Hallador Energy Company - 10-Q quarterly report FY2012 Q1

 (in thousands, except per share data)

See accompanying notes.

(in thousands)

See accompanying notes.

(in thousands)

See accompanying notes.

 

The interim financial data is unaudited; however, in our opinion, it includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. The financial statements included herein have been prepared pursuant to the SEC’s rules and regulations; accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in GAAP financial statements have been condensed or omitted.

The results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for future quarters or for the year ending December 31, 2012.  To maintain consistency and comparability, certain 2011 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2012 presentation.

 

Our organization and business, the accounting policies we follow and other information, are contained in the notes to our consolidated financial statements filed as part of our 2011 Form 10-K. This quarterly report should be read in conjunction with such 10-K.

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Hallador Energy Company (the Company) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Sunrise Coal, LLC (Sunrise).  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.  We are engaged in the production of thermal coal from an underground mine located in western Indiana.  We own a 45% equity interest in Savoy Energy L.P., a private oil and gas company which has operations in Michigan and a 50% interest in Sunrise Energy, LLC, a private entity engaged in natural gas operations in the same vicinity as our coal mine.

 

In December 2008, we entered into a new loan agreement with a bank consortium that provides for a $40 million term loan and a $30 million revolving credit facility.  At March 31, 2012, we owed $15 million on the term loan and nil on the revolver.  The debt matures in December of 2012.  We pay a .5% commitment fee on the unused revolver.  Substantially all of Sunrise's assets are pledged under this loan agreement and we are the guarantor.  The loan agreement requires customary covenants, required financial ratios and restrictions on distributions.  Closing costs on this loan agreement were about $1.2 million and are being amortized using the effective interest method over its term which ends near the end of 2012. The current interest rate is LIBOR-one month (0.25%) plus 2.50% or 2.75%.

 

Considering our two interest rate swap agreements, commitment fees and amortization of the closing costs, our effective interest rates for 2012 and 2011 were about 6.6% for each period.  One of the swaps expired in December 2011 and the other will expire in July 2012.  Assuming interest rates remain stable, we expect our interest rate, not including fees and the amortization of the closing costs, to be about 3% for the last half of 2012. The recorded value of our bank debt approximates fair value as it bears interest at a floating rate.

We own a 45% interest in Savoy Energy L.P., a private company engaged in the oil and gas business primarily in the State of Michigan. Savoy uses the successful efforts method of accounting.  We account for our interest using the equity method of accounting.

Below (in thousands) to the 100% are a condensed balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and a condensed statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

Below (in thousands) to the 100% are a condensed balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and a condensed statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

See “MSHA Reimbursements” below for a discussion of the $2.3 and $1.9 million.

Our consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with this discussion. 

The largest portion of our business is devoted to underground coal mining in the state of Indiana through Sunrise Coal, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary) serving the electric power generation industry.  We also own a 45% equity interest in Savoy Energy L.P., a private oil and gas company with operations in Michigan.  In late December 2010 we invested $2.4 million for a 50% interest in Sunrise Energy, LLC which then purchased existing gas reserves and gathering equipment from an unrelated third party with plans to develop and operate such reserves.  Sunrise Energy also plans to develop and explore for coal-bed methane gas reserves on or near our underground coal reserves.  Development is pending an increase in nat gas prices. The primary reason we consummated this purchase was to protect our coal reserves from unwanted fracking by unrelated third parties. We account for our investments in Savoy and Sunrise Energy using the equity method.  Through our Denver operations we also lease oil and gas mineral rights with the intent to sell the prospects to third parties and retain an overriding royalty interest (ORRI) or carried interest.  Occasionally, we participate in the drilling of oil and gas wells.  Further below is a discussion of Savoy’s operations.

Our largest contributor to revenue and earnings is the Carlisle underground coal mine located in western Indiana, about thirty miles south of Terre Haute.  The Carlisle mine was in the development stage through January 31, 2007.  Coal shipments began February 5, 2007.

