EXPLORATION CO
10-Q, 2000-05-12
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 10-Q

                                   (Mark One)
              [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                         For the quarterly period ended

                                       OR

              [ ] TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
                    OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

            For the Quarter ended              Commission File No.
                 March 31, 2000                     0-9120


                    THE EXPLORATION COMPANY OF DELAWARE, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


            DELAWARE                                     84-0793089
      (State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer I.D. No.)
       incorporation or organization)


           500 NORTH LOOP 1604 E., SUITE 250 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78232
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (210) 496-5300


      Indicate by check mark  whether the  Registrant  (1) has filed all reports
      required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
      of 1934 during the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that
      the  registrant  was  required  to file  such  reports),  and (2) has been
      subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                                        YES   X   NO
                                                             ----    ----


      Indicate the number of shares  outstanding of each of the issuer's classes
      of common stock as of April 30, 2000.


      Common Stock $0.01 par value                               17,421,849
              (Class of Stock)                              (Number of Shares)

                           Total number of pages is 10




                                     PAGE 1
<PAGE>




                         PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION


ITEM 1.           FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

                             THE EXPLORATION COMPANY
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
                                   (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Assets                                             March 31, 2000                December 31, 1999           August 31, 1999
- ------                                             --------------                -----------------           ---------------
<S>                                               <C>                            <C>                       <C>
Current Assets
    Cash                                         $    3,900,599                  $    3,381,793            $      968,516
    Accounts receivable, net                          2,063,286                       1,939,136                 2,253,349
    Prepaid expenses                                    103,421                         122,475                   256,334
                                                    -----------                     -----------               -----------
                  Total Current Assets                6,067,306                       5,443,404                 3,478,199



Property and Equipment
    Gas and oil properties, net of impairment        20,192,064                      17,768,590                17,892,488
    Other equipment                                     328,963                         271,674                   268,325
    Less accumulated depreciation, depletion
        and amortization                             (5,682,811)                     (5,204,354)               (4,532,761)
                                                    ------------                    -----------               -----------
                                                     14,838,216                      12,835,910                13,628,052


Other Assets                                            365,564                         368,564                   447,564
                                                    -----------                     -----------               -----------





                  Total Assets                     $ 21,271,086                    $ 18,647,878              $ 17,553,815
                                                    ===========                     ===========               ===========


</TABLE>







         Note:    As  recommended  by the SEC,  the  Company is  reporting,  for
                  comparative purposes, its new fiscal year end balance sheet of
                  December  31,  as well as its last  audited  balance  sheet of
                  August 31.




See notes to financial statements.


                                     PAGE 2
<PAGE>




                             THE EXPLORATION COMPANY
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
                                   (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                      March 31, 2000         December 31, 1999           August 31, 1999
                                                          --------------         -----------------           ---------------
<S>                                                      <C>                    <C>                         <C>


Current Liabilities
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses                $     1,213,492        $      1,279,238           $      678,478
    Due to joint interest owners                               2,081,799               2,479,776                1,760,248
    Current portion of long term debt                            776,681               1,476,730                2,565,067
                                                           -------------           -------------            -------------
           Total Current Liabilities                           4,071,972               5,235,744                5,003,793


Long-term Liabilities
    Long-term debt, net of current portion                      117,865                  203,206                  529,742


Stockholders' Equity
    Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share,
        authorized 10,000,000, none issued
    Common stock, par value $.01 per share;
        authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued  and
        outstanding  17,421,849 shares at March 31, 2000
        and 15,938,516  shares at December 31, 1999
        and at August 31, 1999                                   174,219                 159,385                  159,385
    Additional paid-in capital                                43,887,483              40,651,444               40,651,444
Accumulated deficit                                          (26,980,453)            (27,601,901)             (28,790,549)
                                                           -------------            ------------             ------------
           Total Stockholders' Equity                         17,081,249              13,208,928               12,020,280
                                                           -------------            ------------             ------------


           Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity      $  21,271,086           $  18,647,878            $  17,553,815
                                                            ============            ============             ============

</TABLE>






         Note:    As  recommended  by the SEC,  the  Company is  reporting,  for
                  comparative purposes, its new fiscal year end balance sheet of
                  December  31,  as well as its last  audited  balance  sheet of
                  August 31.




