SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

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 March 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

Or

 

 

 

 

[  ] Transition Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from __________ to __________

 

 

 

 

Commission file number:   1-08246

 

 

Southwestern Energy Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delaware

71-0205415

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

2350 North Sam Houston Parkway East, Suite 125, Houston, Texas

77032

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

 

 

 

(281) 618-4700

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

 

 

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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     Noo

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer x

Accelerated filer o

Non-accelerated filer o

Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o     No x 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

Class

Outstanding as of April 27, 2010

Common Stock, Par Value $0.01


346,192,352





 

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY


INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2010

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Financial Statements..........................................................................................................................................................

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations...............................

26 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk....................................................................................

35 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures...................................................................................................................................................

37 

 

 

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings..............................................................................................................................................................

37 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors.........................................................................................................................................................................

37 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds....................................................................................

37 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities......................................................................................................................................

37 

Item 5.

Other Information...............................................................................................................................................................

37 

Item 6.

Exhibits.................................................................................................................................................................................

38 

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS


All statements, other than historical fact or present financial information, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements that address activities, outcomes and other matters that should or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, statements regarding the financial position, business strategy, production and reserve growth and other plans and objectives for our future operations, are forward-looking statements. Although we believe the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance. We have no obligation and make no undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.


Forward-looking statements include the items identified in the preceding paragraph, information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations and other statements in this Form 10-Q identified by words such as “anticipate,” “project,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “believe,” “predict,” “budget,” “projection,” “goal,” “plan,” “forecast,” “target” or similar expressions.


You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. They are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect our operations, markets, products, services and prices and cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with forward-looking statements, risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to:

 

·

the timing and extent of changes in market conditions and prices for natural gas and oil (including regional basis differentials);

·

our ability to transport our production to the most favorable markets or at all;

·

the timing and extent of our success in discovering, developing, producing and estimating reserves;

·

the economic viability of, and our success in drilling, our large acreage position in the Fayetteville Shale play overall as well as relative to other productive shale gas plays;

·

our ability to fund our planned capital investments;

·

our ability to determine the most effective and economic fracture stimulation for the Fayetteville Shale formation;  

·

the impact of government regulation, including any increase in severance or similar taxes, legislation relating to hydraulic fracturing, the climate and over-the-counter derivatives;

 

1

 

 


 

·

the costs and availability of oilfield personnel services and drilling supplies, raw materials, and equipment and services, including pressure pumping equipment and crews in the Arkoma basin;

·

our future property acquisition or divestiture activities;

·

the effects of weather;

·

increased competition;

·

the financial impact of accounting regulations and critical accounting policies;

·

the comparative cost of alternative fuels;

·

conditions in capital markets, changes in interest rates and the ability of our lenders to provide us with funds as agreed;

·

credit risk relating to the risk of loss as a result of non-performance by our counterparties; and

·

any other factors listed in the reports we have filed and may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).


We caution you that the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, incident to the exploration for and development, production and sale of natural gas and oil. These risks include, but are not limited to, commodity price volatility, third-party interruption of sales to market, inflation, the risk of failure of exploration programs in areas in which oil or natural gas has not previously been discovered or produced, lack of availability of goods and services, environmental risks, drilling and other operating risks, regulatory changes, the uncertainty inherent in estimating proved natural gas and oil reserves and in projecting future rates of production and timing of development expenditures and the other risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (the “2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K”), and all quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed subsequently thereto, including this Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Qs”).


Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described above or elsewhere in this Form 10-Q occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. We specifically disclaim all responsibility to publicly update any information contained in a forward-looking statement or any forward-looking statement in its entirety and therefore disclaim any resulting liability for potentially related damages.


