CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Nov. 3,
2009) - NAL Oil & Gas Trust ("NAL" or the "Trust") (TSX:NAE.UN)
today announced its financial and operational results for the third
quarter of 2009. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise
stated.
On NAL's third quarter, Mr. Andrew Wiswell stated "After posting
another solid quarter, the Trust remains on track to deliver results
within guidance for 2009. Over the past twelve months, NAL has created
positive momentum through consistent and reliable operations in
southeast Saskatchewan, the Cardium oil resource play in central Alberta
and the successful execution of several transactions to add attractive
opportunities, all while maintaining a strong balance sheet position.
The Trust is well positioned to create sustainable value and deliver
competitive total returns for its unitholders. As we look toward 2011,
we remain committed to a plan of converting to a dividend paying
corporation and to continue to deliver results and capture value adding
opportunities with our financial partner Manulife Financial
Corporation".
THIRD QUARTER 2009 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
NAL's overall performance exceeded management's financial, operational and strategic objectives. Accomplishments include:
- On October 13, 2009, NAL announced the acquisition of Breaker
Energy Ltd. ("Breaker"), an oil weighted junior E&P company (see
comments below).
- The Trust remains on track to deliver 2009 full year average production volumes consistent with guidance;
- Third quarter operating costs of $10.52/boe represent a 10 percent
decrease from the same period of 2008 and reflect the focus of NAL's
operations teams to reduce costs;
- At September 30, 2009, the Trust currently has approximately $200
million in available credit on its lines of $450 million, providing
financial flexibility to fund NAL's capital program and continue to
participate selectively in corporate and property acquisitions;
- NAL's debt to trailing 12 month cash flow ratios remain solid at
1.25 times excluding convertible debentures and 1.59 times including
convertible debentures.
ACQUISITION OF BREAKER ENERGY LTD.
On October 13, 2009, NAL announced the acquisition of Breaker for
total consideration of approximately $400 million. The acquisition is
consistent with NAL's strategy to grow by adding quality assets with
future upside opportunity while maintaining financial capability. The
acquisition is expected to increase NAL's year-end production by 28
percent to over 31,000 boe/d and increase reserves by more than 30
percent to approximately 96 MMboe. Breaker's operated assets add
significant low risk development projects which complement the Trust's
Cardium horizontal multi-stage frac program.
The acquisition is expected to close December 10, 2009, with full
integration expected to occur by the end of the first quarter of 2010.
2009 UPDATED GUIDANCE
Based upon positive year-to-date performance, the Trust has updated its
guidance for 2009.
January 2009 August 2009 November 2009
Guidance Guidance Updated Guidance(1)
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Production (boe/d) 22,000 - 23,000 23,000 - 24,000 23,500 - 24,000
Net capital expenditures
($MM) 95 125 -135 135
Operating costs ($/boe) 11.60- 11.90 11.60 - 11.90 11.30 - 11.60
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Note (1) Excludes proposed Breaker acquisition.
OUTLOOK
NAL will outline its 2010 guidance and forecast in mid-January 2010.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Please refer to the disclaimer on forward-looking information set
forth under the Management's Discussion and Analysis in this document.
The disclaimer is applicable to all forward-looking information in this
document, including the guidance for 2009 set forth above.
NON-GAAP MEASURES
Please refer to the discussion of non-GAAP measures set forth under
the Management's Discussion and Analysis regarding the use of the
following terms: "funds from operations", "payout ratio" and "operating
netback".
CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS
At 3:00 p.m. MDT (5:00 p.m. EDT) on November 3, 2009, NAL will hold a
conference call to discuss the third quarter 2009 results. Mr. Andrew
Wiswell, President and CEO, will host the conference call with other
members of the management team. The call is open to analysts, investors
and all interested parties. If you wish to participate, call
1-800-769-8320 toll free across North America. The conference call will
also be accessible through the internet at
http://events.digitalmedia.telus.com/nal/110309/index.php
A recorded playback of the call will be available until November 10, 2009 by calling 1-800-408-3053, reservation 3565817.
Notes: (1) All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.
(2) When converting natural gas to barrels of oil equivalent (boe)
within this report, NAL uses the widely recognized standard of
six thousand cubic feet (Mcf) to one barrel of oil. However, boes
may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A
conversion ratio of 6 Mcf:1 boe is based on an energy equivalency
conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does
not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.
FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
(thousands of dollars, except per unit and boe data)
(unaudited)
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Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
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2009 2008 2009 2008
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FINANCIAL
Revenue(1) 86,298 175,448 249,610 507,998
Cash flow from operating activities 52,999 98,860 183,235 242,716
Cash flow per unit - basic 0.47 1.03 1.77 2.59
Cash flow per unit - diluted 0.44 0.99 1.64 2.46
Funds from operations 53,766 79,233 167,788 244,031
Funds from operations per unit
- basic 0.48 0.83 1.62 2.60
Funds from operations per unit
- diluted 0.44 0.79 1.50 2.48
Net income 8,249 111,045 3,566 107,206
Distributions declared 30,290 45,968 87,528 135,295
Distributions per unit 0.27 0.48 0.85 1.44
Basic payout ratio:
based on cash flow from operating
activities 57% 46% 48% 56%
based on funds from operations 56% 58% 52% 55%
Basic payout ratio including capital
expenditures(2) :
based on cash flow from operating
activities 136% 96% 100% 99%
based on funds from operations 134% 119% 109% 98%
Units outstanding (000's)
Period end 112,327 95,945 112,327 95,945
Weighted average 112,109 95,664 103,444 93,834
Capital expenditures(3) 42,375 53,189 96,264 109,260
Property acquisitions
(dispositions), net - 373 2,534 8,209
Corporate acquisitions, net 11,035 14 48,385 58,378
Net debt, excluding convertible
debentures(4) 293,680 303,330 293,680 303,330
Convertible debentures (at face
value) 79,744 79,744 79,744 79,744
OPERATING
Daily production
Crude oil (bbl/d) 9,467 9,989 9,725 10,176
Natural gas (Mcf/d) 69,706 70,425 68,778 68,847
Natural gas liquids (bbl/d) 2,334 2,081 2,244 2,083
Oil equivalent (boe/d) 23,418 23,808 23,433 23,733
OPERATING NETBACK (boe)
Revenue before hedging gains 40.06 80.11 39.02 78.12
Royalties (6.94) (16.90) (6.99) (16.19)
Operating costs (10.52) (11.63) (11.42) (10.64)
Other income(5) 0.17 0.12 0.17 0.19
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Operating netback before hedging 22.77 51.70 20.78 51.48
Hedging gains (losses) 8.84 (7.59) 10.82 (6.74)
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Operating netback 31.61 44.11 31.60 44.74
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(1) Oil, natural gas and liquid sales less transportation costs and prior to
royalties.
(2) Capital expenditures included are net of non-controlling interest amount
of $0.4 million (2008 - $4.7) for the three months ended September 30,
2009 and $1.5 million (2008 - $5.2) for the nine months ended September
30, 2009, attributable to the Tiberius and Spear properties.
(3) Excludes property and corporate acquisitions.
(4) Bank debt plus working capital and other liabilities, excluding
derivative contracts, notes payable/receivable and future income tax
balances.
(5) Excludes minimal Trust interest paid on notes with Manulife Financial
Corporation.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The following discussion and analysis ("MD&A") should be read in
conjunction with the interim unaudited consolidated financial
statements for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009
and the audited consolidated financial statements and MD&A for the
year ended December 31, 2008 of NAL Oil & Gas Trust ("NAL" or the
"Trust"). It contains information and opinions on the Trust's future
outlook based on currently available information. All amounts are
reported in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated. Where applicable,
natural gas has been converted to barrels of oil equivalent ("boe")
based on a ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel
of oil. The boe rate is based on an energy equivalent conversion method
primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value
equivalent at the wellhead. Use of boe in isolation may be misleading.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Throughout this discussion and analysis, Management uses the terms
funds from operations, funds from operations per unit, payout ratio,
cash flow from operations per unit, net debt to trailing 12 month cash
flow, operating netback and cash flow netback. These are considered
useful supplemental measures as they provide an indication of the
results generated by the Trust's principal business activities.
Management uses the terms to facilitate the understanding of the results
of operations. However, these terms do not have any standardized
meaning as prescribed by Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles ("GAAP"). Investors should be cautioned that these measures
should not be construed as an alternative to net income determined in
accordance with GAAP as an indication of NAL's performance. NAL's method
of calculating these measures may differ from other income funds and
companies and, accordingly, they may not be comparable to measures used
by other income funds and companies.
Funds from operations is calculated as cash flow from operating
activities before changes in non-cash working capital. Funds from
operations does not represent operating cash flows or operating profits
for the period and should not be viewed as an alternative to cash flow
from operating activities calculated in accordance with GAAP. Funds from
operations is considered by Management to be a meaningful key
performance indicator of NAL's ability to generate cash to finance
operations and to pay monthly distributions. Funds from operations per
unit and cash flow from operations per unit are calculated using the
weighted average units outstanding for the period.
Payout ratio is calculated as distributions declared for a period as
a percentage of either cash flow from operating activities or funds
from operations; both measures are stated.
Net debt to trailing 12 months cash flow is calculated as net debt
as a proportion of funds from operations for the previous 12 months. Net
debt is defined as bank debt, plus convertible debentures at face
value, plus working capital and other liabilities, excluding derivative
contracts, notes payable/receivable and future income tax balances.
The following table reconciles cash flows from operating activities to funds
from operations:
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Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
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$(000s) 2009 2008 2009 2008
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Cash flow from operating activities 52,999 98,860 183,235 242,716
Add back change in non-cash working
capital 767 (19,627) (15,447) 1,315
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Funds from operations 53,766 79,233 167,788 244,031
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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking information as
to the Trust's internal projections, expectations and beliefs relating
to future events or future performance. Forward looking information is
typically identified by words such as "anticipate", "continue",
"estimate", "expect", "forecast", "may", "will", "could", "plan",
"intend", "should", "believe", "outlook", "project", "potential",
"target", and similar words suggesting future events or future
performance. In addition, statements relating to "reserves" are
forward-looking statements as they involve the implied assessment, based
on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves described exist
in the quantities estimated and can be profitably produced in the
future.
In particular, this MD&A contains forward-looking information
pertaining to the following, without limitation: the amount and timing
of cash flows and distributions to unitholders; reserves and reserves
values; 2009 and 2010 production; future tax treatment of the Trust;
future structure of the Trust and its subsidiaries; the Trust's tax
pools; future oil and gas prices; operating, drilling and completion
costs; the amount of future asset retirement obligations; future
liquidity and future financial capacity; future results from operations;
payout ratios; cost estimates and royalty rates; drilling plans; tie-in
of wells; future development, exploration and acquisition activities
and related expenditures; rates of return; and the successful
acquisition of Breaker Energy Ltd.
With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this
MD&A and the press release through which it was disseminated, we
have made assumptions regarding, among other things: future oil and
natural gas prices; future capital expenditure levels; future oil and
natural gas production levels; future exchange rates; the amount of
future cash distributions that we intend to pay; the cost of expanding
our property holdings; our ability to obtain equipment in a timely
manner to carry out exploration and development activities; our ability
to market our oil and natural gas successfully to current and new
customers; the impact of increasing competition; our ability to obtain
financing on acceptable terms; and our ability to add production and
reserves through our development and exploitation activities.
Although NAL believes that the expectations reflected in the
forward-looking information contained in the MD&A and the press
release through which it was disseminated, and the assumptions on which
such forward-looking information are made, are reasonable, readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward looking statements
as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations
upon which the forward-looking information are based will occur. Such
information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially
from those anticipated and which may cause NAL's actual performance and
financial results in future periods to differ materially from any
estimates or projections of future performance. These risks and
uncertainties include, without limitation: changes in commodity prices;
unanticipated operating results or production declines; the impact of
weather conditions on seasonal demand and NAL's ability to execute its
capital program; risks inherent in oil and gas operations; the
imprecision of reserve estimates; limited, unfavorable or no access to
capital or credit markets; the impact of competitors; the lack of
availability of qualified operating or management personnel; the ability
to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and
approvals, when required; failure to complete the acquisition of Breaker
Energy Ltd.; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of
acquisitions, including Breaker Energy Ltd.; general economic conditions
in Canada, the United States and globally; fluctuations in foreign
exchange or interest rates; changes in government regulation of the oil
and gas industry, including environmental regulation; changes in royalty
rates; changes in tax laws, including the impact of legislation
relating to the taxation of "specified investment flow-through"
entities; stock market volatility and market valuations; OPEC's ability
to control production and balance global supply and demand for crude oil
at desired price levels; political uncertainty, including the risk of
hostilities in the petroleum producing regions of the world; and other
risk factors discussed in other public filings of the Trust including
the Trust's current Annual Information Form.
NAL cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect
future results is not exhaustive. The forward-looking information
contained in the MD&A is made as of the date of this MD&A. The
forward-looking information contained in the MD&A is expressly
qualified by this cautionary statement.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
PLAN OF ARRANGEMENT - BREAKER ENERGY LTD.
On October 13, 2009, NAL and Breaker Energy Ltd. ("Breaker") entered
into an arrangement agreement pursuant to which NAL will acquire all of
the issued and outstanding common shares of Breaker by way of Plan of
Arrangement. Under the arrangement, Breaker shareholders will receive
0.475 NAL trust units for each share of Breaker held, resulting in the
expected issuance of approximately 24.7 million trust units. The
transaction is subject to the approval of the Breaker shareholders, the
Court of Queen's Bench of the Province of Alberta and regulatory
authorities, and is expected to close on December 10, 2009.
The acquisition is anticipated to add 6,700 boe/d of production to
the Trust and 23 million boe of proved plus probable reserves, in
addition to 140,000 acres of net undeveloped land and $270 million of
tax pools.
DISPOSITION OF NON-CORE PROPERTY
The sale of a non-operated property is expected to close in the
fourth quarter for net proceeds of $15 million, subject to final
adjustments.
ACQUISITION OF SPEARPOINT ENERGY CORP.
Effective August 10, 2009, the Trust acquired all of the issued and
outstanding common shares of Spearpoint Energy Corp. ("Spearpoint") for
cash of $10.6 million, prior to acquisition costs. The assets of
Spearpoint include natural gas production in Alberta and a farm-in
agreement with BP Canada Energy Company.
Concurrent with the corporate acquisition, the Trust entered into an
Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement ("PSA") with Manulife Financial
Corporation ("MFC"), pursuant to which MFC acquired a 40 percent working
interest in all of the Spearpoint petroleum and natural gas properties
and the farm-in agreement for a base price of $6.5 million payable in
cash.
Included within the PSA is a base price adjustment clause that
ensures the Trust and MFC share 60 percent / 40 percent, respectively,
in all assets or liabilities related to Spearpoint that pertain to
periods on or prior to the effective date of the acquisition, regardless
of their date of discovery or disclosure. The base price adjustment
calculation adjusts the purchase price that MFC pays the Trust for any
change in working capital from amounts determined at the time the base
price of $6.5 million was established. As at September 30, 2009, the
Trust had a receivable from MFC of $0.3 million relating to these price
adjustments.
After taking into effect the MFC disposition and MFC's share of the
assets and liabilities to be settled under the base price adjustment
clause, the Trust acquired property, plant and equipment of $10.7
million and a future income tax asset of $0.5 million and assumed
liabilities including a note payable of $5.7 million, a working capital
deficiency of $0.9 million and asset retirement obligations of $0.4
million, for consideration of $4.2 million.
MFC is a related party to the Trust, see "Related Party Transactions".
