Connacher reports improving bitumen operations and first quarter 2009 results and schedules conference call for May 13, 2009 at 9:00 am MDT
CALGARY, May 12 /CNW/ - Connacher Oil and Gas Limited (TSX:CLL) today
reported first quarter 2009 ("Q1 2009") results. Operating conditions were
difficult for bitumen producers in early 2009. However, Connacher's operations
substantially overcame the challenges. The challenges of extremely cold winter
conditions were exacerbated by very weak commodity markets and equally poor
capital market conditions. Nevertheless, we did what we could to overcome
these circumstances by capitalizing on contango in the crude oil futures
market to secure price stability for a portion of our production. We reduced
operating costs and are now among the lowest cost producers, with our goal to
be the lowest cost bitumen producer in Alberta. We secured fixed heavy oil
price differentials for much of our bitumen sales, at a time of improved heavy
oil pricing and reduced transportation costs and blending ratios by selling
more of our Great Divide Pod One ("Pod One") production to regional upgraders.
As a result, we were able to restore the ramp up process at Pod One, after
having had to scale back operations during the month of December 2008, when
crude oil prices collapsed and other factors adversely impacted on the
economics of bitumen production.
We also saw a glimmer of hope, in that before provision for non-cash mark
to market accounting losses on our crude oil hedges, in the first quarter of
2009, we recorded positive net operating income in our conventional and
unconventional or bitumen operations ("upstream division") as well as in our
downstream ("refining division") operations during the period. We believe this
augurs well for the balance of the year, provided there is no significant
further deterioration in prices for crude oil and natural gas and that
anticipated strong asphalt prices are realized as expected. As we noted in our
2008 Annual Report, recovery is in the air.
Despite a 110 percent increase in production volumes, a second
consecutive quarter (Q4 2008 and now Q1 2009) of modest negative cash flow was
recorded, as prices for all upstream products - bitumen, crude oil and natural
gas - were lower by as much as 58 percent year over year and were down 54
percent per boe produced. (Boe may be misleading if used in isolation. See
footnote 3 under the Summary Results Table). However, we can advise that March
2009 bitumen selling prices, at $32.29/bbl, were three times January 2009
levels and up almost 40 percent above the quarterly average. This strong
selling price was achieved even though WTI for the month of March 2009
averaged around US$48/bbl. Also, March 2009 bitumen netbacks were almost five
times the quarterly average. This was further manifestation of a turnaround,
which appears to have momentum.
Arising from a weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar
since year end 2008, a significant non-cash charge largely arising from the
fact a significant part of our long-term debt is denominated in US dollars,
was the major contributor to our reported loss. By its nature, this non-cash
charge will be volatile and currently with a much stronger Canadian dollar,
would have more than been reversed had our accounts been completed at this
writing. However, the provision is only calculated on the last day of each
reporting period, compared to the level on the last day of the prior period.
Accordingly, Connacher's reported earnings are likely to continue to exhibit
similar volatility.
Our production rampup at Pod One progressed at a measured pace during the
first quarter of 2009. Subsequent to the end of the reporting period, four new
electrical submersible pumps were installed in four wells and we commenced
steam circulation on the two new well pairs we drilled on Pod One. We
surpassed 10,000 bbl/d on a "test" basis, after which we adopted a more
measured production rampup to introduce steady state conditions, which will
allow for better reservoir conformance, on a sustained basis, as better
economic conditions become available.HIGHLIGHTS
- Production ramp up reinstated at Pod One
- Civil work at Algar plant site virtually completed. We now have
invested approximately $150 million in the project, our second
10,000 bbl/d steam assisted gravity drainage ("SAGD") plant
- We advanced our EIA application, aimed at securing approval to expand
our oil sands operations to 44,000 bb/d 2011
- Operating cost improvements are being achieved at Pod One in 2009,
our year of optimization
- Solid liquidity was maintained, despite weak operating conditions and
greater cash demands for our operations
These Q1 2009 results will be subject to a Conference Call event at 9:00
a.m. MDT May 13, 2009. To listen to or participate in the live conference call
please dial either (416) 644-3434 or (800) 814-4857. A replay of the event
will be available from May 13, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. MDT until May 20, 2009 at
11:59 p.m. MDT. To listen to the replay please dial either (416) 640-1917 or
(877) 289-8525 and enter the passcode 21305119 followed by the pound sign.
Summary Results
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Three months ended and as at March 31 2009 2008 % Change
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FINANCIAL
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($000, except per share amounts)
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Revenues, net of royalties $ 61,757 $ 100,656 (39)
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Cash flow(1) (4,692) 7,825 (160)
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Per share, basic(1) (0.02) 0.04 (150)
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Per share, diluted(1) (0.02) 0.03 (167)
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Net loss (46,844) (1,833) (2,456)
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Per share, basic and diluted (0.22) (0.01) (2,100)
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Property and equipment additions 64,255 115,984 (45)
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Cash on hand 96,220 323,423 (70)
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Working capital 120,035 287,105 (58)
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Long term debt 803,915 671,014 20
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Shareholders' equity 428,276 471,559 (9)
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Total assets 1,385,674 1,348,098 3
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UPSTREAM OPERATING RESULTS
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Daily production/sales volumes
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Bitumen - bbl/d(2) 6,170 1,773 248
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Crude oil - bbl/d 1,180 996 18
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Natural gas - Mcf/d 12,828 10,493 22
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Barrels of oil equivalent - boe/d(3) 9,488 4,518 110
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Product pricing(4)
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Bitumen - $/bbl(2) 22.45 53.01 (58)
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Crude oil - $/bbl 39.63 79.50 (50)
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Natural gas - $/Mcf 4.89 7.79 (37)
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Barrels of oil equivalent - $/boe(3) 26.13 56.44 (54)
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DOWNSTREAM OPERATING RESULTS
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Refining throughput
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Crude charged (bbl/d) 6,867 9,830 (30)
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Refinery utilization (%) 72% 104% (31)
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Margins (%) 6.0% 1.0% 500
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COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (000)
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Weighted average
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Basic 211,286 210,234 -
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Diluted 211,286 231,510 (9)
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End of period
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Issued 211,291 210,277 -
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Fully diluted 252,268 250,166 1
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(1) Cash flow and cash flow per share do not have standardized meanings
prescribed by Canadian generally accepted accounting principles
("GAAP") and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures used
by other companies. Cash flow is calculated before changes in non-
cash working capital, pension funding and asset retirement
expenditures. The most comparable measure calculated in accordance
with GAAP would be net earnings. Cash flow, commonly used in the oil
and gas industry, is reconciled with net earnings on the Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows and in the accompanying Management's
Discussion & Analysis. Management uses this non-GAAP measurement for
its own performance measure and to provide its shareholders and
investors with a measurement of the company's efficiency and its
ability to internally fund future growth expenditures.
(2) The recognition of bitumen sales from Pod One commenced March 1,
2008, when it was declared "commercial". Prior thereto, all operating
costs, net of revenues, were capitalized.
(3) All references to barrels of oil equivalent (boe) are calculated on
the basis of 6 Mcf:1 bbl. This conversion is based on an energy
equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip
and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Boes may
be misleading, particularly if used in isolation.
(4) Product pricing excludes realized hedging gains/losses and excludes
unrealized mark-to-market non-cash accounting gains/losses.Connacher encountered very challenging operating and capital market
conditions during the first quarter of 2009. As a result, weak financial
results were recorded. Nevertheless, we do see signs of recovery.
Our major challenge was the extremely weak economic framework which
resulted in low commodity prices for crude oil, bitumen and natural gas. The
quoted market price for West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") crude oil averaged
US$43.08/bbl in Q1 2009, compared to US$67.08/bbl in the fourth quarter of
2008 ("Q4 2008") and US$104.88/bbl for the full year 2008. During Q1 2009, WTI
fell below US $40.00/bbl to a low in the US$34.00/bbl range. As a consequence,
Canadian crude oil and bitumen prices were also extremely weak, even though
the Canadian dollar weakened during the period.
Our average price for conventional crude oil in Q1 2009 was $39.63/bbl,
benefiting from the weaker Canadian dollar. However, to put things in
perspective, this compared to $79.50/bbl in the same period in 2008 and an
average price throughout 2008 of $82.01/bbl.
Bitumen also fared poorly, with our Q1 2009 average bitumen selling price
only $22.45/bbl, approximately one-third of the price we recorded in the third
quarter of 2008. Also, natural gas prices weakened considerably, declining to
$4.89/mcf in Q1 2009, compared to $6.61/mcf in Q4 2008 and $7.79/mcf in Q1
2008. Natural gas markets are extremely weak, although this lower selling
price does benefit the lowering of the cost structure of our bitumen
production operations, reflecting the benefits of our integrated strategy. We
remain relatively indifferent to the level of natural gas prices as we are
both a producer and a consumer.
These extremely weak prices reflected the collapse of capital and credit
markets, the extreme slowdown in worldwide economic activity and demand
destruction arising from the weakened North American and worldwide economies.
It is anticipated this will eventually also result in supply destruction, as
industry reinvestment activity has been curtailed and continues to be
constrained due to lower cash flows, illiquidity in capital and credit markets
and a lack of visibility as to when a stable, stronger and more predictable
commodity price regime will emerge.
Despite these very weak prices, we were able to achieve positive net
operating income in both of our divisions during Q1 2009, prior to provisions
arising from non-cash deductions for unrealized mark-to-market accounting
losses on our crude oil hedges. This was a considerable accomplishment in
light of the operating framework within which we were forced to operate.
Upstream, it was achieved by paying close attention to costs, especially at
our Pod One bitumen plant, but also in our conventional operations. Overcoming
the impact of lower volumes, due to the continuation in early 2009 of the
December 2008 curtailment at Pod One, we reduced our bitumen operating costs
to under $20.00/bbl in both February and March this year and we are
anticipating even lower levels during the balance of the year. Our Q1 2009
upstream unit operating costs were $17.73/boe, reflecting the increasing
efficiency achieved at producing bitumen with only approximately one year of
operating experience behind us.
Downstream, we achieved a positive refining netback during Q1 2009,
despite weak economic activity, a lower utilization rate arising from some
operating challenges, downtime related to completion of our new ultra low
sulphur diesel ("ULSD") facilities, the impact of a severe winter on
infrastructure support, including stable electrical supply and the effect of
our decision to delay our scheduled turnaround until later in the year. We do
intend to conduct this turnaround on the refinery later in the year, after
participating in the stronger operating conditions which normally occur during
the summer market period. We fully anticipate restoring utilization rates to
higher levels, which should also result in further margin improvement and
efficiencies on a prospective basis. Our refining margins in Q1 2009 exceeded
those achieved in any quarter throughout 2008. With strong demand anticipated
for asphalt throughout 2009 and with an apparent supply shortage looming, as
economic recovery infrastructure programs are under taken, this important
component of our heavy oil refining business should be a significant cash
generator this year.
Re-organizing our Financial Affairs
In addition to restoring positive margins in our operating divisions, we
took other steps during the period to stabilize our operations in those areas
where we, as management, could exert some control. As we reported in our 2008
Annual Report, during Q1 2009 we reluctantly had no choice but to cancel an
outstanding $150 million and US$50 million credit facility, secured from a
syndicate of banks in late 2007. This was necessary as a consequence of the
dramatic and severe collapse in energy prices which had occurred since mid-
2008.
We continue to seek a suitable replacement for this revolving line of
credit in order to properly access our credit capacity and restore more
desirable levels of liquidity to our financial condition. We believe such an
alternative is achievable, albeit at some added cost in the short run.
Offsetting this, we anticipate improving our liquidity will be beneficial to
our equity and will give us the wherewithal to focus on continuing
improvements to our balance sheet. This will also help us to prepare for
reactivation of our Algar plant construction program, under the right
circumstances, while continuing to meet all of our financial obligations.