See notes to financial statements.


                                     PAGE 3
<PAGE>




                             THE EXPLORATION COMPANY
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                          Three Months                  Three Months
                                                                              Ended                         Ended
                                                                         March 31, 2000                 March 31, 1999
                                                                         --------------                 --------------

<S>                                                                      <C>                            <C>

Revenues:
    Gas and oil sales                                                       $  2,560,209                 $  1,527,953
    Other income                                                                 243,298                      109,328
                                                                            ------------                 ------------
                                                                               2,803,507                    1,637,281
Costs and Expenses:
    Lease operations                                                             361,369                      252,383
    Production taxes                                                             177,507                      111,857
    Exploration expenses                                                         338,634                       71,092
    Impairment of mineral properties                                             365,000                       50,000
    Depreciation, depletion and amortization                                     478,457                      446,595
    General and administrative                                                   409,780                      354,231
                                                                            ------------                  -----------
            Total costs and expenses                                           2,130,747                    1,286,158
                                                                            ------------                  -----------

Income from operations                                                           672,760                      351,123

Other Income (Expense):
    Interest income                                                               33,136                       16,274
    Interest expense                                                             (81,448)                    (152,989)
    Loan fee amortization                                                         (3,000)                      (3,000)
                                                                            -------------                 ------------
                                                                                 (51,312)                    (139,715)
                                                                            -------------                 ------------

Net income                                                                $       621,448                $     211,408
                                                                            =============                 ============


Amounts Per Common Share:

Basic and diluted income per common share                                 $         0.04                $         0.01
                                                                          ==============                 =============



</TABLE>






See notes to financial statements.


                                     PAGE 4
<PAGE>




                             THE EXPLORATION COMPANY
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                       Three Months                     Three Months
                                                                           Ended                            Ended
                                                                      March 31, 2000                   March 31, 1999
                                                                      --------------                   --------------
<S>                                                                  <C>                              <C>


Operating Activities:
Net income                                                              $       621,448                       211,408
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
   provided by operating activities:
     Impairment of properties                                                   365,000                        50,000
     Depreciation, depletion and amortization                                   481,457                       449,595
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
     Receivables                                                               (124,150)                     (377,823)
     Prepaid expenses and other                                                  19,054                        33,105
     Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                     (463,723)                     (202,272)
                                                                           -------------                 -------------
Net cash provided in operating activities                                       899,086                       164,013

Investing Activities:
     Development and purchases
        of gas and oil properties                                            (2,347,848)                     (830,080)
     Purchase of other equipment                                                (57,290)                       (7,527)
                                                                           ------------                 ------------
Net cash provided in investing activities                                    (2,405,138)                     (837,607)

Financing Activities:
     Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs                          2,810,248                            -0-
     Proceeds from debt obligations                                              52,720                            -0-
     Payments on debt obligations                                              (838,110)                     (757,557)
                                                                           ------------                  -------------
Net cash provided in financing activities                                     2,024,858                      (757,557)
                                                                           ------------                  -------------

Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents                                     518,806                    (1,431,151)

Cash and equivalents at beginning of period                                   3,381,793                     2,112,890
                                                                           ------------                  ------------

Cash and equivalents at end of period                                     $   3,900,599                 $     681,739
                                                                           ============                  ============



</TABLE>





See notes to financial statements


                                     PAGE 5
<PAGE>

                             THE EXPLORATION COMPANY
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
           PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2000 AND MARCH 31, 1999 (Unaudited)


1.       BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited financial statements of The Exploration Company (TXCO
or the  Company)  have been  prepared  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting   principles  for  interim   financial   information   and  with  the
instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do
not include all of the information and footnotes  required by generally accepted
accounting principles for complete financial statements. The accounting policies
followed by the  Company are set forth in Note A to the August 31, 1999  audited
financial statements contained in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K.

