Stone Energy Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2017 Results

Transportation, processing, and gathering ("TP&G") expenses during the fourth quarter of 2017 totaled approximately $1.0 million.  TP&G expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 totaled $11.0 million, which included approximately $6.8 million related to the Appalachia properties that we sold on February 27, 2017.  We expect TP&G expenses to approximate $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2018.

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization ("DD&A") expense on oil and gas properties for the fourth quarter of 2017 totaled approximately $22.5 million.  DD&A expense on oil and gas properties for the year ended December 31, 2017 totaled $133.8 million, compared to DD&A expense on oil and gas properties of $215.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.  We expect DD&A expense to range from $13 per Boe to $15 per Boe for the first quarter of 2018.

Salaries, general, and administrative ("SG&A") expenses (exclusive of incentive compensation) for the fourth quarter of 2017 were $10.1 million, which included approximately $1.9 million associated with the pending Talos combination, discussed below, compared to SG&A expenses of $15.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.  We capitalized $2.1 million of SG&A expenses in the fourth quarter of 2017.  SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 totaled $57.4 million, compared to SG&A expenses for 2016 of $58.9 million.  SG&A expenses for full year 2017 included approximately $8.7 million of workforce reduction and employee severance costs, approximately $6.2 million of costs related to the Board-requested strategic review of the Company and the pending Talos combination, and a previously disclosed charge of approximately $3.9 million of success-based consulting fees paid in connection with a federal royalty recovery.  The charges for the workforce reductions, severance payments, and costs associated with the pending Talos combination offset the overall reductions in SG&A expense that we realized in 2017 as a result of staff and other cost reductions in connection with our restructuring.  We expect SG&A cash costs, excluding fees associated with the pending Talos combination and incentive compensation, to approximate $9 million to $10 million for the first quarter of 2018, of which we expect to capitalize approximately 14% to 16%.

Accretion expense for the fourth quarter of 2017 was approximately $1.5 million.  Accretion expense totaled $26.6 million and $40.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  The annual decrease in accretion expense was due to the implementation of fresh start accounting upon emergence from bankruptcy proceedings and the settlement of asset retirement obligations during 2017.  We expect accretion expense to approximate $4 million to $5 million in the first quarter of 2018.

Net derivative expense for the fourth quarter of 2017 totaled approximately $14.8 million, comprised of $0.5 million of expense from cash settlements and $14.3 million of non-cash expense resulting from changes in the fair value of derivative instruments.  Net derivative expense totaled $15.2 million and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  The annual increase was due primarily to our election to not designate our 2017, 2018, and 2019 commodity derivative contracts as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes, as discussed below.

Interest expense for the fourth quarter of 2017 was approximately $3.4 million, which primarily included interest associated with the Company's $225 million 7.50% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2022.  Capitalized interest was $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.  Interest expense totaled approximately $11.7 million and $64.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  Capitalized interest was approximately $6.5 million and $26.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  The annual decrease in interest expense was the result of the elimination of debt upon emergence from bankruptcy on February 28, 2017.  For the first quarter of 2018, we expect interest expense to remain approximately $3.4 million.

Year-End 2017 Estimated Proved Reserves and Standardized Measure

Estimated proved reserves as of December 31, 2017 totaled approximately 32.5 million barrels of oil equivalent ("MMBoe"), compared to approximately 35.4 MMBoe of estimated proved reserves for the GOM at year-end 2016, which excluded reserves from the Appalachia properties that we sold on February 27, 2017.  The year-end 2017 estimated proved reserves were 67% oil, 26% natural gas, and 7% NGLs, on an equivalent basis. The changes in GOM estimated proved reserves from year-end 2016 to year-end 2017 included production of approximately 7.0 MMBoe, net upward performance revisions of approximately 4.0 MMBoe, and pricing-related revisions of approximately 0.1 MMBoe.  In the GOM, Stone replaced approximately 59% of 2017 production, due primarily to the upward revisions of previous estimates.