With the reduction in crude oil price differentials for heavy oil in the
early part of 2009, from over $20.00/bbl in December 2008 to as low as
approximately $7.00/bbl currently, we were able to fix a lower differential
for some of our bitumen sales during the reporting period. This was
accomplished at the same time that we were able to secure new bitumen sales
contracts with regional upgraders, thereby assisting in reducing related
transportation charges for bitumen, due to a lower cost structure for trucking
and shorter hauls. We anticipate that as we continue to sell our dilbit to the
regional upgraders, we will be able to significantly reduce our diluent
blending ratio, thereby further increasing the profitability of our bitumen
operation. Simultaneously, motivated by our anticipated cancellation of our
credit facility and benefiting from the emergence of considerable contango in
the crude oil futures market, we were able to place two attractive WTI hedges
for average prices of US$46.00/bbl and US$49.50/bbl, on two tranches of 2,500
bbl/d of notional production with staggered August 2009 and December 2009
maturities. This action was undertaken as part of our risk management program,
aimed at minimizing the company's downside risk if crude oil prices became
considerably weaker, especially as production of lower-priced bitumen
represents a big part of our business. We also entered into a foreign exchange
collar for a predetermined level of revenue for 2009, to mitigate the risks
associated with volatile currency fluctuations. These arrangements were steps
within the purview of management and were taken in an attempt to preserve
liquidity and to avoid the necessity of shutting in production, if further
price weakness or adverse currency movements occurred. They complement our
efforts to maximize production at the lowest possible cost, but in and of
themselves cannot overcome the adverse influence of weak commodity prices.
Liquidity and Capital Programs
Maintaining and expanding our liquidity in order to ensure we meet all of
our financial obligations and to be positioned to restore more normal growth
related activity remains the number one priority of the company. During the
first quarter of 2009, our cash balances did decline. We had to segregate
certain cash balances to establish a cash-collateralized credit facility for
letters of credit, which are utilized in our normal course business
activities. The cancellation of our credit facility meant some of our
suppliers required prepayments for either supplies or services. For example,
this occurred to the extent of $22 million in Q1 2009, primarily in our
refining division. We purchase crude oil every day and we were required by
some suppliers to prepay for the crude oil we refined and processed at Great
Falls, Montana. We also financed an increase in our asphalt inventories in the
amount of $18 million during the period; this is a normal procedure for the
time of year, awaiting the startup of highway construction programs with
milder weather in the spring. We fully anticipate recovering this amount and
considerably more during the second and third quarter 2009 paving season, as
prices are already showing signs of buoyancy and supplies are increasingly
limited. Finally, we also had a net reduction in accounts payable during the
quarter, offset by accruals for prospective mid-year interest payments on our
long-term debt.
For the second straight quarter, our operations also required a modest
cash outlay and our Q1 2009 capital expenditure program totaled $64 million.
Of this amount, $55 million was invested in our oil sands operations. This
included much of our civil work at Algar (completed ahead of time and under
budget), a modest core hole drilling program at Great Divide and drilling and
completion of two new SAGD well pairs at Pod One. We now have approximately
$150 million invested in Algar and we anticipate a benefit from lower cost
structures in the oil sands due to lower industry activity levels.
A modest $5.7 million was invested in our conventional properties. We
continue to retain behind pipe productive natural gas capacity, which will
remain in this status until we see clear evidence of improved product pricing
and decide on the timing of the eventual reinstatement of the final stages of
construction and assembly at Algar. Downstream investments primarily
associated with the tie-in of our new ULSD plant amounted to $3.3 million. We
are now producing and selling ultra low sulphur diesel.
Our internal estimates indicate we have sufficient cash and prospective
cash flow, at US $45.00 for WTI, to meet all of our cash requirements for our
reduced capital budget of $124 million and to satisfy our financial
obligations for the balance of 2009. Furthermore, with access to a modest
incremental credit facility, we anticipate we would be similarly positioned in
2010, although this would only allow maintenance expenditures and would
preclude any growth expenditures. We do not publish detailed guidance.
As we are highly leveraged to crude oil prices, continuing improvements
would immediately impact on our cash availability and on our prospective
investment decisions and capital requirements. We continue to investigate
additional liquidity sources to offset the adverse impact arising from the
decision by us to cancel our credit facility. We also intend to consider other
measures to further strengthen our balance sheet and to capitalize on the
effect of much lower commodity prices on outstanding financial instruments.
Our objective is to maintain our independence and be positioned with an
extended "liquidity runway", characterized by few, if any, maintenance
covenants.
We have reduced operating risks; we curtailed past and planned capital
outlays to the extent it made sense and we have adopted an optimization mode
until there is clear evidence of sustainable commodity price recovery, a lower
capital cost structure in the oil sands, better project economics and
healthier capital and credit market conditions, before we reactivate our Algar
project. In the meantime, we are preparing ourselves for further expansion
post 2011 with our EIA application to enable us to move towards our goal of
50,000 bbl/d of bitumen production by 2015. We believe we already have the
bitumen reserves to support the achievement of this objective.
We would note that current accounting policies have resulted in extremely
volatile earnings for our industry. A considerable loss was recorded in Q1
2009, largely driven by the impact of "non-cash" mark-to-market accounting
charges, including a provision of $27.9 million for an unrealized foreign
exchange loss, largely associated with the fact our long-term debt is
denominated in U.S. dollars. This provision arose as a result of the weakness
of the Canadian dollar on March 31, 2009, compared to the level it was at on
December 31, 2008. Readers might find it interesting that with the recent
appreciation in the Canadian dollar in April 2009, this entire loss would have
been reversed by a provision for an approximate $39 million gain. Accordingly,
our focus on improving production volumes, reducing costs and optimizing our
divisional operating netbacks and cash flow is understandable. A review of
required accounting treatment by regulators would seem to be in order, to help
shareholders avoid the impact of this extreme volatility in reporting
financial results and to help them better understand the true financial status
of companies.
Corporate and Other Matters
The company's Annual General Meeting is scheduled for 3:00 PM on Tuesday,
May 12, 2009 at the Calgary Petroleum Club. We anticipate three new Directors
- Jennifer Kennedy, Kelly Ogle and Peter Sametz, will be elected to the Board
at the meeting and in advance thereof, we welcome these new members. Along
with input and guidance from our incumbent Directors, we look forward to their
contribution to our progress and to the continued advancement of shareholder
interests and value.
Connacher remains well positioned to participate in the recovery of crude
oil prices. We have taken steps to enhance the efficiency of our oil sands
operations with the installation of four new electrical submersible pumps in
April 2009, which should result in lower steam oil ratios and therefore lower
operating costs. We have drilled and completed and are steaming two new well
pairs at Pod One. These wells should enhance production levels during the
second half of 2009, if not sooner. Our downstream division should experience
considerable improvements in results during the next two quarters. If as
anticipated we are successful in enhancing corporate liquidity, we will be
favorably positioned to Algar when the right signals emerge, which should
improve investor confidence in our future growth. We are recognized for our
operational accomplishments in the oil sands and we intend to take those steps
necessary to be able to deliver our growth potential to our current and future
shareholders.
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking information including, but
not limited to, Connacher's strategy to be the lowest cost bitumen producer,
development of additional oil sands resources (including Algar and the
timeline and capital costs for construction of Algar), anticipated supply
destruction as a result of current economic conditions, reduced investment and
demand destruction, anticipated reductions in operating costs as a result of
optimization of certain operations, expectations of future production,
refinery utilization rates and asphalt demand, operating costs, upstream
netbacks and downstream margins, cash flow, profitability and capital
expenditures, plans for improving liquidity which may include securing a new
credit facility, accessing new debt or equity, corporate acquisitions or
business combinations, joint venture arrangements and restructuring components
of the balance sheet, anticipated cost savings relating to oil sands activity
as a result of reduced industry activity, development of internally-generated
growth prospects and utilization and alternative financial derivative
strategies to protect the company's cash flow. Forward-looking information is
based on management's expectations regarding future growth, results of
operations, production, future commodity prices and foreign exchange rates,
future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and
sources of funding thereof), plans for and results of drilling activity,
environmental matters, business prospects and opportunities and future
economic conditions. Forward-looking information involves significant known
and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to
differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not
limited to: the risks associated with the oil and gas industry (e.g.,
operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or
changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or
capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates, the
uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and
expenses and health, safety and environmental risks), the risk of commodity
price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, risks associated with the impact
of general economic conditions, risks and uncertainties associated with
securing and maintaining the necessary regulatory approvals and financing to
proceed with the continued expansion of the Great Divide Oil Sands Project. In
addition, the current financial crisis has resulted in severe economic
uncertainty and resulting illiquidity in credit and capital markets which
increases the risk that actual results will vary from forward looking
expectations in this press release and these variations may be material. There
can be no assurance that the company will be able to secure new sources of
liquidity or restructure its balance sheet as planned. These and other risks
and uncertainties are described in further detail in Connacher's Annual
Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2008, which is available at
www.sedar.com. Although Connacher believes that the expectations in such
forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that
such expectations shall prove to be correct. The forward-looking information
included in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this
cautionary statement. The forward-looking information included in this press
release is made as of the date hereof and Connacher assumes no obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect new events or
circumstances, except as required by law.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The following is dated as of May 12, 2009 and should be read in
conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements of Connacher
Oil and Gas Limited ("Connacher" or the "company") for the three months ended
March 31, 2009 and 2008, as contained in this interim report and the MD&A and
audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31,
2008 and 2007, as contained in the company's 2008 annual report. All of these
consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
Canadian generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and are presented
in Canadian dollars. This MD&A provides management's view of the financial
condition of the company and the results of its operations for the reporting
periods.
Additional information relating to Connacher, including Connacher's
Annual Information Form, is on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
NON-GAAP MEASUREMENTS
The MD&A contains terms commonly used in the oil and gas industry, such
as cash flow, cash flow per share, and cash operating netback. These terms are
not defined by GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to, or more
meaningful than, cash provided by operating activities or net earnings as
determined in accordance with GAAP as an indicator of Connacher's performance.
Management believes that in addition to net earnings, cash flow is a useful
financial measurement which assists in demonstrating the company's ability to
fund capital expenditures necessary for future growth or to repay debt.
Connacher's determination of cash flow may not be comparable to that reported
by other companies. All references to cash flow throughout this report are
based on cash flow from operating activities before changes in non-cash
working capital, pension funding and asset retirement expenditures. The
company calculates cash flow per share by dividing cash flow by the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding. Cash flow and cash operating
netbacks are reconciled to net earnings within this MD&A.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This report, including the Letter to Shareholders, contains forward-
looking information including but not limited expectations of future
production, refinery utilization rates and asphalt demand, netbacks, net
operating income, cash flow, profitability and capital expenditures,
anticipated reductions in operating costs as a result of optimization of
certain operations, development of additional oil sands resources (including
Algar and the timeline and capital costs for construction of Algar),
development of internally-generated growth prospects, utilization and
alternative financial derivative strategies to protect the company's cash flow
and plans for improving liquidity which may include securing a new credit
facility, accessing new equity, corporate acquisitions or business
combinations, joint venture arrangements and restructuring components of the
balance sheet. Forward looking information is based on management's
expectations regarding future growth, results of operations, production,
future commodity prices and foreign exchange rates, future capital and other
expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof),
plans for and results of drilling activity, environmental matters, business
prospects and opportunities and future economic conditions. Forward-looking
information involves significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties,
which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.
These risks include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with the oil
and gas industry (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and
production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or
development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve and
resource estimates the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to
production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks),
the risk of commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, risks
associated with the impact of general economic conditions, risks and
uncertainties associated with securing and maintaining the necessary
regulatory approvals and financing to proceed with the continued expansion of
the Great Divide Oil Sands Project. In addition, the current financial crisis
has resulted in severe economic uncertainty and resulting illiquidity in
credit and capital markets which increases the risk that actual results will
vary from forward looking expectations in this report and these variations may
be material. There can be no assurance that the company will be able to secure
new sources of liquidity or restructure its balance sheet as planned. These
and other risks and uncertainties are described in further detail in
Connacher's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2008,
which is available at www.sedar.com. Although Connacher believes that the
expectations in such forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be
no assurance that such expectations shall prove to be correct. The
forward-looking information included in this report are expressly qualified in
their entirety by this cautionary statement, The forward-looking information
included in this report is made as of May 12, 2009 and Connacher assumes no
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect new
events or circumstances, except as required by law.
