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed charges
177

 
167

 
331

 
318

 
346

 
341

 
375

Distributed income of equity investees

 

 

 

 

 

 
24

Capitalized interest
(3
)
 
(2
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
(14
)
 
(21
)
 
(19
)
Total earnings available for fixed charges
$
134

 
$
110

 
$
124

 
$
288

 
$
(3,994
)
 
$
1,479

 
$
400

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed charges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest and debt expense
$
176

 
$
167

 
$
330

 
$
316

 
$
344

 
$
339

 
$
373

Interest component of rent
1

 

 
1

 
2

 
2

 
2

 
2

Total fixed charges
$
177

 
$
167

 
$
331

 
$
318

 
$
346

 
$
341

 
$
375

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)

 

 

 

 

 
4.35x

 
1.07x

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $43 million and $57 million, respectively. Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $207 million and $30 million, respectively. Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2015 were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $4,340 million, primarily due to non-cash impairment charges of approximately $4.3 billion associated with proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties related to a decline in commodity prices.

For purposes of computing these ratios, earnings means income (loss) from continuing operations before income ta xes or loss from equity investees, adjusted to reflect actual distributions from equity investments and fixed charges less capitalized interest. Fixed charges means the sum of interest costs (not including interest on tax liabilities which is included in income tax expense on our income statement), amortization of debt costs and that portion of rental expense we believe reflects a reasonable approximation of the interest component of rent expense.


Exhibit 31.1


CERTIFICATION
 
I, Russell E. Parker, certify that:
 
1.                                       I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of EP 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; and
 
(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; and
 
(c)           Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
(d)          Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
5.                                       The registrant’s other certifying 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.
 
 
Date: August 9, 2018
 
 
/s/ Russell E. Parker
 
Russell E. Parker
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
EP Energy Corporation



Exhibit 31.2


CERTIFICATION
 
I, Kyle A. McCuen, certify that:
 
1.                                       I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of EP 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; and
 
(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; and
 
(c)           Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
(d)          Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
5.                                       The registrant’s other certifying 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.
 
 
Date: August 9, 2018
 
 
/s/ Kyle A. McCuen
 
Kyle A. McCuen
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
 
EP Energy Corporation



Exhibit 32.1


CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2018 , of EP Energy Corporation (the “Company”) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Russell E. Parker, President and Chief Executive Officer, certify (i) that the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (ii) that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
 
/s/ Russell E. Parker
 
Russell E. Parker
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
EP Energy Corporation
 
 
 
Date: August 9, 2018
 
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.



Exhibit 32.2


CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2018 , of EP Energy Corporation (the “Company”) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Kyle A. McCuen, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, certify (i) that the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (ii) that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
 
/s/ Kyle A. McCuen
 
Kyle A. McCuen
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
 
Officer and Treasurer
 
EP Energy Corporation
 
 
 
Date: August 9, 2018
 
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.