ACQUISITION OF ALBERTA CLIPPER ENERGY INC.
Effective June 1, 2009, the Trust acquired all of the issued and
outstanding common shares of Alberta Clipper Energy Inc. ("Clipper"),
which has interests in petroleum and natural gas properties and
undeveloped land in Alberta and northeast British Columbia.
The Trust issued 5.7 million trust units at a price of $6.45 a trust
unit for total consideration, before acquisition costs, of $36.6
million. The trust unit price was based on the weighted average market
price of trust units at the date of announcement, being March 23, 2009.
The purchase price included the assumption of $78.9 million in bank
debt.
Concurrent with the corporate acquisition, the Trust entered into an
Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the "Clipper PSA") with MFC,
pursuant to which MFC acquired a 50 percent working interest in all of
the Clipper petroleum and natural gas properties for a base price of
$52.5 million payable in cash. The proceeds received from MFC were used
to partially repay the assumed bank debt.
Included within the Clipper PSA is a base price adjustment clause
that ensures the Trust and MFC share equally in all assets or
liabilities related to Clipper that pertain to periods on or prior to
the effective date of the acquisition, regardless of their date of
discovery or disclosure. The base price adjustment calculation will
adjust the purchase price that MFC pays the Trust for any change in
working capital from amounts determined at the time the base price of
$52.5 million was established. In addition, the costs associated with
contracts outstanding at the date of acquisition will be equally shared
between both parties on an ongoing basis, as the obligations are settled
by the Trust. The amounts due under this base price adjustment clause
are to be settled no more frequently than quarterly commencing December
2009. As at September 30, 2009, the Trust had a receivable from MFC of
$0.8 million relating to these price adjustments.
As a result, after taking into effect the MFC disposition and MFC's
share of the assets and liabilities to be settled under the base price
adjustment clause, the Trust acquired property, plant and equipment of
$55.4 million, a derivative contract of $0.4 million and a future tax
asset (reflecting the excess of tax pools over book value) of $17.9
million, representing assets totaling $73.7 million, and assumed
liabilities including asset retirement obligations of $7.3 million, bank
debt of $26.4 million, a working capital deficiency of $1.1 million and
a lease obligation of $1.5 million, for consideration of $37.4 million,
including estimated acquisition costs of $0.8 million.
EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
The Trust spent $34.6 million on drilling, completion and tie-in
operations during the third quarter of 2009, compared to $39.2 million
during the third quarter of 2008 and drilled 26 (12.3 net) wells as
compared to 33 (15.7 net) wells during the same period in 2008.
Drilling in the quarter was focused on horizontal oil wells in
Saskatchewan and Alberta. The Trust is expecting to drill 78 (37 net)
wells for full year 2009 including 57 (25 net) that have been drilled
year-to-date and a 21 (12 net) well program to be executed in the fourth
quarter. The remaining drilling program will also be heavily weighted
to oil including 8 (6 net) Cardium and 11 (5 net) Mississippian
horizontals. Full year estimates consist of 17 (4 net) gas wells and 61
(33 net) oil wells of which 24 (16 net) will be Cardium and 32 (15 net)
will be Mississippian wells.
Third Quarter Drilling Activity
Service Dry &
Crude Oil Natural Gas Wells Abandoned Total
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Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
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Operated wells 19 11.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 11.3
Non-operated wells 1 0.2 6 0.8 0 0 0 0 7 1.0
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Total wells drilled 20 11.5 6 0.8 0 0 0 0 26 12.3
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Southeast Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, there were 10 (4.7 net) horizontal oil wells
drilled during the third quarter. Activity was focused on the
Mississippian in Alida, Torquay and Nottingham with initial production
rates ranging from 50-250 bbls/d. The Trust intends to drill 11 (5.0
net) horizontal Mississippian oil wells in the fourth quarter following
up on successful new pool discoveries, infills and extensions. While the
Cardium play in Alberta has recently been the focus of market
attention, the economics in Mississippian light oil projects remain as
good or better and is the reason the Trust continues to balance its
capital expenditures between the two distinctly different resource
plays. The Nottingham gas plant expansion was commissioned in October
and plans to bring on incremental volumes in November are currently
underway.
Alberta
In Alberta, NAL participated in drilling 15 (7.4 net) wells
including 10 (6.7 net) wells in the Cardium at Garrington, Cochrane and
Pine Creek. Many completion and tie-in operations were running through
the end of the quarter with first month production numbers after load
fluid recovery expected in November. Overall, results remain in-line
with expectations and management remains encouraged by the potential of
this resource. For the remainder of the year, the Trust intends to drill
8 (6 net) horizontal Cardium oil wells in Garrington and Pine Creek to
delineate significant Cardium acreage related to recently announced
transactions. Reduced drilling and completion costs coupled with
execution efficiency gains continue to be a focus for NAL and it is
expected that costs will be lower as the program matures. Current drill,
completion and tie-in costs for Cardium horizontal wells are in the
$3.0 million range.
Northeast British Columbia
Production in Sukunka was significantly impacted by failures related
to third party operated gathering systems and several unplanned outages
at the Pine River Plant. This down time equated to 600 boe/d of lost
production in the quarter. However, due to low gas prices throughout the
period, funds flow from operations was only impacted by $330,000. The
first week of production in October was back at full capability,
producing approximately 2,600 boe/d. The non-operated well at a-100-c
(Trust 20 percent working interest) reached total depth during the
quarter, initial completion work was done and the well is currently
standing while further completion operations are being evaluated.
FOCUS OF FUTURE ACTIVITY
Commodity prices have been challenging in 2009 but NAL's strong
balance sheet, balanced production mix, hedging strategy and support
from its partner MFC have positioned the Trust well to take advantage of
challenging market conditions. Upon the completion of the recently
announced acquisition of Breaker, the Trust will have completed four
significant transactions during 2009, increasing production and reserves
by more than 30 percent and adding access to a broad land position of
more than 1.5 million gross acres. The Trust has also added significant
prospecting capability with the addition of key technical staff. Efforts
are underway to catalogue a multi-year oil and gas drilling inventory
from this significantly expanded land portfolio.
The use of cost effective horizontal drilling techniques with
multi-stage fracing has unlocked significant low risk oil reserves and
value for our unitholders. NAL is well positioned in the Cardium oil
resource with acreage at Garrington, Cochrane and Pine Creek in central
Alberta, and in Mississippian oil in southeast Saskatchewan with new
opportunities added in the Wabamun formation (at Irricana) and Leduc
formation (at Millard Lake) through the proposed Breaker transaction.
Current oil prices coupled with provincial royalty incentive programs
drive compelling economics for oil development that produce recycle
ratios exceeding two times, rates of return in the 30 - 50 percent
range, and attractive netbacks. The Trust currently intends to remain
focused on an oil weighted program through 2010, but retains significant
leverage and flexibility to shift capital toward gas projects should a
recovery in natural gas prices emerge.
NAL continues to build gas inventory on its expanded land position
but will wait on a gas price recovery which yields economics that can
compete with the Trust's expanded oil portfolio. The use of horizontal
drilling and multi stage fracing will play a large part in any gas
development program in the future as the Trust currently has catalogued
more than 100 ready-to-drill horizontal wells in the Rock Creek, Falher,
Halfway, Viking, Doig and Mannville zones. It is expected that NAL will
spend 20 - 30 percent of its exploration and development budget in 2010
on strategic gas drilling to prove up reserves. Selective prospects
with high initial gas rate potential and high liquid yields that deliver
competitive economic returns will be considered in the program to take
advantage of attractive government incentives.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
Capital expenditures, before property acquisitions, for the quarter
ended September 30, 2009 totaled $42.4 million compared with $53.2
million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. The decrease in
capital spending year-over-year is largely a function of relatively
higher land and facilities spending during the third quarter of 2008.
NAL is on track with plans to evaluate the significant oil opportunities
that have been compiled over the course of the year through strategic
partnerships and land acquisitions. Crude prices in the quarter have
continued to be relatively strong, supporting increased spending, with
full year capital expenditures expected to be $135 million excluding
acquisitions.
On a year-to-date basis, capital expenditures, before property
acquisitions, totaled $96.3 million compared to $109.3 million in the
comparable period of 2008.
Capital Expenditures ($000s)
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Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
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2009 2008 2009 2008
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Drilling, completion and production
equipment 34,599 39,237 72,685 79,520
Plant and facilities 1,264 4,542 9,654 11,249
Seismic 806 69 1,053 876
Land 2,829 8,293 5,290 12,115
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Total exploitation and development 39,498 52,141 88,682 103,760
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Office equipment 128 562 508 1,181
Capitalized G&A 1,266 824 4,260 3,167
Capitalized unit-based compensation 1,484 (338) 2,814 1,152
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Total other capital 2,878 1,048 7,582 5,500
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Total capitalized expenditures
before acquisitions 42,376 53,189 96,264 109,260
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Property acquisitions
(dispositions), net - 373 2,534 8,209
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Total capitalized expenditures 42,376 53,562 98,798 117,469
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PRODUCTION
Third quarter 2009 production was 23,418 boe/d, compared to
production of 23,808 boe/d in the same period of 2008. This two percent
decline was entirely attributed to unplanned third party facilities
outages at Sukunka that negatively impacted the quarter by 600 boe/d.
The Trust's internal forecast was 23,700 boe/d for the third quarter
and, without this outage volumes would have been in the 24,000 boe/d
range. It is anticipated that fourth quarter production will be
24,000-24,400 boe/d dependent on the timing of new production tie-ins.
Full year average production is still expected to be at the higher end
of our guidance of 23,000 - 24,000 boe/d. Provided the proposed Breaker
acquisition closes as scheduled, the Trust anticipates fourth quarter
average production to be 25,000 - 25,500 boe/d, with the impact on full
year average volumes being muted due to the December 10, 2009 close
date. Year-over-year, oil production was down five percent in the
quarter which was mainly attributable to production declines in
Saskatchewan. The development program in Saskatchewan was reduced in
response to substantially lower commodity prices during the first
quarter of 2009 and the program was not ramped back up until after
spring break-up.
Average Daily Production Volumes
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Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
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Oil (bbl/d) 9,467 9,989 9,725 10,176
Natural gas (Mcf/d) 69,706 70,425 68,778 68,847
NGLs (bbl/d) 2,334 2,081 2,244 2,083
Oil equivalent (boe/d) 23,418 23,808 23,433 23,733
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Oil equivalent volumes of 23,418 boe/d for the third quarter of 2009
and 23,433 boe/d year-to-date include 370 boe/d (2008 - 379 boe/d) and
412 boe/d (2008 - 343 boe/d), respectively, attributable to the
non-controlling interest in the Tiberius and Spear properties (see
"Related Party Transactions"). The Trust's net production, after
deducting the non-controlling interest, is 23,048 boe/d for the third
quarter of 2009 (2008 - 23,429 boe/d) and 23,021 boe/d (2008 - 23,390
boe/d) year-to-date.
Oil and natural gas liquids totaled 51 percent of production with
natural gas at 49 percent during the first nine months of 2009.
Production Weighting
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
---------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil 40% 42% 41% 43%
Natural gas 50% 49% 49% 48%
NGLs 10% 9% 10% 9%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVENUE
Gross revenue from oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales,
after transportation costs and prior to hedging, totaled $86.3 million
for the three months ended September 30, 2009, 51 percent lower than the
third quarter of 2008. The decrease is due to a two percent decrease in
production and a 50 percent decrease in the average realized price per
boe, driven by a 41 percent decrease in the realized crude oil price and
a 63 percent decrease in the realized natural gas price. The decrease
in realized prices reflects lower West Texas Intermediate ("WTI")
prices, partially offset by a weaker Canadian dollar, and lower AECO
prices in the third quarter of 2009.
For the nine month period ended September 30, 2009, revenue after
transportation costs totaled $249.6 million, a decrease of 51 percent
from the comparable period in 2008. The decrease is attributable to a 50
percent decrease in the average realized price per boe and a one
percent decrease in production. The decrease in realized price reflects
lower WTI prices, partially offset by a weaker Canadian dollar, and
lower AECO prices in 2009.
Revenue
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
---------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue(1) ($000s)
Oil 58,543 104,949 154,024 297,894
Gas 19,718 53,152 73,834 165,392
NGLs 8,069 15,034 21,199 41,805
Sulphur (32) 2,313 553 2,907
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenue 86,298 175,448 249,610 507,998
$/boe 40.06 80.11 39.02 78.12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Oil, natural gas and liquid sales less transportation costs and prior
to royalties and hedging.
OIL MARKETING
NAL markets its crude oil based on refiners' posted prices at
Edmonton, Alberta and Cromer, Manitoba adjusted for transportation and
the quality of crude oil at each field battery. The refiners' posted
prices are influenced by the WTI benchmark price, transportation costs,
exchange rates and the supply/demand situation of particular crude oil
quality streams during the year.
NAL's third quarter average realized Canadian crude oil price per
barrel, net of transportation costs excluding hedging, was $67.22, as
compared to $114.20 for the comparable quarter of 2008. The decrease in
realized price quarter-over-quarter of 41 percent, or $46.98/bbl, was
primarily driven by a 42 percent decrease in WTI (U.S.$/bbl) over the
comparable period, partially offset by a five percent decrease in the
value of the Canadian dollar.
For the third quarter of 2009, NAL's crude oil price differential
was 90 percent, a decrease of three percentage points from the
comparable period in 2008. The differential is calculated as realized
price as a percentage of WTI stated in Canadian dollars. The decrease in
2009 resulted from a wider differential between WTI and Edmonton/Cromer
posted prices, due to lower demand for light crude in western Canada
during the third quarter.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, NAL's average oil
price was $58.01 per barrel as compared to $106.84 for the comparable
period in 2008. The 46 percent decrease in realized price was driven by a
50 percent decrease in WTI (US$/bbl) and a decrease in crude oil
differentials to 87 percent from 92 percent in 2008, partially offset by
a 15 percent decrease in the value of the Canadian dollar.
Natural gas liquids averaged $37.58/bbl in the third quarter of
2009, a 52 percent decrease from the $78.53/bbl realized in 2008. For
the nine months ended September 30, 2009, natural gas liquids averaged
$34.60/bbl, a decrease of 53 percent from the comparable period in 2008.
NATURAL GAS MARKETING
Approximately 75 percent of NAL's current gas production is sold
under marketing arrangements tied to the Alberta monthly or daily spot
price ("AECO"), with the remaining 25 percent tied to NYMEX or other
indexed reference prices.
For the three months ended September 30, 2009, the Trust's natural
gas sales averaged $3.07/Mcf compared to $8.20/Mcf in the comparable
period of 2008, a decrease of 63 percent. The quarter-over-quarter
decrease in gas prices was attributable to a 61 percent decrease in the
benchmark AECO daily spot prices.
Prices for Lake Erie natural gas decreased to $3.77/Mcf in the third
quarter of 2009, compared to $9.98/Mcf in 2008, a decrease of 62
percent. Lake Erie production of 3.5 mmcf/d accounted for five percent
of the Trust's natural gas production in the third quarter of 2009, the
same percentage experienced during the comparable period of 2008.
Natural gas sales from the Lake Erie property generally receive a higher
price due to the proximity of the Ontario and Northeastern U.S.
markets.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, NAL averaged
$3.93/Mcf, a 55 percent decrease from the $8.77/Mcf realized in the
comparable period of 2008. The decrease in natural gas prices was
attributable to a 56 percent decrease in the benchmark AECO daily spot
prices.
