Bay Street News

Amplify Energy Announces Second Quarter 2020 Results and Liquidity Enhancement Initiatives Update

HOUSTON, Aug. 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Amplify Energy Corp. (NYSE: AMPY) (“Amplify” or the “Company”) announced today its operating and financial results for the second quarter of 2020 and provided an update regarding its liquidity enhancement initiatives announced in the first quarter of 2020 earnings press release.
Key HighlightsUpdate on Liquidity Enhancement Initiatives:Reduced operating expenses quarter-over-quarter by approximately $8 million, exceeding original expectations of $4 to $5 millionReduced recurring cash general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses quarter-over-quarter by approximately $2.5 millionReduced 2020 capital spending plan by more than $8 million and expects full year capital spend of approximately $28 millionFinalized Beta royalty relief process that is expected to generate approximately $7 million per year of incremental revenue (assuming a $40/Bbl WTI price)During the second quarter of 2020 the Company generated:Daily production of 27.7 MBoe/dNet cash provided by operating activities of $29.9 millionAdjusted EBITDA of $21.3 millionFree Cash Flow of $11.1 millionCurrent mark-to-market hedge book value of $25 million as of July 31, 2020As of July 31, 2020, net debt was $259 million, inclusive of $16 million of cash on hand“Despite the ongoing issues related to COVID-19, Amplify turned out an excellent quarter by focusing on the execution of our liquidity enhancement initiatives and operational performance of our long life, low-decline assets,” said Martyn Willsher, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Amplify. “Among the many highlights from this quarter were the overachievement of our liquidity initiatives, which included significant overhead and operating cost reductions, the finalization of our royalty relief process in California and the successful redetermination of our revolving credit facility that provides a supportive borrowing base solution.  These results were only possible due to relentless effort from our team, and I’m very proud of our employees for their continued dedication throughout this difficult time.” Liquidity Enhancement Initiatives UpdateOperating Cost and Corporate Overhead Reductions – Amplify’s lease operating expenses were reduced from $35.7 million in the first quarter to $27.8 million in the second quarter.  The quarter-over-quarter savings of $7.9 million exceeded internal expectations of $4 to $5 million for the quarter and were accomplished due to outstanding execution by Amplify’s employees.  While the Company anticipates that a portion of these cost reductions are non-recurring, the Company remains committed to identifying and executing on incremental operational savings initiatives and expects to continue exceeding original estimates.Additionally, Amplify reduced recurring cash G&A spending from $8.7 million in the first quarter to $6.2 million in the second quarter, which was in line with expectations.  Amplify expects G&A spending to continue to trend down in the third quarter and beyond. Capital Reductions – Capital spending during the second quarter was $7 million, which was in line with the Company’s expectations and represented a $8 million reduction from the first quarter.  Amplify’s remaining capital expenditure budget for the second half of 2020 is approximately $6 million.  Amplify’s remaining capital activity is focused principally on maintenance projects, which are essential to equipment integrity and operational efficiency, in addition to high rate of return workover projects.Beta Field Royalty Relief – As anticipated, Amplify successfully qualified for royalty relief at its Beta field effective July 1, 2020.  Amplify’s royalty rate at Beta decreased by 50%, which resulted in increased net production of approximately 500 Bbls/d and additional revenue of approximately $7 million per year assuming a $40/Bbl WTI price.  Notably, this royalty relief program provides relief for both existing production and incremental production in the future when economic conditions allow for additional development.Key Financial ResultsNet loss for first quarter driven by $455.0 million asset impairmentsAs of June 30, 2020 and March 31, 2020, respectivelyRevolving Credit Facility and Liquidity UpdateOn June 15, 2020, Amplify announced that it has completed the regularly scheduled redetermination of its revolving credit facility borrowing base and entered into an amendment to its credit agreement.  The redetermination resulted in a revised borrowing base of $285 million effective June 12, 2020 with scheduled monthly reductions of $5 million until the borrowing base reaches $260 million on November 1, 2020.  The Company expects the next regularly scheduled borrowing base redetermination to occur in November 2020.As of July 31, 2020, Amplify had total net debt of $259 million under its revolving credit facility with $21 million of available liquidity.Operations and Capital Spending UpdateDuring the second quarter of 2020, average daily production was approximately 27.7 MBoe.  This result included reductions attributable to the annual Bairoil turnaround, temporary curtailment of Amplify’s non-operated Eagle Ford assets and incremental offline wells in the Company’s Oklahoma assets.  At Bairoil, the annual plant turnaround was completed on time and on schedule in June, and the field has quickly returned to pre-turnaround production levels in July. The non-operated Eagle Ford curtailment mentioned on the Company’s last earnings call concluded after April and production has since returned as expected in that area.  Finally, Oklahoma production fell in the second quarter, as the backlog of wells offline increased as prices remained depressed.  Amplify expects to bring many of these wells back online in future periods as prices continue to slowly rebound and workover economics improve.Amplify’s capital spending for the second quarter of 2020 was approximately $7 million which was in line with internal expectation and puts the Company on track for an estimated second half 2020 budget of $6 million.  Of the $7 million spent in the second quarter, a significant portion ($2 million or 29%) was attributed to the Company’s Eagle Ford assets and was utilized for non-operated drilling and completion activity.  