* Horizontal Marcellus Shale well tests at an average rate of 4.2 Mmcf per day over 30-day period * Natural gas production up 27% from previous quarter and 62% from same period in 2008
STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Nov. 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rex Energy Corporation ("Rex Energy") (Nasdaq:REXX) today announced third quarter 2009 results. Production averaged 2,684 BOEs per day, which was 72% oil, 27% natural gas and 1% natural gas liquids. Realized gas prices after adjustment for cash settled derivatives were $6.33 per mcf, as compared to $9.16 per mcf in the prior year quarter. Realized oil prices after adjustment for cash settled derivatives were $63.06 per bbl, as compared to $83.04 per bbl in the prior year quarter. As a result, oil and gas sales, including cash settled derivatives, declined 26% to $13.8 million. EBITDAX from continuing operations, a non-GAAP measure, declined 31% from the third quarter 2008 to $5.2 million. The company recorded a net loss for the quarter of $1.2 million, or $0.03 per share. Adjusting for certain non-cash items, net loss comparable to analyst estimates was $2.1 million, or $0.06 per share.
Benjamin W. Hulburt, Rex Energy's President and CEO, commented, "We are continuing to accelerate our production growth due primarily to our Marcellus Shale exploration. Natural gas production was up 62% over the same period in 2008 and up 29% compared to the second quarter 2009, despite experiencing continued pipeline related production curtailments. During the third quarter, a portion of our natural gas production from our conventional wells was shut-in due to third party line maintenance, which effectively reduced our average daily natural gas sales by approximately 17%."
Oil production in the third quarter 2009 declined 10% compared to the third quarter 2008. The decline in oil production is attributable to the significant reduction of developmental activity in the Illinois Basin from November 2008 through July 2009 due to low oil prices. The company resumed its conventional oil well drilling during the third quarter, which is expected to impact our production beginning in the fourth quarter of 2009 and first quarter of 2010. The company expects to complete 20 new conventional oil wells by the end of the year, with a similar number in 2010.
Capital expenditures in the third quarter of 2009 were $4.4 million of which $2.6 million was incurred in the company's Illinois Basin operations, and $1.8 million was incurred in the company's Appalachian Basin operations. In the Appalachian Basin, the company's focus during the quarter was in drilling horizontal Marcellus Shale wells within the company's joint venture areas with the Williams Production Company, LLC and Williams Production Appalachia, LLC, which resulted in minimal capital expense since the company is required to fund only 10% of the cost to drill and complete the wells in which it owns a 50% interest.
Mr. Hulburt continued, "We now have four horizontal Marcellus Shale wells in line and producing -- one in Butler County, which was previously announced, and three in Westmoreland County. In Butler County, the P. Knauff #1H has been in line and producing for approximately four months and continues to produce approximately 2.4 Mmcfe per day. In Westmoreland County, we are very encouraged by our initial assessment of the area. After experimenting with certain well parameters on our first two wells, we are pleased to report that the third well has resulted in an average of approximately 4.2 Mmcf per day over a 30 day period."
In a final comment, Mr. Hulburt stated, "We completed drilling our fourth horizontal well and are currently drilling the fifth and sixth wells in Westmoreland County. We expect to stimulate and complete the three wells during the fourth quarter. Additionally, we are currently drilling our first horizontal well in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania and we expect to stimulate and complete the well during the fourth quarter as well."
(EBITDAX and Earnings/Net Loss Comparable to Analyst Estimates are non-GAAP financial measures. Please see the accompanying definitions and tables for the reconciliation of each of these non-GAAP measures. The company has classified all first quarter 2009 and prior period amounts related to its operations in the Southwestern Region as discontinued operations due to the sale of these assets during the first quarter of 2009. Please see the accompanying table for the reconciliation of the reported GAAP amounts to the amounts that would have been reported if Southwestern Region operations were included in continuing operations.)
Conference Call Information
A conference call to review the third quarter 2009 financial and operational results is scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. A webcast of the conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay on the company's website at www.rexenergy.com in the Events and Presentations section under the Investor Relations tab.
Furthermore, Rex Energy will be incorporating slides with the conference call and webcast, which are now available on the company's website under the Investor Relations tab.
