SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 15, 2000
ROYALE ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California 0-22750 33-02224120
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation or organization) File Number) Identification No.)
7676 Hazard Center Drive, Suite 1500
San Diego, CA 92108
(Address of principal executive office)
Issuer's telephone number: 619-881-2800
Item 5. Other Events.
Letter to Shareholders of Royale Energy, Inc. Pertaining to Stock Performance
On March 15, 2000, Royale Energy, Inc. mailed a letter to all of its current
shareholders of record addressing the price performance of its common stock.
A copy of the letter is attached to this filing as an exhibit.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
99.1 Letter to Shareholders dated March 15, 2000.
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 hereunto duly authorized.
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ROYALE ENERGY, INC.
Date: March 15, 2000 /s/ Donald H. Hosmer
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Donald H. Hosmer, President
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To Fellow Royale Energy Shareholders:
The natural gas and oil price collapse in 1998 and early 1999 along with
the natural decline in production resulted in a decrease in our earnings,
from 39 cents per share in 1997 to 20 cents per share in 1998 and a net loss
in the second quarter of 1999. These losses depressed our stock price.
We want you to understand what Royale's leadership has done and will
continue to do to manage controllable factors that affect stock price. Total
staff count was reduced throughout the year and many expenditures have been
eliminated or delayed.
General and administration expenses decreased by 4.1% in the first nine
months of 1999 and the our oil and gas lease operating expenses decreased by
14.5% during that same period. After Royale's 2nd quarter 1999 loss, which
was the first loss in many years, the profits in the 3rd quarter 1999 brought
us back to a break even. In fact, more than half of our income in the first
9 months of 1999 came in the 3rd quarter, as energy prices improved and our
drilling activity increased.
We expect that 4th quarter results (being finalized now) will show
continued improvement and that our strong 4th quarter 99 will make us
profitable for the year. Oil prices continue to rise and are now at their
highest levels since the Gulf War in the early 1990s. The price of natural
gas is now rebounding with skyrocketing demand. We project that in the 1st
quarter of 2000 we will record our highest 1st quarter earnings in company
history. We are bringing on a new oil producer in the Gulf Coast and plan
to acquire additional oil prospects to add to a high quality inventory of
natural gas wells we expect to drill in 2000.
We believe that two of Royale's largest natural gas discoveries in 1999,
Blossom and Dunnigan Hills, will add 5,000 MCF per day in production this
year along with any new discoveries.
For these and other reasons, we believe our stock price does not reflect
the company's fundamental value. The best we can do to improve our stock
valuation is to continue increasing natural gas and oil reserves, production,
cash flow and earnings. We're positively positioned to do that with the
development of our valuable East Rice Creek Victor Ranch and Bowerbank fields
along with new exciting oil properties.
As always, we thank you for your confidence in this great company and
will work hard to reward it.
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Sincerely,
ROYAL ENERGY, INC.
/s/ Donald H. Hosmer
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Donald Hosmer, President
President and CEO
This letter contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. We use words such as "believe," "plan," "expect," "project,"
and similar expressions to identify such forward-looking statements. You
should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
apply only as of the date of this letter. Our actual results could differ
materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for
many reasons. For example, if oil and natural gas prices fall again, or if
our drilling results are worse than we expect, we may not be able to achieve
the improved financial results in 2000 that we now believe are possible.
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