Average Pricing
(net of transportation charges)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
---------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liquids
WTI (US$/bbl) 68.30 117.98 57.00 113.29
NAL average oil (Cdn$/bbl) 67.22 114.20 58.01 106.84
NAL natural gas liquids (Cdn$/bbl) 37.58 78.53 34.60 73.25
Natural Gas (Cdn$/mcf)
AECO - daily spot 2.98 7.73 3.78 8.64
AECO - monthly 3.02 9.25 4.11 8.55
NAL Western Canada natural gas 3.04 8.11 3.88 8.68
NAL Lake Erie natural gas 3.77 9.98 5.05 10.44
NAL average natural gas 3.07 8.20 3.93 8.77
NAL oil equivalent before hedging
(Cdn$/boe - 6:1) 40.06 80.11 39.02 78.12
Average foreign exchange rate
(Cdn$/US$) 1.0974 1.0418 1.1698 1.0186
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
RISK MANAGEMENT
NAL employs risk management practices to assist in managing cash
flows and to support capital programs and distributions. NAL currently
has derivative contracts in place to assist in managing the risks
associated with commodity prices, interest rates and foreign exchange
rates.
NAL's commodity hedging policy currently provides authorization to
hedge up to 60 percent of forecasted total production, net of royalties.
This was increased from 50 percent to 60 percent at the November 3,
2009 Board meeting. Management's practice is to hedge more near-term
volumes on a six month forward basis with more limited volumes hedged in
future periods. The execution of NAL's commodity hedging program is
layered in using a combination of swaps and collars. As at September 30,
2009, NAL had several financial WTI oil contracts and AECO natural gas
contracts in place.
NAL's interest rate hedging policy currently provides authorization
to hedge up to 50 percent of outstanding debt for periods of up to five
years. As at September 30, 2009, NAL had several interest rate swaps
outstanding with a total notional value of $139 million.
NAL's foreign exchange hedging policy currently provides
authorization to hedge up to 50 percent of the Trust's U.S. dollar
exposure for periods of up to 24 months. As at September 30, 2009, NAL
had several exchange rate swaps outstanding with a total notional value
of U.S.$64.0 million.
All derivative contract counterparties are Canadian chartered banks in the Trust's lending syndicate.
All derivative contracts are recorded on the balance sheet at fair
value based upon forward curves at September 30, 2009. Changes in the
fair value of the derivative contracts are recognized in net income for
the period.
Fair value is calculated at a point in time based on an
approximation of the amounts that would be received or paid to settle
these instruments, with reference to forward prices at September 30,
2009. Accordingly, the magnitude of the unrealized gain or loss will
continue to fluctuate with changes in commodity prices, interest rates
and foreign exchange rates.
The fair value of the derivatives at September 30, 2009 was a net
asset of $12.3 million, comprised of a $2.5 million asset on interest
rate swaps, a $4.8 million asset on gas contracts and a $5.4 million
asset on foreign exchange contracts, partially offset by a $0.4 million
liability on oil contracts.
Third quarter income for 2009 includes a $5.5 million unrealized
loss on derivatives resulting from the change in the fair value of the
derivative contracts during the quarter from an unrealized gain of $17.8
million at June 30, 2009, to an unrealized gain of $12.3 million at
September 30, 2009. The $5.5 million unrealized loss was comprised of a
$0.2 million unrealized loss on crude oil contracts, an $8.2 million
unrealized loss on natural gas contracts and a $0.4 million unrealized
loss on interest rate swaps, partially offset by a $3.3 million
unrealized gain on foreign exchange swaps.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, income includes an
unrealized loss of $53.5 million, resulting from the change in the fair
value of the derivative contracts during the period, from an unrealized
gain of $65.4 million at December 31, 2008 and a $0.4 million unrealized
gain acquired with Clipper, to an unrealized gain of $12.3 million at
September 30, 2009. The unrealized loss was comprised of a $56.1 million
unrealized loss on crude oil contracts and a $5.6 million unrealized
loss on natural gas contracts, partially offset by a $2.8 million
unrealized gain on interest rate swaps and a $5.4 million unrealized
gain on foreign exchange swaps.
The risk management policies for 2010 are expected to remain
consistent with 2009. The Trust's current positions are summarized in
the tables below.
The gain/loss on all forward derivative contracts is as follows:
Gain / (Loss) on Derivative Contracts ($000s)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
---------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized gain (loss):
Crude oil contracts (184) 70,892 (56,151) 13,236
Natural gas contracts (8,251) 40,161 (5,560) 5,134
Interest rate swaps (374) - 2,776 -
Exchange rate swaps 3,310 - 5,448 -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized gain (loss) (5,499) 111,053 (53,487) 18,370
Realized gain (loss):
Crude oil contracts 7,526 (13,119) 44,179 (38,151)
Natural gas contracts 8,331 (3,508) 19,794 (5,697)
Interest rate swaps (226) - (433) -
Exchange rate swaps 3,188 - 5,200 -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized gain (loss) 18,819 (16,627) 68,740 (43,848)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gain (loss) on derivative
contracts 13,320 94,426 15,253 (25,478)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a summary of the realized gains and losses on risk
management contracts:
Realized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
---------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commodity contracts:
Average crude volumes hedged (bbl/d) 4,733 5,100 4,362 4,712
Crude oil realized gain (loss)
($000s) 7,526 (13,119) 44,179 (38,151)
Gain (loss) per bbl hedged ($) 17.28 (27.96) 37.10 (29.55)
Average natural gas volumes hedged
(GJ/d) 23,130 30,000 20,850 26,735
Natural gas realized gain (loss)
($000s) 8,331 (3,508) 19,794 (5,697)
Gain (loss) per GJ hedged ($) 3.92 (1.27) 3.48 (0.78)
Average BOE hedged (boe/d) 8,387 9,839 7,656 8,936
Total realized commodity contracts
gain ($000s) 15,857 (16,627) 63,973 (43,848)
Gain (loss) per boe hedged ($) 20.55 (18.37) 30.61 (17.91)
Gain (loss) per boe ($) 7.36 (7.59) 10.00 (6.74)
Interest rate swaps realized loss
($000s) (226) - (433) -
Loss per boe ($) (0.10) - (0.07) -
Exchange rate swaps realized gain
($000s) 3,188 - 5,200 -
Gain per boe ($) 1.48 - 0.82 -
Total realized gain (loss) ($000s) 18,819 (16,627) 68,740 (43,848)
Gain (loss) per boe ($) 8.74 (7.59) 10.75 (6.74)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average hedged boes for the third quarter of 2009 were 8,387 as compared to
6,394 for the second quarter of 2009.
NAL has the following interest rate risk management contracts outstanding:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTEREST Remaining Amount Trust Fixed Counterparty
RATE Term (Cdn$ MM)(1) Rate Floating Rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swaps-floating Oct 2009 -
to fixed Dec 2011 $ 39.0 1.5864% CAD-BA-CDOR (3 months)
Swaps-floating Oct 2009 -
to fixed Jan 2013 $ 22.0 1.3850% CAD-BA-CDOR (3 months)
Swaps-floating Oct 2009 -
to fixed Jan 2014 $ 22.0 1.5100% CAD-BA-CDOR (3 months)
Swaps-floating Mar 2010 -
to fixed Mar 2013 $ 14.0 1.8500% CAD-BA-CDOR (3 months)
Swaps-floating Mar 2010 -
to fixed Mar 2013 $ 14.0 1.8750% CAD-BA-CDOR (3 months)
Swaps-floating Mar 2010 -
to fixed Mar 2014 $ 14.0 1.9300% CAD-BA-CDOR (3 months)
Swaps-floating Mar 2010 -
to fixed Mar 2014 $ 14.0 1.9850% CAD-BA-CDOR (3 months)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Notional debt amount
NAL has the following exchange rate risk management contracts outstanding:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCHANGE Remaining Amount Trust Fixed Counterparty
RATE Term (US$ MM)(1) Rate Floating Rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swaps-floating Oct 2009 -
to fixed Nov 2009 $ 4.0 1.2730 BofC Average Noon Rate
Swaps-floating Oct 2009 -
to fixed Nov 2009 $ 4.0 1.2875 BofC Average Noon Rate
Swaps-floating Oct 2009 -
to fixed Nov 2009 $ 4.0 1.2625 BofC Average Noon Rate
Swaps-floating Dec 2009 -
to fixed Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1583 BofC Average Noon Rate
Swaps-floating Dec 2009 -
to fixed Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1100 BofC Average Noon Rate
Swaps-floating Dec 2009 -
to fixed Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1200 BofC Average Noon Rate
Swaps-floating Dec 2009 -
to fixed Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1225 BofC Average Noon Rate
Swaps-floating Dec 2009 -
to fixed Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1300 BofC Average Noon Rate
Swaps-floating Dec 2009 -
to fixed Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1420 BofC Average Noon Rate
Swaps-floating Dec 2009 -
to fixed Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1525 BofC Average Noon Rate
Swaps-floating Dec 2009 -
to fixed Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1000 BofC Average Noon Rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Notional US$ denominated commodity sales
NAL has the following commodity risk management contracts outstanding:
CRUDE OIL Q4-09 Q1-10 Q2-10 Q3-10 Q4-10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
US$ Collar Contracts
---------------------
$US WTI Collar Volume (bbl/d) 300 3,500 3,300 2,600 2,400
Bought Puts - Average Strike
Price ($US/bbl) $ 62.67 $ 61.86 $ 62.27 $ 64.90 $ 65.10
Sold Calls - Average Strike
Price ($US/bbl) $ 71.85 $ 72.90 $ 73.23 $ 76.42 $ 76.88
US$ Swap Contracts
-------------------
$US WTI Swap Volume (bbl/d) 1,700 700 1,200 - -
Average WTI Swap Price
($US/bbl) $ 61.94 $ 75.36 $ 75.67 - -
Cdn$ Collar Contracts
----------------------
$Cdn WTI Collar Volume
(bbl/d) 1,500 300 - - -
Bought Puts - Average
Strike Price ($Cdn/bbl) $ 102.07 $ 66.00 - - -
Sold Calls - Average
Strike Price ($Cdn/bbl) $ 137.63 $ 80.17 - - -
Cdn$ Swap Contracts
--------------------
$Cdn WTI Swap Volume (bbl/d) 1,300 - - - -
Average WTI Swap Price
($Cdn/bbl) $ 92.55 - - - -
Total Oil Volume (bbl/d) 4,800 4,500 4,500 2,600 2,400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NATURAL GAS Q4-09 Q1-10 Q2-10 Q3-10 Q4-10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collar Contracts
-----------------
AECO Collar Volume (GJ/d) 1,685 - - - -
Bought Puts - AECO Average
Strike Price ($Cdn/GJ) $ 8.90 - - - -
Sold Calls - AECO Average
Strike Price ($Cdn/GJ) $ 11.44 - - - -
Swap Contracts
---------------
AECO Swap Volume (GJ/d) 32,663 30,000 30,000 31,000 14,337
AECO Average Price ($Cdn/GJ) $ 5.57 $ 5.86 $ 5.60 $ 5.62 $ 5.67
Total Natural Gas Volume
(GJ/d) 34,348 30,000 30,000 31,000 14,337
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the remainder of 2009, the Trust has outstanding contracts
representing approximately 49 percent of its net liquids and natural gas
production after royalties, assuming a royalty rate of 17.5 percent.
ROYALTY EXPENSES
Crown, freehold and overriding royalties were $15.0 million for the
three months ended September 30, 2009. Expressed as a percentage of
gross sales net of transportation costs, before gain/loss on derivative
contracts, the net royalty rate was 17.3 percent for the quarter ended
September 30, 2009, a decrease from the 21.1 percent experienced in the
same period of the previous year.
Royalties decreased to $6.94 per boe for the third quarter of 2009, a
decrease of 59 percent compared to the third quarter of 2008. The
decrease is attributable to lower commodity prices on a
quarter-over-quarter basis.
On a year-to-date basis, royalties were $44.7 million, down from
$105.3 million in the comparable period of 2008. Expressed as a
percentage of gross sales net of transportation costs, before gain/loss
on derivative contracts, the net royalty rate was 17.9 percent as
compared to 20.7 percent in the comparable period of 2008.
On January 1, 2009, the new royalty framework for Alberta became
effective. This new framework, first announced on October 25, 2007,
provides for conventional oil and gas royalties calculated on a sliding
scale that is determined by commodity price and production volumes.
Natural gas royalty rates have increased from 35 percent to 50 percent,
with rates capped at $16.59/GJ. Crude oil royalty rates have increased
from 35 percent to 50 percent, with rates capped at $120/bbl.
In response to the economic downturn, on November 19, 2008 the
Government of Alberta announced special transitional rates for some
conventional oil and gas wells. The lower transitional rates apply to
newly drilled oil and gas wells at depths between 1,000 and 3,500
metres.
On March 3, 2009, the Government of Alberta announced a new three
point incentive program for the energy sector. Firstly, there is a
drilling royalty credit for new conventional oil and natural gas wells.
The credit is on a sliding scale, based on prior year production levels,
to a maximum of $200 per metre drilled or 50 percent of the royalties
owed. Secondly, there is a new well incentive program that provides for a
maximum five per cent royalty rate for the first 12 months of
production up to a maximum of 50,000 barrels of oil or 500 million cubic
feet of natural gas. The 12 month period starts on the date of
production provided it occurs between April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010.
Thirdly, the province will invest $30 million in a fund committed to
abandoning and reclaiming old well sites, to encourage the clean up of
inactive oil and gas wells. On June 25, 2009, the Government of Alberta
announced a one year extension to the drilling royalty credit and new
well incentive program to March 31, 2011. The five percent royalty rate
incentive is reported within royalties and the $200 per metre drilling
credit is reported against capital.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, 29 percent of crude oil and 70 percent of natural gas production is from Alberta.
Royalty Expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
---------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royalties ($000s) 14,950 37,015 44,692 105,267
As % of revenue 17.3 21.1 17.9 20.7
$/boe 6.94 16.90 6.99 16.19
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING COSTS
Operating costs averaged $10.52 per boe for the quarter ended
September 30, 2009, a ten percent decrease from $11.63 per boe for the
quarter ended September 30, 2008. Year-over-year operating cost
decreases are a direct result of an aggressive program focused on cost
reduction in NAL's operations. Reduced power costs as a result of
significantly lower natural gas prices have also been a large
contributor to lower costs in 2009.
On a year-to-date basis, operating costs were $11.42 per boe
compared to $10.64 per boe in 2008. The Trust expects costs to continue
to moderate with full year operating costs anticipated to be in the
range of $11.30 - $11.60 per boe.
Operating Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
---------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating costs ($000s) 22,657 25,463 73,056 69,179
As a % of revenue 26.3 14.51 29.3 13.62
$/boe 10.52 11.63 11.42 10.64
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER INCOME
Other income was $0.11 per boe for the third quarter of 2009
compared to $0.53 per boe in the comparable quarter of 2008. Other
income includes gas processing fees, blending income, other
miscellaneous income and fees and interest income and interest expense
on notes due from and to MFC (see "Related Party Transactions"). The
note receivable from MFC was settled in the first quarter of 2009,
resulting in interest expense on the note payable in the third quarter
of 2009 of $0.1 million, as compared to net interest income of $0.9
million in the third quarter of 2008.
On a year-to-date basis interest on notes totaled $0.3 million
compared to $2.1 million for the comparable period of 2008, the decrease
being attributable to the MFC note repayment in March 2009.