The table below illustrates the status of our current coal contracts:

In the short-run, the market for thermal coal in the United States faces a number of challenges. Unusually mild winter weather has reduced electricity generation from both coal burn and gas burn, resulting in a rapid build in coal inventories. The mild weather, burgeoning inventories and prolific production of nat gas has recently driven the price of nat gas to decade lows, which has increased fuel switching in favor of gas and forced the price of thermal coals lower across all production basins. Regulatory uncertainties, particularly surrounding the recently delayed Cross-state Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), and Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT), are causing utilities to defer coal purchasing decisions, and in some cases to retire coal-fired generating facilities.

 

Two of our customers have advised us that their coal stockpiles are increasing and have asked us to consider storing their coal on our property.  In April 2012 we entered into a storage agreement with one customer to store 250,000 tons for a minimum of one year and up to a maximum of two years.   We will continue to sell the coal as contracted to this customer.  The risks and rewards of ownership will pass from us to them as coal is placed into storage.  We will be paid a storage fee in addition to our contracted price at the time the coal is placed in storage.  We are in discussions with a second customer to store a similar amount of coal under similar terms.

For the first quarter of 2012, we are behind about 52,000 tons on shipments to customers.   We expect the shortfall to be made up by the end of June or July this year. The negative effect on our coal sales for the first quarter was about $2.8 million.

The paragraph below comes directly from our 2011 Form 10-K.  We have no additional comments regarding the Allerton reserve at this time.

We have leased roughly 19,500 acres in Vermillion County, Illinois near the village of Allerton.  Based on our reserve estimates we currently control 32.3 million tons of recoverable coal reserves; 16.3 million which are proven and 16 million which are probable.  A considerable amount of our 19,500 acres of leases has yet to receive any exploratory drilling, thus we anticipate our controlled reserves to grow as we continue drilling in 2012.  The permitting process was started in the summer of 2011 and we anticipate filing the formal permit with the state of Illinois and the appropriate Federal regulators during the second quarter of 2012.  If the process proceeds smoothly, we anticipate receiving a mining permit in the first half of 2013.  Unassigned reserves represent coal reserves that would require new mineshafts, mining equipment and plant facilities before operations could begin on the property. The primary reason for this distinction is to inform investors which coal reserves will require substantial capital expenditures before production can begin. Sunrise personnel have opened coal mines in this area in the past.

Full-scale mine development will not commence until there is proven market demand and we have a sales commitment.

Two of our contracts allow us to pass on certain costs incurred resulting from changes in costs to comply with mandates issued by MSHA or other government agencies.  In late December 2010, we submitted an analysis of such costs which was reviewed by an outside consulting firm engaged by our customers.  In January 2011 the two customers agreed to reimburse us about $1.9 million for costs incurred by us during 2008 and 2009.  During those years we were not able to accurately estimate what the ultimate outcome of these reimbursable costs would be so we did not record them until we were certain of the amounts and certain of collection.  Such amounts were recorded during the first quarter of 2011.

We submitted our incurred costs for 2010 in September of 2011 for $4.3 million.  One of the customers agreed with our analysis and paid $2.3 million in February 2012 and the other agreed with our analysis after the close of the first quarter. Accordingly, $2.3 million was recorded in the first quarter and the other $2 million will be recorded in the second quarter of 2012.

Savoy operates almost exclusively in Michigan.  They have an interest in the Trenton-Black River Play in southern Michigan.  They hold 200,000 gross acres (about 100,000 net) in Hillsdale and Lenawee counties.   Drilling locations in this play are identified based on the evaluation of extensive 3-D seismic shoots. Savoy operates their own wells and their working interest averages between 40 and 50% and their net revenue interest averages between 34 and 42%. Savoy’s net daily oil production currently averages about 800 barrels of oil. Oil and liquids make up about 99% of their oil and gas revenue.

