EARNINGS / Saxon Announces Results for the First Quarter 1998
TSE SYMBOL: SXN
MAY 28, 1998
CALGARY, ALBERTA--
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HIGHLIGHTS Three Months Ended March 31 Percent 1998 1997 Change -------------------------------------------------------------- Operating Daily sales Oil and NGL's (Bbls) 1,816 1,689 8 Gas (Mcf) 11,913 7,074 68 Average prices Oil and NGL's ($/Bbl) $ 23.98 $ 27.43 (13) Gas ($/Mcf) $ 1.79 $ 2.11 (15) -------------------------------------------------------------- Financial ($000's except per share) Production revenue $ 5,840 $ 5,512 6 Cash flow 2,470 2,229 11 Per fully diluted share 0.016 0.015 7 Net income 196 426 (54) Per fully diluted share 0.001 0.003 (67) --------------------------------------------------------------
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Operating
The oil and NGLs production on a daily basis increased 8 percent over the first quarter of 1997. Natural gas production increased by 68 percent from 7 MMcf/d to almost 12 MMcf/d as a result of drilling activity at the Bigoray and Kaybob properties.
Product prices in the first quarter of 1998 were down by a significant amount from pricing in the first quarter of 1997. The oil price reduction was partially offset by hedges that Saxon had in place for the first quarter of 1998 for approximately two-thirds of the oil production.
Royalties were reduced by $0.3 million during the first quarter of 1998 to reflect amendments received on Crown gas royalties relating to prior years.
Capital expenditures were $3.3 million in the first quarter of 1998 compared to $23.5 million in the first quarter of 1997. The 1997 capital included extraordinary expenditures on facilities at Bigoray. The capital activity for 1998 will remain low relative to 1997 as a result of a decision to minimize capital commitments in view of the program to assess strategic alternatives for the Company.
Financial
Cash flow during the first quarter of 1998 increased by 11 percent compared to the first quarter of 1997. While production increased, prices declined in offsetting amounts. Crown royalties were reduced by prior period amendments.
There were incremental corporate costs of approximately $414,000 in the first quarter of 1998 related to retention pay for employees during the ongoing sales process. Interest and financing charges of $572,000 increased from $112,000 in 1997 due to the increased debt levels.
Corporate Update
Saxon has announced that its major shareholder, Forest Oil Corporation, has put forward a proposal to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Saxon on the basis of one share of Forest common stock for every 48.07 shares of Saxon.
Saxon further announced that it has constituted a special committee comprised of the independent members of the Board of Directors to consider the proposal. Forest's proposal is subject to the completion of a formal valuation; the consideration being offered by Forest being at or above mid-point of the valuation range determined in the formal valuation; approval of the proposed transaction by the special committee and the recommendation of the transaction by Saxon's Board to the shareholders; and the entering into of agreements between Forest and each of the directors and officers of Saxon wherein such directors and officers will agree to dispose of their Saxon shares or vote such shares in favour of the transaction.
This proposal does not preclude Saxon from soliciting superior competing offers for the Company. In this regard Saxon has initiated a process to seek a superior competing proposal to the Forest proposal.
Forest Oil Corporation is, as of the time of writing this document, proceeding to prepare and distribute their offer to all shareholders. Management anticipates that the Company will have a special meeting of shareholders on July 2, 1998 prior to the scheduled Annual General Meeting.
Outlook
Effective May 1, 1998, the Company received good production practises status on its Bigoray Ostracod Pool as a result of reactivating a waterflood project. Net production at the Company's 10-22 Ostracod battery has increased to 800 BOE/d from 500 BOE/d. In addition, Saxon is custom processing 2.0 MMcf/d of third party gas at the 10-22 gas plant.
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BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) March 31, December 31, 1998 1997 -------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS
Current Accounts receivable $ 3,523,694 $ 4,368,049 Prepaid expenses 166,432 193,034 -------------------------------------------------------------- 3,690,126 4,561,083
Property, plant and equipment 94,842,544 93,656,297 -------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL ASSETS $ 98,532,670 $ 98,217,380 -------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES
Current Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 4,225,082 $ 6,419,855 Long term debt 39,133,638 36,948,192 Provision for future site restoration 1,120,250 1,030,250 Deferred income taxes 1,783,612 1,744,865 -------------------------------------------------------------- 46,262,582 46,143,162 --------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Share capital 51,090,517 51,090,517 Retained earnings 1,179,571 983,701 -------------------------------------------------------------- 52,270,088 52,074,218 -------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 98,532,670 $ 98,217,380 -------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31 -------------------------------------------------------------- 1998 1997 -------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue Petroleum and natural gas sales $ 5,839,785 $ 5,512,007 Royalties (776,750) (1,347,667) Alberta royalty tax credit 133,229 397,950 Other income 63,638 81,124 -------------------------------------------------------------- 5,259,902 4,643,414 --------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses Operating 1,257,212 1,754,911 General and administrative 501,082 437,374 Corporate costs 414,000 - Depletion and depreciation 2,235,161 1,447,180
Interest and financing 571,928 112,043 -------------------------------------------------------------- 4,979,383 3,751,508 --------------------------------------------------------------
Income before income taxes 280,519 891,906 Income taxes 84,649 466,073 -------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income 195,870 425,833 Retained Earnings, beginning of period 983,701 966,112 Dividends - (43,953) -------------------------------------------------------------- Retained Earnings, end of period $1,179,571 $ 1,347,992 -------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings Per Share Basic $ 0.001 $ 0.003 Fully diluted $ 0.001 $ 0.003 -------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31 -------------------------------------------------------------- 1998 1997 --------------------------------------------------------------
Cash provided by (used in)
Operating Net income $ 195,870 $ 425,833 Items not involving a current cash flow 2,273,909 1,803,153 -------------------------------------------------------------- Cash flow 2,469,779 2,228,986 --------------------------------------------------------------
Financing Dividends - (43,953) Issue of shares - 5,450,067 Proceeds of long-term debt 2,185,446 16,343,519 Changes in non-cash working capital (1,323,818) (965,154) -------------------------------------------------------------- 861,628 20,784,479 --------------------------------------------------------------
Investing Capital expenditures Exploration, development and corporate (3,331,407) (19,863,798) Acquisitions - (3,609,146) -------------------------------------------------------------- (3,331,407) (23,472,944) --------------------------------------------------------------
Net Decrease In Cash - (459,479) Cash and deposits, beginning of period - 500,927 -------------------------------------------------------------- Cash And Deposits, end of period $ - $ 41,448 --------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Flow Basic $ 0.018 $ 0.016 Fully diluted $ 0.016 $ 0.015 -------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
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Saxon is an oil and gas exploration and production company based in Calgary, Alberta and listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange, symbol SXN.
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