Throughout the MD&A, per barrel of oil equivalent (boe) amounts have been
calculated using a conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas
to one barrel of crude oil (6:1). The conversion is based on an energy
equivalency conversion method primarily applicable to the burner tip and does
not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Boes may be misleading,
particularly if used in isolation.SUMMARIZED HIGHLIGHTS
Three months ended and as at March 31
FINANCIAL
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($000) 2009 2008
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Upstream revenues $28,146 $27,926
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Downstream revenues 32,683 71,899
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Upstream cash operating netback(1) 5,000 14,256
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Downstream margin 1,963 506
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Cash flow (4,692) 7,825
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Net loss (46,844) (1,833)
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Cash on hand 96,220 323,423
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Working capital 120,035 287,105
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Total assets 1,385,674 1,348,098
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OPERATING
Upstream production/sales volumes
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Oil sands - bitumen - bbl/d 6,170 1,773
Crude oil - bbl/d 1,180 996
Natural gas - Mcf/d 12,828 10,493
Barrels of oil equivalent - boe/d 9,488 4,518
Upstream cash netback/boe(2) $5.85 $34.67
Downstream
Crude charged - bbl/d 6,867 9,830
Downstream margin per barrel refined $3.70 $0.71
Downstream margins as a percentage of revenue 6.0% 1.0%
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(1) Excluding unrealized non-cash mark-to-market accounting losses.
MARKETING - UPSTREAM
Diluted bitumen ("dilbit"), crude oil and natural gas are generally sold
on month-to-month sales contracts negotiated with major Canadian or U.S.
marketers, refiners, or other end users at either spot reference prices or at
prices subject to commodity contracts based on US WTI for crude oil and AECO
for natural gas. As a means of managing the risk of commodity price
volatility, Connacher enters into price-hedging contracts from time to time.
At March 31, 2009, Connacher had the following hedging contracts in place:
February 1, 2009 - August 31, 2009 - 2,500 bbl/d - WTI US$46.00/bbl;
April 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009 - 2,500 bbl/d - WTI US$49.50/bbl;
and
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009 - foreign exchange collar of
CAD$1.1925 per US$1.00 to CAD $1.30 per US$1.00 on a notional amount
of US$10 million of monthly production revenue (the "foreign exchange
revenue collar"). For clarity, this hedge provides the company a
benefit from a strengthening Canadian dollar.In the first quarter of 2009, Connacher realized a commodity hedging gain
(and received cash) in the amount of $405,000.
During the first quarter of 2009, Connacher entered into a six-month term
contract for the sale of dilbit to a company operating an upgrader in northern
Alberta.
As at March 31, 2009, the WTI crude oil forward price curve exceeded the
hedging contract prices resulting in a current liability and an unrealized
mark-to-market ("MTM") non-cash accounting loss of $8.3 million for the
remaining contract terms.
As at March 31, 2009, based on the forward foreign exchange rate curve,
the foreign exchange revenue collar was a liability of $630,000; at December
31, 2008 it was an asset of $1.8 million. This MTM adjustment resulted in an
unrealized non-cash foreign exchange loss of $2.4 million in the first quarter
of 2009.
MARKETING - DOWNSTREAM
Sales of refined products are generally made on monthly sales contracts
negotiated with wholesalers, retailers and large end-users for gasoline, jet
fuel and diesel and construction contractors and road builders for asphalt.
Occasionally, sales contracts are for periods in excess of one month. To date,
Connacher has not hedged these revenue streams. As at March 31, 2009, the
Montana refinery had contracts in place for the sale of approximately 250,000
barrels of asphalt at an average price exceeding US$100/bbl for delivery in
the second and third quarters of 2009.
PRICING
Together with many other uncontrolled variables, general economic
conditions and international and local supplies influence the price for WTI
light gravity crude oil. Weather, domestic supplies, and other variables
influence the market price for natural gas.
In the first quarter of 2009, WTI crude oil averaged $43.08/bbl (first
quarter 2008 - $97.90/bbl) and AECO natural gas averaged $5.63/Mcf (first
quarter 2008 - $6.76/Mcf).
Connacher's crude oil and bitumen production slate is generally heavier
than the referenced WTI. Consequently, the market price realized by the
company is typically lower than WTI.
Before hedging gains and unrealized MTM non-cash accounting losses,
Connacher realized the following commodity selling prices:-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended March 31 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bitumen - $/bbl $22.45 $53.01
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crude oil - $/bbl $39.63 $79.50
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Natural gas - $/Mcf $4.89 $7.79
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refined product selling prices are also influenced by general economic
conditions, local and international supply and demand factors. Comparative
industry average prices and prices realized by the company in the first
quarter of 2009 are noted below.
-------------------------------------- MRCI Realized
Three months ended March 31 (US$/bbl) Selling Price
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gasoline $45.67
Diesel 59.08
Jet fuel 70.75
Asphalt 43.16
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL AND OPERATING REVIEW
UPSTREAM NETBACKS ($000)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the three months ended Oil Crude Natural
March 31, 2009 Sands(1) Oil Gas Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross revenues(2) $28,669 $4,278 $5,641 $38,588
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluent purchased(3) (13,367) - - (13,367)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transportation costs (2,837) (70) - (2,907)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Production revenue 12,465 4,208 5,641 22,314
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized financial derivative
gains(4) 405 - - 405
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized mark-to-market
accounting losses(5) (8,267) - - (8,267)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royalties (129) (1,062) (1,389) (2,580)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating costs (11,331) (1,302) (2,506) (15,139)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calculated netback $(6,857) $1,844 $1,746 $(3,267)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash operating netback,
excluding unrealized
mark-to-market
accounting losses(6) $1,410 $1,844 $1,746 $5,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the three months ended Oil Crude Natural
March 31, 2008 Sands(1) Oil Gas Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross revenues(2) $17,150 $7,206 $7,449 $31,805
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluent purchased(3) (8,103) - - (8,103)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transportation costs (494) - - (494)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Production revenue 8,553 7,206 7,449 23,208
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized financial derivative
gains(4) - - - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized mark-to-market
accounting losses(5) - - (816) (816)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royalties (86) (1,815) (1,162) (3,063)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating costs (3,403) (1,060) (1,426) (5,889)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calculated netback $5,064 $4,331 $4,045 $13,440
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash operating netback,
excluding unrealized
mark-to-market
accounting losses(6) $5,064 $4,331 $4,861 $14,256
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) In the first quarter of 2008, Connacher completed the conversion of a
majority of its fifteen horizontal well pairs to production status at
Pod One and processed increasing levels of bitumen through its
facility. This provided the company with the necessary confidence
that this first oil sands project could economically produce, process
and sell bitumen on a continuous basis. Therefore, effective March 1,
2008 Connacher declared it to be "commercial". As a result, the
company discontinued the capitalization of all pre-operating costs,
moved accumulated capital costs into the full cost pool, commenced
the depletion of these costs, and began reporting Pod One production
and operating results as part of the oil and gas reporting segment.
(2) Bitumen produced at Pod One is mixed with purchased diluent and sold
as "dilbit". Diluent is a light hydrocarbon that improves the
marketing and transportation quality of bitumen. In the financial
statements Upstream Revenues represent sales of dilbit, crude oil and
natural gas, net of royalties; and Upstream Operating Costs include
the cost of purchased diluent.
(3) Diluent volumes purchased and sold have been deducted in calculating
production revenue and production volumes sold.
(4) Realized financial derivative gains/losses reflect cash
receipts/disbursements in respect of commodity hedging contracts.
(5) Unrealized mark-to-market accounting gains/losses reflect changes in
the market value of unsettled commodity derivative contracts. From
period to period the market value of these contracts change due to
the volatility of the commodity's forward pricing curve.
(6) Cash operating netbacks, by product, are calculated by deducting the
related diluent, transportation, field operating costs and royalties
from revenues before deducting MTM accounting losses. Netbacks on a
per-unit basis are calculated by dividing related production revenue,
costs and royalties by production volumes. Netbacks do not have a
standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, may not be
comparable to similar measures used by other companies. This non-GAAP
measurement is a useful and widely used supplemental measure of the
company's efficiency and its ability to fund future growth through
capital expenditures. Netbacks are reconciled to net earnings below.
UPSTREAM SALES AND PRODUCTION VOLUMES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the three months ended March 31 2009 2008 % Change
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dilbit sales - bbl/d(1) 8,531 2,440 250
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluent purchased - bbl/d(1) (2,361) (667) 254
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bitumen produced and sold - bbl/d(1) 6,170 1,773 248
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crude oil produced and sold - bbl/d 1,180 996 18
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Natural gas produced and sold - Mcf/d 12,828 10,493 22
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total - boe/d 9,488 4,518 110
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Since declaring Pod One "commercial" effective March 1, 2008.
UPSTREAM NETBACKS PER UNIT OF PRODUCTION
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the three months Bitumen Crude Oil Natural Gas Total
ended March 31, 2009 ($ per bbl) ($ per bbl) ($ per mcf) ($ per boe)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Production revenue $22.45 $39.63 $4.89 $26.13
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized financial
derivative gains 0.73 - - 0.47
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized mark-to-market
accounting losses (14.89) - - (9.68)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royalties (0.23) (10.00) (1.20) (3.02)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating costs (20.41) (12.26) (2.17) (17.73)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calculated netback $(12.35) $17.37 $1.52 $(3.83)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash operating netback,
excluding unrealized
mark-to-market
accounting losses $2.54 $17.37 $1.52 $5.85
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the three months Bitumen Crude Oil Natural Gas Total
ended March 31, 2008 ($ per bbl) ($ per bbl) ($ per mcf) ($ per boe)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Production revenue $53.01 $79.50 $7.79 $56.44
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized financial
derivative gains - - - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized mark-to-market
accounting losses - - (0.85) (1.98)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royalties (0.53) (20.03) (1.22) (7.45)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating costs (21.09) (11.69) (1.49) (14.32)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calculated netback $31.39 $47.78 $4.23 $32.69
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash operating netback,
excluding unrealized
mark-to-market
accounting losses $31.39 $47.78 $5.08 $34.67
-------------------------------------------------------------------------In response to a collapse in WTI crude oil prices and wide heavy oil
differentials, the company announced in December 2008 that it was curtailing
production at Pod One from levels that had exceeded 9,000 bbl/d earlier in
that month, through the reduction of steam injected into the bitumen
reservoir. On January 21, 2009, the company announced the resumption of full
production ramp-up at Pod One. This decision was made in anticipation of the
re-instatement of profitability at Pod One, in response to narrower heavy oil
pricing differentials; reduced transportation costs; anticipated reduced
diluent blending ratios due to increased dilbit sales to upgraders operating
near our SAGD oil sands facility; and due to WTI crude oil hedges entered into
that provided some protection against further weakness in crude oil selling
prices. Bitumen production is currently ramping up to design capacity from
curtailed bitumen production levels of approximately 4,200 bbl/d in January
2009.
In the first quarter of 2009, gross bitumen, crude oil and natural gas
revenues were up 21 percent to $38.6 million from $31.8 million in the first
quarter of 2008. This increase was due to a doubling of production and sales
volumes in 2009 offset by a 54 percent reduction in commodity pricing,
excluding the effect of realized hedging gains and excluding the effect of an
$8.3 million unrealized non-cash MTM accounting loss.
