Erin Energy Announces First Quarter 2015 Results

Provides Operational Update on its West and East Africa Operations

HOUSTON--()--Erin Energy Corporation (“Erin Energy” or the “Company”) (NYSE MKT:ERN) announced today financial and operational results for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. The Company plans to file its Form 10-Q for the first quarter 2015 with the Securities and Exchange Commission later today.

First Quarter 2015 Highlights:

  • Successfully completed the Oyo-8 well and commenced production;
  • Progressed Oyo field expansion project;
  • Completed the 2-D seismic data acquisition program in Kenya; and
  • Signed a Joint Operating Agreement with partners in Ghana.

Operations Summary

In Nigeria, Oyo-8 was successfully completed in the Pliocene formation by the Sedco Express drilling rig, and has since commenced production into the Armanda Perdana FPSO. The well is currently undergoing choke optimization and has exceeded projections through each choke size progression. As of May 7, 2015, the Oyo-8 was producing light sweet crude (35.5 degree API) at a stabilized oil rate of more than 6,000 barrels per day (“bbls/d”) on a 52/64-inch choke. The plan is to further increase the choke size to achieve or exceed a 7,000 bbls/d rate.

Significant progress was made on the Oyo field expansion project and the Company is currently conducting drilling and completion operations on the Oyo-7 well. The Company expects to bring Oyo-7 on production in the next few weeks.

Erin Energy also continued discussions with potential farm-in partners on its drill-ready Miocene prospects in Nigeria and its assets in The Gambia. In Kenya, the Company completed the required 2-D seismic data acquisition and processing for onshore blocks L-1B and L-16 and interpretation of the data is on-going. Erin Energy will be submitting an application for an additional two-year exploration period.

For offshore Kenya blocks L-27 and L-28, the Company is pursuing completion of the exploration work program and is working to identify a suitable partner on the blocks.

In Ghana, the Company signed a joint operating agreement and is making significant progress toward determining the economic viability of developing the three previously discovered fields on its Expanded Shallow Water Tano block while also working to mature exploration prospects.

Financial Summary

During the first quarter, Erin Energy reported a net loss of $33.1 million, or $0.16 per basic and diluted share. There was no production in the first quarter due to the shut-in of the Oyo-5 and Oyo-6 wells in preparation of tying-in the Oyo-7 and Oyo-8 wells. Available liquidity to the Company including cash and cash equivalents and available borrowing facilities at March 31, 2015 was approximately $37.7 million.

The Company incurred exploration expenses totaling $6.5 million during the first three months of the year and capital expenditures of approximately $68.2 million.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call today, May 8, 2015 at 10 a.m. CT (11 a.m. ET) to discuss first quarter results and current operations. The dial-in number is 1 877-270-2148 in the United States or +1 412-902-6510 internationally. To access the live audio webcast, please visit the “Investors” section of the Erin Energy’s website at www.erinenergy.com.

About Erin Energy

Erin Energy Corporation is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on energy resources in sub-Saharan Africa. Its asset portfolio consists of 9 licenses across 4 countries covering an area of 43,000 square kilometers (10 million acres), including current production and other exploration projects offshore Nigeria, as well as exploration licenses offshore Ghana, Kenya and Gambia, and onshore Kenya. Erin Energy is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and is listed on the New York and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges under the ticker symbol ERN.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, concerning activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect.

The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including the Company’s ability to successfully finance, drill, produce and/or develop the wells and prospects identified in this release, and risks and other risk factors discussed in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their respective dates. The Company undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements.