All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

 


2

 

 


 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION


ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

For the three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2010

 

2009

 

(in thousands, except share/per share amounts)

Operating Revenues:

 

 

 

Gas sales

$               479,411 

 

$                372,658 

Gas marketing

 157,673 

 

 151,572 

Oil sales

 3,462 

 

 1,182 

Gas gathering

 25,373 

 

 16,563 

Other

 2,198 

 

 (1,158)

 

 668,117 

 

 540,817 

Operating Costs and Expenses:

 

 

 

Gas purchases – midstream services

 157,668 

 

 149,180 

Operating expenses

 36,566 

 

 27,172 

General and administrative expenses

 32,944 

 

 23,709 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 139,017 

 

 124,228 

Impairment of natural gas and oil properties

 ― 

 

 907,812 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 13,832 

 

 9,208 

 

 380,027 

 

 1,241,309 

Operating Income (Loss)

 288,090 

 

 (700,492)

Interest Expense:

 

 

 

Interest on debt

 13,929 

 

 14,185 

Other interest charges

 439 

 

 659 

Interest capitalized

 (7,860)

 

 (11,160)

 

 6,508 

 

 3,684 

Other Income

 23 

 

 365 

 

 

 

 

Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes

 281,605 

 

 (703,811)

Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes:

 

 

 

Current

 ― 

 

 (35,500)

Deferred

 109,837 

 

 (235,459)

 

 109,837 

 

 (270,959)

Net income (loss)

 171,768 

 

 (432,852)

Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 (29)

 

 (22)

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Southwestern Energy

$               171,797 

 

$              (432,830)

 

 

 

 

Earnings Per Share:

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Southwestern Energy stockholders - Basic

$                     0.50 

 

$                    (1.26)

Net income (loss) attributable to Southwestern Energy stockholders - Diluted

$                     0.49 

 

$                    (1.26)

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:

 

 

 

Basic

 345,099,247 

 

 342,570,995 

Diluted

 349,397,997 

 

 342,570,995 

 

 

 

 

 


See the accompanying notes which are an integral part of these

unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


 

3

 

 


 

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

2010

 

2009

ASSETS

(in thousands)

Current Assets:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$                 13,900 

 

$                 13,184 

Accounts receivable

 269,534 

 

 263,076 

Inventories

 24,220 

 

 30,009 

Hedging asset

 194,721 

 

 163,069 

Other

 69,385 

 

 95,163 

Total current assets

 571,760 

 

 564,501 

 

 

 

 

Property and Equipment:

 

 

 

Gas and oil properties, using the full cost method, including $630.5 million in 2010 and $595.4 million in 2009 excluded from amortization

 6,801,571 

 

 6,388,022 

Gathering systems

 595,604 

 

 547,637 

Other

 232,047 

 

 218,362 

Total property and equipment

 7,629,222 

 

 7,154,021 

Less: Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

 3,166,714 

 

 3,026,768 

 

 4,462,508 

 

 4,127,253 

 

 

 

 

Other Assets

 97,966 

 

 78,496 

TOTAL ASSETS

$            5,132,234 

 

$            4,770,250 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

Short-term debt

$                   1,200 

 

$                   1,200 

Accounts payable

 430,463 

 

 404,695 

Taxes payable

 27,506 

 

 25,500 

Interest payable

 9,847 

 

 19,775 

Advances from partners

 56,820 

 

 52,406 

Hedging liability

 11,847 

 

 20,052 

Current deferred income taxes

 68,560 

 

 ― 

Other

 11,814 

 

 12,788 

Total current liabilities

 618,057 

 

 536,416 

 

 

 

 

Long-Term Debt

 1,017,800 

 

 997,500 

 

 

 

 

Other Liabilities:

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 859,171 

 

 811,902 

Long-term hedging liability

 2,380 

 

 3,057 

Pension and other postretirement liabilities

 14,607 

 

 12,630 

Other long-term liabilities

 67,834 

 

 67,764 

 

 943,992 

 

 895,353 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity:

 

 

 

Southwestern Energy stockholders’ equity

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 540,000,000 shares, issued 346,192,064 shares in 2010 and 346,081,210 in 2009

 3,462 

 

 3,461 

Additional paid-in capital

 837,751 

 

 833,494 

Retained earnings

 1,586,124 

 

 1,414,327 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 119,778 

 

 84,276 

Common stock in treasury, 206,604 shares in 2010 and 203,830 in 2009

 (4,457)

 

 (4,333)

Total Southwestern Energy stockholders’ equity

 2,542,658 

 

 2,331,225 

Noncontrolling interest

 9,727 

 

 9,756 

Total equity

 2,552,385 

 

 2,340,981 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

$            5,132,234 

 

$            4,770,250 



See the accompanying notes which are an integral part of these

unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. 