Other Income
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest on notes with MFC ($000s) (125) 890 289 2,109
Other ($000s) 370 255 1,099 1,224
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total other income ($000s) 245 1,145 1,388 3,333
As a % of revenue 0.28 0.65 0.55 0.66
Interest on notes with MFC ($/boe) (0.06) 0.41 0.05 0.32
Other ($/boe) 0.17 0.12 0.17 0.19
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total other income ($/boe) 0.11 0.53 0.22 0.51
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING NETBACK
For the quarter ended September 30, 2009, NAL's operating netback,
before hedging gains, was $22.77 per boe, a decrease of 56 percent from
$51.70 per boe for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. The decrease
was due to lower revenues as a result of lower commodity prices,
partially offset by decreased royalty expense and operating costs.
Hedging gains, related to commodity and exchange rate derivative
contracts, were $8.84 per boe in the third quarter of 2009, as compared
to a loss of $7.59 per boe in 2008, attributable mainly to lower
realized commodity prices in 2009.
On a year-to-date basis, NAL's operating netback, before hedging
gains, was $20.78 per boe compared to $51.48 per boe in 2008. The
decrease was due to lower revenue as a result of lower commodity prices,
and slightly higher operating costs, partially offset by lower royalty
expense. Hedging gains, related to commodity and exchange rate
derivative contracts, were $10.82 for the nine months ended September
30, 2009, as compared to a loss of $6.74 per boe in 2008, attributable
mainly to lower realized commodity prices in 2009.
Operating Netback ($/boe)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue 40.06 80.11 39.02 78.12
Royalties (6.94) (16.90) (6.99) (16.19)
Operating expenses (10.52) (11.63) (11.42) (10.64)
Other income(1) 0.17 0.12 0.17 0.19
----------------------------------------
Operating netback, before hedging 22.77 51.70 20.78 51.48
Hedging gains (losses)(2) 8.84 (7.59) 10.82 (6.74)
----------------------------------------
Operating netback, after hedging 31.61 44.11 31.60 44.74
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Excludes interest on notes with MFC.
(2) Realized hedging gains/losses on commodity and exchange rate derivative
contracts
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
General and administrative ("G&A") expenses include direct costs
incurred by the Trust plus the reimbursement of the G&A expenses
incurred by NAL Resources Management Limited (the "Manager") on the
Trust's behalf.
For the three months ended September 30, 2009, G&A expenses were
$4.1 million, compared with $3.8 million in the comparable quarter of
2008. In addition, $1.3 million of G&A costs relating to
exploitation and development activities were capitalized in the third
quarter of 2009, compared with $0.8 million in the third quarter of
2008. G&A expense per boe was $1.90 in the quarter, as compared to
$1.72 for the same period in 2008.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, G&A expenses
decreased eight percent to $10.8 million from $11.7 million in the
comparable period in 2008. In addition, on a year-to-date basis $4.3
million of G&A costs relating to exploitation and development
activities were capitalized, compared with $3.2 million in the
comparable period of 2008. G&A expense per boe was $1.68 in 2009 as
compared to $1.79 in 2008.
Total G&A is comparable year-over-year at $15.0 million for the
nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to $14.8 million for the
same period in 2008.
General and Administrative Expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
G&A expenses ($000s)
G&A 4,095 3,792 10,753 11,547
Retention bonus - (35) - 106
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expensed G&A ($000s) 4,095 3,757 10,753 11,653
Capitalized G&A ($000s) 1,266 824 4,260 3,167
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total G&A ($000s) 5,361 4,581 15,013 14,820
Expensed G&A costs:
G&A, excluding retention bonus
($/boe) 1.90 1.73 1.68 1.77
Retention bonus ($/boe) - (0.01) - 0.02
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total G&A expenses ($/boe) 1.90 1.72 1.68 1.79
As % of revenue 4.7 2.1 4.3 2.3
Per trust unit ($) 0.04 0.04 0.10 0.12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNIT-BASED INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
The employees of the Manager are all members of a unit-based
incentive plan (the "Plan"). The Plan results in employees receiving
cash compensation based upon the value and overall return of a specified
number of notional trust units. The Plan consists of Restricted Trust
Units ("RTUs") and Performance Trust Units ("PTUs"). RTUs vest as to one
third of the amount of the grant on November 30 in each of three years
after the date of grant. PTUs vest on November 30, three years from the
date of grant. Distributions paid on the Trust's outstanding trust units
during the vesting period are assumed to be paid on the awarded
notional trust units and reinvested in additional notional units on the
date of distribution. Upon vesting, the employee is entitled to a cash
payout based on the trust unit price at the date of vesting of the units
held. In addition, the PTUs have a performance multiplier which is
based on the Trust's performance relative to its peers and may range
from zero to two times the market value of the notional trust units held
at vesting.
During the third quarter of 2009, the Trust recorded a $5.3 million
charge for unit-based incentive compensation that reflects the impact of
vesting and increase in the unit price. The unit price of the Trust
increased by 36 percent, from $9.37 at June 30, 2009 to $12.70 at
September 30, 2009. An increase in unit price results in previously
accrued amounts being increased.
Unit-based incentive compensation increased from a recovery of $0.9
million in the third quarter of 2008 to a charge of $5.3 million in
2009. This increase is a reflection of the increase in unit price used
to determine the compensation during the third quarter of 2009, as
compared to a decline in unit price during the third quarter of 2008
(from $16.89 at June 30, 2008 to $12.53 at September 30, 2008). A
decrease in unit price results in previously accrued amounts being
reversed.
On a year-to-date basis, the Trust has accrued $9.7 million compared
to $4.0 million in the comparable period of 2008. The increase
period-over-period is mainly attributable to a 58 percent increase in
unit price during 2009 as compared to an eight percent increase in unit
price during 2008.
At September 30, 2009, the unit price used to determine unit-based
incentive compensation was $12.70. The closing unit price of the Trust
on the Toronto Stock Exchange on November 2, 2009 was $11.27.
The calculation of unit-based compensation expense is made at the
end of each quarter based on the quarter end trust unit price and
estimated performance factors. The compensation charges relating to the
units granted are recognized over the vesting period based on the trust
unit price, number of RTUs and PTUs outstanding, and the expected
performance multiplier. As a result, the expense recorded in the
accounts will fluctuate in each quarter and over time.
At September 30, 2009, the Trust has recorded a total accumulated
liability for unit-based incentive compensation in the amount of $13.6
million, of which $7.0 million is recorded as current as it is payable
in December 2009, and $6.6 million is long-term as it is payable in
December 2010 and December 2011.
Unit-Based Compensation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit-based compensation ($000s):
Expensed 3,805 (561) 6,865 2,816
Capitalized 1,484 (338) 2,814 1,152
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total unit-based compensation 5,289 (899) 9,679 3,968
Expensed unit-based compensation:
As % of revenue 4.4 (0.3) 2.8 0.6
$/boe 1.77 (0.26) 1.07 0.43
Per trust unit ($) 0.03 (0.01) 0.07 0.03
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Trust is managed by the Manager. The Manager is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of MFC and also manages NAL Resources Limited ("NAL
Resources"), another wholly-owned subsidiary of MFC. NAL Resources and
the Trust maintain ownership interests in many of the same oil and
natural gas properties in which NAL Resources is the joint operator. As a
result, a significant portion of the net operating revenues and capital
expenditures during the year are based on joint amounts from NAL
Resources. These transactions are in the normal course of joint
operations and are measured using the fair value established through the
original transactions with third parties.
The Manager provides certain services to the Trust and its
subsidiary entities pursuant to an Administrative Services and Cost
Sharing Agreement (the "Agreement"). This agreement requires the Trust
to reimburse the Manager at cost for G&A and unit-based compensation
expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of the Trust calculated on a
unit of production basis. The Agreement does not provide for any base
or performance fees to be payable to the Manager.
The Trust paid $3.4 million (2008 - $3.1 million) for the
reimbursement of G&A expenses during the third quarter and $8.7
million (2008 - $9.6 million) year-to-date. The Trust also pays the
Manager its share of unit-based incentive compensation expense when cash
compensation is paid to employees under the terms of the Plan, of which
$2.3 million was paid in the first quarter of 2009, representing units
that vested on November 30, 2008 (2008 - $1.8 million). These
reimbursements are included in the G&A and unit-based compensation
amounts discussed above.
At September 30, 2009 the Trust owed the Manager $1.8 million for
the reimbursement of G&A and had a receivable from NAL Resources of
$2.8 million, $1.7 million relating to net operating revenues less
capital expenditures and $1.1 million relating to the base price
adjustment clauses, arising from the disposition of 50 percent of the
working interest of Clipper and 40 percent of the working interest of
Spearpoint to MFC.
The Trust and a wholly owned subsidiary of MFC jointly own a limited
partnership (the "Partnership"). This Partnership holds the assets
acquired from the acquisitions of Tiberius Exploration Inc. ("Tiberius")
and Spear Exploration Inc. ("Spear") in February 2008. In addition,
both the Trust and MFC entered into net profit interest royalty
agreements ("NPI") with the Partnership. These agreements entitle each
royalty holder to a 49.5 percent interest in the cash flow from the
Partnership's reserves. In exchange for this interest, the royalty
holders each paid $49.6 million to the Partnership by way of promissory
notes in 2008. Although the MFC note resided in the Partnership, it was
consolidated by virtue of the Trust having control over the Partnership
as described below.
The Trust, by virtue of being the owner of the general partner of
the Partnership under the partnership agreement, is required to
consolidate the results of the Partnership into its financial statements
on the basis that the Trust has control over the Partnership.
Accordingly, the Trust reports all revenues, expenses, assets and
liabilities of the Partnership, together with its wholly-owned
subsidiaries and partnerships, in its consolidated financial statements.
The 50 percent share of net income and net assets of the Partnership
attributable to MFC is then deducted from net income and net assets as a
one-line entry, in the income statement and balance sheet, ensuring
that the bottom line net income and net assets reported represent only
the Trust's interest.
During the first quarter of 2009, MFC repaid the note receivable to
the Partnership of $49.6 million. The note receivable bore interest at
prime plus three percent. The Partnership then paid an equal
distribution of $49.6 million to MFC. This resulted in a $49.6 million
reduction to the non-controlling interest on the balance sheet.
As at September 30, 2009, there is a note payable of $9.2 million
with MFC arising from the Tiberius and Spear acquisition. The note
payable is included on consolidation of the Partnership, but is
effectively eliminated through the non-controlling interest. The note is
due on demand, unsecured and bears interest at prime plus three
percent. The amount of the note payable to MFC is adjusted to reflect
MFC's share of the capital expenditures of the Partnership which MFC has
funded, less any loan repayments made.
Net interest expense on these notes of $0.1 million was payable by
the Trust for the third quarter of 2009 (2008 - $0.9 million net
interest income), and net interest income of $0.3 million, year-to-date
(2008 - $2.1 million), was received by the Trust, and is reported as
other income.
INTEREST
Interest on bank debt includes charges on borrowings, plus standby
fees on the unused portion of the bank credit facility. Interest on bank
debt for the third quarter of 2009 was $2.8 million, a decrease of $0.5
million from $3.3 million for the comparable period in 2008. The
decrease was due to a lower average effective interest rate and lower
average debt levels. Average outstanding bank debt for the third quarter
of 2009 was $248.4 million, $46.3 million lower than the $294.7 million
outstanding during the third quarter of 2008. NAL's effective interest
rate averaged 4.41 percent during the third quarter of 2009, compared to
4.44 percent during the comparable period in 2008. The decrease in the
rate from the third quarter of 2008 is attributable to lower overall
borrowing rates in the market. NAL's interest is calculated based upon a
floating rate.
Similar trends are noted for the nine months ended September 30,
2009, as interest on bank debt decreased $3.5 million to $7.7 million,
compared to $11.2 million in 2008. Average outstanding debt for the nine
months ended September 30, 2009 decreased to $279.4 million compared to
$301.3 million for the corresponding period of 2008. In addition, the
effective interest rate averaged 3.68 percent in 2009 compared to 4.88
percent in 2008.
Interest on convertible debentures represents interest charges of
$1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 ($5.2 million
for the nine months ended September 30, 2009) compared to $1.7 million
($6.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008), based on
interest at 6.75 percent, and accretion of the debt discount of $0.4
million (2008 - $0.3 million) for the three months ended September 30,
2009, and $1.1 million (2008 - $1.3 million) for the nine months ended
September 30, 2009. The decrease in interest and accretion in 2009 is
due to conversions of debentures to trust units that occurred during
2008.
Interest and Debt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest on bank debt ($000s)(1) 2,761 3,295 7,686 11,155
Interest and accretion on
convertible debentures ($000s) 1,727 1,739 5,176 5,952
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total interest ($000) 4,488 5,034 12,862 17,107
Bank debt outstanding at period end
($000s) 246,892 270,982 246,892 270,982
Convertible debentures at period end
($000s)(2) 75,144 73,628 75,144 73,628
$/boe:
Interest on bank debt 1.28 1.50 1.20 1.72
Interest on convertible debentures 0.62 0.62 0.63 0.71
Accretion on convertible debentures 0.18 0.17 0.18 0.21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total interest 2.08 2.29 2.01 2.64
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Excludes interest rate hedge impact.
(2) Debt component of the debentures, as reported on the balance sheet.
CASH FLOW NETBACK
For the quarter ended September 30, 2009, NAL's cash flow netback
was $25.88 per boe, a 37 percent decrease from $40.94 per boe for the
comparable period in 2008. The decrease was due to a lower operating
netback after hedging, higher G&A expenses, including unit-based
incentive compensation and the swing from interest income to interest
expense on the notes with MFC, partially offset by lower interest
charges.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, NAL's cash flow
netback was $27.00 per boe, a 33 percent decrease from $40.41 per boe in
2008. The decrease was due to a lower operating netback after hedging,
lower interest income on the notes with MFC and higher G&A expenses,
including unit-based incentive compensation, offset by lower interest
charges.
Cash Flow Netback ($/boe)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating netback, after hedging 31.61 44.11 31.60 44.74
G&A expenses, including unit-based
incentive compensation (3.67) (1.46) (2.75) (2.22)
Interest on bank debt and
convertible debentures(1) (1.90) (2.12) (1.83) (2.43)
Interest on notes with MFC(2) (0.06) 0.41 0.05 0.32
Realized loss on interest rate
derivative contracts (0.10) - (0.07) -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flow netback 25.88 40.94 27.00 40.41
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Excludes non-cash accretion on convertible debentures.
(2) Reported as other income.
DEPLETION, DEPRECIATION AND ACCRETION OF ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS ("DDA")
Depletion of oil and natural gas properties, including the
capitalized portion of the asset retirement obligations, and
depreciation of equipment is provided for on a unit-of-production basis
using estimated proved reserves volumes.
For the quarter ended September 30, 2009, depletion on property,
plant and equipment and accretion on the asset retirement obligations
was $22.38 per boe, six percent lower than the $23.71 per boe for the
same period in 2008. The decrease in depletion rate per boe in 2009
reflects an increase in proved reserves volumes and a decrease in the
related cost base, year-over-year. Similar trends are noted for the nine
months ended September 30, 2009.
The DDA rate will fluctuate period-over-period depending on the
amount and type of capital expenditures and the amount of reserves
added.
Depletion, Depreciation and Accretion Expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depletion and depreciation ($000s) 46,209 50,092 132,196 143,151
Accretion of asset retirement
obligation ($000s) 2,003 1,833 5,717 5,458
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total DDA ($000s) 48,212 51,925 137,913 148,609
DDA rate per boe ($) 22.38 23.71 21.56 22.85
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAXES
In the third quarter of 2009, NAL had a future income tax recovery
of $7.4 million compared to a $27.5 million expense in the corresponding
period of the prior year. For the nine month period ended September 30,
2009, NAL had a future income tax recovery of $25.8 million compared to
an $8.1 million expense in 2008.