Royalties represent charges against production or revenue by governments
and landowners. From year to year, royalties can change based on changes in
the product mix, the components of which are subject to different royalty
rates. Additionally, royalty rates are applied on a sliding scale to commodity
prices. Although total gross production revenues were higher in the first
quarter of 2009, compared to the first quarter of 2008, total royalties were
lower in the current year period because conventional crude oil and natural
gas revenues were lower and, therefore, their related royalties were lower
than in the prior year comparative period. Notwithstanding that bitumen
production revenues were higher in the current year period, the related
royalty rate was only one percent and, therefore, did not contribute to an
increase in overall, total royalties in the current year period. Consequently,
total royalties in the first quarter of 2009 of $2.6 million were lower than
the $3.1 million reported in the first quarter of 2008.
In the first quarter of 2009 upstream diluent purchases, transportation
and operating costs of $31.4 million were $16.9 million, or 117 percent,
higher than in the same prior year period, primarily due to diluent purchases
of $13.4 million in 2009 required for three months compared to $8.1 million in
2008 for a one month requirement (since declaring Pod One "commercial").
Transportation costs for dilbit sales increased to $2.8 million in the current
year-to-date from $494,000 in the same prior year period, due to increased
sales volumes. Bitumen produced at Pod One is mixed with purchased diluent and
sold as "dilbit." Diluent is a light hydrocarbon that improves the marketing
and transportation quality of bitumen. For the reported volumes, diluent
purchased represented approximately 28 percent of the dilbit barrel sold, with
bitumen the remaining 72 percent. It is anticipated that less diluent will be
necessary when oil sands production and handling operations are optimized,
higher volumes are processed and with increased sales to regional upgraders in
the year.
Excluding diluent purchases, upstream field operating costs of $15.1
million averaged $17.73 per boe produced and sold in the first quarter of
2009, compared to $14.32 per boe produced and sold in the same prior year
period. The increase primarily reflects costs associated with new bitumen
production which are higher on a per unit basis than conventional crude oil
and natural gas operating costs. Bitumen field operating costs of $11.3
million for the first quarter of 2009 were comprised of natural gas costs of
$3.9 million for 8.9 mmcf/d (averaging $4.91/mcf), personnel, power, chemicals
and other costs, resulting in an average of $20.41 per bbl of bitumen produced
and sold. As a significant portion of these costs are fixed, it is anticipated
that this per unit operating cost will decline as the company increases
bitumen production at Pod One towards its design capacity in 2009.
Transportation costs of $2.9 million primarily represent the cost of
trucking the company's oil sands sales to market.
Netbacks are a widely used industry measure of a company's efficiency and
its ability to internally fund its growth. The company's overall upstream
netback of $5.85 per boe (excluding MTM accounting losses), an 83 percent
decrease over the same 2008 period, was significantly affected by its oil
sands production, which had a netback of $2.54 per bitumen barrel produced.
Current year netbacks were adversely impacted by lower commodity prices.RECONCILIATION OF UPSTREAM OPERATING NETBACK TO NET EARNINGS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the three months ended March 31 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000, except per unit
amounts) Total Per boe Total Per boe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upstream operating netback,
as above $5,000 $5.85 $14,256 $34.67
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elimination of intercompany
diluent purchases 470 0.55 - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized mark-to-market
accounting losses (8,267) (9.68) (816) (1.98)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest income 928 1.09 831 2.02
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Downstream margin - net 1,963 2.30 506 1.23
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
General and administrative (4,474) (5.24) (3,066) (7.46)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock-based compensation (1,270) (1.49) (1,516) (3.69)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finance charges (9,160) (10.73) (4,431) (10.78)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign exchange losses (27,866) (32.63) (1,892) (4.60)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depletion, depreciation
and accretion (16,449) (19.26) (7,464) (18.15)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income taxes 11,998 14.05 1,346 3.27
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity interest in
Petrolifera earnings and
dilution gain 283 0.33 413 1.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings (loss) $(46,844) $(54.86) $(1,833) $(4.47)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------DOWNSTREAM REVENUES AND MARGINS
The Montana refinery is subject to a number of seasonal factors which
typically cause product sales revenues to vary throughout the year. The
refinery's primary asphalt market is for paving roads, which is predominantly
a summer demand. Consequently, prices and sales volumes for asphalt tend to be
higher in the summer and lower in the colder seasons. During the winter, most
of the refinery's asphalt production is stored in tankage for sale in the
subse0quent summer months. Seasonal factors also usually affect sales revenues
for gasoline (higher demand in summer months) as well as distillate and diesel
fuels (higher winter demand). As a result, inventory levels, sales volumes and
prices can be expected to fluctuate on a seasonal basis.-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refinery throughput - Mar 31, June 30, Sept 30, Dec 31, Mar 31,
three months ended 2008 2008 2008 2008 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crude charged - bbl/d(1) 9,830 9,329 9,239 8,333 6,867
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refinery production
- bbl/d(2) 11,081 10,052 10,284 9,075 7,946
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales of produced
refined products
- bbl/d 7,408 12,274 11,897 6,404 5,290
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales of refined
products - bbl/d(3) 7,902 12,878 12,385 7,564 5,890
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refinery utilization(4) 104% 98% 97% 88% 72%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Crude charged represents the barrels per day of crude oil processed
at the refinery.
(2) Refinery production represents the barrels per day of refined
products yielded from processing crude and other refinery feedstocks.
(3) Includes refined products purchased for resale.
(4) Represents crude charged divided by total crude capacity of the
refinery.During the first quarter of 2009, the Montana refinery completed its
US$20 million ultra low sulphur diesel project. Due to down time required to
tie-in the new hydrogen plant to complete this project and as a result of
certain operational upsets due to significant cold weather, throughput volumes
were lower in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 than in
prior quarters. The Montana refinery is now producing and selling ultra low
sulphur diesel and gasoline.
We fully anticipate restoring utilization rates to higher levels, which
should also result in further margin improvement and cost efficiencies on a
prospective basis. Our refining margins in the first quarter of 2009 exceeded
those achieved in any quarter throughout 2008. With strong demand anticipated
for asphalt throughout 2009 and with an apparent supply shortage looming, as
economic recovery infrastructure programs occur this important component of
our heavy oil refining business should be a significant cash generator this
year.-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feedstocks - three Mar 31, June 30, Sept 30, Dec 31, Mar 31,
months ended 2008 2008 2008 2008 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sour crude oil 92% 93% 93% 94% 91%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other feedstocks and
blends 8% 7% 7% 6% 9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues and Margins ($000)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refining sales revenue $71,899 $117,820 $127,726 $56,803 $32,683
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refining - crude oil
and operating costs 71,393 117,926 125,455 66,964 30,720
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refining margin $506 $(106) $2,271 $(10,161) $1,963
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refining margin 0.7% (0.1%) 1.8% (17.9%) 6%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales of Produced Refined
Products (Volume %)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gasoline 47% 32% 35% 44% 55%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diesel fuels 27% 11% 19% 25% 22%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jet fuels 8% 5% 5% 8% 7%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asphalt 13% 48% 38% 19% 12%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
LPG and other 5% 4% 3% 4% 4%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Barrel of Produced
Refined Product Sold
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refining sales revenue $99.99 $100.54 $112.10 $81.62 $61.65
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less: refining - crude
oil purchases and
operating costs 99.28 100.63 110.10 96.23 57.95
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refining margin $0.71 $(0.09) $2.00 $(14.61) $3.70
-------------------------------------------------------------------------In the first quarter of 2009, the company's refining revenues of $32.7
million were lower than the first quarter of 2008 of $71.9 million, due to
significantly lower refined product prices and reduced sales volumes, due to
the impact of the economic recession and reduced throughput/processing
volumes. Refining costs of sales in the first quarter of 2009 of $30.7 million
were lower than in the first quarter of 2008, $71.4 million, due to
significantly lower crude oil costs.
INTEREST AND OTHER INCOME
In the first quarter of 2009, the company earned interest of $453,000
(first quarter, 2008 - $831,000) on excess funds invested in secure short-term
investments and realized a gain of $475,000 on a repurchase of US$660,000
(face value) Second Lien Notes (first quarter 2008 - nil).
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
In the first quarter of 2009, general and administrative ("G&A") expenses
were $4.5 million compared to $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2008, an
increase of 45 percent due to increased staffing and activity levels. G&A of
$1.5 million was also capitalized in the first quarter of 2009 (first quarter
2008 - $1.9 million). Capitalized costs were lower in the current year period
due to a reduced capital program.
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
The company recorded non-cash stock-based compensation charges in the
respective periods as follows:-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended March 31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000) 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expensed $1,270 $1,516
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capitalized to property and equipment 393 798
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1,663 $2,314
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The reduction from the prior year comparative period is due to options
being granted at a lower share price.FINANCE CHARGES
Finance charges include interest expensed relating to the Convertible
Debentures, standby fees associated with the company's undrawn lines of
credit, fees on letters of credit issued and a portion of the Second Lien
Senior Notes interest expense attributable to Pod One since it was declared
commercial, effective March 1, 2008. Interest on the Second Lien Senior Notes
attributable to the Algar project is capitalized. Finance charges also include
non-cash accretion charges on the Convertible Debentures and on a portion of
the Second Lien Senior Notes.
Expensed finance charges of $9.2 million in the first quarter of 2009
compared to $4.4 million reported in the first of quarter of 2008. The
increase relates to a portion of the interest on the Second Lien Senior Notes
being expensed for three months in 2009, compared to one month in 2008 on
commencement of commercial production at Pod One.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE LOSSES
In the first quarter of 2009, the company recorded a total non-cash
foreign exchange loss of $27.9 million substantially comprised of the
translation to Canadian dollars, our reporting currency, of its US dollar
denominated indebtedness of $24.7 million and foreign exchange revenue collar.
These unrealized, non-cash losses were driven by a lower Canadian dollar in
2009. A $0.01 change in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the US
dollar, results in approximately a $6 million valuation change to our US-
dollar denominated debt. An unrealized, non-cash foreign exchange loss of $1.9
million was recorded in the first quarter of 2008 upon translating U.S. dollar
denominated indebtedness and cross-currency swap.
DEPLETION, DEPRECIATION AND ACCRETION ("DD&A")
Depletion expense is calculated using the unit-of-production method based
on total estimated proved reserves. Refining properties and other assets are
depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Effective March 1, 2008 Pod
One's accumulated capital costs were added to the depletion pool and have been
depleted from that date. DD&A in the first quarter of 2009 was $16.4 million,
a 120 percent increase from last year, due to a doubling of production volumes
and increased capital costs. Depletion equates to $16.25 per boe of production
in the first quarter of 2009 compared to $13.31 per boe in the 2008
comparative period.
Future development costs of $1.29 billion (first quarter 2008 - $253.1
million) for proved undeveloped reserves were included in the depletion
calculation. Capital costs of $338.1 million (first quarter, 2008 - $125.3
million) related to oil sands projects currently in the pre-production stage,
and undeveloped land acquisition costs of $14.3 million (first quarter 2008 -
$14.9 million) were excluded from the depletion calculation.
Included in DD&A is an accretion charge of $491,000 (first quarter, 2008
- $422,000) in respect of the company's estimated asset retirement
obligations. These charges will continue in future years in order to accrete
the currently booked discounted liability of $27.3 million to the estimated
total undiscounted liability of $48.2 million over the remaining economic life
of the company's oil sands, crude oil and natural gas properties.
At March 31, 2009, the recoverable value of the company's productive
crude oil, oil sands and natural gas assets and its major development projects
exceeded their carrying values and, therefore, no ceiling test write-down was
required.
INCOME TAXES
The income tax recovery of $12 million in the first three months of 2009
includes a current income tax provision of $172,000, principally related to
Canadian capital and other taxes and a future income tax recovery of $12.2
million reflecting the benefit of increased tax pools during the period.
At March 31, 2009 the company had approximately $148 million of non-
capital losses which expire over time to 2029, $603 million of deductible
resource pools and $23 million of deductible financing costs. The future
income tax benefit of these have been recognized at March 31, 2009.
Additionally, the company had $63 million of capital losses available to
reduce capital gains in future. These capital losses have no expiry date and
their future income tax benefit has not been recognized, due to uncertainty of
their realization at March 31, 2009.
