BRY 03.31.2013 8K (10-Q)


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): May 6, 2013
 
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
 
1-9735
 
77-0079387
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
1999 Broadway, Suite 3700, Denver, Colorado
 
80202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 999-4400
 
 
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Item 2.02  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
 
On May 6, 2013, Berry Petroleum Company (the “Company”) issued a news release announcing its financial and operational results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013. These results are discussed in the news release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
 
ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
 
(d) Exhibits.
 
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
 
DESCRIPTION
99.1

 
News Release by Berry Petroleum Company dated May 6, 2013 titled “Berry Petroleum Announces Results for First Quarter of 2013" announcing the Registrant’s results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013.
 
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 hereto duly authorized.
 
 
 
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Davis O. O’Connor
 
 
Davis O. O’Connor
 
 
Corporate Secretary
 
 
Date: May 6, 2013

2
Exhibit 99.1 03.31.2013 (10-Q)


Exhibit 99.1
Berry Petroleum Company News
 
Berry Petroleum Reports Results for the First Quarter of 2013
 
Denver, Colorado. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - May 6, 2013 - Berry Petroleum Company (NYSE: BRY) reported net earnings of $32 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2013. After considering items such as derivatives and transaction costs, adjusted net earnings were $37 million, or $0.67 per diluted share. Oil and natural gas revenues were $267 million during the quarter and discretionary cash flow for the quarter totaled $134 million, with net cash provided by operating activities of $92 million. Operating margin was approximately $49 per BOE, supported by sales of our California oil at a $10 average premium to WTI.

Berry's first quarter 2013 production averaged 39,676 BOE/D. The Company's oil mix was 79%, or 31,154 BOE/D in the first quarter up 24% from the first quarter of 2012. Total production for the first quarter of 2013 and fourth quarter of 2012 was as follows:

 
 
First Quarter 2013
 
Fourth Quarter 2012
Oil (BOE/D)
 
31,154

 
79
%
 
30,649

 
78
%
Natural gas (BOE/D)
 
8,522

 
21
%
 
8,851

 
22
%
Total (BOE/D)
 
39,676

 
100
%
 
39,500

 
100
%


New Steam Floods production increased 11% from the fourth quarter of 2012 to an average of 2,355 BOE/D. The rise in production was a result of continued steam flood response at McKittrick 21Z. In the first quarter, Berry drilled the first seven of the 50 steam injection wells planned at McKittrick during 2013, and the Company anticipates drilling the remaining steam injection wells in the second quarter of 2013. The Company also added an additional steam generator in the first quarter, increasing McKittrick's steam capacity to approximately 25,000 barrels of steam per day.

First quarter Diatomite production rose 7% from fourth quarter levels to an average of 4,115 BOE/D. The Company expects continued focus on increasing the number of active completions to translate into steady production growth. In the first quarter of 2013, the Company added 48 new completions and drilled 17 replacement wells in the Diatomite.

First quarter Permian production averaged 8,105 BOE/D, approximately 2% higher than the fourth quarter of 2012. The Company drilled ten net wells using a three-rig program during the first quarter, and plans to continue at this pace during the second quarter of 2013. While Berry's quarterly production again increased, constraints in the form of higher line pressure, periodic gas plant downtime and ethane rejection have continued as a result of record activity levels in the Permian.

Production from the South Midway properties averaged 13,095 BOE/D in the first quarter, compared with fourth quarter 2012 production of 13,070 BOE/D. In the second quarter of 2013, the Company plans to continue development at Ethel D, where seven producing wells and four steam injection wells are scheduled. Also during the second quarter, the Company plans to drill two horizontal producing wells at Formax, in addition to seven new producing wells and seven recompletions at Placerita.

In the first quarter, the Company's Uinta production averaged 7,305 BOE/D, 3% lower than the fourth quarter of 2012. The Company drilled 19 wells in the first quarter that are commingled in the Wasatch and Green River formations. However, delayed completion activity negatively affected production as the Company worked off field storage which had resulted from refinery turnarounds. In the first quarter, Berry began transporting crude oil via rail to markets outside of Utah to reduce stored oil volume. The Company resumed completion activities in April, and expects to drill an additional 20 wells in the second quarter, when production is expected to return to growth.

In the first quarter, the Company's natural gas assets in the Piceance and East Texas declined 6% sequentially with no capital investment.


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Berry Petroleum Company's previously announced merger with Linn Energy is expected to close around the end of the second quarter of 2013. On March 13, 2013, Berry Petroleum and Linn Energy received early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, in connection with the proposed merger. Other closing conditions include the approval of the stockholders of Berry, shareholders of LinnCo, unitholders of LINN Energy, and FERC approval.