4

  

 


 

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2010

 

2009

 

(in thousands)

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$               171,768 

 

$              (432,852)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 139,419 

 

 124,647 

Impairment of natural gas and oil properties

 ― 

 

 907,812 

Deferred income taxes

 109,837 

 

 (235,459)

Other

 (3,259)

 

 8,407 

Change in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 (6,458)

 

 44,723 

Inventories

 11,230 

 

 (2,099)

Accounts payable

 (8,078)

 

 9,930 

Taxes payable

 2,006 

 

 (11,952)

Interest payable

 (9,928)

 

 (9,200)

Advances from partners

 4,414 

 

 33,479 

Other assets and liabilities

 6,628 

 

 (30,141)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 417,579 

 

 407,295 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities

 

 

 

Capital investments

 (442,122)

 

 (480,483)

Other

 649 

 

 (4,370)

Net cash used in investing activities

 (441,473)

 

 (484,853)

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

 

 

 

Payments on revolving long-term debt

 (621,600)

 

 ― 

Borrowings under revolving long-term debt

 641,900 

 

 ― 

Change in bank drafts outstanding

 4,057 

 

 (36,400)

Proceeds from exercise of common stock options

 253 

 

 3 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 24,610 

 

 (36,397)

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 716 

 

 (113,955)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 13,184 

 

 196,277 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$                 13,900 

 

$                  82,322 


 

See the accompanying notes which are an integral part of these

unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


5

 

 


 

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southwestern Energy Stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Additional

 

 

 

Other

 

Common

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

 

Paid-In

 

Retained

 

Comprehensive

 

Stock in

 

Noncontrolling

 

 

 

Issued

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Earnings

 

Income

 

Treasury

 

Interest

 

Total

 

(in thousands)

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2009

 346,081 

 

$      3,461 

 

$    833,494 

 

$  1,414,327 

 

$          84,276 

 

$     (4,333)

 

$           9,756 

 

$     2,340,981 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 171,797 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 (29)

 

 171,768 

Change in derivatives

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 35,311 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 35,311 

Change in pension and other postretirement liabilities

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 191 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 191 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (29)

 

 207,270 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 — 

 

 — 

 

 4,005 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 4,005 

Exercise of stock options

 110 

 

 1 

 

 252 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 253 

Issuance of restricted stock

 6 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

Cancellation of restricted stock

 (5)

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

Treasury stock – non-qualified plan

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 (124)

 

 — 

 

 (124)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2010

 346,192 

 

$      3,462 

 

$   837,751 

 

$ 1,586,124 

 

$        119,778 

 

$     (4,457)

 

$           9,727 

 

$     2,552,385 


 


See the accompanying notes which are an integral part of these

unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


 

6

  


 

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

 

For the three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2010

 

2009

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$               171,768 

 

$              (432,852)

 

 

 

 

Change in derivatives:

 

 

 

Reclassification to earnings (1)

 (29,301)

 

 (84,553)

Ineffectiveness (2)

 (57)

 

 (719)

Change in fair value of derivative instruments (3)

 64,669 

 

 169,962 

Total change in derivatives

 35,311 

 

 84,690 

 

 

 

 

Change in pension and other postretirement liabilities (4)

 191 

 

 196 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 207,270 

 

 (347,966)

 

 

 

 

Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest

 (29)

 

 (22)

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwestern Energy

$               207,299 

 

$              (347,944)


(1) Net of ($20.8) and ($53.6) million in taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.


(2) Net of less than ($0.1) and ($0.5) million in taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.


(3) Net of $46.0 and $107.8 million in taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.


(4) Net of $0.1 and $0.1 million in taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.


 


See the accompanying notes which are an integral part of these

unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


7

 

 



 

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


(1)

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS


Southwestern Energy Company (including its subsidiaries, collectively, the “Company,” “Southwestern Energy,” “we,” “us,” “its” and “our”) is an independent energy company primarily focused on the exploration and production of natural gas. The Company engages in natural gas and oil exploration and production (“E&P”) and natural gas gathering and marketing (“Midstream Services”) through its subsidiaries. Southwestern Energy’s current E&P operations are principally focused on the development of an unconventional natural gas play in Arkansas. The Company also is actively engaged in E&P activities in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas and intends to begin an exploration program in New Brunswick, Canada in 2010. Southwestern Energy’s Midstream Services business is concentrated in the core areas of its E&P operations in the United States. 