The remainder was primarily related to the Bairoil turnaround, along with capital workover and facility maintenance projects across other operated areas.Hedging UpdateSince Amplify’s previous hedge update on May 6, 2020, the Company has made additions to its natural gas hedge position in second half of 2020 and 2022, as well as NGL swaps in the second half of 2020.  As of July 31, 2020, Amplify’s mark-to-market value of its commodity and interest rate hedge book remained a net asset position of $25 million.The following table reflects the hedged volumes under Amplify’s commodity derivative contracts and the average fixed or floor prices at which production is hedged for July 2020 through December 2022, as of August 5, 2020.Amplify posted an updated hedge presentation containing additional information on its website, www.amplifyenergy.com, under the Investor Relations section.Quarterly Report on Form 10-QAmplify’s financial statements and related footnotes will be available in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, which Amplify expects to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 5, 2020.Conference CallAmplify will host an investor teleconference today at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss these operating and financial results.  Interested parties may join the webcast by visiting Amplify’s website, www.amplifyenergy.com, and clicking on the webcast link or by dialing (833) 883-4379 at least 15 minutes before the call begins and providing the Conference ID: 4185547.  The webcast and a telephonic replay will be available for fourteen days following the call and may be accessed by visiting Amplify’s website, www.amplifyenergy.com, or by dialing (855) 859-2056 and providing the Conference ID: 4185547.About Amplify EnergyAmplify Energy Corp. is an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, development, exploration and production of oil and natural gas properties. Amplify’s operations are focused in Oklahoma, the Rockies, offshore California, East Texas / North Louisiana and South Texas.  For more information, visit www.amplifyenergy.com.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Amplify expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.  Terminology such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “target,” “continue,” “potential,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Amplify believes that these statements are based on reasonable assumptions, but such assumptions may prove to be inaccurate.  Such statements are also subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Amplify, which may cause Amplify’s actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements.  Please read the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including “Risk Factors” in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, and if applicable, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other public filings and press releases for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those in such forward-looking statements.  All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.  All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.  Amplify undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.Use of Non-GAAP Financial MeasuresThis press release and accompanying schedules include the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow.  The accompanying schedules provide a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.  Amplify’s non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP measures such as net income, operating income, net cash flows provided by operating activities or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.  Amplify’s non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies because they may not calculate such measures in the same manner as Amplify does.Adjusted EBITDA. Amplify defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss, plus interest expense; income tax expense; depreciation, depletion and amortization; impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets; accretion of asset retirement obligations; losses on commodity derivative instruments; cash settlements received on expired commodity derivative instruments; losses on sale of assets; unit-based compensation expenses; exploration costs; acquisition and divestiture related expenses; amortization of gain associated with terminated commodity derivatives, bad debt expense; and other non-routine items, less interest income; gain on extinguishment of debt; income tax benefit; gains on commodity derivative instruments; cash settlements paid on expired commodity derivative instruments; gains on sale of assets and other, net; and other non-routine items.  Adjusted EBITDA is commonly used as a supplemental financial measure by management and external users of Amplify’s financial statements, such as investors, research analysts and rating agencies, to assess: (1) its operating performance as compared to other companies in Amplify’s industry without regard to financing methods, capital structures or historical cost basis; (2) the ability of its assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest and support Amplify’s indebtedness; and (3) the viability of projects and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities.  Since Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income or loss and because these measures may vary among other companies, the Adjusted EBITDA data presented in this press release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.  The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA is net cash provided by operating activities.Free Cash Flow.  Amplify defines Free Cash Flow as Adjusted EBITDA, less cash income taxes; cash interest expense; and total capital expenditures.  Free cash flow is an important non-GAAP financial measure for Amplify’s investors since it serves as an indicator of the Company’s success in providing a cash return on investment.  The GAAP measure most directly comparable to distributable cash flow is net cash provided by operating activities.
Selected Operating and Financial Data (Tables)





ContactsMartyn Willsher – Interim CEO & CFO
(832) 219-9047
martyn.willsher@amplifyenergy.com
Jason McGlynn – VP, Business Development
(832) 219-9055
jason.mcglynn@amplifyenergy.com
Eric Chang – Treasurer
(832) 219-9024
eric.chang@amplifyenergy.com
 


Bay Street News