Teleconference Call

Berry will not host an earnings conference call. However, Berry expects to file its quarterly report Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission within the week.


Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes discussion of “discretionary cash flow,” “adjusted net earnings,” and “operating margin per BOE,” each of which are “non-GAAP financial measures” as defined in Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Discretionary cash flow consists of cash provided by operating activities before changes in working capital items. The Company uses discretionary cash flow as a measure of liquidity and believes it provides useful information to investors because it assesses cash flow from operations for each period before changes in working capital, which fluctuates due to the timing of collections of receivables and the settlements of liabilities. Adjusted net earnings consists of net earnings before non-cash derivatives gains (losses), oil and natural gas property impairments and charges related to the extinguishment of debt. The Company believes that adjusted net earnings is useful for evaluating the Company's operational performance from oil and natural gas properties. Operating margin per BOE consists of oil and natural gas revenues less oil and natural gas operating expenses and production taxes divided by the total BOEs produced during the period. The Company uses operating margin per barrel as a measure of profitability and believes it provides useful information to investors because it relates the Company's oil and natural gas revenue and oil and natural gas operating expenses to its total units of production providing a gross margin per unit of production, allowing investors to evaluate how the Company's profitability varies on a per unit basis each period. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for their most directly comparable GAAP measures. Other companies calculate non-GAAP measures differently and, therefore, the non-GAAP measures presented in this release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.
Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discretionary Cash Flow ($ millions):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
3/31/2013
 
12/31/2012
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
91.7

 
$
109.8

Net increase in current assets
 
12.6

 
10.8

Net decrease in current liabilities, including book overdraft
 
29.6

 
5.6

Discretionary cash flow
 
$
133.9

 
$
126.2





Contact: Berry Petroleum Company
Investors and Media
1999 Broadway, Suite 3700
Zach Dailey, 1-303-999-4071
Denver, Colorado 80202
Shawn Canaday, 1-303-999-4000
 
 
Internet: www.bry.com
SOURCE: Berry Petroleum Company



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Adjusted Net Earnings ($ millions):
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
3/31/2013
Adjusted net earnings
$
37.3

After tax adjustments:
 

Non-cash derivative loss
(1.9
)
Dry hole expense
(0.2
)
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties
(1.5
)
Transaction costs
(1.3
)
Net earnings, as reported
$
32.4


Operating Margin Per BOE:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
3/31/2013
 
12/31/2012
Average sales price including cash derivative settlements
 
$
75.95

 
$
72.47

Operating cost—oil and natural gas production
 
24.13

 
23.35

Production taxes
 
3.02

 
2.57

Operating margin
 
$
48.80

 
$
46.55




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About Berry Petroleum Company
 
Berry Petroleum Company is a publicly traded independent oil and natural gas production and exploitation company with operations in California, Texas, Utah, and Colorado. The Company uses its web site as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Company is routinely posted on and accessible at http://www.bry.com.
 
Safe Harbor Under the “Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995”
 
Any statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Words such as “estimate,” “expect,” “would,” “will,” “target,” “goal,” “potential,” and forms of those words and others indicate forward-looking statements. These statements include but are not limited to forward-looking statements about the expectations of plans, strategies, objectives and anticipated financial and operating results of the Company, including the Company’s drilling program, production, and other guidance included in this press release. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. Important factors which could affect actual results are discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
 



4



CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
3/31/2013
 
12/31/2012
REVENUES
 
 

 
 

Oil and natural gas sales
 
$
266,772

 
$
248,911

Electricity sales
 
7,589

 
8,586

Natural gas marketing
 
2,027

 
2,253

Gain on sale of assets
 
23

 
12

Interest and other income, net
 
475

 
307

 
 
276,886

 
260,069

EXPENSES
 
 

 
 

Operating costs—oil and natural gas production
 
86,148

 
84,862

Operating costs—electricity generation
 
5,296

 
5,975

Production taxes
 
10,784

 
9,326

Depreciation, depletion & amortization—oil and natural gas production
 
68,084

 
67,023

Depreciation, depletion & amortization—electricity generation
 
394

 
426

Natural gas marketing
 
1,878

 
1,956

General and administrative
 
22,278

 
18,293

Interest
 
24,687

 
21,690

Dry hole, abandonment, impairment and exploration
 
962

 
13,486

Realized and unrealized loss (gain) on derivatives, net
 
737

 
(8,306
)
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties
 
2,467

 

 
 
223,715

 
214,731

Earnings before income taxes
 
53,171

 
45,338

Income tax provision
 
20,737

 
6,838

Net earnings
 
$
32,434

 
$
38,500

 
 
 
 