The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information relating to the Company’s organization and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been appropriately condensed or omitted in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.


The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this report include all normal and recurring material adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented herein. It is recommended that these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (“2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K”).


The Company’s significant accounting policies, which have been reviewed and approved by the audit committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, are summarized in Note 1 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company evaluates subsequent events through the date the financial statements are issued.


On January 1, 2010, the Company implemented certain provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) Topic 810, “Consolidation.” The new provisions (a) require a qualitative rather than a quantitative approach to determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”); (b) amend certain guidance pertaining to the determination of the primary beneficiary when related parties are involved; (c) amend certain guidance for determining whether an entity is a VIE; and (d) require continuous assessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. The implementation did not have an impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.


On January 1, 2010, the Company implemented certain provisions of Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-06, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820)—Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements” (“Update 2010-06”). Update 2010-06 requires the Company to (a) provide information about movements of assets among Levels 1 and 2 of the three-tier fair value hierarchy; (b) provide a reconciliation of purchases, sales, issuance, and settlements of financial instruments valued with a Level 3 method; and (c) provide fair value measurement disclosures for each class of financial assets and liabilities. The implementation did not have an impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition. Required disclosures for the reconciliation of purchases, sales, issuance and settlements of financial instruments valued with a Level 3 method are effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2011 and the Company does not expect the implementation to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.


Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year’s financial statements to conform to the 2010 presentation. The effects of the reclassifications were not material to the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 


8

 

 



 

(2)   PREPAID EXPENSES


 

The components of prepaid expenses included in other current assets as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 consisted of the following:


 

2010

 

2009

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

Prepaid drilling costs

$                 46,988 

 

$                 53,819 

Prepaid insurance

 4,303 

 

 6,572 

Total

$                 51,291 

 

$                 60,391 


(3)   INVENTORY


 

Inventory recorded in current assets includes $3.8 million at March 31, 2010 and $9.2 million at December 31, 2009, for gas in underground storage owned by the Company’s E&P segment, and $20.4 million at March 31, 2010 and $20.8 million at December 31, 2009, for tubulars and other equipment used in the E&P segment.


The Company has one natural gas storage facility. The current portion of the gas is classified in inventory and carried at the lower of cost or market. During the first three months of 2009, the Company recorded a $4.3 million non-cash impairment to reduce the current portion of the Company’s natural gas inventory to the lower of cost or market. The non-current portion of the gas is classified in property and equipment and carried at cost. The carrying value of the non-current gas is evaluated for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that it may not be recoverable. Withdrawals of current gas in underground storage are accounted for by a weighted average cost method whereby gas withdrawn from storage is relieved at the weighted average cost of current gas remaining in the facility.


Other Assets include $26.7 million at March 31, 2010 and $31.2 million at December 31, 2009 for inventory held by the Midstream Services segment consisting primarily of pipe that will be used to construct gathering systems for the Fayetteville Shale play.


Tubulars and other equipment are carried at the lower of cost or market and are accounted for by a moving weighted average cost method that is applied within specific classes of inventory items. Purchases of inventory are recorded at cost and inventory is relieved at the weighted average cost of items remaining within a specified class.


(4)

GAS AND OIL PROPERTIES


The Company utilizes the full cost method of accounting for costs related to the exploration, development and acquisition of natural gas and oil reserves. Under this method, all such costs (productive and nonproductive), including salaries, benefits and other internal costs directly attributable to these activities are capitalized and amortized on an aggregate basis over the estimated lives of the properties using the units-of-production method. These capitalized costs, less accumulated amortization and related deferred income taxes, are subject to a ceiling test that limits such pooled costs to the aggregate of the present value of future net revenues attributable to proved natural gas and oil reserves discounted at 10 percent plus the lower of cost or market value of unproved properties. Any costs in excess of the ceiling are written off as a non-cash expense. The expense may not be reversed in future periods, even though higher natural gas and oil prices may subsequently increase the ceiling. Full cost companies must use the average price for the first-day-of-the-month during the previous 12 months, including the impact of derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges, to calculate the ceiling value of their reserves.


