(7) Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Notes

(7) Commitments and Contingencies

(7) Commitments and Contingencies

Recovery Trusts

On the Emergence Date, two trusts were formed, the Wapiti Recovery Trust (the “Wapiti Trust”) and the Delta Petroleum General Recovery Trust (the “General Trust,” and together with the Wapiti Trust, the “Recovery Trusts”). The Recovery Trusts were formed to pursue certain litigation against third-parties, including preference actions, fraudulent transfer and conveyance actions, rights of setoff and other claims, or causes of action under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and other claims and potential claims that the Debtors hold against third parties. The Recovery Trusts were funded with $1.0 million each pursuant to the Plan.

On September 19, 2012, the Wapiti Trust settled all causes of action against Wapiti Oil & Gas Energy, LLC (“Wapiti Oil & Gas”). Wapiti Oil & Gas made a one-time cash payment in the amount of $1.5 million to the Wapiti Trust, as consideration for the release of claims against it. These proceeds were then distributed to us, along with funds remaining from the initial funding of the Wapiti Trust of approximately $1.0 million. Further distributions are not anticipated from the Wapiti Trust and the Wapiti Trust is anticipated to be liquidated during 2013.

The General Trust is pursuing all bankruptcy causes of action not otherwise vested in the Wapiti Trust, claim objections and resolutions, and all other responsibilities for winding-up the bankruptcy. The General Trust is overseen by a three person General Trust Oversight Board and our Chief Executive Officer is the trustee. Costs, expenses and obligations incurred by the General Trust are charged against assets in the General Trust. To conduct its operations and fulfill its responsibilities under the Plan and the trust agreements, the recovery trustee may request additional funding from us. Any litigation pending at the time we emerged from Chapter 11 was transferred to the General Trust for resolution and settlement in accordance with the Plan and the order confirming the Plan. We are the beneficiary for each of the Recovery Trusts, subject to the terms of the respective trust agreements and the Plan. Since the Emergence Date, the General Trust has filed various claims and causes of action against third parties before the Bankruptcy Court, which actions are ongoing. Upon liquidation of the various claims and causes of action held by the General Trust, the proceeds, less certain administrative reserves and expenses, will be transferred to us. It is unknown at this time what proceeds, if any, we will realize from the General Trust’s litigation efforts.

From the Emergence Date through March 31, 2013, the Recovery Trusts have released approximately $5.2 million to us, which is available for our general use, due to a negotiated reduction in certain fees and claims associated with the bankruptcy, as well as a favorable variance in actual expenses versus budgeted expenses. The entire $5.2 million was released prior to December 31, 2012.

Shares Reserved for Unsecured Claims

The Plan provides that certain allowed general unsecured claims be paid with shares of our common stock. On the Emergence Date, 106 claims totaling approximately $73.7 million had been filed in the bankruptcy. Pursuant to the Plan, between the Emergence Date and December 31, 2012, the Recovery Trustee settled 25 claims with an aggregate face amount of $6.6 million for approximately $258,905 in cash and 202,753 shares of stock. Pursuant to the Plan, during the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Recovery Trustee settled an additional 28 claims with an aggregate face amount of $13.3 million for approximately $727,342 in cash and 1,723,111 shares of stock.

As of March 31, 2013, it is estimated that a total of 53 claims totaling approximately $53.9 million remain to be resolved by the Recovery Trustee. The largest remaining proof of claim was filed by the US Government for approximately $22.4 million relating to ongoing litigation concerning a plugging and abandonment obligation in Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Lease OCS-P 0320, comprising part of the Sword Unit in the Santa Barbara Channel, California. Par believes the probability of issuing stock to satisfy the full claim amount is remote, as the obligations upon which such proof of claim is asserted are joint and several among all working interest owners, and the Predecessor Company owned a 2.41934% working interest in the unit. In addition, litigation and/or settlement efforts are ongoing with Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc., Swann and Buzzard Creek Royalty Trust, as well as other claim holders.  

The settlement of claims is subject to ongoing litigation and we are unable to predict with certainty how many shares will be required to satisfy all claims. Pursuant to the Plan, allowed claims are settled at a ratio of 544 shares per $1,000 of claim. At March 31, 2013, we have reserved approximately $5.9 million representing the estimated value of claims remaining to be settled which are deemed probable and estimable at period end. A summary of claims is as follows:

	Emergence-Date August 31, 2012		From Emergence-Date through December 31, 2012
	Filed Claims		Settled Claims								Remaining Filed Claims
							Consideration
	Count	Amount	Count		Amount		Cash		Stock		Count		Amount
U.S. Government Claims.....	3	$    22,364,000	-		$                —		$           —		—		3		$    22,364,000
Former Employee Claims....	32	16,379,849	13		3,685,253		229,478		202,231		19		12,694,596
Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc......................................	1	8,671,865	—		—		—		—		1		8,671,865
Swann and Buzzard Creek Royalty Trust...................	1	3,200,000	—		—		—		—		1		3,200,000
Other Various Claims*........	69	23,120,396		12		2,914,859		29,427		522		57		20,205,537
Total........................................	106	$    73,736,110		25		$    6,600,112		$    258,905		202,753		81		$    67,135,998

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
	Settled Claims				Remaining Filed Claims
			Consideration
	Count	Amount	Cash	Stock	Count	Amount
U.S. Government Claims...............................................	-	$                  —	$           —	—	3	$    22,364,000
Former Employee Claims..............................................	15	12,676,736	329,588	1,614,988	4	17,860
Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc.......................................	-	—	—	—	1	8,671,865
Swann and Buzzard Creek Royalty Trust..................	—	—	—	—	1	3,200,000
Other Various Claims*...................................................	13	581,607	397,754	108,123	44	19,623,930
Total..................................................................................	28	$    13,258,343	$  727,342	1,723,111	53	$    53,877,655

*         Includes reserve for contingent/unliquidated claims in the amount of $10 million

On April 22, 2013, Texadian entered into a terminaling and storage agreement whereby the operator will provide Texadian with storage facilities, access to a marine terminal and pipelines, and railcar offloading services. The initial term of the agreement is for a period of four years and Texadian’s minimum purchase commitment during the initial term is approximately $28.0 million.