BARNWELL INDUSTRIES INC quarterly report, Q3 FY2013

Barnwell Industries, Inc. — Q3 FY2013 Form 10-Q

Reporting period: Three and nine months ended June 30, 2013; comparative periods ended June 30, 2012. Barnwell operates Canadian oil and gas production and Hawaii land investment, contract drilling, and residential real estate businesses. Financial statements are unaudited.

Financial performance

MetricThree months 2013Three months 2012Nine months 2013Nine months 2012
Total revenue$5.182 million$12.358 million$18.502 million$28.026 million
Net loss attributable to Barnwell$1.225 million$1.366 million$6.915 million$4.629 million
Loss per share$0.15$0.17$0.84$0.56
  • Third-quarter revenue fell 58%, primarily because the prior-year quarter included a $5.975 million home sale; nine-month revenue declined 34%.
  • Third-quarter loss narrowed by $141,000, helped by higher oil and natural gas segment operating profit before taxes, partly offset by weaker contract drilling and higher G&A.
  • Nine-month loss widened by $2.286 million. A $4.506 million non-cash oil and gas property write-down was recorded in 2013; the comparable 2012 period included a $1.854 million real estate write-down.
  • Oil and gas revenue was down 3% in Q3 and 16% year to date. Year-to-date net production declined for natural gas (29%), oil (10%), and liquids (13%). Q3 gas and oil prices improved, but lower volumes offset the benefit; year-to-date oil and liquids prices also fell.
  • Contract drilling generated a $210,000 operating loss before G&A in Q3, versus $28,000 profit a year earlier. Its nine-month operating loss improved to $274,000 from $620,000.
  • Consolidated margins are not separately stated in the filing.

Cash flow, liquidity, and debt

  • Nine-month operating cash flow was $3.864 million, down from $10.630 million, largely because the prior period included real estate sale proceeds and current-period oil and gas operating results were lower. Investing cash outflow was $3.230 million; financing cash outflow was $232,000.
  • Cash at June 30 was $9.115 million. Working capital was $3.751 million; unused credit under the Canadian facility was $7.026 million.
  • Total debt was $16.772 million: $12.000 million drawn on the Canadian revolving facility and $4.772 million on the real estate loan. The real estate loan is classified as current because the collateralized home is for sale.
  • The Canadian facility was renewed through April 2014, with a $20 million Canadian-dollar limit and a 2.70% rate at June 30. The bank will review it in April 2014 and may renew it or convert it to a term loan.
  • Total equity was $21.661 million, down from $30.125 million at September 30, 2012, principally reflecting the year-to-date loss and foreign currency translation losses.

Outlook, risks, and unusual items

  • Management expected fiscal 2013 oil and gas capital expenditures of $6.0–$6.5 million, subject to cash flows and its assessment of prospects. Nine-month expenditures, including accruals, were $4.856 million.
  • In July 2013, Barnwell received a $6.0 million water-well drilling contract; work began in late July and management estimated it would continue through fiscal 2014.
  • Management said current cash, operating cash flow, land-sale proceeds, and available credit were expected to fund operations, planned capital spending, debt service, and interest. It cautioned that weaker oil and gas prices or production, lower property-sale proceeds, reduced credit availability, or covenant issues could materially impair liquidity and financial condition. Management said, absent higher oil and/or gas prices, operating cash flow was unlikely to fund capital spending needed to maintain production and reserves.
  • A $706,000 environmental remediation accrual was recorded for soil contamination at the Dunvegan and Wood River properties; additional costs may arise and are uncertain.
  • Further oil and gas ceiling-test write-downs may be required, depending on prices, reserves, production, and development costs. The Canada Revenue Agency was examining fiscal 2010 and 2011 Canadian returns.
  • The real estate loan covenants were met at June 30. No material subsequent events were reported. Disclosure controls were assessed as effective.

Important facts for investors to verify

  • Whether Canadian facility terms or availability change at the April 2014 review, and the repayment implications of a term-loan conversion.
  • Oil and gas prices, production declines, reserve assumptions, and the possibility of further ceiling-test impairments.
  • Progress and eventual cost of environmental remediation, including whether the $706,000 accrual proves sufficient.
  • Timing and cash contribution of the $6.0 million drilling contract and future Kaupulehu lot or home sales.
  • Liquidity and covenant headroom, particularly given the current classification of the $4.772 million real estate loan and dependence on asset-sale proceeds and available credit.