The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows from our estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2017, was approximately $393.1 million, using a 10% discount rate and 12-month average prices of $50.05 per barrel of oil, $2.34 per Mcf of gas, and $22.90 per barrel of NGLs, after BTU adjustments and differentials.  Estimated future income taxes had no effect on the standardized measure as of December 31, 2017.  The year-end 2017 estimated proved reserves included proved developed reserves of approximately 28.3 MMBoe and proved undeveloped reserves of approximately 4.2 MMBoe.  In addition to proved reserves, estimated probable reserves totaled approximately 20.8 MMBoe and estimated possible reserves totaled approximately 35.4 MMBoe at December 31, 2017.

All of Stone's year-end 2017 estimated proved, probable, and possible reserves were independently engineered by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

2017 Capital Expenditure Update

Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2017 were approximately $58 million, which included approximately $23 million related to drilling the Mt. Providence well and $28 million of plugging and abandonment expenditures.  In addition, approximately $2.1 million of SG&A expense and $1.3 million of interest expense were capitalized during the fourth quarter of 2017.  For the year ended December 31, 2017, capital expenditures totaled approximately $154 million, which included approximately $84 million of plugging and abandonment expenditures.  Capitalized SG&A and interest expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 totaled approximately $9.5 million and $6.5 million, respectively.

2018 Capital Expenditure Budget

Stone's Board of Directors has authorized a full-year 2018 capital expenditure budget of up to $212 million, which excludes acquisitions and capitalized SG&A and interest, and does not give effect to the potential Talos combination.  The budget is spread across Stone's major areas of investment, with approximately 36% allocated to exploration, 27% to development, and 37% to plugging and abandonment expenditures. The allocation of capital across the various areas is subject to change based on several factors, including permitting times, rig availability, non-operator decisions, farm-in opportunities, and commodity pricing.

Liquidity Update

As of December 31, 2017, Stone's liquidity approximated $369.6 million, which included approximately $87.4 million of undrawn capacity under the Company's revolving credit facility plus approximately $263.5 million of cash on hand and approximately $18.7 million of cash being held in a restricted account to satisfy near-term plugging and abandonment activities.  As of March 9, 2018, Stone had cash on hand of approximately $283 million, and $3 million in cash held in the restricted abandonment account.

As of December 31, 2017, Stone's outstanding debt totaled approximately $235.9 million, consisting of $225.0 million of 7.50% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2022 and approximately $10.9 million outstanding under a building loan.  Further, the Company had no outstanding borrowings, and outstanding letters of credit of approximately $12.6 million, under its $100 million borrowing base. 

As of December 31, 2017, we had a current income tax receivable of $36.3 million, the majority of which relates to expected tax refunds from the carryback of net operating losses to previous tax years; $20.1 million of which was collected in January 2018.

We expect that cash flows from operating activities, cash on hand, and availability under our revolving credit facility will be adequate to meet the current 2018 operating and capital expenditure needs of the Company.

Combination of Stone Energy Corporation and Talos Energy LLC

As previously announced, on November 21, 2017, the Boards of Directors of Stone and Talos Energy LLC ("Talos") unanimously approved the combination of Talos and Stone in an all-stock transaction (the "Transaction") that will create a premier offshore-focused exploration and production company. The company will be named Talos Energy, Inc. and is expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the new ticker symbol "TALO."  Under the terms of the Transaction, each outstanding share of Stone common stock will be exchanged for one share of Talos Energy, Inc. common stock and the current Talos stakeholders will be issued an aggregate of approximately 34.1 million common shares of the new company. At closing, Talos stakeholders will own 63% of the combined company, with Stone shareholders owning the remaining 37%. Outstanding warrants to acquire Stone common stock will become warrants to acquire Talos Energy, Inc. common stock, with terms and conditions substantially identical to their existing terms and conditions.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to the approval of Stone stockholders, the consummation of a tender offer and consent solicitation for Stone's 7.50% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2022, certain regulatory approvals, and other customary conditions.