 
ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
(formerly CAMAC ENERGY INC.)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2015   2014
Revenues:
Crude oil sales, net of royalties $   $ 19,894  
 
Operating costs and expenses:
Production costs 21,328 22,897
Exploratory expenses 6,515 2,276
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 697 4,971
General and administrative expenses 3,491   4,433  
Total operating costs and expenses 32,031   34,577  
 
Operating loss (32,031 ) (14,683 )
 
Other income (expense):
Currency transaction gain (loss) 1,436
Interest expense (2,611 ) (185 )
Other, net   10  
Total other income (expense) (1,175 ) (175 )
 
Loss before income taxes (33,206 ) (14,858 )
Income tax expense    
Net loss before non-controlling interest (33,206 ) (14,858 )
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest 147    
 
Net loss attributable to Erin Energy Corporation $ (33,059 ) $ (14,858 )
 
Net loss per common share:
Basic $ (0.16 ) $ (0.13 )
Diluted $ (0.16 ) $ (0.13 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic 210,470 112,821
Diluted 210,470 112,821
 
ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
(formerly CAMAC ENERGY INC.)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except for share and per share amounts)
   

March 31,
2015

December 31,
2014

ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 7,741 $ 25,143
Restricted cash 10,266 1,496
Accounts receivable - partners 496
Accounts receivable - related party 624 624
Accounts receivable - other 52 54
Crude oil inventory 1,065 1,089
Prepaids and other current assets 3,819   2,929  
Total current assets 23,567   31,831  
 
Property, plant and equipment:
Oil and gas properties (successful efforts method of accounting), net 663,234 595,269
Other property, plant and equipment, net 1,115   1,060  
Total property, plant and equipment, net 664,349   596,329  
 
Other non-current assets
Restricted cash 8,909
Debt issuance costs 1,153 1,307
Other non-current assets 67   67  
Other assets, net 1,220   10,283  
Total assets $ 689,136   $ 638,443  
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 156,147 $ 108,047
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities - related party 15,617 9,391
Accounts payable - partners 397
Asset retirement obligations 6,705 12,703
Current portion of long-term debt 12,307   6,200  
Total current liabilities 191,173   136,341  
 
Long-term notes payable - related party 93,050 61,185
Term loan facility 86,150 93,000
Asset retirement obligations 14,123 13,830
Other long-term liabilities 81   82  
Total liabilities 384,577   304,438  
 
Commitments and contingencies
 
Equity:

Preferred stock $0.001 par value - 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014

Common stock $0.001 par value - 416,666,667 shares authorized; 210,849,951 and 210,307,502 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014

211 210
Additional paid-in capital 781,480 778,095
Accumulated deficit (478,013 ) (444,954 )
Total equity - Erin Energy Corporation 303,678 333,351
Non-controlling interests 881   654  
Total equity 304,559   334,005  
Total liabilities and equity $ 689,136   $ 638,443  
 
ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
(formerly CAMAC ENERGY INC.)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2015   2014
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss, including non-controlling interest $ (33,206 ) $ (14,858 )
 
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 120 4,531
Accretion of asset retirement obligations 577 440
Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs 267
Foreign currency transaction gain (1,436 )
Share-based compensation 1,320 507
Payments to settle asset retirement obligations (6,282 )
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable 894 (3,042 )
Decrease in inventories 13 7,437
Increase in prepaids and other current assets (1,012 ) (6,175 )
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities 22,157   7,388  
Net cash used in operating activities (16,588 ) (3,772 )
 
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures (35,300 ) (2,050 )
Allied transaction   (85,000 )
Net cash used in investing activities (35,300 ) (87,050 )
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock 135,000
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 415
Proceeds from notes payable - related party, net 33,815 650
Allied transaction adjustments (9,171 )
Funding from non-controlling interest 374    
Net cash provided by financing activities 34,189   126,894  
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 297
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (17,402 ) 36,072
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 25,143   163  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 7,741   $ 36,235  
 
Supplemental cash flow information
Cash paid for:
Interest, net $ 2,093 $ 8
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of common shares for settlement of liabilities $ 125 $
Discount on notes payable pursuant to issuance of warrants $ 2,067 $

Contacts

Erin Energy Corporation
Investors:
Chris Heath, +1 713-797-2945
chris.heath@erinenergy.com
Media:
Lionel McBee, +1 713-797-2960
lionel.mcbee@erinenergy.com

Release Summary

Erin Energy first quarter 2015 results.

Contacts

Erin Energy Corporation
Investors:
Chris Heath, +1 713-797-2945
chris.heath@erinenergy.com
Media:
Lionel McBee, +1 713-797-2960
lionel.mcbee@erinenergy.com