Using the average price for the first-day-of–the-month during the previous 12 months for Henry Hub natural gas of $3.99 per MMBtu and $66.13 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate oil, adjusted for market differentials and the impact of derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges, the Company’s net book value of natural gas and oil properties did not exceed the ceiling amount and did not result in a ceiling test impairment at March 31, 2010. Cash flow hedges of gas production in place increased the ceiling value by approximately $166.0 million at March 31, 2010. Excluding the benefit of those cash flow hedges at March 31, 2010, unamortized costs would have exceeded the ceiling value by $106.5 million. Decreases in market prices as well as changes in production rates, levels of reserves, evaluation of costs excluded from amortization, future development costs and production costs could result in future ceiling test impairments.


 

9

 

 



 

At March 31, 2009, the ceiling value of the Company’s reserves was calculated based upon the March 31, 2009 quoted market prices of $3.63 per Mcf for Henry Hub natural gas and $46.00 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate oil, adjusted for market differentials. At March 31, 2009, the net capitalized costs of our gas and oil properties exceeded the ceiling by approximately $558.3 million (net of tax) and resulted in a non-cash ceiling test impairment in the first quarter of 2009.


(5)

EARNINGS PER SHARE


The following table presents the computation of earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:


 

For the three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Southwestern Energy (in thousands)

$               171,797 

 

$              (432,830)

 

 

 

 

Number of common shares:

 

 

 

Weighted average outstanding

 345,099,247 

 

 342,570,995 

Issued upon assumed exercise of outstanding stock options

 4,014,914 

 

 — 

Effect of issuance of nonvested restricted common stock

 283,836 

 

 — 

Weighted average and potential dilutive outstanding (1)

 349,397,997 

 

 342,570,995 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Southwestern Energy stockholders – basic

$                     0.50 

 

$                    (1.26)

Net income (loss) attributable to Southwestern Energy stockholders – diluted

$                     0.49 

 

$                    (1.26)


(1)

Options for 448,933 shares and 4,698 shares of restricted stock were excluded from the calculation for the three months ended March 31, 2010 because they would have had an antidilutive effect. Due to the net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009, options for 6,475,824 shares and 306,614 shares of restricted stock were antidilutive and excluded from the calculation.


(6)

DERIVATIVES AND RISK MANAGEMENT


The Company is exposed to commodity price risk which impacts the predictability of its cash flows related to the sale of natural gas and oil. The primary risk managed by the Company’s use of certain derivative financial instruments is commodity price risk. These derivative financial instruments allow the Company to limit its price exposure to a portion of its projected natural gas sales. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company’s derivative financial instruments consisted of price swaps, costless-collars and basis swaps. A description of the Company’s derivative financial instruments is provided below:


Fixed price swaps  

The Company receives a fixed price for the contract and pays a floating market price to the counterparty.

 

Floating price swaps

The Company receives a floating market price from the counterparty and pays a fixed price.

 

Costless-collars  

Arrangements that contain a fixed floor price (put) and a fixed ceiling price (call). If the market price exceeds the call strike price or falls below the put strike price, the Company receives the fixed price and pays the market price. If the market price is between the call and the put strike price, no payments are due from either party.


Basis swaps

Arrangements that guarantee a price differential for natural gas from a specified delivery point. The Company receives a payment from the counterparty if the price differential is greater than the stated terms of the contract and pays the counterparty if the price differential is less than the stated terms of the contract.   


GAAP requires that all derivatives be recognized in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability and be measured at fair value. Under GAAP, certain criteria must be satisfied in order for derivative financial instruments to be classified and accounted for as either a cash flow or a fair value hedge. Accounting for qualifying hedges requires a derivative’s gains and losses to be recorded either in earnings or as a component of other comprehensive income. Gains and losses


 

10

 

 



 

on derivatives that are not elected for hedge accounting treatment or that do not meet hedge accounting requirements are recorded in earnings.


