CONSOL Energy Reports First Quarter Results; Record Quarterly E&P Production of 97.5 Bcfe; Total E&P Division Cash Costs of $1.33 Per Mcfe; Borrowing Base Reaffirmed at $2 billion; Liquidity I

PITTSBURGH, April 26, 2016

(Dollars in thousands)	Q1 2016
Loss Before Income Tax	$	(77,133) ARIVA.DE Börsen-Geflüster Kurse CNX Coal Resources -   0,00% CNX Resources 24,00 $ +1,27%
Income Taxes	(26,847)
Loss From Continuing Operations	(50,286)
Loss From Discontinued Operations, net	(46,172)
Net Loss	(96,458)
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1,114
Net Loss Attributable to CONSOL Energy Shareholders	$	(97,572)

Earnings before deducting net interest expense (interest expense less interest income), income taxes and depreciation, depletion and amortization (EBITDA), from continuing operations were $133 million for the 2016 first quarter, compared to $234 million in the year-earlier quarter. 

After adjusting for certain items, which are listed in the EBITDA reconciliation table, the company had an adjusted net loss¹ attributable to continuing operations in the 2016 first quarter of $16 million, or ($0.07) per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA¹ from continuing operations was $176 million for the 2016 first quarter, compared to $242 million in the year-earlier quarter. Cash flow from operations in the just-ended quarter was $128 million, compared to $228 million in the year-earlier quarter.

The first quarter earnings results included the following pre-tax items related to recent transactions attributable to continuing operations:

• Recorded a $29.3 million unrealized loss on commodity derivative instruments;
• Recorded a $12.6 million loss related to the sale of a gathering pipeline;
• Recorded $2.9 million in expense related to severance. 

"CONSOL continues to focus on executing its free cash flow plan," commented Nicholas J. DeIuliis, president and CEO. "Through continuing to reduce unit costs, benefiting from capital efficiency improvements, and selectively monetizing assets, CONSOL generated $449 million of free cash flow¹, which includes $35 million of organic free cash flow from continuing operations¹ when excluding the recent sale of the Buchanan Mine. Our free cash flow plan has further strengthened our liquidity position and balance sheet, while positioning us for future success."

¹ The terms "adjusted net loss," "adjusted EBITDA," "free cash flow," and "organic free cash from continuing operations" are non-GAAP financial measures, which are defined and reconciled to the GAAP net income below, under the caption "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

During the quarter, CONSOL Energy announced the sale of the Buchanan Mine, along with certain other metallurgical coal reserves. The total transaction value was approximately $460 million: $425 million in cash, including $403 million of cash received at closing and $22 million of cash held in an escrow account for up to two years; $23 million in net accounts receivable/payables that CONSOL will receive following the close of the transaction; and $12 million associated with legacy liabilities that the buyer assumed. In addition, for Buchanan Mine coal sold outside the U.S. and Canada during the five years following closing, the buyer agreed to pay CONSOL Energy a royalty of 20% of any excess of the gross sales price per ton over the following amounts: (1) year one, $75 per ton; (2) year two, $78.75 per ton; (3) year three, $82.69 per ton; (4) year four, $86.82 per ton; and (5) year five, $91.16 per ton. This earn-out provision provides CONSOL the opportunity to capture future upside if metallurgical coal prices recover. Since the transaction effectively closed on the last day of the first quarter, transaction proceeds reside as cash on CONSOL Energy's balance sheet. Following the end of the first quarter, CONSOL used the cash proceeds to pay down its revolving debt in an effort to increase liquidity and further de-lever the company. CONSOL Energy estimated the full year 2016 EBITDA contribution associated with the Buchanan Mine, net of the carrying costs of the other metallurgical coal assets included in the transaction, to be approximately $20-$25 million.

"The Buchanan sale is significant for a number of reasons," commented Nicholas J. DeIuliis, president and CEO. "Not only does this divestiture support our corporate strategy, it also brought forward substantial value, at a premium multiple valuation. That said, this transaction was a win-win for both us and the buyer, who will benefit from this premier mine becoming their flagship operation. For CONSOL, the sale of Buchanan marks another large step towards executing our strategy of becoming a pure-play E&P company."

On April 20, 2016, the company's lending group reaffirmed the bank facility's $2.0 billion borrowing base. "The reaffirmation marks another step to further maintain our already strong liquidity position," commented David M. Khani, executive vice president and CFO. "We appreciate the support of our lenders who have recognized how we have differentiated ourselves through our strong asset base and organic free cash flow plan."