About Rex Energy Corporation
Rex Energy Corporation is an independent oil and gas company operating in the Illinois Basin and the Appalachian Basin of the United States. The company has pursued a balanced growth strategy of exploiting its sizable inventory of lower risk developmental drilling locations, pursuing its higher potential exploration drilling prospects and actively seeking to acquire complementary oil and natural gas properties.
The Rex Energy Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5489
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, statements made in this release, including those relating to significant potential, future earnings, cash flow, capital expenditures, production growth and planned number of wells, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on assumptions and estimates that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information; however, management's assumptions and the company's future performance are subject to a wide range of business risks and uncertainties, and there is no assurance that these goals and projections can or will be met. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, adverse economic conditions in the United States and globally; the difficult and adverse conditions in the domestic and global capital and credit markets; domestic and global demand for oil and natural gas; sustained declines in the prices the company receives for oil and natural gas adversely affecting operating results and cash flow; the effects of government regulation, permitting and other legal requirements; the quality of Rex Energy's properties with regard to, among other things, the existence of reserves in economic quantities; uncertainties about the estimates of the company's oil and natural gas reserves; the company's ability to increase production and oil and natural gas income through exploration and development; Rex Energy's ability to successfully apply horizontal drilling techniques and tertiary recovery methods; the number of well locations to be drilled, the cost to drill and the time frame within which they will be drilled; drilling and operating risks; the availability of equipment, such as drilling rigs and transportation pipelines; changes in the company's drilling plans and related budgets; and the adequacy of capital resources and liquidity including, but not limited to, access to additional borrowing capacity. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Further information on risks and uncertainties is available in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are incorporated by reference.
The company's internal estimates of reserves may be subject to revision and may be different from estimates by the company's external reservoir engineers at year end. Although the company believes the expectations and forecasts reflected in these and other forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance they will prove to have been correct. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties.
REX ENERGY CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ($ in Thousands, Except per Share Amounts) Sept.30, 2009 (unaudited) Dec. 31, 2008 ------------- ------------- ASSETS Current Assets Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 4,741 $ 7,046 Accounts Receivable 9,589 5,840 Short-Term Derivative Instruments 2,304 8,153 Current Deferred Tax Asset 691 -- Inventory, Prepaid Expenses and Other 1,195 3,068 ------------- ------------- Total Current Assets 18,520 24,107 Property and Equipment (Successful Efforts Method) Evaluated Oil and Gas Properties 200,437 185,108 Unevaluated Oil and Gas Properties 76,417 65,564 Other Property and Equipment 23,352 19,388 Wells and Facilities in Progress 29,158 29,629 Pipelines 5,166 3,457 ------------- ------------- Total Property and Equipment 334,530 303,146 Less: Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (70,018) (53,288) ------------- ------------- Net Property and Equipment 264,512 249,858 Assets Held for Sale -- 18,852 Other Assets- Net 147 122 Intangible Assets- Net 1,227 1,506 Investment in RW Gathering 516 -- Long-Term Derivative Instruments 2,030 7,561 ------------- ------------- Total Assets $ 286,952 $ 302,006 ============= ============= LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current Liabilities Accounts Payable $ 9,943 $ 7,180 Accrued Expenses 6,165 7,388 Short-Term Derivative Instruments 3,131 -- Current Deferred Tax Liability -- 2,785 ------------- ------------- Total Current Liabilities $ 19,239 17,353 Senior Secured Line of Credit and Long-Term Debt 15,056 15,000 Long-Term Derivative Instruments 1,924 1,476 Long-Term Deferred Tax Liability 