The Trust is a taxable entity and files a trust income tax return
annually. The Trust's taxable income consists of royalty income,
distributions from a subsidiary trust and interest and dividends from
other subsidiaries, less deductions for the Trust's G&A expenses,
Canadian Oil and Gas Property Expense ("COGPE"), and issue costs. In
addition, Canadian Exploration Expense ("CEE"), Canadian Development
Expense ("CDE") and Undepreciated Capital Cost ("UCC") are incurred and
deducted by the Trust's subsidiaries. The Trust is taxable only on
remaining income, if any, that is not distributed to unitholders.
As at September 30, 2009, the Trust's (including all subsidiaries)
estimated tax pools (unaudited) available for deduction from future
taxable income approximated $964.1 million, of which approximately 35
percent represented COGPE and 22 percent represented UCC, with the
remaining balance represented by CEE, CDE, trust unit issue costs and
non-capital loss carry forwards.
Estimated Tax Pools ($ millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 30, 2009 December 31, 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canadian exploration expense 44 12
Canadian development expense 270 202
Canadian oil and gas property expense 339 301
Undepreciated capital costs 212 209
Other (including loss carry forwards) 99 14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total estimated tax pools 964 738
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on current strip prices at September 30, 2009, the Trust is not expected to be taxable in 2009.
Under the specified investment flow-through ("SIFT") legislation,
effective January 1, 2011, distributions to unitholders will not be
deductible against income by publicly traded income trusts and, as a
result, the Trust will be taxed on its income similar to corporations.
These measures are considered enacted for purposes of GAAP. Accordingly,
the Trust has measured future income tax assets and liabilities under
the SIFT tax rules. The scheduling of the reversal of temporary
differences is based on management's best estimates and current
assumptions, which may change. Bill C-10, containing the legislation for
the provincial SIFT rate, received Royal Assent on March 12, 2009. The
Alberta provincial tax rate for 2011 is expected to be 10 percent. This
will result in an effective combined SIFT rate of 26.5 percent in 2011
and 25.0 percent in 2012, a three percent decrease from that in the
original legislation.
NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST
The Trust has recorded a non-controlling interest in respect of the
50 percent ownership interest held by MFC in the Partnership holding the
Tiberius and Spear assets (see "Related Party Transactions").
The operations attributable to the Tiberius and Spear assets were as
follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000s) Net Impact to Net Impact to
2009(1) Trust(2) 2009(1) the Trust(2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total production volumes
(boes) 68,042 34,021 224,558 112,279
Production volumes (boe/d) 740 370 823 412
Oil, natural gas and liquid
sales 4,230 2,115 12,367 6,184
Royalties (463) (232) (1,540) (770)
Operating costs (569) (284) (2,993) (1,496)
General and administrative (79) (40) (240) (120)
Unit-based incentive
compensation (114) (57) (216) (108)
Interest income (expense),
net (250) (125) 580 290
Depletion, depreciation and
accretion (1,125) (562) (3,337) (1,669)
Net profit interest expense (1,471) (736) (3,046) (1,523)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income 159 79 1,575 788
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Total results of the Partnership consolidated into the results of the
Trust
(2) Net impact to the Trust, removing 50 percent of results attributable to
MFC
The non-controlling interest presented in the statement of income
has two components: the royalty paid to MFC under the NPI, being a cash
payment to the royalty holder, and 50 percent of net income remaining in
the Partnership, after NPI expense, attributable to MFC. This share of
net income attributable to MFC is a non-cash item.
The non-controlling interest in the consolidated statement of income is
comprised of:
Non-Controlling Interest ($000s)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net profits interest expense 736 2,010 1,523 7,071
Share of net income attributable to
MFC 80 1,151 788 2,107
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
816 3,161 2,311 9,178
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCOME
Net income is a measure impacted by both cash and non-cash items.
The largest non-cash items impacting the Trust's net income are DDA,
unrealized gains or losses on derivative contracts and future income
taxes.
Net income for the third quarter of 2009 was $8.2 million compared
to $111.0 million for the comparable period in 2008. The decrease of
$102.8 million was mainly due to decreased gains on derivative contracts
($81.1 million), decreased revenues net of royalties ($67.0 million)
and increased unit-based compensation ($4.4 million), partially offset
by decreased operating costs ($2.8 million), lower depletion (3.9
million), a future income tax recovery ($34.9 million) and no bad debt
expense in 2009 ($6.9 million).
Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 of $3.6
million was $103.6 million less than the net income of the comparable
period of 2008. The decrease in 2009 is attributable to decreased
revenues net of royalties ($197.6 million), increased operating costs
($3.9 million) and increased unit-based compensation $(4.0 million),
partly offset by increased gains on derivative contracts ($40.7
million), decreased future income taxes ($33.9 million), decreased DDA
expense ($11.0 million), decreased interest expense ($4.2 million) and
no bad debt expense in 2009 ($6.9 million).
Net Income ($000s)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Income 8,249 111,045 3,566 107,206
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
The capital structure of the Trust is comprised of trust units, bank debt and convertible debentures.
As at September 30, 2009, NAL had 112,327,078 trust units
outstanding, compared with 96,181,397 as at December 31, 2008. The
increase from December 31, 2008 is attributable to 5,675,834 units
issued on the acquisition of Clipper, 9,602,500 issued under an equity
offering and 867,347 units issued under the Trust's distribution
reinvestment program ("DRIP").
On May 28, 2009, the Trust closed an equity offering of 9,602,500
trust units at a price of $9.00 per trust unit for total gross proceeds
of $86.4 million, which included the exercise in full of the
over-allotment option granted to the underwriters as part of the
offering.
Under the DRIP, unitholders may elect to reinvest distributions or
make optional cash payments to acquire trust units from treasury under
the DRIP at 95 percent of the average market price with no additional
fees or commissions. The operation of the DRIP was reinstated effective
with the March distribution payable on April 15, 2009, following
suspension of the program in October 2008. Participation in the DRIP has
averaged 13.6 percent since reinstatement.
The premium distribution reinvestment plan ("Premium DRIP") allows
unitholders to exchange such units for a cash payment, from the plan
broker, equal to 102 percent of the monthly distribution. The Premium
DRIP program has been suspended since March 10, 2006.
As at September 30, 2009, the Trust had net debt of $373.4 million
(net of working capital and other liabilities, excluding derivative
contracts, note payable with MFC and future income taxes) including the
convertible debentures at face value of $79.7 million. Excluding the
convertible debentures, net debt was $293.7 million, compared with
$319.9 million at December 31, 2008. The decrease in net debt, excluding
convertible debentures, of $26.2 million during 2009 is attributable to
decreased bank debt of $35.4 million, offset by a negative change in
working capital of $9.2 million.
Bank debt outstanding was $246.9 million at September 30, 2009
compared with $282.3 million as at December 31, 2008. Of the $246.9
million outstanding at September 30, 2009, all is outstanding under the
production facility.
At the end of the third quarter, the Trust had a net debt (excluding
convertible debentures) to 12 months trailing cash flow ratio of 1.25
times and a total net debt (including convertible debentures) to 12
months trailing cash flow ratio of 1.59 times.
During the second quarter, the Trust renewed its credit facility at
the previously approved amount of $450 million. The credit facility is a
fully secured, extendible, revolving facility and will revolve until
April 28, 2010 at which time it is extendible for a further 364-day
revolving period upon agreement between the Trust and the bank
syndicate. The facility consists of a $440 million production facility
and a $10 million working capital facility. The credit facility is fully
secured by first priority security interests in all present and after
acquired properties and assets of the Trust and its subsidiary and
affiliated entities. The purpose of the facility is to fund property
acquisitions and capital expenditures. Principal repayments to the bank
are not required at this time. Should principal repayments become
mandatory, and in the absence of refinancing arrangements, the Trust
would be required to repay the facility in five equal quarterly
installments commencing April 29, 2011.
The Trust has outstanding $79.7 million principal amount of 6.75%
convertible extendible unsecured subordinated debentures. Interest on
the debentures is paid semi-annually in arrears, on February 28 and
August 31, and the debentures are convertible at the option of the
holder, at any time, into fully paid trust units at a conversion price
of $14.00 per trust unit. The debentures mature on August 31, 2012 at
which time they are due and payable. The debentures are redeemable by
the Trust at a price of $1,050 per debenture on or after September 1,
2010 and on or before August 31, 2011, and at a price of $1,025 per
debenture on or after September 1, 2011 and on or before August 31,
2012. On redemption or maturity, the Trust may opt to satisfy its
obligation to repay the principal by issuing trust units. If all of the
outstanding debentures were converted at the conversion price, an
additional 5.7 million trust units would be required to be issued.
The convertible debentures are classified as debt on the balance
sheet with a portion of the proceeds allocated to equity, representing
the value of the conversion feature. As the debentures are converted to
trust units, a portion of the debt and equity amounts are transferred to
Unitholders' Capital. The debt component of the convertible debentures
is carried net of issue costs of $4 million. The debt balance, net of
issue costs, accretes over time to the principal amount owing on
maturity. The accretion of the debt discount and the interest paid to
debenture holders are expensed each period as part of the line item
"interest and accretion on convertible debentures" in the consolidated
statement of income.
The Trust recognized $0.4 million (2008 - $0.3 million) of accretion
of the debt discount in the third quarter of 2009 and $1.1 million
(2008 - $1.3 million) year-to-date.
As at November 2, 2009, the Trust has 112,456,063 trust units and $79.7 million in convertible debentures outstanding.
Capitalization
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sept. 30, Dec. 31, Sept. 30,
2009 2008 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trust unit equity ($000s) 600,404 557,263 545,551
Bank debt ($000s) 246,892 282,332 270,982
Working capital deficit
(surplus)(1) ($000s) 46,788 37,602 32,348
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net debt excluding convertible
debentures ($000s) 293,680 319,934 303,330
Convertible debentures ($000s)(2) 79,744 79,744 79,744
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net debt ($000s) 373,424 399,678 383,074
Net debt excluding convertible
debentures to trailing 12-month
cash flow(3) 1.25 1.03 1.00
Total net debt to trailing 12-month
cash flow(3) 1.59 1.28 1.26
Trust units outstanding (000s) 112,327 96,181 95,945
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Working capital and other liabilities, excluding derivative contracts,
future income taxes and notes with MFC.
(2) Convertible debentures included at face value.
(3) Calculated as net debt divided by funds from operations for the previous
12 months.
The current economic slowdown, reduced availability of credit, and
challenging equity markets have resulted in the Trust setting its
objective for 2009 to operating within forecasted funds from operations
and targeting an annual total payout ratio of not more than 110 percent
(distributions plus capital expenditures). Funds from operations is a
non-GAAP measure used by management as an indicator of the Trust's
ability to generate cash from operations. Currently, the Trust has a
bank line of $450 million of which $247 million is drawn down at
September 30, 2009, leaving available capacity of $203 million.
On March 11, 2009, the Trust announced a reduction in distributions
from $0.11 per unit to $0.09 per unit commencing with the distribution
to be paid on April 15, 2009. This reduction was made in response to
declining commodity prices, taking into account the needs of the ongoing
capital program and the maintenance of a strong balance sheet.
For 2009, the Trust is benefiting from an active hedging program at
prices above current market levels. Currently, the Trust has in place
oil hedges for approximately 44 percent of net forecasted production
(after royalty) for the remaining three months of 2009. Volumes are
hedged at an average floor price of $85.14 per boe. For natural gas,
remaining 2009 hedges total approximately 54 percent of net budgeted
production volumes hedged at an average floor price in excess of $5.73
per GJ (or $6.04 per Mcf).
NAL's capital program for 2009 has been designed to be scalable and
flexible in response to commodity prices and market conditions. The
initial plan for a $110 million capital program, with the expectation to
drill approximately 82 (40 net) wells, was reduced in February by $15
million in response to weaker commodity prices. Based upon positive
second quarter performance and the opportunities added, the Trust
increased its capital program to $125 - $135 million. The Trust, through
the Manager, operates over 90 percent of the assets to which the
capital program is directed, allowing for significant flexibility over
the timing and scale of the program.
Fluctuations in commodity prices, other market factors and growth
opportunities may make it necessary to adjust planned capital
expenditures or distribution levels.
Under the tax legislation regarding the change in the taxation of
income trusts, the Trust has a grandfathering period to 2011, when the
rules come into effect. The grandfathering period restricts "undue
expansion" of the Trust by placing growth limits for issuances of equity
and convertible debt, based on the market capitalization of the Trust
on October 31, 2006, the date of the announcement of the changes in the
tax legislation. For the remainder of 2009 and 2010, the Trust has
approximately $965.7 million of available safe harbour, excluding the
impact of the Breaker acquisition, all of which is currently available.
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION
At September 30, 2009, the Trust reported an asset retirement
obligation ("ARO") balance of $102.8 million ($90.8 million as at
December 31, 2008) for future abandonment and reclamation of the Trust's
oil and gas properties and facilities. The ARO balance was increased by
$7.7 million in relation to the acquisition of Clipper and Spearpoint,
$1.7 million due to liabilities incurred and revisions to estimates and
$5.7 million from accretion expense, and was reduced by $3.1 million for
actual abandonment and environmental expenditures incurred during the
first nine months.
DISTRIBUTIONS TO UNITHOLDERS
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Trust
distributed 57 percent and 48 percent of its cash flow from operating
activities, respectively, as compared to 46 percent and 56 percent for
the same periods in 2008. The payout associated with cash flow from
operating activities will fluctuate significantly period over period as
cash flow from operating activities includes changes in non-cash working
capital associated with operating activities. The Trust has distributed
in excess of its net income in each period, due to the non-cash charges
included in net income. Cash flow from operations usually exceeds net
income, as net income includes non-cash charges such as DDA, future
income tax expense and unrealized gains and losses on derivative
contracts.
The Board of Directors of NAL Energy Inc. sets distribution levels
taking into consideration commodity prices, the forecasted cash flow of
the Trust, financial market conditions, availability of financing,
internal capital investment opportunities and taxability.
Given that distributions have exceeded net income during 2009, the
excess could be considered to be an economic return of capital to the
unitholders. The Trust's business model is such that it distributes a
certain proportion of its cash flow while retaining cash to execute
planned capital programs. As a result of the depleting nature of oil and
gas assets, some capital expenditure is required in order to minimize
production declines as well as to invest in facilities and
infrastructure. NAL's 2009 capital program may not fully replace
production. When the Trust sets distribution levels, depletion expense
is not considered to be an indicative measure for maintaining productive
capacity and, therefore, net income is not considered a driver of
distribution levels. The Trust grows its productive capacity and
sustains its cash flow through development activities and acquisitions.
NAL's productive capacity and future cash flow will be dependent on its
ability to acquire assets and continue to find economic reserves.
Acquisitions are financed through equity, debt or a combination of the
two.
Generally, the capital expenditures of the Trust and the
distributions in any given period exceed the cash flow from operating
activities. The shortfall is financed from the credit facility. However,
given the current economic slowdown, the Trust is targeting cash flow
to be no more than 110 percent of distributions and capital expenditures
on an annual basis in order to preserve the Trust's balance sheet.
Fluctuations in commodity prices, other market factors and growth
opportunities may make it necessary to adjust forecasted capital
expenditures or distribution levels.
NAL intends to continue to make cash distributions to unitholders.
However, these cash distributions cannot be guaranteed. The primary
drivers of the level of distributions are the factors that contribute to
cash flow, namely production, operating costs and commodity prices. The
future sustainability of this distribution policy will be dependent
upon maintaining productive capacity through both capital expenditures
and acquisitions. A significant further decrease in commodity prices or
continuing low commodity prices may impact cash from operating
activities, access to credit facilities and the Trust's ability to fund
operations and maintain distributions.
