CALGARY, AB–(Marketwired – May 10, 2017) –
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Parex Resources Inc. (“Parex” or the “Company”) (TSX: PXT), a company focused on Colombian oil and gas exploration and production, is pleased to announce unaudited financial and operating results for the three months (“First Quarter” or “Q1”) ended March 31, 2017. All amounts herein are in United States dollars (“USD”) unless otherwise stated.
Please note Parex will not hold a conference call to discuss First Quarter results. In lieu, the Company invites stakeholders to attend the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) on Thursday, May 11, 2017 beginning at 9:30 am Mountain Time.
Q1 2017 Financial and Operational Highlights
- Quarterly production was 32,591 boe/d (99% crude oil), representing an increase of 5 percent over the previous quarter ended December 31, 2016 and an increase of 13 percent over the prior year comparative period;
- Generated $68 million in funds flow from operations ($0.44 (or CAD$0.58)1 per share basic share). Compared to the prior quarter, the price of the Company’s benchmark Brent crude increased by $3.48/ bbl while the funds flow netback increased by $3.73/boe in the same period. Based on the Q1 2017 realized sales price of $48.72/boe, the operating netback was $28.14/boe and funds flow netback was $22.47/boe;
- Earned net income of $40.1 million ($0.26 per share basic) compared to the comparative quarter of 2016 where a net loss of $7.6 million ($0.05 loss per share basic) was recorded;
- Capital expenditures were $36 million in the period compared to $4.5 million in the comparative period of 2016. Parex still expects to invest $200 – $225 million in capital projects in 2017. It is expected that activity levels will increase significantly in the second half of 2017;
- Working capital increased to $131 million at March 31, 2017 compared to $93 million at December 31, 2016 mainly a result of free funds flow of $32 million in the quarter. Bank debt continues to be $nil; and
- Participated in drilling 9 gross wells in Colombia resulting in 6 oil wells, 1 disposal well and 2 under test, for a success rate of 100 percent.
Parex continues to maintain a strong financial position; the Company held no debt, an undrawn bank credit facility and $185 million of cash as at March 31, 2017.
1 Using USD-CAD Bank of Canada 2017 3 month average rate of 1.3238
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||
 |  | Three Months Ended |  | |||||||
 |  | March 31, |  |  | Dec. 31, |  | ||||
 |  | 2017 |  |  | 2016 |  |  | 2016 |  | |
Operational | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | |
Average daily production | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | |
 | Oil & Gas (boe/d)(1) |  | 32,591 |  |  | 28,900 |  |  | 31,049 |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
Average daily sales of produced oil & natural gas | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | |
 | Oil (bbl/d) |  | 33,308 |  |  | 30,198 |  |  | 26,108 |  |
 | Gas (Mcf/d) |  | 1,644 |  |  | 1,190 |  |  | 1,722 |  |
 | Oil & Gas (boe/d) |  | 33,582 |  |  | 30,396 |  |  | 26,395 |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
Oil inventory (overlift) – end of period (bbls) | Â | 3,160 | Â | Â | (124,568 | ) | Â | 92,306 | Â | |
Operating netback ($/boe)(1) | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | |
 | Reference price – Brent ($/bbl) |  | 54.61 |  |  | 35.21 |  |  | 51.13 |  |
 | Oil & natural gas revenue (excluding hedging) |  | 48.72 |  |  | 27.10 |  |  | 44.84 |  |
 | Royalties |  | (4.38 | ) |  | (2.25 | ) |  | (3.75 | ) |
 | Net revenue |  | 44.34 |  |  | 24.85 |  |  | 41.09 |  |
 | Production expense |  | (5.09 | ) |  | (4.93 | ) |  | (5.56 | ) |
 | Transportation expense |  | (11.11 | ) |  | (11.86 | ) |  | (11.13 | ) |
 | Operating netback ($/boe) |  | 28.14 |  |  | 8.06 |  |  | 24.40 |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
Funds flow provided by operations ($/boe) | Â | 22.47 | Â | Â | 5.35 | Â | Â | 18.74 | Â | |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
Financial (USD$000s except per share amounts) | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | |
Oil and natural gas revenue | Â | 150,142 | Â | Â | 81,518 | Â | Â | 131,858 | Â | |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
Net income (loss) | Â | 40,106 | Â | Â | (7,630 | ) | Â | (45,440 | ) | |
 | Per share – basic |  | 0.26 |  |  | (0.05 | ) |  | (0.30 | ) |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
Funds flow from operations | Â | 67,906 | Â | Â | 15,457 | Â | Â | 51,791 | Â | |
 | Per share – basic |  | 0.44 |  |  | 0.10 |  |  | 0.34 |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
Capital expenditure | Â | 35,563 | Â | Â | 4,507 | Â | Â | 66,980 | Â | |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
Total assets | Â | 984,855 | Â | Â | 943,675 | Â | Â | 918,671 | Â | |
Working capital surplus | Â | 131,056 | Â | Â | 79,955 | Â | Â | 93,290 | Â | |
Long-term debt(2) | Â | – | Â | Â | – | Â | Â | – | Â | |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
Outstanding shares (end of period) (000s) | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | |
 | Basic |  | 153,714 |  |  | 151,722 |  |  | 152,990 |  |
 | Weighted average basic |  | 153,284 |  |  | 151,525 |  |  | 152,778 |  |
 | Diluted(3) |  | 164,688 |  |  | 161,366 |  |  | 163,466 |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