EQUITY INTEREST IN PETROLIFERA PETROLEUM LIMITED ("PETROLIFERA")
Connacher accounts for its 24 percent equity investment in Petrolifera on
the equity method of accounting. Connacher's equity interest share of
Petrolifera's earnings in the first three months of 2009 was $283,000 (March
31, 2008 - $413,000).
NET EARNINGS
In the first three months of 2009 the company reported a loss of $46.8
million or $0.22 loss per basic and diluted share outstanding, compared to a
loss of $1.8 million or $0.01 per basic and diluted share for the first three
months of 2008. The majority of the current year-to-date loss was driven by
non-cash charges, as noted above.
SHARES OUTSTANDING
For the first three months of 2009, the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding was 211,285,947 (first three months 2008 - 210,234,346) and
the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding, as calculated by
the treasury stock method, was 211,285,947 (first three months 2008 -
210,234,346).
As at May 11, 2009, the company had the following equity securities
issued and outstanding:- 211,698,617 common shares;
- 19,982,515 share purchase options; and
- 489,292 share units under the non-employee director share awards
plan.Additionally, 20,010,000 common shares are issuable upon conversion of
the Convertible Debentures. Details of the exercise provisions and terms of
the outstanding options are noted in the consolidated financial statements,
included in this interim report.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At March 31, 2009, the company had working capital of $120 million,
including $96.2 million of cash on hand.
In the first quarter of 2009 we utilized $63 million of our cash balances
to fund approximately one-half of our anticipated full year 2009 capital
program, $5 million to fund our operating loss, $28 million to reduce year end
accounts payable balances and $41 million to build inventory and increase
other current assets.
As the company has no principal debt repayment obligations until June
2012, management believes that the company has sufficient liquidity to fund
its remaining anticipated capital program and to meet 2009 financial
obligations and have cash balances at year end 2009.
The current financial crisis has severely reduced liquidity in capital
and bank markets. Economic uncertainty and significant volatility in commodity
markets and stock markets have also occurred around the world. Connacher's
share price and the trading value of its Second Lien Senior Notes and
Convertible Debentures have been adversely affected by the uncertainty of
future crude oil and natural gas prices, as well as by the impact of
anticipated new environmental regulations, which could affect the economics of
our business. Notwithstanding the challenges imposed by this crisis and
current economic conditions, management believes that the company has
attractive internally-generated growth prospects which, with our cash balances
and the impact of an improvement in commodity prices, will allow us to expand
our operations. In the interim, however, lower world oil prices are expected
to result in lower per unit revenues, netbacks, cash flow and earnings. We
anticipate increasing production and sales volumes in 2009, which could
partially offset the impact of lower world commodity prices.
In response to these economic and market conditions, the company reduced
its original capital expenditure budget for 2009 and suspended the
construction of Algar until there is more visibility of improved industry
conditions. We anticipate this will be evidenced by improved commodity
pricing, improved credit and capital markets and improved general economic
conditions.
To date approximately $150 million has been invested in Algar and an
additional $10 million is expected to be spent on the project in 2009 to
satisfy remaining capital commitments. The majority of the long-lead equipment
items have been built. The road to the plant site and three well pads have
also been constructed. The site is considered ready for resumption of
construction at a later date. We estimate that it will require approximately
275 days and approximately $200 million of additional capital to complete the
project, once a decision to resume construction is made. Such a decision would
await higher crude oil prices, visibility that these prices can be expected to
be sustainable and accordingly would in part be funded by increased cash flow
from operations, fueled by higher commodity prices and the prospect of solid
economic returns on investment. As cash flow and credit availability have been
constrained since commodity prices collapsed in 2008, additional capital from
external sources may be required to complete Algar.
In March 2009, we cancelled our $150 million and US$50 million revolving
banking lines of credit as we were unable to secure accommodation or relief
from an interest coverage covenant that would have become operative at the end
of the first quarter of 2009. With the suspension of construction at Algar, we
had no plans to draw on the facility in 2009. We continue to seek a suitable
replacement for this credit facility in order to properly access our credit
capacity and restore more desirable levels of liquidity to our financial
condition. In the meantime, we have put in place a $20 million demand
operating banking facility (the "L/C Facility") for purposes of issuing
letters of credit.
In light of the volatility of current commodity prices and the
US:Canadian dollar exchange rate and their significance to the company's
operating performance, management continues to assess alternative hedging
strategies to protect the company's cash flow from the risk of potentially
lower crude oil and refined product pricing and adverse exchange rate
fluctuations. Although the company's integrated business model provides some
protection, it does not provide a perfect hedge. The purpose of any such
hedge(s) would be to ensure sufficient cash flow to continue to service
indebtedness, complete capital projects and protect the credit capacity of its
oil and gas reserves in a volatile and weak commodity price and weakened
economic environment.
In order to mitigate commodity price exposure, in November 2008 the
company entered into a foreign exchange revenue collar which throughout 2009
sets a floor of CAD $1.1925 per US$1.00 and a ceiling of CAD $1.30 per US$1.00
on a notional amount of US$10 million of production revenue per month.
Additionally, in early 2009 the company entered into WTI derivatives at
crude oil prices of US$46.00/bbl and US$49.50/bbl on two tranches of 2,500
bbl/d of notional production with staggered August 2009 and December 2009
maturities.
Cash flow and cash flow per share do not have standardized meanings
prescribed by GAAP and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures
used by other companies. Cash flow includes all cash flow from operating
activities and is calculated before changes in non-cash working capital,
pension funding and asset retirement expenditures. The most comparable measure
calculated in accordance with GAAP is net earnings. Cash flow is reconciled
with net earnings on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and below.Reconciliation of net earnings to cash flow from operations before
working capital and other changes:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended March 31 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000s)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings (loss) $(46,844) $(1,833)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Items not involving cash:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depletion, depreciation and accretion 16,449 7,464
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock-based compensation 1,270 1,516
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finance charges - non-cash portion 1,041 1,249
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Future employee benefits 187 113
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Future income tax provision (recovery) (12,170) (2,163)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss 27,866 1,892
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gain on repurchase of Second Lien Senior Notes (475) -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized loss on risk management contracts 8,267 -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity interest in Petrolifera earnings (283) (413)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flow from operations before working
capital and other changes $(4,692) $7,825
-------------------------------------------------------------------------In the first quarter of 2009, cash flow was negative $4.7 million
(negative $0.02 per basic and diluted share), 160 percent lower than the $7.8
million reported ($0.04 per basic and $0.03 per diluted share) for the first
three months of 2008, primarily due to lower product prices compared to the
first quarter last year.
Cash flow per share is calculated by dividing cash flow by the calculated
weighted average number of shares outstanding. Management uses this non-GAAP
measurement (which is a common industry parameter) for its own performance
measure and to provide its shareholders and investors with a measurement of
the company's efficiency and its ability to fund future growth expenditures.
The company's only financial instruments are cash, restricted cash,
accounts receivable and payable, amounts due from Petrolifera, the Convertible
Debentures and the Second Lien Senior Notes. The company maintains no off-
balance sheet financial instruments, other than the hedges noted above.
As the Second Lien Senior Notes are denominated in US dollars, there is a
foreign exchange risk associated with their semi-annual interest payments and
the repayment of principal in 2015 using Canadian currency. The next semi-
annual interest payment of US$30 million is due June 30, 2009.Connacher's capital structure is composed of:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
As at As at
March 31, December 31,
2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long term debt(1) $803,915 $778,732
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders' equity
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share capital, contributed surplus and
equity component 439,501 437,899
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated other comprehensive income 12,233 7,802
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained earnings (deficit) (23,458) 23,386
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $1,232,191 $1,247,819
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debt to book capitalization(2) 65% 62%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debt to market capitalization(3) 85% 81%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Long-term debt is stated at its carrying value, which is net of fair
value adjustments, original issue discounts, transaction costs and
the Convertible Debentures' equity component value.
(2) Calculated as long-term debt divided by the book value of
shareholders' equity plus long-term debt.
(3) Calculated as long-term debt divided by the period end market value
of shareholders' equity plus long-term debt.
Connacher had a high calculated ratio of debt to capitalization at March
31, 2009. As at March 31, 2009, the company's calculated ratio of net debt
(long-term debt, net of cash on hand) to book capitalization was 62 percent
and the percentage of net debt to market capitalization was 83 percent.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT ADDITIONS
Property and equipment additions totaled $64 million in the first quarter
of 2009 (first quarter 2008 - $116 million). A breakdown of these additions
follows:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended March 31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000) 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil sands, crude oil and natural gas and
oil sands expenditures $60,999 $112,957
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refinery expenditures 3,256 3,027
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$64,255 $115,984
-------------------------------------------------------------------------Oil sands expenditures of $55 million were incurred in the first quarter
of 2009 for drilling 23 exploratory core holes and facilities expenditures at
Algar, including capitalized interest and G&A and the drilling and completion
of two SAGD well pairs at Pod One. In the first quarter of 2008, $83 million
was spent to drill 128 exploratory core holes, to acquire and process seismic
data and for facilities expenditures at Pod One.
Conventional oil and gas expenditures of $6 million in the first quarter
of 2009 include costs of drilling, completing, equipping and working over
conventional oil and gas wells, seismic expenditures and facility
expenditures. In the first quarter of 2009, the company drilled two (two net)
wells, resulting in one suspended well and one well abandoned. In the first
quarter of 2008, $30 million was incurred to drill 20 (16.5 net) oil and gas
wells.
The majority of the 2009 and 2008 refinery capital was incurred on the
ultra low sulphur diesel/gasoline project.
OUTLOOK
We expect 2009 will continue to be challenging, as we have already
experienced challenges during the first few months of the year. However, we
anticipate a much improved full year contribution from our refining operations
primarily due to improved throughput volumes and anticipated healthy asphalt
markets, with wider margins, as newly-announced U.S. government infrastructure
projects are anticipated to result in an unprecedented demand for asphalt.
This product is currently in short supply in the United States. This
improvement should start to be apparent in the second quarter of 2009. The
Montana refinery will undergo a scheduled one-month turnaround commencing in
mid-September 2009.
We also anticipate improved netbacks from our upstream operations during
the balance of 2009 as a result of recent marketing activities and anticipated
reductions in transportation and operating costs. At Pod One we surpassed
10,000 bbl/d in April on a test basis and have adopted a more measured ramp-up
process to introduce steady state conditions, which should allow for better
reservoir conformance on a sustained basis.
Four new electric submersible pumps were installed at Pod One in April
2009. This required the shut-in of the related well pairs for a one week
period, which will affect average daily production rates in the second quarter
of 2009. Two new SAGD well pairs were completed at Pod One in the first
quarter of 2009 and are currently being steamed.
Our cash balances, together with anticipated positive operating income in
2009, are anticipated to be sufficient to meet all our financial and capital
obligations throughout 2009, even if WTI crude oil prices stay at US$45.00/bbl
for the balance of this year and assuming stable heavy oil price
differentials. We continue to believe preserving our liquidity and protecting
our assets are the priority responsibilities for 2009. We have ample
identified reserves and resources to remain confident of our future growth
prospects and we believe energy prices will improve as the year unfolds. To
stabilize our outlook in a volatile period and protect against the possibility
of renewed crude oil weakness, we have arranged WTI derivatives at prices of
US$46/bbl and US$49.50/bbl on approximately one half of our bitumen production
with staggered maturities for most of 2009. Relative to our consumption of
natural gas at Pod One we have a built-in physical hedge with our own natural
gas production at Marten Creek, Latornell, Seal and other areas. This
minimizes the impact of volatility in natural gas prices on our overall
operations.
The company's business plan anticipates long-term growth, with continued
increases in revenue and cash flow from Pod One and stable conventional crude
oil and natural gas production, while in due course completing the Algar
project and subsequently expanding all aspects of our business. A more
cautious short-term approach has recently been adopted in light of existing
adverse capital and commodity market conditions.