Franklin Advisers, Inc. and MacKay Shields LLC, as investment managers for approximately 53% of the outstanding shares of Stone common stock as of September 30, 2017, have entered into voting agreements to vote in favor of the Transaction, subject to certain conditions.

The Transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018.

The above is a summary of the material terms of the Transaction. This summary highlights only certain substantive provisions of the Transaction and is not intended to be a complete description of the Transaction.  This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Sailfish Energy Holdings Corporation Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on December 29, 2017, as amended on February 8, 2018.

Fresh Start Accounting and Hedge Accounting Changes

Upon emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization, Stone adopted fresh start accounting effective February 28, 2017.  Under the principles of fresh start accounting, a new reporting entity was created, and Stone's assets and liabilities were recorded at their fair values as of the fresh start reporting date.  Also, effective January 1, 2017, we elected to no longer designate our 2017, 2018, and 2019 commodity derivative contracts as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes.  Accordingly, the net changes in the mark-to-market valuations and the monthly settlements on these derivative contracts will be recorded in earnings through derivative income/expense.  As a result, Stone's financial statements dated on or after March 1, 2017 will not be comparable with financial statements issued prior to that date.  References to "Predecessor" refer to Stone prior to the adoption of fresh start accounting while references to "Successor" refer to Stone subsequent to the adoption of fresh start accounting.  Please review Stone's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for further details regarding fresh start accounting and the financial information presented at the end of this press release.

Operational Update  

Mississippi Canyon 72 - Derbio (Deep Water).  The Derbio well (the MC 72 #3 well) spud on February 27, 2018, with results expected in the second quarter of 2018.  Derbio is a Stone-generated prospect and follows the Rampart Deep success announced in September 2017, which reduced the exploration risk of the Derbio prospect.  If successful, the Rampart Deep/Derbio project could be a multi-well tie back to the 100% Stone-owned Pompano platform, with first production expected by late 2019.  Working interest partners in the Derbio prospect are Stone with 40%, Deep Gulf Energy III, LLC with 30%, and two entities managed by Ridgewood Energy Corporation, Ridgewood Rampart, LLC and ILX Prospect Rampart, LLC, each owning 15%.

Mississippi Canyon 116 - Rampart Deep (Deep Water).  As previously announced, the Rampart Deep well, operated by Deep Gulf Energy III, LLC, encountered approximately 107 net vertical feet of liquids-rich natural gas pay in three primary zones, as interpreted by Stone. In addition to the reserve potential of Rampart Deep, this well also provides critical information that reduces the exploration risk of Stone's Derbio prospect.  Completion of the Rampart Deep well was deferred while the partners analyze the well data, and will be further evaluated in conjunction with future Derbio drilling results, which may impact sanctioning of the project.  Working interest partners in the Rampart Deep well are Stone with 40%, Deep Gulf Energy III, LLC with 30%, and two entities managed by Ridgewood Energy Corporation, Ridgewood Rampart, LLC and ILX Prospect Rampart, LLC, each owning 15%.

Mississippi Canyon 28 - Mt. Providence (Deep Water).  As previously announced, the Mt. Providence development well (the MC 28 #4 well) encountered approximately 153 net feet of high quality, primarily oil pay in one Miocene interval with no visible water level, which exceeded pre-drill expectations.  Completion operations on the Mt. Providence well will commence in the second quarter of 2018, with first production expected in the third quarter of 2018.  The well is expected to have an initial production rate of approximately 3,000 to 5,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and will be tied back to the 100% Stone-owned Pompano platform through existing subsea infrastructure.  Stone generated the prospect and owns a 100% working interest in the well.

Hedge Position

The following table illustrates our derivative positions for 2018 and 2019 as of March 9, 2018: 

Natural Gas Hedging Contracts
NYMEX
	Collar Contracts
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