7,756 11,995 Other Deposits and Liabilities 5,799 7,322 Liabilities Related to Assets Held for Sale -- 1,838 Future Abandonment Cost 16,166 15,174 ------------- ------------- Total Liabilities $ 65,940 $ 70,158 Commitments and Contingencies Owners' Equity Common Stock, $.001 par value per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 36,837,312 shares issued and outstanding on September 30, 2009 and 36,589,212 shares issued and outstanding on December 31, 2008 37 37 Additional Paid-In Capital 291,945 291,133 Accumulated Deficit (70,970) (59,322) ------------- ------------- Total Owners' Equity 221,012 231,848 ------------- ------------- Total Liabilities and Owners' Equity $ 286,952 $ 302,006 ============= ============= REX ENERGY CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited, $ and Shares in Thousands, Except per Share Data) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, -------------------- -------------------- 2009 2008 2009 2008 --------- --------- --------- --------- OPERATING REVENUE Oil and Natural Gas Sales $ 13,012 $ 25,275 $ 33,326 $ 70,765 Other Revenue 43 $ 29 $ 100 $ 93 --------- --------- --------- --------- TOTAL OPERATING REVENUE $ 13,055 25,304 33,426 70,858 OPERATING EXPENSES Production and Lease Operating Expenses 5,660 7,637 16,050 20,416 General and Administrative Expense 2,799 3,759 10,942 10,882 Loss on Disposal of Assets 17 6,274 417 6,426 Impairment Expense 477 -- 865 -- Exploration Expense 370 1,113 1,204 2,395 Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization and Accretion 6,059 4,710 18,423 14,361 --------- --------- --------- --------- TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES $ 15,382 $ 23,493 $ 47,901 $ 54,480 --------- --------- --------- --------- INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS $ (2,327) $ 1,811 $ (14,475) $ 16,378 OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) Interest Income 2 137 3 320 Interest Expense (207) (207) (612) (844) Gain (Loss) on Derivatives, Net 394 60,020 (4,853) (29,998) Other Expense (7) (79) (38) (61) --------- --------- --------- --------- TOTAL OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) $ 182 $ 59,871 $ (5,500) $ (30,583) INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAX (2,145) 61,682 (19,975) (14,205) Income Tax Benefit (Expense) 959 (24,899) 8,004 5,789 --------- --------- --------- --------- INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $ (1,186) $ 36,783 $ (11,971) $ (8,416) Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes -- (28) 323 37 --------- --------- --------- --------- NET INCOME (LOSS) $ (1,186) $ 36,755 $ (11,648) $ (8,379) ========= ========= ========= ========= Earnings per common share: Basic--income (loss) from continuing operations $ (0.03) $ 1.01 $ (0.33) $ (0.25) Basic--income from discontinued operations -- -- 0.01 -- --------- --------- --------- --------- Basic--net income (loss) $ (0.03) $ 1.01 $ (0.32) $ (0.25) Basic--weighted average shares of common stock outstanding 36,844 36,570 36,802 33,914 Diluted--income (loss) from continuing operations $ (0.03) $ 1.00 $ (0.33) $ (0.25) Diluted--income from discontinued operations -- -- 0.01 -- --------- --------- --------- --------- Diluted--net income (loss) $ (0.03) $ 1.00 $ (0.32) $ (0.25) Diluted--weighted average shares of common stock outstanding 36,844 36,699 36,802 33,914 REX ENERGY CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, -------------------- -------------------- 2009 2008 2009 2008 --------- --------- --------- --------- Oil and gas sales (in thousands): Oil and condensate sales 11,503 22,692 29,033 63,017 Natural gas sales 1,474 2,583 4,258 7,748 Natural gas liquid sales 35 -- 35 -- Cash-settled derivatives: Crude oil (a) (305) (6,353) 3,764 (17,044) Natural gas 1,089 (287) 2,544 (660) -------- ------- -------- --------- Total oil and gas sales including cash 13,796 18,635 39,634 53,061 settled derivatives Production during the period: Oil and condensate (Bbls) 177,589 196,780 542,467 574,690 Natural gas (Mcf) 405,001 250,704 1,026,409 764,293 Natural gas liquids (Bbls) 1,845 -- 1,845 -- -------- ------- --------- --------- Total (BOE)(a) 246,934 238,564 715,380 702,072 Production - average per day: Oil and condensate (Bbls) 1,930 2,139 1,987 2,097 Natural gas (Mcf) 4,402 2,725 3,760 2,789 Natural gas liquids (Bbls) 20 -- 7 -- -------- ------- --------- --------- Total (BOE)(b) 2,684 2,593 2,620 2,562 Average price per unit: Realized crude oil and condensate price per Bbl - as reported $ 64.77 $ 115.32 $ 53.52 $ 109.65 Realized impact from cash settled derivatives per Bbl (1.71) (32.28) 6.94 (29.65) -------- --------- --------- --------- Net realized