In response to the current conditions, we reduced our anticipated capital
expenditure budget for 2009 to $124 million. Construction of Algar has been
suspended until we see more visibility in improved industry conditions which
we anticipate will be evidenced by improved commodity pricing, improved
capital markets and improved general economic conditions.
Following the cancellation of our $150 million and US$50 million
revolving banking lines of credit in March 2009, we are currently
investigating new sources of liquidity to capitalize on our established first
lien security capacity. We are also re-evaluating our balance sheet structure
in light of current low commodity prices. As noted herein under "Liquidity and
Capital Resources", as cash flow and credit availability has been constrained
since commodity prices collapsed in 2008, even with improved prices which may
support reactivation of Algar, additional capital from external sources may be
required to complete Algar.
Information relating to Connacher, including Connacher's Annual
Information Form, is on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. See also the company's website
at www.connacheroil.com.
NEW SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
In February 2008, the CICA issued Section 3064, "Goodwill and Intangible
Assets", replacing Section 3062, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." The
new Section became applicable in 2009 and the company adopted the new standard
effective January 1, 2009. Section 3064 establishes standards for the
recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of goodwill subsequent
to its initial recognition and of intangible assets by profit-oriented
enterprises. Standards concerning goodwill are unchanged from the standards
included in the previous Section 3062, and do not cause any change to the
company's financial statements.
In January 2009, the CICA Emerging Issues Committee ("EIC") issued EIC-
173, "Credit risk and the fair value of financial assets and liabilities",
which requires that an entity's own credit risk and counterparty credit risk
be taken into account in determining the fair value of financial assets and
liabilities, including derivative financial instruments. The provisions of
EIC- 173 apply to all financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value
in interim and annual financial statements for periods ending on or after
January 20, 2009. The adoption of this standard had no material impact on the
company's financial statements.
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS
In 2008, the Canadian Accounting Standards Board confirmed that publicly
accountable enterprises will be required to adopt International Financial
Reporting Standards ("IFRS") in place of Canadian GAAP for interim and annual
reporting purposes for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2011.
We have commenced our IFRS conversion project which consists of four
phases: diagnostic; design and planning; solution development; and
implementation. Regular reporting is provided to management and to the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors.
We have completed the diagnostic phase, which involved a review of the
differences between current Canadian GAAP and IFRS. During this phase we
determined that the differences which will have the greatest impact on
Connacher's consolidated financial statements relate to accounting for
exploration and development activities and property and equipment, impairments
of capital assets, asset retirement obligations and the reporting of employee
future benefits. Their financial impacts have yet to be quantified. We are
currently engaged in the design and planning and the solution development
phases of our project. We have identified and documented the high impact
areas, including an analysis of financial system impacts and have engaged in
ongoing discussions with our external auditors. The impact on our disclosure
controls, internal controls over financial reporting and the impact on
contracts and lending agreements will also be determined.
In September 2008 the International Accounting Standards Board issued an
exposure draft to amend IFRS accounting standards in respect of property,
plant and equipment as at the date of the initial transition to IFRS. That
exposure draft, if adopted, would permit issuers currently using the full cost
method of accounting, (as described in the CICA Handbook - Accounting
Guideline 16 Oil and Gas accounting - Full Cost), to allocate the balance of
property, plant and equipment as determined under Canadian GAAP to the IFRS
categories of exploration and evaluation assets and development and producing
properties without requiring full retroactive restatement of historic balances
to the IFRS basis of accounting. If the exposure draft is adopted we
anticipate using the exemption. We continue to monitor the IFRS adoption
efforts of our peers and to participate in the process for a smooth transition
to IFRS in advance of the deadline.
RISK FACTORS
Connacher is engaged in the oil and gas exploration, development,
production and refining industry. This business is inherently risky and there
is no assurance that hydrocarbon reserves will be discovered and economically
produced. Operational risks include competition, reservoir performance
uncertainties, environmental factors, and regulatory and safety concerns.
Financial risks associated with the petroleum industry include fluctuations in
commodity prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and the cost of
goods and services.
Connacher's financial and operating performance is potentially affected
by a number of factors including, but not limited to, risks associated with
the oil and gas, commodity prices and exchange rates, environmental
legislation, changes to royalty and income tax legislation, credit and capital
market conditions, credit risk for failure of performance by third parties and
other risks and uncertainties described in more detail in Connacher's Annual
Information Form filed with securities regulatory authorities.
Reference should be made to Connacher's most recent Annual Information
Form for a description of its risk factors. The company's Annual Information
Form is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The company's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Chief Financial Officer
("CFO") have designed, or caused to be designed under their supervision,
disclosure controls and procedures to provide reasonable assurance that: (i)
material information relating to the company is made known to the company's
CEO and CFO by others, particularly during the period in which the annual and
interim filings are prepared; and (ii) information required to be disclosed by
the company in its annual filings, interim filings or other reports filed or
submitted by it under securities legislation is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time period specified in securities
legislation. Such officers have evaluated, or caused to be evaluated under
their supervision, the effectiveness of the company's disclosure controls and
procedures at December 31, 2008 and have concluded that the company's
disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The CEO and CFO have designed, or caused to be designed under their
supervision, internal controls over financial reporting to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of the company's financial reporting and
the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with Canadian GAAP. Such officers have evaluated, or caused to be evaluated
under their supervision, the effectiveness of the company's internal controls
over financial reporting at the financial year end of the company and
concluded that the company's internal controls over financial reporting is
effective at the financial year end of the company for the foregoing purpose.
The company's CEO and CFO are required to cause the company to disclose
any change in the company's internal controls over financial reporting that
occurred during the company's most recent interim period that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company's internal
controls over financial reporting. No material changes in the company's
internal controls over financial reporting were identified during such period
that has materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect,
the company's internal controls over financial reporting.
It should be noted that a control system, including the company's
disclosure and internal controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived,
can provide only reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that the objectives
of the control system will be met and it should not be expected that the
disclosure and internal controls and procedures will prevent all errors or
fraud. In reaching a reasonable level of assurance, management necessarily is
required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of
possible controls and procedures.
QUARTERLY RESULTS
Fluctuations in results over the previous eight quarters are due
principally to variations in oil and gas prices and production/sales volumes.
Significant volatility and declining commodity prices, together with severe
economic uncertainty in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of
2009 are the primary factors affecting financial results during those
quarters. The magnitude of the changes in commodity prices during these
periods was unprecedented.-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended Jun 30 Sep 30 Dec 31 Mar 31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000 except per share amounts)
Revenues, net of royalties 93,266 101,991 83,340 100,656
Cash flow(1) 16,876 10,025 7,083 7,825
Basic, per share(1) 0.09 0.05 0.03 0.04
Diluted, per share(1) 0.08 0.05 0.03 0.03
Net earnings (loss) 22,228 14,589 (840) (1,833)
Basic and diluted per share 0.11 0.07 0.00 (0.01)
Property and equipment additions 93,223 64,006 55,852 115,984
Cash on hand 25,375 754 392,271 323,423
Working capital surplus (deficiency) 36,320 (19,853) 389,789 287,105
Term debt 272,559 260,606 664,462 671,014
Shareholders' equity 417,793 428,764 480,439 471,559
Operating Highlights
Upstream: Daily production/sales
volumes
Bitumen - bbl/d(2) - - - 1,773
Crude oil - bbl/d 731 781 752 996
Natural gas - mcf/d 9,017 9,413 8,889 10,493
Equivalent - boe/d(3) 2,234 2,350 2,233 4,518
Product pricing(5)
Bitumen - $/bbl(2) - - - 53.01
Crude oil - $/bbl 49.79 55.98 56.79 79.50
Natural gas - $/mcf 7.02 4.70 5.82 7.79
Selected Highlights - $/boe(3)
Weighted average sales price 44.63 37.43 42.29 56.44
Royalties 3.23 6.32 6.34 7.45
Operating costs 13.08 9.00 13.77 14.32
Netback(4) 28.32 22.11 22.18 34.67
Downstream: Refining
Crude charged - bbl/d 9,248 9,400 9,610 9,830
Refining utilization - % 97 100 101 104
Margins - % 21 15 6 1
COMMON SHARE INFORMATION
Shares outstanding at end of period
(000) 198,834 199,447 209,971 210,277
Weighted average shares outstanding
for the period
Basic (000) 198,360 199,167 204,701 210,234
Diluted (000) 209,088 221,554 220,362 210,234
Volume traded during quarter (000) 61,162 70,939 52,198 63,718
Common share price ($)
High 4.43 4.40 4.08 3.94
Low 3.07 3.20 3.31 2.59
Close (end of period) 3.69 4.01 3.79 3.13
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended Jun 30 Sept 30 Dec 31 Mar 31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000 except per share amounts)
Revenues, net of royalties 202,016 224,558 102,109 61,757
Cash flow(1) 20,550 31,130 (4,688) (4,692)
Basic, per share(1) 0.10 0.15 (0.02) (0.02)
Diluted, per share(1) 0.10 0.14 (0.02) (0.02)
Net earnings (loss) 6,683 12,139 (43,592) (46,844)
Basic and diluted per share 0.03 0.06 (0.21) (0.22)
Property and equipment additions 80,403 69,175 86,174 64,255
Cash on hand 232,704 236,375 223,663 96,220
Working capital surplus (deficiency) 234,110 200,177 197,914 120,035
Term debt 684,705 689,673 778,732 803,915
Shareholders' equity 479,477 496,509 469,087 428,276
Operating Highlights
Upstream: Daily production/sales
volumes
Bitumen - bbl/d(2) 6,123 6,810 7,086 6,170
Crude oil - bbl/d 981 957 1,187 1,180
Natural gas - mcf/d 14,220 13,188 12,405 12,828
Equivalent - boe/d(3) 9,474 9,966 10,341 9,488
Product pricing(5)
Bitumen - $/bbl(2) 60.80 65.34 12.06 22.45
Crude oil - $/bbl 105.28 103.60 48.13 39.63
Natural gas - $/mcf 8.77 8.92 6.61 4.89
Selected Highlights - $/boe(3)
Weighted average sales price 63.37 66.41 21.73 26.13
Royalties 6.21 4.65 3.19 3.02
Operating costs 22.78 20.41 20.76 17.73
Netback(4) 34.38 41.35 (2.23) 5.85
Downstream: Refining
Crude charged - bbl/d 9,329 9,239 8,333 6,867
Refining utilization - % 98 97 88 72
Margins - % (0.1) 2 (18) 6
COMMON SHARE INFORMATION
Shares outstanding at end of period
(000) 211,027 211,182 211,182 211,291
Weighted average shares outstanding
for the period
Basic (000) 210,658 211,093 211,182 211,286
Diluted (000) 214,530 213,174 211,575 211,286
Volume traded during quarter (000) 107,001 112,401 110,244 67,387
Common share price ($)
High 5.26 4.65 2.95 1.00
Low 3.10 2.63 0.60 0.61
Close (end of period) 4.30 2.75 0.74 0.74
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Cash flow and cash flow per share do not have standardized meanings
prescribed by Canadian generally accepted accounting principles
("GAAP") and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures used
by other companies. Cash flow is calculated before changes in non-
cash working capital, pension funding and asset retirement
expenditures. The most comparable measure calculated in accordance
with GAAP would be net earnings. Cash flow is reconciled with net
earnings on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and in the
applicable Management Discussion & Analysis for the periods
referenced. Management uses these non-GAAP measurements for its own
performance measures and to provide its shareholders and investors
with a measurement of the company's efficiency and its ability to
fund its future growth expenditures.
(2) The recognition of bitumen sales from Great Divide Pod One commenced
March 1, 2008, when it was declared "commercial". Prior thereto, no
production volumes were reported and all operating costs, net of
revenues, were capitalized.
(3) All references to barrels of oil equivalent (boe) are calculated on
the basis of 6 mcf : 1 bbl. This conversion is based on an energy
equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip
and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Boes may
be misleading, particularly if used in isolation.