During the first quarter of 2016, CONSOL's E&P Division achieved record production of 97.5 Bcfe, or an increase of 36% from the 71.6 Bcfe produced in the year-earlier quarter. The E&P Division's total unit cash costs declined during the quarter to $1.33 per Mcfe, compared to $1.70 per Mcfe during the year-earlier quarter, or an improvement of approximately 22%, which benefited in part from the company's dry Utica wells.            

Marcellus Shale production volumes, including liquids, in the 2016 first quarter were 51.2 Bcfe, or 39% higher than the 36.8 Bcfe produced in the 2015 first quarter. Marcellus Shale total unit cash costs were $1.44 per Mcfe in the just-ended quarter, which is a $0.11 per Mcfe improvement from the first quarter of 2015 costs of $1.55 per Mcfe.

CONSOL Energy's Utica Shale production volumes, including liquids, in the 2016 first quarter were 22.9 Bcfe, up substantially from 9.6 Bcfe in the year-earlier quarter. Utica Shale total unit cash costs were $0.85 per Mcfe in the just-ended quarter, which is a $0.46 per Mcfe improvement from the first quarter of 2015 total unit cash costs of $1.31 per Mcfe. The significant cost improvements across the Utica Shale were primarily driven by reductions to lease operating expenses.

CONSOL Energy's total Coal Division sold 5.7 million tons from continuing operations in the 2016 first quarter, compared to 7.0 million tons during the year-earlier quarter. The Board of Directors of CNX Coal Resources' LP (NYSE: CNXC) General Partner declared a cash distribution of $0.5125 per unit to all unitholders for the first quarter of 2016. The distribution will be made on May 12, 2016 to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 5, 2016.

The unrealized loss on commodity derivative instruments represents changes in fair value of all existing commodity hedges on a mark-to-market basis.

The company recorded a loss related to the sale of a gathering pipeline, located in Monroe County, Ohio, to a third party. During the quarter, CONSOL executed a gathering agreement and midstream asset sale for $7.7 million of cash received at closing. CONSOL expects the sale and the gathering agreement, which was secured at favorable prices and terms, to eliminate future capital expenditures and reduce operating expenses as they relate to Monroe County, Ohio.

During the quarter, the company also recorded an expense related to severance, in connection with the company's continuing effort to reduce operating expenses.

Starting this quarter, CONSOL Energy has made certain adjustments to the financial statements to reflect the sale of the Buchanan Mine, which is now reflected under "Discontinued Operations." CONSOL Energy also made reclassifications within our financial statements to better align our financial reporting with our peer group. These reclassifications impacted the "Lease Operating Expense," "Transportation, Gathering and Compression," "Direct Administrative and Selling," "Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales," "Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs," "Operating and Other Costs" and "Selling, General and Administrative" line items on our Consolidated Statements of Income. These changes are reflected in our current and historic Consolidated Statements of Income, with no effect on previously reported net income or stockholders' equity. To reflect these changes, CONSOL Energy has recast historic income statements that can be found on the CONSOL Energy website (www.consolenergy.com), or click here.

E&P Division:

E&P Division First Quarter Summary:

E&P production increased by over 36% in the just-ended quarter, compared to the year-earlier quarter. Despite increased production, the E&P Division realized a net loss of $14.2 million in the first quarter of 2016 due primarily to lower commodity price realizations.

CONSOL's E&P activity continued to focus primarily on completing its high quality Marcellus Shale wells in Greene and Washington Counties in Pennsylvania. The company's Green Hill Marcellus Shale wells in Greene County, Pennsylvania, have exceeded original expectations, with estimated ultimate recoveries (EURs) now between 2.8-3.0 Bcfe per 1,000 feet of lateral. During the quarter, CONSOL completed 11 wells: the 10-well GH53 pad and the 7,900 foot NV36F Marcellus Shale well, which incorporated testing plugless completions. CONSOL averaged 16 days per well for all completion operations, which is a 38% improvement compared to 2015, and a 50% improvement compared to 2014. CONSOL realized these improvements while utilizing 100% recycled water, which eliminates disposal expense. Also, during the quarter, CONSOL's joint venture partner in the Ohio Utica Shale completed 4 wells in Harrison County, Ohio.