1 The table above contains Non-GAAP measures. See “Non-GAAP Terms” for further discussion.
2 Borrowing limit of $175.0 million as of March 31, 2017.
3 Diluted shares as stated include the effects of common shares and in-the-money stock options outstanding at the period-end. The March 31, 2017 closing stock price was Cdn$16.95 per share.
2017 Guidance
As previously released, assuming a Brent oil price of $50/bbl, we expect our 2017 capital expenditures budget and funds flow from operations to be approximately $200-$225 million and production of 34,000-36,000 boe/d.
Our 2017 drilling program is more heavily weighted to the second half of 2017 as we commence our appraisal and exploration drilling programs in the Capachos Block and the Middle Magdalena Basin. Overall, we expect to drill over 40 wells in 2017 and we are not dependent on further exploration success to achieve our annual production target.
Operational Update
Production: We expect Q2 2017 production to average 34,000 boe/d for an overall increase of approximately 10% for the first half of the year. Prior to the end of Q2 2017, we expect to complete testing the Jacana-7, Jacana-8, Jacana Sur-1 and Jacana Sur-2 wells.
Cabrestero (working interest (“WI”) 100%): Based on the exploration success of the Bacano-2 well drilled in Q4 2016, Parex has continued to evaluate the Bacano field during 2017. Note that the Bacano field is located directly south of the LLA-34 Jacana field and north of the Akira field, also on the Cabrestero Block.
Parex has drilled the Bacano-4 appraisal well with a bottom-hole location approximately 300 meters southeast of the Bacano-2 location. The Bacano-4 well was cored and testing is anticipated before the end of Q2 2017. The well will be used to appraise the Guadalupe reservoir distribution and quality on the Cabrestero Block.
We are currently drilling the Bacano-5 development well and plan to drill an additional Bacano exploration well this year.
Capachos (WI 50%): Parex is currently finalizing the civil works required to spud its first of two farm-in development wells on the Capachos Block. We expect to spud the first well in June 2017, with each well scheduled to drill for approximately 60 days.
Aguas Blancas (WI 50%): Parex continues to advance its assessment of the Aguas Blancas field. To date in 2017, we have drilled 6 wells of the planned 2017 10-15 well drilling program. We expect to complete, by the end of June 2017, the testing of approximately 9-11 wells which will then be followed with a water-flood pilot.
Llanos 34 (WI 55%): Parex continues to delineate the Jacana/Tigana trend. The appraisal wells Jacana-7, Jacana-8, Jacana Sur-1 and Jacana Sur-2 have been drilled and are being tested with a service rig. In addition, a development well Tigana Sur-5 is currently drilling.
The Jacamar-1 exploration prospect has spud and will evaluate a fault trend that is parallel to the east of Tigana/Jacana trend. The Sinsonte-1 exploration well was drilled on a fault trend approximately 7.7 kilometers from the Jacana fault. Although the Guadalupe sands were encountered, the logs indicated that the reservoir was wet. The well was subsequently plugged and abandoned.
Annual General Meeting – May 11, 2017
Parex invites stakeholders to attend its AGM on Thursday, May 11, 2017 beginning at 9:30 am Mountain Time at the Conference Centre on the 4th floor of Eighth Avenue Place East Tower, 525 – 8th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P 1G1. A live audio webcast of the AGM will be also available via the following link:
http://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1420757-1/4B413A80408C46FA052D28CCAE65260C
The audio recording of the AGM as well as the presentation will be made available for playback at www.parexresources.com within hours of the event concluding.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities, nor is it a solicitation of an offer to buy securities, in any jurisdiction.
Non-GAAP Terms
The Company discloses several financial measures herein that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). These financial measures include funds flow used in, or from operations, working capital, operating netback and funds flow netback. Management uses these non-IFRS measures for its own performance measurement and to provide shareholders and investors with additional measurements of the Company’s efficiency and its ability to fund a portion of its future capital expenditures.
Funds flow from operations is a non-IFRS term that includes all cash generated from operating activities and is calculated before changes in non-cash working capital. Management uses funds from (used in) operations to analyze operating performance and monitor financial leverage, and considers funds from (used in) operations to be a key measure as it demonstrates the Company’s ability to generate cash necessary to fund future capital investments. Funds flow from operations is reconciled with net (loss) income in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Shareholders and investors should be cautioned that these measures should not be construed as an alternative to net income or other measures of financial performance as determined in accordance with IFRS. Parex’ method of calculating these measures may differ from other companies, and accordingly, they may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Please see the Company’s most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis, which is available at www.sedar.com for additional information about these financial measures.