The Company utilizes counterparties for its derivative instruments that it believes are credit-worthy at the time the transactions are entered into and the Company closely monitors the credit ratings of these counterparties. Additionally, the Company performs both quantitative and qualitative assessments of these counterparties based on their credit ratings and credit default swap rates where applicable. However, the events in the financial markets in recent years demonstrate there can be no assurance that a counterparty will be able to meet its obligations to the Company.


The balance sheet classification of the assets related to derivative financial instruments are summarized below at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:


 

 

Derivative Assets

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

Balance Sheet Classification

 

Fair Value

 

Balance Sheet Classification

 

Fair Value

 

 

(in thousands)

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed and floating price swaps

 

Hedging asset

 

$         140,559 

 

Hedging asset

 

$         117,553 

Costless-collars

 

Hedging asset

 

54,162 

 

Hedging asset

 

45,516 

Fixed and floating price swaps

 

Other Assets

 

30,559 

 

Other Assets

 

11,756 

Costless-collars

 

Other Assets

 

 5,537 

 

Other Assets

 

 ― 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments

 

 

 

$         230,817 

 

 

 

$         174,825 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basis swaps

 

Hedging asset

 

$                  ― 

 

Hedging asset

 

$                  ― 

Basis swaps

 

Other Assets

 

 21 

 

Other Assets

 

 ― 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

 

 

 

$                  21 

 

 

 

$                  ― 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total derivative assets

 

 

 

$         230,838 

 

 

 

$         174,825 


 

 

Derivative Liabilities

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

Balance Sheet Classification

 

Fair Value

 

Balance Sheet Classification

 

Fair Value

 

 

(in thousands)

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed and floating price swaps

 

Hedging liability

 

$             2,064 

 

Hedging liability

 

$                 940 

Costless-collars

 

Hedging liability

 

1,162 

 

Hedging liability

 

7,387 

Fixed and floating price swaps

 

Long-term hedging liability

 

837 

 

Long-term hedging liability

 

1,373 

Costless-collars

 

Long-term hedging liability

 

 1,543 

 

Long-term hedging liability

 

 ― 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments

 

 

 

$             5,606 

 

 

 

$             9,700 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basis swaps

 

Hedging liability

 

$             8,621 

 

Hedging liability

 

$           11,725 

Basis swaps

 

Long-term hedging liability

 

 ― 

 

Long-term hedging liability

 

 1,684 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

 

 

 

$             8,621 

 

 

 

$           13,409 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total derivative liabilities

 

 

 

$           14,227 

 

 

 

$           23,109 


 

11

 

 



 

Cash Flow Hedges

 

The reporting of gains and losses on cash flow derivative hedging instruments depends on whether the gains or losses are effective at offsetting changes in the cash flows of the hedged item. The effective portion of the gains and losses on the derivative hedging instruments are recorded in other comprehensive income until recognized in earnings during the period that the hedged transaction takes place. The ineffective portion of the gains and losses from the derivative hedging instrument is recognized in earnings immediately.


As of March 31, 2010, the Company had cash flow hedges on the following volumes of natural gas production (in Bcf):


Year:

Fixed price swaps

Costless-collars

2010

 27.0 

 21.0 

2011

 30.0 

   7.3 


As of March 31, 2010, the Company recorded a net gain in accumulated other comprehensive income related to its hedging activities of $130.6 million. These amounts are net of a deferred income tax liability recorded as of March 31, 2010 of $83.5 million. The amount recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income will be relieved over time and taken to the statement of operations as the physical transactions being hedged occur. Assuming the market prices of gas futures as of March 31, 2010 remain unchanged, the Company would expect to transfer an aggregate after-tax net gain of approximately $111.7 million from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings during the next 12 months. Gains or losses from derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are reflected as adjustments to gas sales in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. Gas sales included a realized gain from settled contracts of $50.1 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2010 compared to a realized gain of $141.5 million during the three-month period ended March 31, 2009. Volatility in earnings and other comprehensive income may occur in the future as a result of the application of the Company’s derivative activities.