Distributions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------
($000s except for percentages) 2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flow from operating activities 52,999 98,860 183,235 242,716
Net income 8,249 111,045 3,566 107,206
Actual cash distributions paid or
payable 30,290 45,968 87,528 135,295
Excess of cash flow from operating
activities over cash distribution
paid 22,709 52,892 95,707 107,421
Percentage of cash flow from
operations distributed 57% 46% 48% 56%
Excess (shortfall) of net income
over cash distributions paid (22,041) 65,077 (83,962) (28,089)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
As stated in the non-GAAP measures section of the MD&A, NAL uses
funds from operations as a key performance indicator to measure the
ability of the Trust to generate cash from operations and to pay monthly
distributions.
For the three months ended September 30, 2009, funds from operations
amounted to $53.8 million, compared with $79.2 million for the three
months ended September 30, 2008. The 32 percent decrease is primarily
due to lower revenues resulting from lower commodity prices. On a per
trust unit basis, funds from operations decreased 42 percent from $0.83
in 2008 to $0.48 in 2009.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, funds from operations
decreased 31 percent to $167.8 from $244.0 million for the comparable
period of 2008. The decrease is primarily due to lower revenues driven
by lower commodity prices, offset by realized hedging gains of $68.8
million.
Funds from Operations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funds from operations ($000s) 53,766 79,233 167,788 244,031
Funds from operations per trust unit 0.48 0.83 1.62 2.60
Payout ratio based on funds from
operations 56% 58% 52% 55%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
NAL has no variable interest entities.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Joint Venture Partnership Agreement:
Effective April 20, 2009, the Trust and MFC entered into a joint
venture partnership agreement with a senior industry partner. The
arrangement consists of a three year commitment to spend $50 million to
earn an interest in freehold and crown acreage. The Trust has a 65
percent interest in this agreement and MFC a 35 percent interest and
therefore the Trust's net commitment is $32.5 million. The agreement is
exclusive and structured to be extendible for up to an additional six
years for a total potential commitment of $150 million ($97.5 million
net) to earn an interest in over 150 sections (97.5 net) of freehold and
crown acreage. If the capital spending commitments are not met,
interests in the freehold and crown acreage will not be earned and the
Trust will not be required to pay unspent commitment amounts to the
senior industry partner. As at September 30, 2009, the Trust had spent
$2.4 million under this arrangement.
Farm-in Agreement:
Effective August 10, 2009, the Trust and MFC entered into a Farm-in
Agreement with a senior industry partner. The arrangement consists of a
two year initial commitment, with a minimum capital commitment of $40
million in the first year and $57 million in the second year, with an
option for a third year, at NAL's election, for an additional $50
million commitment. The Trust has a 60 percent interest in this
agreement and MFC a 40 percent interest. The Agreement provides the
opportunity to earn an interest in approximately 1,400 gross sections of
undeveloped oil and gas rights in Alberta held by the partner. If the
capital spending commitments are not met, interest in the acreage will
not be earned and the Trust will not be required to pay any unspent
amounts under the Agreement. As at September 30, 2009, no amounts have
been spent under this agreement.
Flow-through shares:
In conjunction with the acquisition of Clipper, the Trust assumed
flow-through share obligations related to common shares issued by
Clipper on December 4, 2008. As a result, the Trust must incur
qualifying resource expenditures amounting to $7.5 million before
December 31, 2009. The related tax impact was recorded on the
acquisition of Clipper. The qualifying expenditures were renounced to
shareholders of Clipper as at December 31, 2008. The obligation
remaining for this flow-through share issue was $2.6 million as at
September 30, 2009.
Other:
NAL has entered into several contractual obligations as part of conducting
day-to-day business. NAL has the following commitments for the next five
years:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000s) 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office lease(1) 1,036 3,798 - - -
Office lease - Clipper(2) 173 692 699 703 234
Transportation agreement 680 1,317 1,317 306 -
Processing agreement(3) 84 428 414 401 384
Convertible debentures(4) - - - 79,744 -
Bank debt - - 148,135 98,757 -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1,973 6,235 150,565 179,911 618
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Represents the full amount of office lease commitments, including both
base rent and operating costs, in relation to the lease held by the
Manager, of which the Trust is allocated a pro rata share (currently
approximately 58 percent) of the expense on a monthly basis.
(2) Represents the full amount of the office lease assumed with the
acquisition of Clipper. MFC will reimburse the Trust for 50 percent of
the obligation under the base price adjustment clause (see "Acquisition
of Alberta Clipper Energy Inc.")
(3) Represents a gas processing agreement with a take or pay component.
(4) Principal amount.
QUARTERLY INFORMATION
2009 2008 2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000s, except
per unit and
production
amounts) Q3 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 Q4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue,
net of
royalties(1) 85,988 60,922 77,791 161,156 234,993 58,861 89,611 86,262
Per unit 0.77 0.60 0.81 1.68 2.46 0.63 0.98 0.96
Funds from
operations(2) 53,766 51,998 62,024 67,040 79,233 88,578 76,220 59,537
Per unit 0.48 0.51 0.64 0.70 0.83 0.94 0.83 0.66
Net income
(loss) 8,249 (9,407) 4,724 55,374 111,045 (17,572) 13,733 10,556
Per unit
basic 0.07 (0.09) 0.05 0.58 1.16 (0.19) 0.15 0.12
diluted 0.07 (0.09) 0.05 0.56 1.11 (0.19) 0.15 0.12
Average oil
equivalent
production
(boe/d - 6:1) 23,418 23,049 23,836 23,984 23,808 23,791 23,601 23,656
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Represents revenue, net of royalties, plus gain (loss) on derivative
contracts
(2) Represents cash flow from operating activities prior to the change in
non-cash working capital items
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES ("DC&P")
NAL's certifying officers have designed DC&P, or caused them to
be designed under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance
that all material information required to be disclosed by NAL in its
interim filings is processed, summarized and reported within the time
periods specified in applicable securities legislation.
INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING ("ICFR")
NAL's certifying officers are responsible for establishing and
maintaining ICFR. They have designed ICFR, or caused it to be designed
under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with Canadian GAAP. The
control framework the officers used to design NAL's ICFR is the Internal
Control - Integrated Framework published by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO").
While management believes that NAL's controls provide a reasonable
level of assurance with regard to their effectiveness, they do not
expect that the DC&P or ICFR will prevent all errors and fraud. A
control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide
only reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the
control system are met.
There were no material changes in the Trust's ICFR for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The significant accounting policies used by NAL are disclosed in the
notes to NAL's December 31, 2008 audited consolidated financial
statements. Certain accounting policies require that management make
appropriate decisions when formulating estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and
expenses. The Manager reviews the estimates regularly. The emergence of
new information and changed circumstances may result in actual results
or changes in estimated amounts that differ materially from current
estimates. NAL might realize different results from the application of
new accounting standards published, from time to time, by various
regulatory bodies. An assessment of NAL's significant accounting
estimates is discussed in the MD&A filed with NAL's audited
consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Effective January 1, 2009, the Trust implemented the provisions of
CICA Handbook Section 3064, "Goodwill and Intangible Assets". Section
3064 establishes standards for the recognition, measurement,
presentation and disclosure of goodwill and intangible assets. Standards
concerning goodwill are unchanged from the previous standards,
resulting in no impact to the consolidated financial statements of the
Trust from the implementation of this Section.
Financial Instruments - Disclosures
In May 2009, the CICA amended Section 3862, "Financial Instruments -
Disclosures", to include additional disclosure requirements about fair
value measurement for financial instruments and liquidity risk
disclosures. These amendments require a three level hierarchy that
reflects the significance of the inputs used in making the fair value
measurements. Fair values of assets and liabilities included in Level 1
are determined by reference to quoted prices in active markets for
identical assets and liabilities. Assets and liabilities in Level 2
include valuations using inputs other than quoted prices for which all
significant outputs are observable, either directly or indirectly. Level
3 valuations are based on inputs that are unobservable and significant
to the overall fair value measurement. These amendments became effective
for NAL on December 31, 2009.
FUTURE ACCOUNTING CHANGES
International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS")
The Trust continues to prepare for the forthcoming conversion to
IFRS. 2009 activities to date have concentrated on an in-depth review of
the significant Canadian GAAP differences and their related policy
choices. Other areas being addressed include the impacts on information
systems, internal controls, financial reporting, debt covenants and
compensation arrangements. For further details on the transition plan
please refer to the annual MD&A.
Dated: November 3, 2009
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(thousands of dollars) (unaudited)
As at As at
September 30, 2009 December 31, 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 5,004 $ 5,584
Accounts receivable and other 52,989 57,825
Note receivable (Note 3) - 49,599
Derivative contracts (Note 12) 10,835 65,680
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
68,828 178,688
Derivative contracts (Note 12) 5,508 -
Future income tax asset 7,721 -
Goodwill 14,722 14,722
Property, plant and equipment (Notes
2 and 4) 1,051,494 1,017,187
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1,148,273 $1,210,597
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liabilities and Unitholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued
liabilities $ 87,194 $ 84,732
Note payable (Note 3) 9,227 9,609
Distributions payable to unitholders 10,109 15,389
Future income tax liability 1,172 16,788
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
107,702 126,518
Bank debt (Note 5) 246,892 282,332
Convertible debentures (Note 6) 75,144 74,004
Derivative contracts (Note 12) 4,016 274
Other liabilities (Note 7) 7,478 890
Asset retirement obligations (Note 9) 102,771 90,844
Future income tax liability - 22,092
Non-controlling interest (Note 10) 3,866 56,380
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
547,869 653,334
Unitholders' equity
Unitholders' capital (Note 11) 1,169,286 1,042,183
Equity component of convertible
debentures (Note 6) 4,592 4,592
Deficit (Note 11) (573,474) (489,512)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
600,404 557,263
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1,148,273 $1,210,597
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitments (Note 13)
Subsequent event (Note 14)
Trust units outstanding (000s) 112,327 96,181
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND DEFICIT
(thousands of dollars, except per unit amounts) (unaudited)
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue
Oil, natural gas and
liquid sales $ 87,373 $ 176,437 $ 252,752 $ 510,877
Crown royalties (9,563) (27,415) (30,917) (78,097)
Freehold and other royalties (5,387) (9,600) (13,775) (27,170)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
72,423 139,422 208,060 405,610
Gain (loss) on derivative
contracts (Note 12):
Realized gain (loss) 18,819 (16,627) 68,740 (43,848)
Unrealized gain (loss) (5,499) 111,053 (53,487) 18,370
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
13,320 94,426 15,253 (25,478)
Other income 245 1,145 1,388 3,333
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
85,988 234,993 224,701 383,465
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses
Operating 22,657 25,463 73,056 69,179
Transportation 1,075 989 3,142 2,879
General and administrative 4,095 3,757 10,753 11,653
Unit-based incentive
compensation (Note 8) 3,805 (561) 6,865 2,816
Interest on bank debt 2,761 3,295 7,686 11,155
Interest and accretion on
convertible debentures 1,727 1,739 5,176 5,952
Bad debt expense - 6,901 - 6,901
Depletion, depreciation
and amortization 46,209 50,092 132,196 143,151
Accretion on asset
retirement obligations 2,003 1,833 5,717 5,458
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
84,332 93,508 244,591 259,144
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) before taxes
and non-controlling interest 1,656 141,485 (19,890) 124,321
Income tax recovery - 209 1 203
Future income tax
reduction
(expense) 7,409 (27,488) 25,766 (8,140)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total income tax reduction
(expense) 7,409 (27,279) 25,767 (7,937)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before non-controlling
interest 9,065 114,206 5,877 116,384
Non-controlling interest
(Note 10) (816) (3,161) (2,311) (9,178)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income and comprehensive
income 8,249 111,045 3,566 107,206
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deficit, beginning of
period (551,433) (563,796) (489,512) (470,630)
Net income 8,249 111,045 3,566 107,206
Distributions declared (30,290) (45,968) (87,528) (135,295)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deficit, end of period $(573,474) $ (498,719) $(573,474) $ (498,719)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income per trust unit
(Note 11)
Basic $ 0.07 $ 1.16 $ 0.03 $ 1.14
Diluted $ 0.07 $ 1.11 $ 0.03 $ 1.13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average trust
units outstanding (000s) 112,109 95,664 103,444 93,834
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(thousands of dollars) (unaudited)
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Activities
Net income $ 8,249 $ 111,045 $ 3,566 $ 107,206
Items not involving cash:
Depletion, depreciation and
amortization 46,209 50,092 132,196 143,151
Accretion on asset
retirement obligations 2,003 1,833 5,717 5,458
Unrealized loss (gain) on
derivative contracts 5,499 (111,053) 53,487 (18,370)
Future income tax
(reduction) expense (7,409) 27,488 (25,766) 8,140
Non-cash accretion expense
on convertible debentures 382 379 1,140 1,320
Non-controlling interest 80 1,151 788 2,107
Lease amortization (217) - (217) -
Abandonment and
environmental expenditures (1,030) (1,702) (3,123) (4,981)
Change in non-cash working
capital (767) 19,627 15,447 (1,315)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
52,999 98,860 183,235 242,716
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financing Activities
Distributions paid to
unitholders (25,828) (38,918) (85,178) (113,550)
Increase (decrease) in bank
debt 2,569 (37,133) (114,292) (4,648)
Issue of trust units, net of
issue costs (424) - 81,593 (14)
Note repayment from MFC
(Note 3) - - 49,599 -
Partnership distribution
paid to MFC - (1,500) (53,302) (1,500)
Change in non-cash working
capital (5,697) - (5,615) (426)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(29,380) (77,551) (127,195) (120,138)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investing Activities
Additions to property, plant
and equipment (42,376) (53,189) (96,264) (109,260)
Property acquisitions - (373) (2,799) (8,249)
Proceeds from dispositions - - 265 40
Acquisition of Clipper
(Note 2) (84) - (833) -
Disposition of Clipper
(Note 2) 645 - 53,302 -
Acquisition of Spearpoint
(Note 2) (9,749) - (9,749) -
Disposition of Spearpoint
(Note 2) 6,772 - 6,772 -
Acquisition of Tiberius and
Spear - (14) - (77,369)
Disposition of Tiberius and
Spear - - - 58,221
Acquisition of Seneca - - - 337
Change in non-cash working
capital 16,196 21,909 (7,314) 14,817
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(28,596) (31,667) (56,620) (121,463)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in cash
and cash equivalents (4,977) (10,358) (580) 1,115
Cash and cash equivalents,
beginning of period 9,981 12,867 5,584 1,394
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents,
end of period $ 5,004 $ 2,509 $ 5,004 $ 2,509
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supplementary disclosure of
cash flow information:
Cash paid (received) during
the period for:
Interest $ 4,883 $ 4,913 $ 14,161 $ 14,777
Tax $ (206) $ 2,202 $ (278) $ 6,905
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents is
comprised of:
Cash $ 5,004 $ 2,509 $ 5,004 $ 2,509
Short term investments - - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 5,004 $ 2,509 $ 5,004 $ 2,509
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refer to Notes 2, 9 and 11 for significant non-cash amounts not included in
the cash flow statement.
See accompanying notes.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Nine months ended September 30, 2009
(Tabular amounts in thousands of dollars, except per unit amounts)
(unaudited)
1) SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Management prepared the interim consolidated financial statements of
NAL Oil & Gas Trust ("NAL" or the "Trust") in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in Canada and following the
same accounting policies and methods of computation as the consolidated
financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. The
following disclosure is incremental to the disclosure included within
the annual financial statements. Please read the interim consolidated
financial statements in conjunction with the consolidated financial
statements and notes thereto in NAL's annual report for the year ended
December 31, 2008.