On December 16, 1999,  the  Company's  Board of Directors  elected to change its
annual  reporting  period from a fiscal year ending August 31 to a calendar year
ending December 31, as announced in its Form 8-K filed on December 29, 1999. The
Company's  next report on Form 10-K will be as of December 31,  2000,  reporting
audited  results of operations for the twelve month period then ended as well as
audited results for the four month period ended December 31, 1999. All financial
information  previously  presented on a fiscal year basis has been restated on a
calendar year basis for comparative purposes.

In the opinion of management,  all adjustments  (consisting of normal  recurring
adjustments)  considered  necessary for a fair  presentation have been included.
For further information, refer to the financial statements and footnotes thereto
included in the  Registrant  Company's  annual  report on Form 10-K for the year
ended August 31, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference.


2.         COMMON STOCK AND BASIC INCOME OR LOSS PER SHARE

As of March 31, 2000, the Company had outstanding  and exercisable  warrants and
options to purchase  3,075,229  shares of common  stock at prices  ranging  from
$0.98 to $6.00 per share.  The  warrants  and  options  expire at various  dates
through September 2008.

Basic  income per share is  computed  based on the  weighted  average  number of
common shares outstanding during the periods presented as follows:

                                                       Three Months
                  March 31, 2000                       16,690,714
                  March 31, 1999                       15,613,516

Diluted  income per share is computed in accordance  with FASB 128, and resulted
in a less than $.001 change to basic  earnings per share for the periods  ending
March 31, 2000 and March 31, 1999.


3.        DEBT

At March 31,  2000 the  Company  had an  outstanding  balance  of  approximately
$300,000  under its  existing  financing  agreement  with Range  Energy  Finance
Corporation  (NYSE:RRC) a publicly held energy company ("Range").  The Company's
financing agreement with Range is on a non-recourse basis,  received in exchange
for a limited term  overriding  royalty  interest  related to  specified  depths
underlying  certain of its gas and oil leases in  Maverick  County,  Texas.  The
override  will  terminate  upon  completion  of repayment of the debt,  which is
repayable  with  interest  from a  specified  portion of sales  proceeds  of all
existing  and future  wells to be drilled on the  subject  leases.  The debt was
repaid in full at April 30, 2000.


                                     PAGE 6
<PAGE>
ITEM 2.      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                  CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The  following  discussion  should  be read in  conjunction  with the  unaudited
financial  statements and notes thereto included in this Form 10-Q, and with the
Company's  latest audited  financial  statements and notes thereto as of and for
the annual  period  ended  August 31,  1999,  as reported in its Form 10-K as of
August 31, 1999.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash reserves of $3,381,793 at December 31, 1999 were increased by cash provided
from operating  activities of $899,086.  Additionally  during the quarter,  cash
provided from debt  obligations  of $52,720 and cash obtained  through a private
placement of common stock of $2,810,248 net of offering costs, resulted in total
working capital of $7,143,847 available for use in meeting the Company's ongoing
operational and development  needs during the three month period ended March 31,
2000.

During the three months ended March 31, 2000, portions of this capital were used
to fund payments on debt totaling $838,110 and related interest of $81,448.  The
Company applied $2,347,848 to fund the expansion and ongoing  development of its
gas and oil producing properties which included the acquisition of a significant
leasehold  acreage  block for future  exploration.  The  Company  also  incurred
$674,000 in drilling and completion  costs for wells drilled or completed during
the  period  and  expended  $194,000  in lease  extension  costs  related to its
existing Maverick Basin lease block.

As a  result  of  these  activities,  the  Company's  working  capital  position
significantly improved from $207,660 at December 31, 1999 to $1,995,334 at March
31,  2000.  The  Company's  current  ratio at March 31, 2000  reached  1.49 to 1
compared to a current  ratio of 1.04 to 1 at December 31, 1999.  The Company has
continued or increased its quarterly  profitability for the last six consecutive
quarters,  with the current  reporting  period ending March 31, 2000 realizing a
net income of $621,448.

