Yuma Energy, Inc. Retains Seaport Global Securities LLC, and Reports Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

HOUSTON, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Yuma Energy, Inc. (NYSE American: YUMA) (the "Company") today announced that it has retained Seaport Global Securities LLC, an investment banking firm, to advise the Company on its strategic and tactical alternatives, including possible mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.  The Company also reported on its liquidity as well as its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Liquidity

As previously reported, the Company initiated several strategic alternatives to mitigate its limited liquidity (defined as cash on hand and undrawn borrowing base), its financial covenant compliance issues, and to provide it with additional working capital to develop its existing assets.  

During the second quarter of 2018, the Company agreed to sell its Kern County, California properties for $4.7 million in gross proceeds and the buyer's assumption of certain plugging and abandonment liabilities, and received a non-refundable deposit of $275,000.  The sale did not close as scheduled, and the buyer forfeited the deposit.  The Company currently anticipates that it will close the sale with the same buyer in the fourth quarter of 2018 on re-negotiated terms.  Upon closing, the Company anticipates that the majority of the proceeds will be applied to the repayment of borrowings under the credit facility; however, there can be no assurance that the transaction will close. 

On August 20, 2018, the Company sold its 3.1% leasehold interest consisting of 9.8 net acres in one section in Eddy County, New Mexico for $127,400.  On October 23, 2018, the Company sold substantially all of its Bakken assets in North Dakota for approximately $1.16 million in gross proceeds and the buyer's assumption of certain plugging and abandonment liabilities.  On October 24, 2018, the Company sold certain deep rights in undeveloped acreage located in Grady County, Oklahoma for approximately $120,000.  Proceeds of $1.0 million from these non-core asset sales were applied to the repayment of borrowings under the credit facility in October 2018, bringing the current outstanding balance and borrowing base under the credit facility to $34.0 million, with the balance of the proceeds used for working capital purposes.

Additionally, the Company has reduced its personnel by nine employees since December 31, 2017, a 26% decrease.  This brings the Company's headcount to 25 employees at September 30, 2018.  Also, the Company has taken additional steps to further reduce its general and administrative costs by reducing subscriptions, consultants and other non-essential services, as well as eliminating certain of its capital expenditures planned for 2018. 

The Company plans to take further steps to mitigate its limited liquidity which may include, but are not limited to, further reducing or eliminating capital expenditures; selling additional assets; further reducing general and administrative expenses; seeking merger and acquisition related opportunities; and potentially raising proceeds from capital markets transactions, including the sale of debt or equity securities.  There can be no assurance that the exploration of strategic alternatives will result in a transaction or otherwise improve the Company's limited liquidity.

The Company has borrowings under its credit facility that require, among other things, compliance with certain financial ratios and covenants.  Due to operating losses the Company sustained during recent quarters, at September 30, 2018, the Company was not in compliance under the credit facility with its (i) total debt to EBITDAX covenant for the trailing four quarter period, (ii) current ratio covenant, (iii) EBITDAX to interest expense covenant for the trailing four quarter period, and (iv) the liquidity covenant requiring the Company to maintain unrestricted cash and borrowing base availability of at least $4.0 million.  Due to this non-compliance, the Company classified its entire bank debt as a current liability in its financial statements as of September 30, 2018. 

On October 9, 2018, the Company received a notice and reservation of rights from the administrative agent under its credit facility advising that an event of default has occurred and continues to exist by reason of the Company's noncompliance with the liquidity covenant requiring it to maintain cash and cash equivalents and borrowing base availability of at least $4.0 million. As a result of the default, the lenders may accelerate the outstanding balance under the credit facility, increase the applicable interest rate by 2.0% per annum or commence foreclosure on the collateral securing the loans. As of the date of this release, the lenders have not accelerated the outstanding amount due and payable on the loans, increased the applicable interest rate or commenced foreclosure proceedings, but they may exercise one or more of these remedies in the future. The Company intends to commence discussions with the lenders under the credit facility concerning a forbearance agreement or waiver of the event of default; however, there can be no assurance that the Company and the lenders will come to any agreement regarding a forbearance or waiver of the event of default.

As of September 30, 2018, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $35.0 million under its credit facility, and its total borrowing base was $35.0 million, leaving no undrawn borrowing base.  Due to drilling activities and other factors, the Company had a working capital deficit of $41.07 million (inclusive of the Company's outstanding debt under its credit facility) and a loss from operations of $6.89 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

The factors and uncertainties described above raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis of accounting, which contemplates continuity of operations, realization of assets, and satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of the going concern uncertainty. 

Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Production

The following table presents the net quantities of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids produced and sold by the Company for the three and six months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and the average sales price per unit sold.

Revenues

The following table presents the Company's revenues for the three and six months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.

Expenses

The Company's lease operating expenses ("LOE") and LOE per Boe for the three and six months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, are set forth below:

Commodity Derivative Instruments

Commodity derivative instruments open as of September 30, 2018 are provided below.  Natural gas prices are NYMEX Henry Hub prices, and crude oil prices are NYMEX West Texas Intermediate.

About Yuma Energy, Inc.

Yuma Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is an independent Houston-based exploration and production company focused on acquiring, developing and exploring for conventional and unconventional oil and natural gas resources.  Historically, the Company's operations have focused on onshore properties located in central and southern Louisiana and southeastern Texas where it has a long history of drilling, developing and producing both oil and natural gas assets.  In addition, during 2017 the Company began acquiring acreage in Yoakum County, Texas, with plans to explore and develop oil and natural gas assets in the Permian Basin.  Finally, the Company has operated positions in Kern County, California, and non-operated positions in the East Texas Woodbine.  Its common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the trading symbol "YUMA."

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Statements that are not strictly historical statements constitute forward-looking statements and may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words such as "expects," "believes," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "potential," "possible," or "probable" or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "will," "should," or "could" be taken, occur or be achieved. The forward-looking statements include statements about future operations, and estimates of reserve and production volumes. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with expectations is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: our limited liquidity and the Company's ability to repay outstanding loans when due; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; reduction in the borrowing base of the Company's credit facility; the risks of the oil and natural gas industry (for example, operational risks in exploring for, developing and producing crude oil and natural gas); risks and uncertainties involving geology of oil and natural gas deposits; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; revisions to reserve estimates as a result of changes in commodity prices; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to future production, costs and expenses; potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; health, safety and environmental risks and risks related to weather; declines in oil and natural gas prices; inability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals, shortages of drilling equipment, oil field personnel and services, unavailability of gathering systems, pipelines and processing facilities and the possibility that government policies may change.  The Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, recent current reports on Form 8-K, and other SEC filings discuss some of the important risk factors identified that may affect its business, results of operations, and financial condition. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

SOURCE Yuma Energy, Inc.

Related Links

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