(4) Netback is a non-GAAP measure used by management as a measure of
operating efficiency and profitability. Netback per boe is calculated
as bitumen, crude oil and natural gas revenue less royalties and
operating costs divided by related production/sales volume. Netbacks
are reconciled to net earnings in the applicable MD&A for the periods
referenced.
(5) Product pricing excludes realized hedging gains/losses and excludes
unrealized mark-to-market, non-cash accounting gains/losses.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000) March 31, December 31,
2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash $86,220 $223,663
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Restricted cash (Note 9(c)) 10,000 -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accounts receivable 22,464 20,492
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inventories (Note 5) 53,835 35,993
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income taxes recoverable 15,432 13,875
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prepaid expenses 10,558 2,221
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Due from Petrolifera 77 42
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
198,586 296,286
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Property and equipment 1,036,469 985,054
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goodwill 103,676 103,676
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment in Petrolifera 46,943 46,659
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1,385,674 $1,431,675
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $70,284 $98,372
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risk management contracts (Note 4(b)) 8,267 -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
78,551 98,372
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long term debt (Note 4(e)) 803,915 778,732
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Future income taxes 46,664 58,296
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset retirement obligations (Note 6) 27,259 26,396
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employee future benefits 1,009 792
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
878,847 864,216
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share capital, contributed surplus and equity
component (Note 7) 439,501 437,899
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained earnings (deficit) (23,458) 23,386
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated other comprehensive income 12,233 7,802
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
428,276 469,087
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1,385,674 $1,431,675
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND RETAINED EARNINGS (DEFICIT)
(Unaudited)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000, except per share amounts) 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVENUES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upstream, net of royalties (Note 4(b)) $28,146 $27,926
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Downstream 32,683 71,899
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest and other income 928 831
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
61,757 100,656
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENSES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upstream - diluent purchases and operating costs 28,036 13,992
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upstream transportation costs 2,907 494
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Downstream - crude oil purchases and operating
costs (Note 5) 30,720 71,393
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
General and administrative 4,474 3,066
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock-based compensation (Note 7(a)) 1,270 1,516
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finance charges 9,160 4,431
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign exchange losses 27,866 1,892
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depletion, depreciation and accretion 16,449 7,464
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
120,882 104,248
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss before income taxes and other items (59,125) (3,592)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current income tax provision 172 817
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Future income tax provision (recovery) (12,170) (2,163)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11,998) (1,346)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss before other items (47,127) (2,246)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity interest in Petrolifera earnings 283 413
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET LOSS (46,844) (1,833)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RETAINED EARNINGS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD 23,386 49,989
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RETAINED EARNINGS (DEFICIT), END OF PERIOD $(23,458) $48,156
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOSS PER SHARE (Note 9 (a))
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic $(0.22) $(0.01)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted $(0.22) $(0.01)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000) 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss $(46,844) $(1,833)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign currency translation adjustment 4,431 3,509
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive income (loss) $(42,413) $1,676
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000) 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, beginning of period $7,802 $(13,636)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign currency translation adjustment 4,431 3,509
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, end of period $12,233 $(10,127)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
(Unaudited)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000) 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash provided by (used in) the following
activities:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss $(46,844) $(1,833)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Items not involving cash:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depletion, depreciation and accretion 16,449 7,464
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock-based compensation 1,270 1,516
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finance charges - non cash portion 1,041 1,249
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employee future benefits 187 113
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Future income tax provision (recovery) (12,170) (2,163)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gain on repurchase of Second Lien Senior
Notes (475) -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized loss on risk management contracts 8,267 -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized foreign exchange losses 27,866 1,892
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity interest in Petrolifera earnings (283) (413)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flow from operations before working
capital and other changes (4,692) 7,825
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset retirement expenditures (104) (123)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes in non-cash working capital
(Note 9(b)) (24,304) 21,770
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(29,100) 29,472
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCING
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue of common shares, net of share issue
costs - 17
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred financing costs - (82)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repurchase of Second Lien Senior Notes (309) -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(309) (65)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTING
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Development of upstream and downstream
properties (63,144) (114,055)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase in restricted cash (10,000) (2,773)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in non-cash working capital
(Note 9(b)) (35,368) 12,400
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(108,512) (104,428)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET DECREASE IN CASH (137,921) (75,021)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Impact of foreign exchange on foreign currency
denominated cash balances 478 3,400
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD 223,663 329,110
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH, END OF PERIOD $86,220 $257,489
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supplementary information - Note 9
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Connacher
Oil and Gas Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively "Connacher" or the
"company") and are presented in accordance with Canadian generally
accepted accounting principles. Operating in Canada, and in the U.S.
through its subsidiary, Montana Refining Company, Inc. ("MRCI"), the
company is in the business of exploring, developing, producing, refining
and marketing crude oil, bitumen and natural gas.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The interim Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared
following the same accounting policies and methods of computation as
indicated in the annual audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the
year ended December 31, 2008, except as described in Note 3. The
disclosures provided below do not conform in all respects to those
included with the annual audited Consolidated Financial Statements. The
interim Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction
with the annual audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes
thereto for the year ended December 31, 2008.
3. NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In February 2008, the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants
("CICA") issued Section 3064, ''Goodwill and Intangible Assets,''
replacing Section 3062, ''Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.'' The new
Section has been applied since January 1, 2009. Section 3064 establishes
standards for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure
of goodwill subsequent to its initial recognition and of intangible
assets by profit-oriented enterprises. Standards concerning goodwill are
unchanged from the standards included in the previous Section 3062 and,
therefore, do not have any impact on the company's consolidated financial
statements.
In January 2009, the CICA Emerging Issues Committee ("EIC") issued EIC-
173, "Credit risk and the fair value of financial assets and
liabilities", which requires that an entity's own credit risk and
counterparty credit risk be taken into account in determining the fair
value of financial assets and liabilities, including derivative financial
instruments. The provisions of EIC- 173 apply to all financial assets and
liabilities measured at fair value in interim and annual financial
statements for periods ending on or after January 20, 2009. The adoption
of this standard had no material impact on the company's consolidated
financial statements.
Over the next two years the CICA will adopt its new strategic plan for
the direction of accounting standards in Canada, which was ratified in
January 2006. As part of the plan, Canadian GAAP for public companies
will converge with International Financial Reporting Standards (''IFRS'')
with an effective date of January 1, 2011. The company continues to
monitor and assess the impact of the convergence of Canadian GAAP with
IFRS.
4. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Financial assets and financial liabilities ''held-for-trading'' are
measured at fair value with changes in those fair values recognized in
net earnings. Financial assets ''available-for-sale'' are measured at
fair value, with changes in those fair values recognized in Other
Comprehensive Income ("OCI"). Financial assets ''held-to-maturity,''
''loans and receivables'' and ''other financial liabilities'' are
measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method
of amortization.
The company has classified all of its financial instruments, with the
exception of the Second Lien Senior Notes and the Convertible Debentures
as "held for trading". This classification has been chosen due to the
nature of the company's financial instruments, which, except for the
Second Lien Senior Notes and the Convertible Debentures are of a short-
term nature such that there are no material differences between the
carrying values and the fair values.
The Second Lien Senior Notes and the Convertible Debentures have been
classified as ''other financial liabilities'' and are accounted for on
the amortized cost method, with transaction costs being amortized over
the life of the instrument using the effective interest rate method.
CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT
The company is exposed to financial risks on a range of financial
instruments including its cash, accounts receivable and payable amounts
due from Petrolifera, the Convertible Debentures and the Second Lien
Senior Notes.
The company is also exposed to risks in the way it finances its capital
requirements. The company manages these financial and capital structure
risks by operating in a manner that minimizes its exposures to volatility
of the company's financial performance. These risks affecting the company
are discussed below.
(a) Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that a contracting entity will not fulfill its
obligations under a financial instrument and cause a financial loss to
the company. To help manage this risk, the company has a policy for
establishing credit limits, requiring collateral before extending credit
to customers where appropriate and monitoring outstanding accounts
receivable. The company's financial assets subject to credit risk arise
from the sale of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas and refined products to
a number of large integrated oil companies and product retailers and are
subject to normal industry credit risks. The fair value of accounts
receivable and accounts payable are represented by their carrying values
due to the relatively short periods to maturity of these instruments. The
maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying amount on
the consolidated balance sheet. The company regularly assesses its
financial assets for impairment losses. There are no material financial
assets that the company considers past due or any allowances for
uncollectible accounts.
The majority of the company's upstream revenues are composed of bitumen
sales. Substantially all of the company's bitumen sales were made to two
customers in the first quarter of 2009.
(b) Market risk
Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a
financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices.
The company is exposed to market risk as a result of potential changes in
the market prices of its crude oil, bitumen, natural gas and refined
product sales volumes.
A portion of this risk is mitigated by Connacher's integrated business
model. The cost of purchasing natural gas for use in its oil sands and
refinery operations is offset by the company's monthly conventional
natural gas sales; and the selling price of the company's dilbit sales
largely equates to the purchase price of heavy crude oil required for
processing at its refinery. Petroleum commodity futures contracts, price
swaps and collars may be utilized to reduce exposure to price
fluctuations associated with the sales of additional natural gas and
crude oil sales volumes and for the sale of refined products.
In November 2008 Connacher entered into a foreign exchange collar which
sets a floor of CAD $1.1925 per US$1.00 and a ceiling of CAD $1.3000 per
US$1.00 on a notional amount of US$10,000,000 of production revenue per
month throughout 2009. At March 31, 2009 the fair value of this contract
was a liability of $630,000 which is recorded in accounts payable on the
consolidated balance sheet. The corresponding loss is included in the net
foreign exchange loss in the consolidated statement of operations. A
$0.01 change on the USD/CAD exchange rate would result in a $440,000
change in the fair value of the collar.
Connacher has entered into WTI oil price derivative contracts on a
portion of its bitumen production at a price of US$46.00 bbl on a
notional volume of 2,500 barrels per day from February 1, 2009 to August
31, 2009 and at a price of US$49.50/bbl on a notional volume of 2,500
bbl/d from April 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009. At March 31, 2009 the
fair value of this derivative was a liability of $8.3 million and the
$8.3 million loss was recorded in upstream revenue in the consolidated
statement of operations. A US$1.00 change in WTI would result in a $1.2
million change in the value of the derivatives, resulting in a similar
impact on earnings.
(c) Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk refers to the risk that the fair value or future cash
flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in
market interest rates. The company's Second Lien Senior Notes and
Convertible Debentures have fixed interest rate obligations and,
therefore, are not subject to changes in variable interest rates.
(d) Currency risk
Currency risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a
financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in foreign
exchange rates.
As Connacher incurs the majority of its expenditures in Canadian dollars,
its exposure to fluctuations in the US/Canadian dollar exchange rate
primarily relates to pricing of its sales of crude oil and bitumen (which
are generally priced by reference to US dollars but settled in Canadian
dollars) and on the translation of its US refining operating results and
its US dollar denominated Second Lien Senior Notes to Canadian dollars
for financial statement reporting purposes.
Relative to the company's U.S. dollar cash balances, crude oil and
bitumen revenue receivables and Second Lien Senior Notes, a $0.01 change
in the Canadian dollar exchange rate would have resulted in a $5.7
million change in net earnings for the first three months of 2009.
(e) Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the company will not have sufficient
funds to repay its debts and fulfill its financial obligations. To manage
this risk, the company follows a conservative financing philosophy, pre-
funds major development projects, monitors expenditures against pre-
approved budgets to control costs, regularly monitors its operating cash
flow, working capital and bank balances against its business plan,
usually maintains accessible revolving banking lines of credit and
maintains prudent insurance programs to minimize exposure to insurable
losses.
Additionally, the long term nature of the company's debt repayment
obligations is aligned to the long term nature of its assets. The
Convertible Debentures do not mature until June 30, 2012, unless
converted to common shares earlier, and principal repayments are not
required on the Second Lien Senior Notes until their maturity date of
December 15, 2015. This affords Connacher the opportunity to deploy its
conventional, oil sands, and refinery cash flow to fund the development
of further expansion projects over the next several years without having
to make principal payments or raise new capital unless expenditures
exceed cash flow and credit capacity.