The first quarter of 2012 may or may not be indicative for all of 2012 due to (i) the uncertainty of the outcome of Savoy’s drilling activity; (ii) the extent of their seismic activity (G&G costs) and (iii) the sustainability of these high oil prices.  Current oil prices are in excess of $100/barrel. Savoy does not have any oil price hedges in place.

The table below illustrates the growth in Savoy (to the 100%) comparing the first quarter of 2012 to 2011 (financial statement data in thousands):

 

For the first quarter of 2012, we generated about $9.6 million in cash from operations.  This amount was less than the 2011 period due primarily to the reduction in coal sales as discussed above.  We do not anticipate any liquidity issues in the foreseeable future. We plan to fund future mine expansion at the Carlisle mine through a combination of draws from our revolver and cash from operations.  Our capital expenditures budget for the remainder of 2012 is in the $8-10 million range. Eventually, when we develop a new reserve, we intend to incur additional debt and restructure our existing credit facility.

We have no material off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

For the first quarter of 2012, we sold 701,000 tons at an average price of $42.24/ton.  For the first quarter of 2011, we sold 816,000 tons at an average price of $41.62/ton.  Our average price for the remainder of 2012, based on our contracts, will be about $42.90/ton.  The lower average price for first quarter 2011 is due to the mix of our various contracts and corresponding prices.  We expect our coal sales for the remainder of 2012 to be in the 2.2 million ton range.

Operating costs and expenses averaged $26.30/ton in 2012 compared to $22.92 in 2011.  The increase was due primarily to poor mining conditions in the month of March.  These poor conditions persisted into part of April, but conditions are improving.  We are also operating the mine on reduced hours due to customer demand, which has a detrimental effect on productivity which translates to higher costs.   Our Indiana employees totaled 327 at March 31, 2012 compared to 324 at March 31, 2011.  We expect such costs to average $25-26/ton for the remainder of 2012.

On April 1, 2012 we granted raises to our hourly mine employees and to other key employees and also issued 143,000 RSUs to certain key employees which will not vest until April 1, 2015.  These two actions will increase our costs by about $850,000 for the remainder of 2012.

During the first quarter of 2012 we donated $75,000 to the NMA (National Mining Association) Coal Values program which is to help elect pro-coal mining  candidates in 2012 and to promote the use of coal.  In April we made a $100,000 contribution to the Super PAC, Restore our Future.

In the upcoming elections, we encourage all of our shareholders and employees to support those candidates who unequivocally promote legislation and regulations that are favorable to the coal industry.

Our 2012 effective tax rate was about 33% and we expect such rate to be in the 33-35% range for the remainder of the year.  We estimate that about 60% of such rate will be for taxes currently due.

None of the recent FASB pronouncements will have any material effect on us.

Smaller reporting companies are not required to provide the information required by this item.

 

We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures that are designed for the purposes of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our SEC reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our CEO and CFO as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, our CEO  and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective for the purposes discussed above.

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

See Exhibit 95 to this Form 10-Q for a listing of our mine safety violations.

Our annual shareholders’ meeting is scheduled for Thursday afternoon April 18, 2013 in New York City at a yet to be determined location in upper Manhattan.

As previously disclosed, each time after we filed our 2011 Form 10-Qs for the first, second and third quarters and for the 2011 annual report on Form 10-K, we were advised by Yorktown Energy Partners VI, L.P., an investor for the last six years, that it had distributed 750,000 shares (3,000,000 in total) of Hallador common stock to its limited and general partners. After the four distributions, Yorktown and its affiliates collectively hold about 12.6 million shares of Hallador common stock representing about 45% of total shares outstanding.  

While we do not know Yorktown’s ultimate strategy to realize the value of their Hallador investment for their partners, we expect that over time distributions such as these will improve our liquidity and float.  If and when we are advised of another Yorktown distribution after this Form 10-Q is filed, we will timely report such on a Form 8-K.

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.