Note 7 - Long-term Debt

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Notes to Financial Statements

Long-Term Debt [Text Block]

NOTE 7. Long-Term Debt

The components of long-term debt, including the effects of debt issuance costs, are as follows (in thousands):

	March 31, 2022			December 31, 2021
10.00% Senior Notes due 2024	$	225,000		$	—
Revolving Credit Facility due 2024		—			100,000
Debt issuance costs, net (a)		(7,876	)		(2,071	)
Discounts, net (b)		(13,927	)		—
Total debt		203,197			97,929
Less current portion of long-term debt		—			—
Long-term debt, net	$	203,197		$	97,929

(a) Debt issuance costs as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 consisted of $9.0 million and $2.6 million, respectively, in costs less accumulated amortization of $1.1 million and $502,000, respectively.

(b) Discounts as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 consisted of $14.8 million and zero, respectively, in discounts less accumulated amortization of $893,000 and zero, respectively.

Revolving Credit Facility. In December 2020, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement with Fifth Third Bank, National Association (“Fifth Third”) as the administrative agent and sole lender to establish a revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility”) that matures on June 17, 2024. The Revolving Credit Facility had an initial borrowing base of $40.0 million. However, the Company elected to reduce the aggregate elected commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility to $20.0 million. In June 2021, the Company entered into the First Amendment to, among other things, (i) complete the semi-annual borrowing base redetermination process which increased the borrowing base from $40.0 million to $125.0 million and (ii) modify the terms of the Credit Agreement to increase the aggregate elected commitments from $20.0 million to $125.0 million. A syndicate of banks joined the credit facility at differing levels of commitments with Fifth Third remaining the administrative agent. In October 2021, the Company entered into the Second Amendment to, among other things, (i) complete a semi-annual borrowing base redetermination process, which increased the borrowing base from $125.0 million to $195.0 million and (ii) modify the terms of the Credit Agreement to increase the aggregate elected commitments from $125.0 million to $195.0 million. In February 2022, the Company entered into the Third Amendment to, among other things, (i) reduce the borrowing base from $195.0 million to $138.8 million and (ii) modify the terms of the Credit Agreement to reduce the aggregate elected commitments from $195.0 million to $138.8 million.

The borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility is equal to the lowest of (i) the borrowing base (which stands at $138.8 million as of March 31, 2022), (ii) the aggregate elected commitments (which stand at $138.8 million as of March 31, 2022) and (iii) $500.0 million. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had zero and $100.0 million, respectively, outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility prior to February 2022 bore interest, at the option of the Company, based on (a) a rate per annum equal to the higher of (i) the prime rate announced from time to time by Fifth Third, (ii) the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System during the last preceding business day plus 0.5 percent and (iii) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for one-month Interest Period, plus a margin (the “Applicable Margin”) which was determined by the Borrowing Base Utilization Percentage as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility or (b) the LIBO Rate for a one, three or six month Interest Period multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate. As of February 2022, borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at the option of the Company, based on (a) the prime rate announced from time to time by Fifth Third or (b) a rate equal to the higher of (i) zero percent per annum and (ii) SOFR relating to quotations for 1 or 3 months. Letters of credit outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility are subject to a per annum fee, representing the Applicable Margin plus 0.125 percent. The Company also pays commitment fees on undrawn amounts under the Revolving Credit Facility equal to 0.50 percent. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility are secured by a first lien security interest on substantially all assets of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries, including mortgages on the Company’s and its restricted subsidiaries’ crude oil and natural gas properties. The Revolving Credit Facility is scheduled to have the borrowing base redetermined semiannually in April and October. Additionally, the Company and Fifth Third each have the option for a wild card evaluation between redeterminations. 

The Revolving Credit Facility requires the maintenance of a ratio of total debt to EBITDAX, subject to certain adjustments, not to exceed 3.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter and a current ratio, subject to certain adjustments, of at least 1.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.

The Company has limited equity cure rights for a breach of the above-listed financial covenants. Additionally, the Revolving Credit Facility contains additional restrictive covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, incur additional liens, make investments and loans, enter into mergers and acquisitions, make or declare dividends and other payments, enter into certain hedging transactions, sell assets and engage in transactions with affiliates. The Revolving Credit Facility contains customary mandatory prepayments, including a monthly mandatory prepayment if the Consolidated Cash Balance (as defined in the Credit Agreement) is in excess of $20.0 million. In addition, the Credit Agreement is subject to customary events of default, including a change in control. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the administrative agent or the majority of the lenders may accelerate any amounts outstanding and terminate lender commitments.

Senior notes. In February 2022, the Company issued $225.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.00% senior unsecured notes that will mature on February 15, 2024 (“Senior Notes”). The Company received proceeds, net of $21.2 million of issuance costs and discounts, of $203.8 million. The net proceeds were used to pay down the balance of our Revolving Credit Facility to zero and to fund our ongoing capital development program. Interest on the Senior Notes will be payable on August 15 and February 15 of each year.

Both the Revolving Credit Facility and the Senior Notes have hedging obligations that the Company adheres to.