The change in carrying value of long-term debt at March 31, 2009 ($804
million) from December 31, 2008 ($779 million) is primarily due to the
change in the Canadian: US exchange rate in converting the US dollar-
denominated Second Lien Senior Notes to Canadian dollars and accretion of
the debt discount.
At March 31, 2009 the fair values of the Convertible Debentures and
Second Lien Senior Notes were approximately $37 million and $231 million,
respectively, based on their quoted market prices.
The company's term debt is repayable as follows:
- Convertible Debentures - June 30, 2012 in the amount of $100 million
unless converted into common shares prior thereto; and
- Second Lien Senior Notes - December 15, 2015 in the amount of
US$591.3 million.
(f) Capital risks
Connacher's objectives in managing its cash, debt and equity, its capital
structure and its future capital requirements are to safeguard its
ability to meet its financial obligations, to maintain a flexible capital
structure that allows multiple financing options when a financing need
arises and to optimize its use of short-term and long-term debt and
equity at an appropriate level of risk.
The company manages its capital structure and follows a financial
strategy that considers economic and industry conditions, the risk
characteristics of its underlying assets and its growth opportunities. It
strives to continuously improve its credit rating and reduce its cost of
capital. Connacher monitors its capital using a number of financial
ratios and industry metrics to ensure its objectives are being met and to
ensure continued compliance with its debt covenants.
In March 2009, the company cancelled its Revolving Credit Facility and
put in place a $20 million demand operating banking facility ("the L/C
facility") for the purposes of issuing letters of credit. The L/C
facility is secured by cash of $10 million and a first lien claim on
certain assets of the company. At March 31, 2009, the L/C Facility
secured letters of credit in the amount of $6.1 million.
Connacher's current capital structure and certain financial ratios are
noted below.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000) As at As at
March 31, December 31,
2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long term debt(1) $803,915 $778,732
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders' equity
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share capital, contributed surplus and equity
component 439,501 437,899
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated other comprehensive income 12,233 7,802
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained earnings (deficit) (23,458) 23,386
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $1,232,191 $1,247,819
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debt to book capitalization(2) 65% 62%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debt to market capitalization(3) 85% 81%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Long-term debt is stated at its carrying value, which is net of
transaction costs and the Convertible Debentures' equity component
value.
(2) Calculated as long-term debt divided by the book value of
shareholders' equity plus long-term debt.
(3) Calculated as long-term debt divided by the period end market value
of shareholders' equity plus long-term debt.
Connacher currently has a high ratio of debt to capitalization and its
debt service costs are high relative to cash flow. As at March 31, 2009,
the company's net debt (long-term debt, net of cash on hand) was $708
million, its net debt to book capitalization was 62 percent and its net
debt to market capitalization was 83 percent.
5. INVENTORIES
Inventories consist of the following:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000) March 31, December 31,
2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crude oil $5,532 $3,433
Other raw materials and unfinished products(1) 2,208 1,762
Refined products(2) 35,838 18,901
Process chemicals(3) 6,280 8,110
Repairs and maintenance supplies and other 3,977 3,787
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$53,835 $35,993
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Other raw materials and unfinished products include feedstocks and
blendstocks, other than crude oil. The inventory carrying value
includes the costs of the raw materials and transportation.
(2) Refined products include gasoline, jet fuels, diesels, asphalts,
liquid petroleum gases and residual fuels. The inventory carrying
value includes the cost of raw materials, transportation and direct
production costs.
(3) Process chemicals include catalysts, additives and other chemicals.
The inventory carrying value includes the cost of the purchased
chemicals and related freight.
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value. At
December 31, 2008 net realizable value was lower than cost and therefore,
net realizable values were used to value most refined inventory products.
At March 31, 2009 the net realizable value of most refined products was
higher than their cost, so average cost was used to value most refined
inventory products. As a result, refined inventory product values at
March 31, 2009 increased from December 31, 2008 by approximately $7
million and Downstream crude oil purchases and operating costs were lower
than they otherwise would have been by $7 million in the first quarter of
2009.
Included in downstream crude oil purchases and operating costs for the
three months ended March 31, 2009 was approximately $21.3 million of
inventory costs (March 31, 2008 - $64 million).
6. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
The following table reconciles the beginning and ending aggregate
carrying amount of the obligation associated with the company's
retirement of its oil sands and conventional petroleum and natural gas
properties and facilities.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000) Three months
ended Year ended
March 31, December 31,
2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset retirement obligations, beginning of
period $26,396 $24,365
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liabilities incurred 476 1,496
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liabilities settled (104) (209)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in estimated future cash flows - (960)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accretion expense 491 1,704
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset retirement obligations, end of period $27,259 $26,396
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liabilities incurred in 2009 have been estimated using a discount rate of
10 percent reflecting the company's credit-adjusted risk free interest
rate given its current capital structure and an estimated inflation rate
of two percent. The company has not recorded an asset retirement
obligation for the Montana refinery as it is currently the company's
intent to maintain and upgrade the refinery so that it will be
operational for the foreseeable future. Consequently, it is not possible
at the present time to estimate a date or range of dates for settlement
of any asset retirement obligation related to the refinery.
7. SHARE CAPITAL AND CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS
Authorized
The authorized share capital comprises the following:
- Unlimited number of common voting shares
- Unlimited number of first preferred shares
- Unlimited number of second preferred shares
Issued
Only common shares have been issued by the company.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number Amount
of Shares ($000)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, Share Capital, December 31, 2008 211,181,815 $395,023
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issued to directors under share award plan(b) 108,975 98
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, Share Capital, March 31, 2009 211,290,790 395,121
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, Contributed Surplus,
December 31, 2008 $26,053
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock based compensation for share options in
2009 1,504
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, Contributed Surplus, March 31, 2009 27,557
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity component of Convertible Debentures,
December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2009 $16,823
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Share Capital, Contributed Surplus and
Equity Component
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2008 $437,899
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 31, 2009 $439,501
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Stock Options
A summary of the company's outstanding stock options, as at March 31,
2009 and 2008 and changes during those periods is presented below:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the three months ended March 31 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted Weighted
Average Average
Number of Exercise Number of Exercise
Options Price Options Price
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding, beginning
of period 16,383,104 $3.16 17,432,717 $3.60
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Granted 4,233,500 $0.71 2,548,023 $3.15
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exercised - - (197,000) $0.53
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expired (357,484) $2.59 (14,000) $3.51
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding, end of
period 20,259,120 $2.66 19,769,740 $3.57
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exercisable, end of
period 14,403,439 $3.18 13,693,864 $3.54
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
All stock options have been granted for a period of five years. Options
granted under the plan are generally fully exercisable after three years.
The table below summarizes unexercised stock options.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Range of Exercise Prices Contractual
Life at
Number March 31,
Outstanding 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$0.20 - $0.99 5,222,534 4.2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1.00 - $1.99 4,369,758 3.6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$2.00 - $3.99 5,302,319 2.6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$4.00 - $5.56 5,364,509 2.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
20,259,120 3.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
During the first quarter of 2009 a non-cash charge of $1.1 million (2008
- $1.5 million) was expensed, reflecting the fair value of stock options
amortized over the vesting period. A further $393,000 (2008 - $798,000)
was capitalized to property and equipment.
The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated on the date of
grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with weighted average
assumptions for grants as follows:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the three months ended March 31 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risk free interest rate 1.3% 3.2%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expected option life (years) 3 3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expected volatility 67% 48%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The weighted average fair value at the date of grant of all options
granted in the first quarter of 2009 was $0.32 per option (2008 - $1.12).
(b) Share award plan for non-employee directors
Under the share award plan, share units may be granted to non-employee
directors of the company in amounts determined by the Board of Directors
on the recommendation of the Governance Committee. Payment under the plan
is made by delivering common shares to non-employee directors either
through purchases on the TSX or by issuing shares from treasury, subject
to certain limitations. The Board of Directors may also elect to pay cash
equal to the fair market value of the common shares to be delivered to
non-employee directors upon vesting of such share units in lieu of
delivering shares.
In January 2009, 108,975 shares were issued to non-employee directors in
respect of the share units which were then vested. In March 2009, the
Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Governance Committee,
voted to accelerate the vesting of 218,648 share units originally
scheduled to vest on January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011 such that they
vested immediately. Concurrently, an additional 478,872 share units were
granted with vesting on January 1, 2010. In the first quarter of 2009,
54,662 share units held by a deceased director were cancelled.
A total of 707,940 share awards were outstanding at March 31, 2009 and
have vested or vest on the following dates:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vested 223,858
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2009 5,210
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 1, 2010 478,872
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
707,940
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the first quarter of 2009, a non-cash charge of $159,000 (2008 -
$45,000) was accrued as a liability and expensed in respect of shares yet
to be issued under the share award plan.
In April 2009, a total of 218,648 shares were issued in respect of vested
share awards.
8. SEGMENTED INFORMATION
The company has two business segements. In Canada, the company is in the
business of exploring for and producing crude oil, natural gas and
bitumen. In the U.S., the company is in the business of refining and
marketing petroleum products.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended
March 31 Canada USA Intersegment
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elimin-
($000) Oil and Gas Refining ation(1) Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues, net of
royalties $28,146 $33,153 (470) $60,829
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity interest in
Petrolifera earnings 283 - 283
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest and other income 734 194 928
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finance charges 8,857 303 9,160
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depletion, depreciation
and accretion 14,600 1,849 16,449
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax provision (recovery) (11,134) (864) (11,998)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings (loss) (45,651) (1,193) (46,844)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Property and equipment,
net 945,155 91,314 1,036,469
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goodwill 103,676 - 103,676
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital expenditures 60,999 3,256 64,255
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets $1,221,340 164,334 $1,385,674
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues, net of
royalties $27,926 $71,899 $99,825
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity interest in
Petrolifera earnings 413 - 413
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest and other income 706 125 831
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finance charges 4,372 59 4,431
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depletion, depreciation
and accretion 6,216 1,248 7,464
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax provision (recovery) (702) (644) (1,346)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings (loss) (1,869) 36 (1,833)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Property and equipment,
net 724,575 58,150 782,725
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goodwill 103,676 - 103,676
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital expenditures 112,957 3,027 115,984
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets $1,214,329 $133,769 $1,348,098
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Intersegment transactions are eliminated on consolidation.
9. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
(a) Per share amounts
The following table summarizes the common shares used in earnings per
share calculations.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the three months ended March 31 (000) 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average common shares outstanding 211,286 210,234
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dilutive effect of share units under the
non-employee directors share award plan - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average common shares outstanding
- diluted 211,286 210,234
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Net change in non-cash working capital
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the three months ended March 31 ($000) 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accounts receivable $(1,972) $(27,497)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inventories (18,532) (19,654)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Due from Petrolifera (35) (7)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prepaid expenses (8,336) 992
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (29,240) 80,924
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income taxes payable/recoverable (1,557) (588)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $(59,672) $34,170
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary of working capital changes:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000) 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operations $(24,304) $21,770
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investing (35,368) 12,400
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$(59,672) $34,170
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Supplementary cash flow information
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the three months ended March 31 ($000) 2009 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest paid $727 $383
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income taxes paid 1,344 1,127
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
At March 31, 2009 cash of $10 million was restricted to provide cash
collateral to support letters of credit (Note 4).
(d) Defined benefit pension plan
In the first quarter of 2009, $187,000 (2008 - $113,000) has been charged
to expense in relation to MRCI's defined benefit pension plan.
For further information:
For further information: Richard A. Gusella, President and Chief Executive Officer; OR Grant D. Ukrainetz, Vice President, Corporate Development, Phone: (403) 538-6201, Fax: (403) 538-6225, inquiries@connacheroil.com, Website: www.connacheroil.com