Financial Instruments - Disclosures
In May 2009, the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants amended
Section 3862, "Financial Instruments - Disclosures", to include
additional disclosure requirements about fair value measurement for
financial instruments and liquidity risk disclosures. These amendments
require a three level hierarchy that reflects the significance of the
inputs used in making the fair value measurements. Fair values of
assets and liabilities included in Level 1 are determined by reference
to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
Assets and liabilities in Level 2 include valuations using inputs
other than quoted prices for which all significant outputs are
observable, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 valuations are based
on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair
value measurement. These amendments became effective for NAL on
December 31, 2009.
2) CORPORATE ACQUISITIONS
i) Alberta Clipper Energy Inc.
Effective June 1, 2009, the Trust acquired all of the issued and
outstanding common shares of Alberta Clipper Energy Inc. ("Clipper"),
which has interests in petroleum and natural gas properties and
undeveloped land in Alberta and northeast British Columbia.
As consideration the Trust issued 5.7 million trust units at a price
of $6.45 a trust unit for total consideration, before acquisition
costs, of $36.6 million. The trust unit price was based on the weighted
average market price of trust units at the date of announcement, being
March 23, 2009. This purchase price included the assumption of $78.9
million in bank debt.
The results of Clipper have been included in the accounts of the
Trust from June 1, 2009. The transaction was accounted for using the
purchase method of accounting. The fair values assigned to the net
assets, and the consideration paid by the Trust, are as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Assets acquired:
Working capital deficiency (including cash of $2) $ (1,886)
Derivative contract 408
Property, plant and equipment 115,945
Future income taxes 17,858
Excess office lease obligation(1) (1,446)
Asset retirement obligations (14,592)
Bank debt (78,852)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 37,435
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consideration:
Issuance of trust units $ 36,600
Acquisition costs 835
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 37,435
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Represents the present value of an office lease obligation, in excess of
the value of a sublease.
The above amounts are estimates made by management based on
currently available information. Amendments may be made to the purchase
allocation as cost estimates and balances are finalized.
Concurrent with the acquisition, the Trust entered into a Purchase
and Sale Agreement ("PSA") with Manulife Financial Corporation ("MFC"),
pursuant to which MFC acquired a 50% working interest in the Clipper
petroleum and natural gas properties for a cash base price of $52.5
million. The cash received from MFC was used to partially repay the
assumed bank debt.
Included within the PSA is a base price adjustment clause that
ensures the Trust and MFC share equally in all assets or liabilities
related to Clipper that pertain to periods on or prior to the effective
date of the acquisition, regardless of their date of discovery or
disclosure. The base price adjustment calculation will adjust the
purchase price that MFC pays the Trust for any change in working capital
from amounts determined at the time the base price of $52.5 million was
established. In addition, the costs associated with contracts
outstanding at the date of acquisition will be equally shared between
both parties on an ongoing basis as the obligations are settled by the
Trust. The amounts due under this base price adjustment clause are to
be settled no more than quarterly commencing December 2009. As at
September 30, 2009, the Trust had a receivable from MFC of $0.8 million
relating to the base price adjustment.
As a result, after taking into effect the MFC disposition and MFC's
share of the assets and liabilities to be settled under the base price
adjustment clause, the Trust acquired property, plant and equipment of
$55.4 million, a derivative contract of $0.4 million and a future tax
asset of $17.9 million and assumed asset retirement obligations of $7.3
million, bank debt of $26.4 million, a working capital deficiency of
$1.1 million and a lease obligation of $1.5 million, for consideration
of $37.4 million, including estimated acquisition costs.
ii) Spearpoint Energy Corp.
Effective August 10, 2009, the Trust acquired all of the issued and
outstanding common shares of Spearpoint Energy Corp. ("Spearpoint") for
cash of $10.6 million, prior to acquisition costs. The fair values
assigned to the net assets, and the consideration paid by the Trust, are
as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Assets acquired:
Cash $ 1,201
Working capital deficiency (2,183)
Property, plant and equipment 17,792
Future income taxes 525
Asset retirement obligation (685)
Note payable (5,700)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 10,950
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consideration:
Cash $ 10,590
Acquisition costs 360
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 10,950
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The above amounts are estimates made by management based on
currently available information. Amendments may be made to the purchase
allocation as cost estimates and balances are finalized.
Concurrent with the acquisition, the Trust entered into a Purchase
and Sale Agreement (the "Spearpoint PSA") with MFC, pursuant to which
MFC acquired a 40 percent working interest in all of the Spearpoint
petroleum and natural gas properties and the farm-in agreement for a
base price of $6.5 million payable in cash.
Included within the Spearpoint PSA is a base price adjustment clause
that ensures the Trust and MFC share 60 percent / 40 percent,
respectively, in all assets or liabilities related to Spearpoint that
pertain to periods on or prior to the effective date of the acquisition,
regardless of their date of discovery or disclosure. The base price
adjustment calculation will adjust the purchase price that MFC pays the
Trust for any change in working capital from amounts determined at the
time the base price of $6.5 million was established. As at September
30, 2009, the Trust had a receivable from MFC of $0.3 million relating
to these price adjustments.
As a result, after taking into effect the MFC disposition and MFC's
share of the assets and liabilities to be settled under the base price
adjustment clause, the Trust acquired property, plant and equipment of
$10.7 million and a future income tax asset of $0.5 million and assumed a
note payable of $5.7 million, asset retirement obligations of $0.4
million and a working capital deficiency of $0.9 million, for
consideration of $4.2 million.
3) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Trust is managed by NAL Resources Management Limited (the
"Manager"). The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFC and also
manages on their behalf NAL Resources Limited, another wholly-owned
subsidiary of MFC.
The Manager provides certain services to the Trust pursuant to an
administrative services and cost sharing agreement. This agreement
requires the Trust to reimburse the Manager, at cost, for general and
administrative ("G&A") expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of
the Trust. The Trust paid $3.4 million (2008 - $3.1 million) for the
reimbursement of G&A expenses during the third quarter and $8.7
million (2008 - $9.6 million) in the year-to-date. The Trust also pays
the Manager its share of unit-based compensation expense when cash
compensation is paid to employees under the terms of the Manager's
incentive compensation plans, of which, $2.3 million has been paid
year-to-date relating to notional units that vested on November 30, 2008
(2008 - $1.8 million).
The Trust and a wholly owned subsidiary of MFC jointly own a limited
partnership (the "Partnership"). This Partnership holds the assets
acquired from the acquisition of Tiberius Exploration Inc. and Spear
Exploration Inc. ("Tiberius and Spear") in February 2008. Both the
Trust and MFC have entered into net profit interest royalty agreements
("NPI") with the Partnership. These agreements entitle each royalty
holder to a 49.5 percent interest in the cash flow from the
Partnership's reserves. In exchange for this interest, the royalty
holders each paid $49.6 million to the Partnership by way of promissory
notes in 2008. Although the MFC note resided in the Partnership, it was
consolidated by virtue of the Trust having control of the Partnership
as described below.
The Trust, by virtue of being the owner of the general partner under
the partnership agreement, is required to consolidate the results of
the Partnership into its financial statements on the basis that the
Trust has control over the Partnership.
During the first quarter of 2009, MFC repaid the note receivable to
the Partnership for $49.6 million. The note receivable bore interest at
prime plus three percent. The Partnership then paid an equal
distribution of $49.6 million to MFC. This resulted in a $49.6 million
reduction to the non-controlling interest (Note 10).
As at September 30, 2009, there is a note payable of $9.2 million
with MFC arising from the Tiberius and Spear acquisition. The note
payable is included on consolidation of the Partnership, but is
effectively eliminated through the non-controlling interest. The note
is due on demand, unsecured and bears interest at prime plus three
percent. The amount of the note payable to MFC is adjusted to reflect
MFC's share of the capital expenditures of the Partnership which MFC has
funded, less any loan repayments made.
Net interest expense on these notes of $0.1 million was payable by
the Trust for the third quarter of 2009 (2008 - $0.9 million net
interest income), and net interest income of $0.3 million (2008 - $2.1
million) year-to-date was received by the Trust and is reported as other
income.
The following amounts are due to and from related parties as at
September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 and have been included in
accounts receivable, note receivable, accounts payable and accrued
liabilities and note payable on the balance sheet:
September 30, December 31,
2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Due to NAL Resources Limited(1) $ 2,782 $ (10,042)
Due to NAL Resources Management Limited (1,776) (3,881)
Due (to) from Manulife Financial
Corporation(2) (9,979) 45,512
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ (8,973) $ 31,589
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Includes base price adjustment due (to) from MFC, relating to the
Clipper and Spearpoint asset dispositions to MFC, of $1.1 million
(Note 2).
(2) Included on consolidation, eliminated through non-controlling interest.
Represents note payable $9.2 million (2008 - $9.6 million), plus
amounts due from (to) MFC of ($0.8) million (2008 - $5.5 million),
presented in accounts payable/ accounts receivable, relating to the net
interest and NPI amounts due.
4. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
September 30, December 31,
2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Petroleum and natural gas properties,
at cost $ 2,076,027 $ 1,909,524
Less: Accumulated depletion and
depreciation (1,024,533) (892,337)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 1,051,494 $ 1,017,187
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Costs associated with undeveloped land and unproved properties of
$46.8 million (2008 - $34.3 million) have been excluded from the
depletion calculation for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
Future development costs for proved reserves of $41.8 million (2008 -
$49.8 million) have been included in the depletion calculation.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Trust
capitalized $4.3 million (2008 - $3.2 million) of G&A costs and $2.8
million (2008 - $1.2 million) of unit-based incentive compensation that
were directly related to exploitation and development programs.
5. BANK DEBT
September 30, December 31,
2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Production loan facility $ 246,892 $ 281,984
Working capital facility - 348
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total debt outstanding $ 246,892 $ 282,332
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Trust maintains a fully secured, extendible, revolving term
credit facility with a syndicate of Canadian chartered banks and one
U.S. based lender. The facility consists of a $440 million production
facility and a $10 million working capital facility. The total amount
of the facility is determined by reference to a borrowing base. The
borrowing base is calculated by the bank syndicate and is based on the
net present value of the Trust's oil and gas reserves and other assets.
Given that the borrowing base is dependent on the Trust's reserves and
future commodity prices, lending limits are subject to change on
renewal.
The credit facility is fully secured by first priority security
interests in all existing and future acquired properties and assets of
the Trust and its subsidiary and affiliated entities. The facility will
revolve until April 28, 2010 at which time it may be extended for a
further 364-day revolving period upon agreement between the Trust and
the bank syndicate. If the credit facility is not extended in April
2010, the amounts outstanding at that time will be converted to a
two-year term loan. The term loan will be payable in five equal
quarterly installments commencing April 29, 2011.
The Trust is restricted under the credit facility from making
distributions to its unitholders in excess of its consolidated operating
cash flow during the 18 month period preceding the distribution date.
The Trust is in compliance with this covenant.
Amounts are advanced under the credit facility in Canadian dollars
by way of prime interest rate based loans and by issues of bankers'
acceptances and in U.S. dollars by way of U.S. based interest rate and
Libor based loans. The interest charged on advances is at the
prevailing interest rate for bankers' acceptances, Libor loans, lenders'
prime or U.S. base rates plus an applicable margin or stamping fee.
The applicable margin or stamping fee, if any, varies based on the
consolidated debt-to-cash flow ratio of the Trust. As at September 30,
2009 and December 31, 2008 all amounts outstanding were in Canadian
dollars.
On September 30, 2009 the effective interest rate on amounts
outstanding under the credit facility was 3.68 percent (2008 - 4.52
percent). The Trust's interest charge includes this fixed interest rate
component, plus a standby fee, a stamping fee and the fee for renewal.
6. CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
The following table reconciles the principal amount, debt component and equity component of the convertible debentures.
Debt Equity
Principal amount of component of component of
debentures debentures debentures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 2007 $ 100,000 $ 90,876 $ 5,759
Conversion to trust units (20,256) (18,568) (1,167)
Accretion - 1,696 -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 2008 $ 79,744 $ 74,004 $ 4,592
Accretion - 1,140 -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, September 30, 2009 $ 79,744 $ 75,144 $ 4,592
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. OTHER LIABILITIES
September 30, December 31,
2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit-based incentive compensation $ 6,600 $ 890
Excess office lease obligation (Note 2)(1) 878 -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 7,478 $ 890
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Represents the present value of the long-term portion of the office
lease obligation, in excess of a sub-lease, assumed on the acquisition
of Clipper. MFC will reimburse the Trust for 50 percent of the
obligation under the base price adjustment clause (Note 2).
8. UNIT-BASED INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
The Trust recorded a total compensation expense of $9.7 million in
the first nine months of 2009, of which $6.9 million was recorded as an
expense and $2.8 million as property, plant and equipment ($1.8 million
was expensed and $0.8 million recorded as property, plant and equipment
for the year ended December 31, 2008). The compensation expense was
based on the September 30, 2009 trust unit price of $12.70 (December 31,
2008 - $8.05), accrued distributions, performance factors and the
number of units vesting on maturity.
The following table reconciles the change in total accrued trust unit-based incentive compensation relating to the plan:
Nine months ended Year ended
Sept. 30, 2009 December 31, 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, beginning of period $ 6,274 $ 5,311
Increase in liability 9,679 2,730
Cash payout, relating to units
vested (2,324) (1,767)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, end of period $ 13,629 $ 6,274
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current portion of liability(1) $ 7,029 $ 5,384
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-term liability(2) $ 6,600 $ 890
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
(2) Included in other liabilities.
9. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
The following table reconciles the Trust's asset retirement obligations.
Nine months ended Year ended
Sept. 30, 2009 December 31, 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, beginning of period $ 90,844 $ 89,602
Accretion expense 5,717 7,299
Revisions to estimates 559 (262)
Liabilities incurred 1,067 1,422
Liabilities acquired, net (Note 2) 7,707 1,636
Liabilities settled (3,123) (8,853)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, end of period $ 102,771 $ 90,844
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAL's estimated credit-adjusted risk-free rate of nine percent (2008
- eight to nine percent) and an inflation rate of two percent (2008 -
two percent) were used to calculate the present value of the asset
retirement obligations.
10. NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST
The Trust has recorded a non-controlling interest in respect of the
50 percent ownership interest held by MFC in the Partnership holding the
Tiberius and Spear assets (Note 3). The non-controlling interest on
the balance sheet represents 50 percent of the net assets of the
Partnership as follows:
Nine months ended Year ended
Sept. 30, 2009 December 31, 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-controlling interest, beginning
of period $ 56,380 $ -
Non-controlling interest on
acquisition - 54,057
Net income attributable to
non-controlling interest 788 3,823
Distributions to MFC(1) (53,302) (1,500)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-controlling interest, end of
period $ 3,866 $ 56,380
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Includes $49.6 million distribution paid following settlement of note
receivable (Note 3).