price per Bbl $ 63.06 $ 83.04 $ 60.46 $ 80.00 Realized natural gas price per Mcf - as reported $ 3.64 $ 10.30 $ 4.15 $ 10.14 Realized impact from cash settled derivatives per Mcf 2.69 (1.14) 2.48 (0.86) -------- --------- --------- --------- Net realized price per Mcf $ 6.33 $ 9.16 $ 6.63 $ 9.28 Realized natural gas liquids price per Bbl - as reported $ 18.91 -- $ 18.91 -- Realized impact from cash settled derivatives per Bbl -- -- -- -- -------- --------- --------- --------- Net realized price per Bbl $ 18.91 -- $ 18.91 -- a Excludes $4.6 million for the early settlement of certain oil derivatives associated with 2011 redeemed in the first quarter of 2009 b Natural gas is converted at the rate of six Mcf to one BOE. Oil and natural gas liquids are converted at a rate of one Bbl to one BOE REX ENERGY CORPORATION OIL AND GAS DERIVATIVES AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 (Unaudited) % of Current Year Volume Production Average Floor Average Ceiling ------------- ----------- ---------- ------------- -------------- Oil --- Oct - Dec '09 147 MBbls 85% $ 63.98 $ 75.74 2010 588 MBbls 88% $ 62.71 $ 79.31 2011 156 MBbls 24% $ 65.00 $ 100.50 Natural Gas ----------- Oct - Dec '09 330 MMcf 79% $ 6.73 $ 8.47 2010 1.80 Bcf 120% $ 6.57 $ 9.25 2011 1.56 Bcf 115% $ 6.62 $ 11.03 2012 600 MMcf 49% $ 5.60 $ 7.86
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
EBITDAX
"EBITDAX", for any defined period, the sum of net income for such period plus the following expenses, charges or income to the extent deducted from or added to net income in such period: interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization, accretion, unrealized losses from financial derivatives, exploration expenses, and other similar non-cash charges, minus all non-cash income, including but not limited to, income from unrealized financial derivatives, added to net income. EBITDAX, as defined above, is used as a financial measure by Rex Energy's management team and by other users of its financial statements, such as the company's commercial bank lenders, to analyze such things as:
* Rex Energy's operating performance and return on capital in comparison to those of other companies in its industry, without regard to financial or capital structure; * The financial performance of the company's assets and valuation of the entity, without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis; * Rex Energy's ability to generate cash sufficient to pay interest costs, support its indebtedness and make cash distributions to its stockholders; and * The viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects and the overall rates or return on alternative investment opportunities
EBITDAX is not a calculation based on GAAP financial measures and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) in measuring the company's performance, nor used as an exclusive measure of cash flow, because it does not consider the impact of working capital growth, capital expenditures, debt principal reductions, and other sources and uses of cash, which are disclosed in the company's statements of cash flows.
Rex Energy has reported EBITDAX because it is a financial measure used by its existing commercial lenders, and because this measure is commonly reported and widely used by investors as an indicator of a company's operating performance and ability to incur and service debt. You should carefully consider the specific items included in the company's computations of EBITDAX. While Rex Energy has disclosed its EBITDAX to permit a more complete comparative analysis of its operating performance and debt servicing ability relative to other companies, you are cautioned that EBITDAX as reported by the company may not be comparable in all instances to EBITDAX as reported by other companies. EBITDAX amounts may not by fully available for management's discretionary use, due to requirements to conserve funds for capital expenditures, debt service and other commitments.
Rex Energy believes that EBITDAX assists its lenders and investors in comparing a company's performance on a consistent basis without regard to certain expenses, which can vary significantly depending upon accounting methods. Because the company may borrow money to finance its operations, interest expense is a necessary element of its costs and ability to generate cash available for distribution. Because Rex Energy uses capital assets, depreciation and amortization are also necessary elements of its costs. Additionally, the company is required to pay federal and state taxes, which are necessary elements of its costs. Therefore, any measures that exclude these elements have material limitations.