 
Basic net earnings per share
 
$
0.59

 
$
0.70

Diluted net earnings per share
 
$
0.58

 
$
0.69

 
 
 
 
 
Dividends per share
 
$
0.08

 
$
0.08




5



CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 
 
3/31/2013
 
12/31/2012
ASSETS
 
 

 
 

Current assets
 
167,782

 
157,025

Oil and natural gas properties, (successful efforts basis) buildings and equipment, net
 
3,177,892

 
3,128,502

Derivative instruments
 
17,491

 
10,891

Other assets
 
27,468

 
28,984

 
 
$
3,390,633

 
$
3,325,402

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 

 
 

Current liabilities
 
192,517

 
286,632

Deferred income taxes
 
281,925

 
255,471

Long-term debt
 
1,756,907

 
1,665,817

Derivative instruments
 

 
1,239

Other long-term liabilities
 
112,478

 
101,452

Shareholders’ equity
 
1,046,806

 
1,014,791

 
 
$
3,390,633

 
$
3,325,402



6



CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
3/31/2013
 
12/31/2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 

 
 

Net earnings
 
$
32,434

 
$
38,499

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
 
68,478

 
67,450

Gain on sale of assets
 
(23
)
 
(12
)
Amortization of debt issuance costs and net discount
 
1,709

 
1,681

Impairment of oil and natural gas properties
 
2,467

 
12

Dry hole and impairment
 
449

 
12,430

Derivatives
 
3,146

 
(1,375
)
Stock-based compensation expense
 
3,195

 
2,230

Deferred income taxes
 
19,648

 
5,370

Other, net
 
2,381

 
(8
)
Allowance for bad debt
 

 
(36
)
Change in book overdraft
 
(232
)
 
(8,793
)
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities
 
(41,954
)
 
(7,624
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
91,698

 
109,824

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 

 
 

Development and exploration of oil and natural gas properties
 
(174,663
)
 
(151,915
)
Property acquisitions
 
(2,897
)
 
(2,608
)
Capitalized interest
 
(1,799
)
 
(3,938
)
Proceeds from sale of assets
 
480

 
13

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(178,879
)
 
(158,448
)
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
 
86,974

 
48,832

 
 
 
 
 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
(207
)
 
208

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
312

 
104

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
105

 
$
312






7



OPERATING DATA
(unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
 
3/31/2013
 
12/31/2012
 
Change
Oil and natural gas:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Heavy oil production (BOE/D)
 
19,566

 
19,058

 
 

Light oil production (BOE/D)
 
11,588

 
11,591

 
 

Total oil production (BOE/D)
 
31,154

 
30,649

 
 

Natural gas production (Mcf/D)
 
51,132

 
53,106

 
 

Total (BOE/D)
 
39,676

 
39,500

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and natural gas, per BOE:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Average realized sales price
 
$
75.27

 
$
70.51

 
7
 %
Average sales price including cash derivative settlements
 
75.95

 
72.47

 
5
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil, per BOE:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Average WTI price
 
$
94.36

 
$
88.23

 
7
 %
Price sensitive royalties
 
(2.81
)
 
(2.65
)
 
 

Quality differential and other
 
(1.25
)
 
0.79

 
 

Oil derivatives non-cash amortization
 
0.89

 
(1.03
)
 
 

Oil revenue per BOE
 
$
91.19

 
$
85.34

 
7
 %
Add: Oil derivatives non-cash amortization
 

 
1.03

 
 

Oil derivative cash settlements
 
(0.89
)
 
1.57

 
 

Average realized oil price
 
$
90.30

 
$
87.94

 
3
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural gas price:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Average Henry Hub price per MMBtu
 
$
3.34

 
$
3.41

 
(2
)%
Conversion to Mcf
 
0.22

 
0.24

 
 

Natural gas derivatives non-cash amortization
 

 

 
 

Location, quality differentials and other
 
(0.09
)
 
(0.14
)
 
 

Natural gas revenue per Mcf
 
$
3.47

 
$
3.51

 
(1
)%
Natural gas derivatives non-cash amortization
 

 

 
 

Natural gas derivative cash settlements
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.03
)
 
 

Average realized natural gas price per Mcf
 
$
3.46

 
$
3.48

 
(1
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating cost - oil and natural gas production per BOE
 
$
24.13

 
$
23.35

 
3
 %
Production taxes per BOE
 
3.02

 
2.57

 
 

Total operating costs per BOE
 
$
27.15

 
$
25.92

 
5
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DD&A - oil and natural gas production per BOE
 
19.07

 
18.44

 
3
 %
General & administrative per BOE
 
6.24

 
5.03

 
24
 %
Interest expense per BOE
 
$
6.91

 
$
5.97

 
16
 %




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