The increased  revenues from new gas  production  from Maverick  Basin gas wells
placed on  production  during 1999 and the first  quarter of Calendar Year 2000,
combined  with  improved  prices  for its gas and oil  production,  continue  to
significantly  enhance the  Company's  ability to meet  ongoing  operating  cash
obligations  and  development  plans.  Management  continues to actively  pursue
financing  arrangements  with various domestic and foreign based sources of debt
and equity financing that could provide favorably  structured  funding and which
would serve to complement the Company's  internal  capacity to generate  working
capital from operations.  Management remains confident that financial  resources
will remain available, enabling the Company to continue the rapid development of
its gas and oil  properties,  and to continue  to meet its normal  debt  service
obligations.  If Management's efforts to raise additional debt or equity capital
are not  successful  or if  realized  gas and oil prices for the growing new gas
production  from the Maverick Basin or existing  Williston  Basin oil production
are  substantially  less than expected,  the Company's  financial  condition and
liquidity could be adversely affected. Should this occur, Management retains its
ability to extend the timing of  currently  planned  development  activities  to
match  available  working  capital,  while  maintaining  its  current  operating
obligations on a timely basis.

Forward-looking  statements  in this 10-Q are made  pursuant  to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Investors
are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty,
including without limitation,  the costs of exploring and developing new oil and
natural  gas  reserves,   the  price  for  which  such  reserves  can  be  sold,
environmental  concerns  effecting the drilling of oil and natural gas wells, as
well as general  market  conditions,  competition  and pricing.  Please refer to
TXCO's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, copies of which are available
from the Company without charge, for additional information.

                                     PAGE 7
<PAGE>
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The increase by 68% in gas and oil sales for the three month period ending March
31, 2000 over the same period last year is attributable to increased  production
from its Maverick Basin gas wells. The increase was enhanced by improved gas and
oil prices  realized  during the 1st  quarter of 2000.  The  increases  in other
income, lease operating expense and production taxes are directly related to and
increased  proportionately  with increases in gas and oil production compared to
the previous period.

Exploration  expense increased due to accelerated  exploration  levels initiated
during the period.  Current period exploration  expenses include $253,000 of dry
hole costs consisting of $128,000 incurred in drilling the Kincaid #1-258,  plus
an  additional  dry hole  provision of $125,000 for current  drilling  activity,
while the prior year period  contained  no  significant  dry hole  charges.  The
increase in impairment  expense  reflects an additional  $125,000  provision for
marginal producing  properties,  in addition to the existing provision for lease
expirations scheduled for the period,  compared to a lower lease expiration rate
experienced  in the  prior  period.  Depreciation,  depletion  and  amortization
increased by 7% over the prior  period.  This  increase was due primarily to the
increase in  depletion  caused by  increased  production  levels and to a higher
depletion rate over the same period last year due to revised reserve estimates.

General  &  administrative  expense  increased  by 16%  over the  prior  period,
reflecting the higher  sustained  level of Company  operations.  Interest income
increased by 104% over the prior period reflecting increased cash reserve levels
while  interest  expense  decreased  $71,500  reflecting  the lower  outstanding
balance of borrowings  under the Range  financing  agreement  during the current
period.

During the quarter ending March 31, 2000, the Company  successfully  completed a
private equity funding for $2,810,248 net of offering costs, with  Swisspartners
Investment Network AG, a private  investment firm based in Zurich,  Switzerland.
Swisspartners  received  1,333,333  shares of the  Company's  common  stock at a
purchase  price of $2.25 per share.  Also  included  were warrants for 1,371,429
shares with a five-year term exercisable at $3.00 per share.

Also during the quarter, the Company closed a significant  leasehold acquisition
of 95,000 acres on the Farias Ranch  contiguous to Blue Star Oil and Gas,  Ltd's
Chittim  Ranch Lease and  southeast of the  Company's  existing  Maverick  Basin
acreage  block.  The  Farias  Ranch  Lease  was  granted  by the  Ewing  Halsell
Foundation  giving the  Company a  100-percent  working  interest.  There are no
drilling obligations for six years and initial geologic interpretation indicates
that multi-zone production potential exists, including a deep Jurassic structure
below 16,000 feet.