To compensate for these limitations, Rex Energy believes it is important to consider both net income (loss) determined under GAAP and EBITDAX to evaluate its performance.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the company's net (loss) from continuing operations to its EBITDAX from continuing operations for each of the periods presented ($ in thousands):
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, ------------------ ------------------ 2009 2008 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations $ (1,186) $ 36,783 $(11,971) $ (8,416) Add Back Depletion, Depreciation, Amortization & Accretion 6,059 4,710 18,423 14,361 Add Back (Less) Non-Cash Compensation Expense (Income) (128) 464 968 1,567 Add Back Interest Expense 207 207 612 844 Add Back Impairment Expense 477 -- 865 -- Add Back Exploration Expense 370 1,113 1,204 2,395 Less Interest Income (2) (137) (3) (320) Add Back Loss on Interest Rate Swap 198 84 566 182 Add Back Loss on Disposal of Assets 17 6,274 417 6,426 Add Back (Less) Unrealized Loss (Gain) from Financial Derivatives 192 (66,744) 14,960 12,112 Add Back (Less) Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (959) 24,899 (8,004) (5,789) -------- -------- -------- -------- EBITDAX From Continuing Operations $ 5,245 $ 7,653 $ 18,037 $ 23,362 ======== ======== ======== ========
Earnings Comparable with Analyst Estimates
"Earnings Comparable with Analyst Estimates" means, for any period, the sum of net income for such period plus the following expenses, charges or income to the extent deducted from or added to net income in such period: deferred income taxes, unrealized gains or losses from financial derivatives, minus gains from unrealized financial derivatives, minus deferred income tax benefits, added to net income. Earnings Comparable with Analyst Estimates, as defined above, is used as a financial measure by Rex Energy's management team and by other users of its financial statements, to analyze its financial performance without regard to non-cash deferred taxes and non-cash unrealized losses or gains from oil and gas derivatives. Earnings Comparable with Analyst Estimates is not a calculation based on GAAP financial measures and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) in measuring the company's performance.
Rex Energy has reported Earnings Comparable with Analyst Estimates because it believes that this measure is commonly reported and widely used by investors as an indicator of a company's operating performance. You should carefully consider the specific items included in the company's computation of this measure. You are cautioned that Earning Comparable with Analyst Estimates as report by Rex Energy may not be comparable in all instances to that reported by other companies.
To compensate for these limitations, the company believes it is important to consider both net income determined under GAAP and Earnings Comparable with Analyst Estimates.
The following table presents a reconciliation of Rex Energy's net income (loss) from continuing operations to its Earnings Comparable with Analyst Estimates for each of the periods presented ($ in thousands):
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, ------------------ ------------------ 2009 2008 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations $ (1,186) $ 36,783 $(11,971) $ (8,416) Add Back (Less) Unrealized Loss (Gain) from Financial Derivatives 192 (66,744) 14,960 12,112 Add Back Dry Hole Expense -- -- -- 2 Add Back (Less) Non-cash Compensation Expense (Income) (128) 464 968 1,567 Add Back Loss on Disposal of Assets 17 6,274 417 6,426 Add Back (Less) Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (959) 24,899 (8,004) (5,789) -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Comparable to Analysts Estimates $ (2,064) $ 1,676 $ (3,630) $ 5,902 ======== ======== ======== ========
Discontinued Operations
On March 24, 2009, Rex Energy completed the previously announced divestiture of Southwestern Region operations, predominately located in the Permian Basin in the states of Texas and New Mexico. The company received net cash proceeds of approximately $17.3 million, which may be adjusted by certain post-closing adjustments, plus the assumption of certain liabilities, based on an effective date of October 1, 2008.
Pursuant to accounting rules for discontinued operations, these assets were classified as Assets Held for Sale on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2008, and results of operations are reflected in discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. At March 31, 2009, Rex Energy recorded a loss on sale of assets of approximately $425,000 in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Summarized financial information for discontinued operations is set forth below ($ in thousands, except per share data):
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, ------------------ ------------------ 2009 2008 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- -------- Revenues: Oil and Gas Sales $ -- $ 1,934 $ 193 $ 6,041 Other Revenue -- 112 -- 304 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Operating Revenue -- 2,046 193 6,345 -------- -------- -------- -------- Costs and Expenses: Production and Lease Operating Expense -- 631 237 1,769 General and Administrative Expense (Income) -- 207 (97) 680 Exploration Expense of Oil and Gas Properties -- 1,074 -- 2,195 Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization and Accretion -- 181 -- 1,600 Loss on Sale of Oil and Gas Properties -- -- -- 41 Gain on Derivatives -- -- (558) -- Other Income -- -- -- (2) -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Costs and Expenses -- 2,093 (418) 6,283 -------- -------- -------- -------- Income from Discontinued Operations Before Income Taxes -- (47) 611 62 Income Tax Expense (Benefit) -- (19) 288 25 -------- -------- -------- -------- Income (Loss) From Discontinued Operations, net of taxes $ -- $ (28) $ 323 $ 37 ======== ======== ======== ========