Advisory on Forward Looking Statements
Certain information regarding Parex set forth in this document contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The use of any of the words “plan”, “expect”, “prospective”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “should”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “budget” or other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements represent Parex’ internal projections, estimates or beliefs concerning, among other things, future growth, results of operations, production, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof), competitive advantages, plans for and results of drilling activity, environmental matters, business prospects and opportunities. These statements are only predictions and actual events or results may differ materially. Although the Company’s management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement since such expectations are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause Parex’ actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, Parex.
In particular, forward-looking statements contained in this document include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the performance characteristics of the Company’s oil properties; the Company’s anticipated 2017 capital budget, including the amount thereof; the Company’s forecasted 2017 average production; the Company’s 2017 capital expenditure budget, including the expected allocations of such expenditures; the Company’s belief that its capital budget will be fully funded from funds flow from operations; the Company’s anticipated drilling, development, exploration and other growth plans and activities for its assets, including the Company’s objectives at Aguas Blancas, timing of commencement of the Company’s first water-flood program at Aguas Blancas, the Company’s drilling plans at Aguas Blancas and the Company’s drilling plans at Cabrestero; results of drilling and testing; and activities to be undertaken in various areas. In addition, statements relating to “reserves” are by their nature forward-looking statements, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions that the resources described can be profitably produced in the future. The recovery and reserve estimates of Parex’ reserves provided herein are estimates only and there is no guarantee that the estimated reserves will be recovered.
These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions in Canada and Colombia; prolonged volatility in commodity prices; industry conditions including changes in laws and regulations including adoption of new environmental laws and regulations, and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced, in Canada and Colombia; competition; lack of availability of qualified personnel; the results of exploration and development drilling and related activities; obtaining required approvals of regulatory authorities, in Canada and Colombia; risks associated with negotiating with foreign governments as well as country risk associated with conducting international activities; volatility in market prices for oil; fluctuations in foreign exchange or interest rates; environmental risks; changes in income tax laws or changes in tax laws and incentive programs relating to the oil industry; changes to pipeline capacity, ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; risks related to the lawsuit brought in Texas against Parex and certain foreign subsidiaries; failure of counterparties to perform under contracts; risk that Brent oil prices are lower than anticipated; risk that Parex’ evaluation of its existing portfolio of development and exploration opportunities is not consistent with its expectations; that production test results may not necessarily indicative of long term performance or of ultimate recovery; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Parex’ operations and financial results are included in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com).
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this document are based upon assumptions which Management believes to be reasonable, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward- looking statements. With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this document, Parex has made assumptions regarding, among other things: current and anticipated commodity prices and royalty regimes; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of capital expenditures; future exchange rates; the price of oil, including the anticipated Brent oil price; the impact of increasing competition; conditions in general economic and financial markets; availability of drilling and related equipment; effects of regulation by governmental agencies; receipt of partner, regulatory and community approvals; royalty rates, future operating costs; effects of regulation by governmental agencies; uninterrupted access to areas of Parex’ operations and infrastructure; recoverability of reserves and future production rates; the status of litigation; timing of drilling and completion of wells; on-stream timing of production from successful exploration wells; operational performance of non-operated producing fields; pipeline capacity; that Parex will have sufficient cash flow, debt or equity sources or other financial resources required to fund its capital and operating expenditures and requirements as needed; that Parex’ conduct and results of operations will be consistent with its expectations; that Parex will have the ability to develop its oil and gas properties in the manner currently contemplated; anticipated operating netbacks, G&A, finance expenses and tax expenses; current or, where applicable, proposed industry conditions, laws and regulations will continue in effect or as anticipated as described herein; that the estimates of Parex’ reserves volumes and the assumptions related thereto (including commodity prices and development costs) are accurate in all material respects; that Parex will be able to obtain contract extensions or fulfill the contractual obligations required to retain its rights to explore, develop and exploit any of its undeveloped properties; and other matters.
Management has included the above summary of assumptions and risks related to forward-looking information provided in this document in order to provide shareholders with a more complete perspective on Parex’ current and future operations and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Parex’ actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits Parex will derive. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this document and Parex disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.
This press release and, in particular the information in respect of the Company’s expected capital expenditures and funds flow from operations for 2017, may contain future oriented financial information (“FOFI”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The FOFI has been prepared by management to provide an outlook of the Company’s activities and results and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The FOFI has been prepared based on a number of assumptions including the assumptions discussed in this press release. The actual results of operations of the Company and the resulting financial results may vary from the amounts set forth herein, and such variations may be material. The Company and management believe that the FOFI has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management’s best estimates and judgments. FOFI contained in this press release was made as of the date of this press release and the press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required pursuant to applicable law.
Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contact Information:
For more information, please contact:
Mike Kruchten
Vice-President Corporate Planning and Investor Relations
Parex Resources Inc.
Phone: (403) 517-1733
[email protected]