The non-controlling interest in the statement of income is comprised of:
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
---------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net profits interest expense $ 736 $ 2,010 $ 1,523 $ 7,071
Share of net income attributable to
MFC 80 1,151 788 2,107
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 816 $ 3,161 $ 2,311 $ 9,178
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. UNITHOLDERS EQUITY
Units Issued:
Nine months ended Year ended
Sept. 30, 2009 December 31, 2008
Units Amount Units Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, beginning of the period 96,181 $ 1,042,183 90,494 $ 969,588
Equity offering 9,603 86,422 - -
Issued on corporate acquisition
(Note 2) 5,676 36,600 2,409 29,496
Less issue expenses (net of tax
of $1,280) - (3,549) - (29)
Issued from Distribution
Reinvestment Plan 867 7,630 1,831 23,393
Issued on conversion of debentures - - 1,447 19,735
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, end of the period 112,327 $ 1,169,286 96,181 $ 1,042,183
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Unit Information
Basic net income per trust unit is calculated using the weighted
average number of trust units outstanding. The calculation of diluted
net income per trust unit includes the weighted average trust units
potentially issuable on the conversion of the convertible debentures.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the trust units
potentially issuable on the conversion of the convertible debentures are
anti-dilutive and are therefore excluded from the calculation. Total
weighted average trust units issuable on conversion of the convertible
debentures and excluded from the diluted net income per trust unit
calculation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 were
5,696,000. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, an
additional 5,723,975 and 6,557,840 trust units, respectively, were
included in the diluted income per trust unit calculation. As at
September 30, 2009, the total convertible debentures outstanding were
immediately convertible to 5,696,000 trust units.
Deficit
The deficit is comprised of the following:
Nine months ended Year ended
Sept. 30, 2009 December 31, 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated income $ 556,597 $ 553,031
Accumulated cash distributions (1,130,071) (1,042,543)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ (573,474) ($489,512)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
Foreign currency exchange rate risk
During 2009 the Trust has entered into foreign exchange rate
derivative contracts. NAL's management has authorization to fix the
exchange rate on up to 50 percent of the Trust's U.S. dollar exposure
for periods of up to 24 months.
Trust
Amount(1) Fixed Counterparty
EXCHANGE RATE Remaining Term (US$ MM) Rate Floating Rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swaps-floating BofC Average
to fixed Oct 2009 - Nov 2009 $ 4.0 1.2730 Noon Rate
Swaps-floating BofC Average
to fixed Oct 2009 - Nov 2009 $ 4.0 1.2875 Noon Rate
Swaps-floating BofC Average
to fixed Oct 2009 - Nov 2009 $ 4.0 1.2625 Noon Rate
Swaps-floating BofC Average
to fixed Dec 2009 - Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1583 Noon Rate
Swaps-floating BofC Average
to fixed Dec 2009 - Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1100 Noon Rate
Swaps-floating BofC Average
to fixed Dec 2009 - Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1200 Noon Rate
Swaps-floating BofC Average
to fixed Dec 2009 - Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1225 Noon Rate
Swaps-floating BofC Average
to fixed Dec 2009 - Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1300 Noon Rate
Swaps-floating BofC Average
to fixed Dec 2009 - Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1420 Noon Rate
Swaps-floating BofC Average
to fixed Dec 2009 - Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1525 Noon Rate
Swaps-floating BofC Average
to fixed Dec 2009 - Dec 2010 $ 6.5 1.1000 Noon Rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Notional US$ denominated commodity sales
The fair value of foreign exchange derivative contracts has been
included on the balance sheet with changes in the fair value reported
separately on the statement of income as unrealized gain (loss). As at
September 30, 2009, if exchange rates had strengthened by $0.01, with
all other variables held constant, net income for the period would have
been $0.6 million higher, due to changes in the fair value of the
derivative contracts. An equal and opposite effect would have occurred
to net income had exchange rates been $0.01 weaker.
Commodity price risk
NAL has the following commodity risk management contracts outstanding:
CRUDE OIL Q4-09 Q1-10 Q2-10 Q3-10 Q4-10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
US$ Collar Contracts
$US WTI Collar Volume (bbl/d) 300 3,500 3,300 2,600 2,400
Bought Puts - Average Strike
Price ($US/bbl) $ 62.67 $ 61.86 $ 62.27 $ 64.90 $ 65.10
Sold Calls - Average Strike
Price ($US/bbl) $ 71.85 $ 72.90 $ 73.23 $ 76.42 $ 76.88
US$ Swap Contracts
$US WTI Swap Volume (bbl/d) 1,700 700 1,200 - -
Average WTI Swap Price
($US/bbl) $ 61.94 $ 75.36 $ 75.67 - -
Cdn$ Collar Contracts
$Cdn WTI Collar Volume (bbl/d) 1,500 300 - - -
Bought Puts - Average Strike
Price ($Cdn/bbl) $ 102.07 $ 66.00 - - -
Sold Calls - Average Strike
Price ($Cdn/bbl) $ 137.63 $ 80.17 - - -
Cdn$ Swap Contracts
$Cdn WTI Swap Volume (bbl/d) 1,300 - - - -
Average WTI Swap Price
($Cdn/bbl) $ 92.55 - - - -
Total Oil Volume (bbl/d) 4,800 4,500 4,500 2,600 2,400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NATURAL GAS Q4-09 Q1-10 Q2-10 Q3-10 Q4-10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collar Contracts
AECO Collar Volume (GJ/d) 1,685 - - - -
Bought Puts - AECO Average
Strike Price ($Cdn/GJ) $ 8.90 - - - -
Sold Calls - AECO Average
Strike Price ($Cdn/GJ) $ 11.44 - - - -
Swap Contracts
AECO Swap Volume (GJ/d) 32,663 30,000 30,000 31,000 14,337
AECO Average Price ($Cdn/GJ) $ 5.57 $ 5.86 $ 5.60 $ 5.62 $ 5.67
Total Natural Gas Volume
(GJ/d) 34,348 30,000 30,000 31,000 14,337
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The fair value of commodity derivative contracts has been included
on the balance sheet with changes in the fair value reported separately
on the statement of income as unrealized gain (loss). As at September
30, 2009, if oil and natural gas liquids prices had been $1.00 per
barrel lower and natural gas prices $0.10 per Mcf lower, with all other
variables held constant, net income for the period would have been $2.7
million higher, due to changes in the fair value of the derivative
contracts. An equal and opposite effect would have occurred to net
income had oil and natural gas liquids prices been $1.00 per barrel
higher and natural gas $0.10 per Mcf higher.
Interest rate risk
NAL has the following interest rate derivative contracts outstanding:
Counterparty
Amount Trust Floating
INTEREST RATE Remaining Term (Cdn$MM)(1) Fixed Rate Rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swaps-floating CAD-BA-CDOR
to fixed Oct 2009 - Dec 2011 $ 39.0 1.5864% (3 months)
Swaps-floating CAD-BA-CDOR
to fixed Oct 2009 - Jan 2013 $ 22.0 1.3850% (3 months)
Swaps-floating CAD-BA-CDOR
to fixed Oct 2009 - Jan 2014 $ 22.0 1.5100% (3 months)
Swaps-floating CAD-BA-CDOR
to fixed Mar 2010 - Mar 2013 $ 14.0 1.8500% (3 months)
Swaps-floating CAD-BA-CDOR
to fixed Mar 2010 - Mar 2013 $ 14.0 1.8750% (3 months)
Swaps-floating CAD-BA-CDOR
to fixed Mar 2010 - Mar 2014 $ 14.0 1.9300% (3 months)
Swaps-floating CAD-BA-CDOR
to fixed Mar 2010 - Mar 2014 $ 14.0 1.9850% (3 months)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Notional debt amount
The fair value of interest rate derivative contracts has been
included on the balance sheet with changes in the fair value reported
separately on the statement of income as unrealized gain (loss). As at
September 30, 2009, if interest rates had been one percent lower, with
all other variables held constant, net income for the period would have
been $4.2 million lower, due to changes in the fair value of the
derivative contracts. An equal and opposite effect would have occurred
to net income had interest rates been one percent higher.
Fair Value of Derivative Contracts
Derivative contracts are recorded at fair value on the balance sheet
as current or long-term, assets or liabilities, based on their fair
values on a contract-by-contract basis. The fair value of commodity
contracts is determined as the difference between the contracted prices
and published forward curves (ranging from US$70.61 per barrel to
US$75.99 per barrel for oil and $5.45 per GJ to $7.98 per GJ for natural
gas) as of the balance sheet date, using the remaining contracted oil
and natural gas volumes. The fair value of the interest rate swaps is
determined by discounting the difference between the contracted interest
rate and forward bankers' acceptances rates (ranging from 2.002 percent
to 2.643 percent) as of the balance sheet date, using the notional debt
amount and outstanding term of the swap. The fair value of the
exchange rate derivatives is calculated as the discounted value of the
difference between the contracted exchange rate and the market forward
exchange rates (ranging from 1.0679 to 1.0686) as of the balance sheet
date, using the notional U.S. dollar amount and outstanding term of the
swap. The fair value of the derivative contracts is as follows:
Nine months ended Year ended
Sept. 30, 2009 December 31, 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair value of commodity contracts $ 4,377 $ 65,680
Fair value of interest rate swaps 2,502 (274)
Fair value of foreign exchange rate
swaps 5,448 -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 12,327 $ 65,406
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The gain/(loss) on derivative contracts is as follows:
Gain / (Loss) on Derivative Contracts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
--------------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized gain (loss):
Crude oil contracts $ (184) $ 70,892 $ (56,151) $ 13,236
Natural gas contracts (8,251) 40,161 (5,560) 5,134
Interest rate swaps (374) - 2,776 -
Exchange rate swaps 3,310 - 5,448 -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized gain (loss) (5,499) 111,053 (53,487) 18,370
Realized gain (loss):
Crude oil contracts 7,526 (13,119) 44,179 (38,151)
Natural gas contracts 8,331 (3,508) 19,794 (5,697)
Interest rate swaps (226) - (433) -
Exchange rate swaps 3,188 - 5,200 -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized gain (loss) 18,819 (16,627) 68,740 (43,848)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gain (loss) on derivative
contracts $ 13,320 $ 94,426 $ 15,253 $ (25,478)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
These contracts are presented on the balance sheet as short term / long
term, assets and liabilities as follows:
Sept. 30, December 31,
2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long term unrealized loss on derivative
contracts $ (4,016) $ (274)
Long term unrealized gain on derivative
contracts 5,508 -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net long term unrealized gain (loss) on
derivative contracts 1,492 (274)
Current unrealized gain on derivative
contracts 10,835 65,680
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net fair value of derivative contracts $ 12,327 $ 65,406
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following table reconciles the movement in the fair value of the Trust's
derivative contracts:
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sept. 30 Sept. 30
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized gain (loss),
beginning of period $ 17,826 $ (102,267) $ 65,406 $ (9,584)
Unrealized gain acquired(1) - - 408 -
Unrealized gain, end of period 12,327 8,786 12,327 8,786
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized gain (loss) for the
period (5,499) 111,053 (53,487) 18,370
Realized gain (loss) in the
period 18,819 (16,627) 68,740 (43,848)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gain (loss) on derivative
contracts $ 13,320 $ 94,426 $ 15,253 $ (25,478)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Assumed on acquisition of Clipper (Note 2)
13. COMMITMENTS
(i) Joint Venture Partnership Agreement
Effective April 20, 2009, the Trust and MFC entered into a joint
venture partnership agreement with a senior industry partner. The
arrangement consists of a three year commitment to spend $50 million on
or before August 31, 2012, that provides the Trust and MFC an
opportunity to earn an interest in freehold and crown acreage. The
Trust has a 65 percent interest in this agreement and MFC a 35 percent
interest. The three year commitment to the Trust is $32.5 million. The
agreement is exclusive and structured to be extendible for up to an
additional six years for a total potential commitment of $150 million
($97.5 million net) to earn an interest in over 150 (97.5 net) sections
of freehold and crown acreage. If the capital spending commitments are
not met, interests in the freehold and crown acreage will not be earned
and the Trust will not be required to pay unspent commitment amounts
under the arrangement. As at September 30, 2009, the Trust has spent
$2.4 million under this agreement.
(ii) Farm-in Agreement
Effective August 10, 2009, the Trust and MFC entered into a Farm-in
Agreement with a senior industry partner. The arrangement consists of a
two year initial commitment, with a minimum capital commitment of $40
million in the first year and $57 million in the second year, with an
option for a third year, at NAL's election, for an additional commitment
of $50 million. The Trust has a 60 percent interest in this agreement
and MFC a 40 percent interest. The Agreement provides the opportunity
to earn an interest in approximately 1,400 gross sections of undeveloped
oil and gas rights in Alberta held by the partner. If the capital
spending commitments are not met, interest in the acreage will not be
earned and the Trust will not be required to pay any unspent amounts.
As at September 30, 2009, no amounts have been spent under this
agreement.
(iii) Flow-through Shares
In conjunction with the acquisition of Clipper, the Trust assumed
flow-through share obligations related to common shares issued by
Clipper on December 4, 2008. As a result, the Trust must incur
qualifying resource expenditures amounting to $7.5 million before
December 31, 2009. The related tax impact was recorded on the
acquisition of Clipper. The qualifying expenditures were renounced to
shareholders of Clipper as at December 31, 2008. The obligation
remaining for this flow-through share issue was $2.6 million as at
September 30, 2009.
(iv) Other
NAL has entered into several contractual obligations as part of
conducting day-to-day business. NAL has the following commitments for
the next five years:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000s) 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office lease(1) 1,036 3,798 - - -
Office lease - Clipper(2) 173 692 699 703 234
Transportation agreement 680 1,317 1,317 306 -
Processing agreement(3) 84 428 414 401 384
Convertible debentures(4) - - - 79,744 -
Bank debt - - 148,135 98,757 -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1,973 6,235 150,565 179,911 618
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Represents the full amount of office lease commitments, including both
base rent and operating costs, in relation to the lease held by the
Manager, of which the Trust is allocated a pro rata share (currently
approximately 58 percent) of the expense on a monthly basis.
(2) Represents the full amount of the office lease assumed with the
acquisition of Clipper. MFC will reimburse the Trust for 50 percent of
the obligation under the base price adjustment clause (Note 2).
(3) Represents a gas processing agreement with a take or pay component.
(4) Principal amount.
14. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
Plan of Arrangement - Breaker Energy Ltd.
On October 13, 2009, NAL and Breaker Energy Ltd. ("Breaker") entered
into an arrangement agreement pursuant to which NAL will acquire all of
the issued and outstanding common shares of Breaker by way of Plan of
Arrangement. Under the arrangement, Breaker shareholders will receive
0.475 NAL trust units for each share of Breaker held, resulting in the
expected issuance of approximately 24.7 million trust units. The
transaction is subject to the approval of the Breaker shareholders, the
Court of Queen's Bench of the Province of Alberta and regulatory
authorities, and is expected to close on December 10, 2009.
TRADING PERFORMANCE
For the Quarter Ended
----------------------------------------------------
30-Sept-09 30-Jun-09 30-Sept-08 30-Jun-08
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRICE
High $ 12.75 $ 10.53 $ 17.10 $ 17.09
Low $ 8.48 $ 6.63 $ 11.50 $ 13.12
Close $ 12.70 $ 9.37 $ 12.53 $ 16.89
Daily Average Volume 439,319 459,603 380,141 447,401
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAL Oil & Gas Trust provides investors with a yield-oriented
opportunity to participate in the Canadian Upstream Conventional Oil and
Gas Industry. The Trust generates monthly cash distributions for its
Unitholders by pursuing a strategy of acquiring, developing, producing
and selling crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids from pools in
southeastern Saskatchewan, central Alberta, northeastern British
Columbia and Lake Erie, Ontario. Trust units trade on the Toronto Stock
Exchange under the symbol "NAE.UN".
Contact Information:
NAL Oil & Gas Trust
Investor Relations
(403) 294-3600 or Toll Free: 1-888-223-8792
(403) 294-3601 (FAX)
Investor.Relations@nal.ca
www.nal.ca