The  Company  initiated  the  drilling  of three new wells  and  re-entered  two
existing  wells during the current  period.  The Kincaid  #1-258  (57.5% WI) was
drilled  to a total  depth  of  6,391  feet.  This  step-out  well  was  located
approximately  five miles south of the Company's  closest Glen Rose  production.
Subsequently,  the  Paloma E #5-84  (62.5% WI) was  drilled to a total  depth of
5,536  feet.  Unfortunately,  electric  logs  indicated  neither  well  would be
economically  productive  in the Glen Rose  interval.  The  Kincaid  #1-258  was
plugged and abandoned while casing was cemented across the shallower  Georgetown
interval on the Paloma E #5-84 which awaits completion in that interval.

The  Company  next  drilled  the  Briscoe-Saner  #1-25  (25 %  carried  WI),  an
exploratory test well drilled to a total depth of 6,040 feet, as the second well
under the joint  venture  agreement  with Castle  Exploration  Company,  Inc., a
wholly owned subsidiary of Castle Energy  Corporation  (Nasdaq:  CECX). The well
encountered water at the Glen Rose interval and was plugged and abandoned.  This
step-out  well was five  miles  north of the  closest  Glen Rose,  Prickly  Pear
production. Initial results from two horizontal, short lateral re-entries in the
Georgetown  interval were  prospective  for oil  production.  The wells continue
undergoing production evaluation as Company engineers wait for production levels
to stabilize.

                                     PAGE 8
<PAGE>
                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


ITEM 1.           LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

         None

ITEM 2.           CHANGES IN SECURITIES

         None

ITEM 3.           DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

         None

ITEM 4.           SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

                  On March 10,  2000,  the  Company  held the Annual  Meeting of
          Shareholders  at the  Petroleum  Club of San Antonio,  pursuant to the
          notice  mailed to  shareholders  of record on January  24,  2000.  The
          following  matters were submitted for approval by vote at the meeting.
          All matters were approved by the shareholders  vote and the results of
          the voting is shown below for each matter.

         1.       Election of Five Directors:

                  Nominee                        For                   Against
                  -------                      ------                  -------
                  Stephen M. Gose, Jr.       11,376,969                271,959
                  Thomas H. Gose             11,377,069                271,859
                  James E. Sigmon            11,381,069                267,859
                  Michael Pint               11,381,069                267,859
                  Robert L. Foree, Jr.       11,381,069                267,859

                  There were no changes in Directors of the Company


         2.       Proposal for  ratification  of the adoption of Akin,  Doherty,
                  Klein & Feuge,  P.C., as independent  Auditors for the Company
                  for the year 2000.

                  For                  Against                Abstain
                  ---                  -------                -------
                  11,634,939           1,332                  12,657


ITEM 5.           OTHER INFORMATION

         None

ITEM 6.           EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

         None



                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                            THE EXPLORATION COMPANY
                                  (Registrant)



                              /s/ Roberto R. Thomae
                              Roberto R. Thomae,
                              Chief Financial Officer
                              (Signing on behalf of the
                              Registrant and as chief
                              accounting officer)


Date:  May 8, 2000


                                     PAGE 9
<PAGE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
EXPLORATION  COMPANY UNAUDITED FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS FOR THE CALENDAR QUARTER
ENDED MARCH 31, 2000 AND IS QUALIFED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000313395
<NAME>                        THE EXPLORATION COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                     US DOLLAR

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         3900599
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  2090312
<ALLOWANCES>                                   27026
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               6067306
<PP&E>                                         20521027
<DEPRECIATION>                                 5682811
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 21271086
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          4071972
<BONDS>                                        117865
                          0
                                    0
<COMMON>                                       174219
<OTHER-SE>                                     16907030
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   21271086
<SALES>                                        2560209
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               2803507
<CGS>                                          1242510
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  2130747
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (30136)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             81448
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                621448
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            621448
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   621448
<EPS-BASIC>                                  .04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .04




</TABLE>


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