CONSOL turned in line 35 Marcellus and Utica shale wells in the first quarter, including the GH9 dry Utica well in Greene County, Pennsylvania, which was turned in line in January with a 30-day average sales volume of 15 MMcf per day. CONSOL turned in line 17 Marcellus Shale wells in Greene and Washington Counties. The 12-well GH46 pad averaged 119 MMcf per day for a 30-day period, or 2.2 MMcf per day per 1,000 lateral feet. The 5-well NV61 pad averaged 34.5 MMcf per day for a 30-day period. Also, CONSOL's Marcellus and Utica shale joint venture partners turned in line an additional 13 wells. Due to the company's wells continuing to outperform, CONSOL pushed two additional Southwest Pennsylvania wells out of its 2016 turned in line (TIL) plan. As a result, CONSOL Energy estimates its gross inventory of both drilled but uncompleted (DUC) and drilled completed (DC) wells entering 2017 to be 79 Marcellus and Utica shale wells, an increase from the inventory of 77 gross wells reported at the start of 2016.

CONSOL Energy's Utica Shale development program continues to focus in the dry gas areas. In January, CONSOL turned in line its sixth dry Utica well, the GH9, located in Greene County, Pennsylvania, which has a lateral length of 6,141 feet and was completed with 30 frac stages. Although still early, results from the GH9 are positive, while the Gaut 4I well, located in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, continues to outperform expectations and may warrant an increase in EUR in the near future. The Gaut 4I has cumulative production of 2.79 Bcf through the end of the first quarter at a casing pressure of 6,758 psi. CONSOL continues to evaluate the managed pressure drawdown methodology in the Pennsylvania dry Utica. CONSOL's Switz 6 pad located in Monroe County, OH, has produced 5.69 Bcf through the end of the quarter from the four Utica wells, with the best performing well accounting for 1.77 Bcf of the production. Also, the non-operated Moundsville 6H, located in Marshall County, West Virginia, has produced 2.51 Bcf in 130 days, with a 24-hour initial production (IP) rate of 39.1 MMcf per day at 7,126 psi casing pressure. This well has a completed lateral length of 9,394 feet with 300 foot stage spacing.

E&P Division capital expenditures declined further in the first quarter to $62.9 million, compared to the fourth quarter of 2015, due to efficiency improvements and reduced activity.

E&P DIVISION RESULTS — Quarter-to-Quarter Comparison
		Quarter				Quarter				Quarter
		Ended				Ended				Ended
		March 31, 2016				March 31, 2015				December 31, 2015
Sales - Gas		$	157.4			$	196.5			$	152.9
Gain on Commodity Derivative Instruments - Cash Settlement		84.3				30.1				79.5
Sales - Oil		0.5				1.1				0.6
Sales - NGLs		19.9				22.2				23.2
Sales - Condensate		3.9				5.2				8.9
Total Sales Revenue ($ MM)		$	266.0			$	255.1			$	265.1
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to CONSOL Energy Shareholders		$	(14.2)			$	30.9			$	57.1
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities ($ MM)		$	58.6			$	177.8 Werbung Mehr Nachrichten zur CNX Resources Aktie kostenlos abonnieren E-Mail-Adresse Bitte überprüfe deine die E-Mail-Adresse. Benachrichtigungen von ARIVA.DE (Mit der Bestellung akzeptierst du die Datenschutzhinweise) -1 Vielen Dank, dass du dich für unseren Newsletter angemeldet hast. Du erhältst in Kürze eine E-Mail mit einem Aktivierungslink. Hinweis: ARIVA.DE veröffentlicht in dieser Rubrik Analysen, Kolumnen und Nachrichten aus verschiedenen Quellen. Die ARIVA.DE AG ist nicht verantwortlich für Inhalte, die erkennbar von Dritten in den „News“-Bereich dieser Webseite eingestellt worden sind, und macht sich diese nicht zu Eigen. Diese Inhalte sind insbesondere durch eine entsprechende „von“-Kennzeichnung unterhalb der Artikelüberschrift und/oder durch den Link „Um den vollständigen Artikel zu lesen, klicken Sie bitte hier.“ erkennbar; verantwortlich für diese Inhalte ist allein der genannte Dritte. Andere Nutzer interessierten sich auch für folgende News 19.04.24 - PR Newswire Redde Northgate Plc - Transaction in Own Shares 19.04.24 - PR Newswire Capital Gearing Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares 19.04.24 - PR Newswire Castelnau Group Ltd - Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements 2023 Auf zur INVEST am 26.+ 27.04.2024    Foto: Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH - Jetzt kostenloses Ticket sichern! weiterlesen» Anzeige wo-site-teaser-box-16688_site-teaser-box_2024-04-17_09%253A00%253A00_2024-04-22_09%253A00%253A59