The following tables summarize the before tax effect of all cash flow hedges on the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:


 

 

Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income

(Effective Portion)

Derivative Instrument

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed price swaps

 

$       75,314 

 

$     224,992 

Costless-collars

 

$       35,317 

 

$     118,598 


 

 

Classification of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

into Earnings

 

Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Earnings

(Effective Portion)

Derivative Instrument

 

(Effective Portion)

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed price swaps

 

Gas Sales

 

$         33,673 

 

$         53,414 

Costless-collars

 

Gas Sales

 

$         16,453 

 

$         88,043 


 

 

Classification of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Earnings

 

Gain (Loss) Recognized

in Earnings

(Ineffective Portion)

Derivative Instrument

 

(Ineffective Portion)

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed price swaps

 

Gas Sales

 

$              473 

 

$              365 

Costless-collars

 

Gas Sales

 

$            (375)

 

$                48 


 

12

 

 



 

Fair Value Hedges

 

For fair value hedges, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item are recognized in earnings immediately. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had no material fair value hedges.


 Other Derivative Contracts


Although the Company’s basis swaps meet the objective of managing commodity price exposure, these trades are typically not entered into concurrent with the Company’s derivative instruments that qualify as cash flow hedges and therefore do not generally qualify for hedge accounting. Basis swap derivative instruments that do not qualify as cash flow hedges are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair values under hedging assets, other assets and hedging liabilities, and all realized and unrealized gains and losses related to these contracts are recognized immediately in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations as a component of gas sales.


As of March 31, 2010, the Company had basis swaps on natural gas production that did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment of 33.0 Bcf and 12.0 Bcf in 2010 and 2011, respectively.


The following table summarizes the before tax effect of basis swaps that did not qualify for hedge accounting on the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:


 

 

Income Statement Classification

 

Unrealized Gain (Loss) Recognized in Earnings

 

Realized Gain (Loss) Recognized in Earnings

Derivative Instrument

 

of Gain (Loss)

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basis swaps

 

Gas Sales

 

$         4,810 

 

$          (641)

 

 $      (4,844)

 

 $        2,863 


 

13

 

 


 


(7)

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS


The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows:


 

March 31,

2010

 

December 31,

2009

 

Carrying

 

Fair

 

Carrying

 

Fair

 

Amount

 

Value

 

Amount

 

Value

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$          13,900 

 

$          13,900 

 

$          13,184 

 

$          13,184 

Total debt

$     1,019,000 

 

$     1,075,606 

 

$        998,700 

 

$     1,031,826 

Derivative instruments

$        216,611 

 

$        216,611 

 

$        151,716 

 

$        151,716 


The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, other current assets and current liabilities on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets approximate fair value because of their short term nature. For debt and derivative instruments, the following methods and assumptions were used to estimate fair value:


Debt: The fair values of the Company’s 7.5% Senior Notes due 2018, 7.35% Senior Notes due 2017, 7.125% Senior Notes due 2017 and 7.15% Senior Notes due 2018 were based on the market for the Company’s publicly-traded debt as determined based on yield of the Company’s 7.5% Senior Notes due 2018, which was 6.1% at March 31, 2010 and 6.7% at December 31, 2009. Borrowings under the Company’s unsecured revolving credit facility of $344.8 million at March 31, 2010 and $324.5 million at December 31, 2009 approximate fair value.


Derivative Instruments: The fair value of all derivative instruments is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged currently between willing parties. The amounts are based on quoted market prices, best estimates obtained from counterparties and an option pricing model, when necessary, for price option contracts.


GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. As presented in the tables below, this hierarchy consists of three broad levels:


Level 1 valuations -

Consist of unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities and have the highest priority.


Level 2 valuations -

Consist of quoted market information for the calculation of fair market value.


Level 3 valuations -

Consist of internal estimates and have the lowest priority.

 

Pursuant to GAAP, the Company has classified its derivatives into these levels depending upon the data utilized to determine their fair values. The Company’s Level 2 fair value measurements include fixed-price and floating-price swaps and are estimated using internal discounted cash flow calculations using the NYMEX futures index. The Company’s Level 3 fair value measurements include costless-collars and basis swaps. The Company’s costless-collars are valued using the Black-Scholes model, an industry standard option valuation model, and takes into account inputs such as contract terms, including maturity, and market parameters, including assumptions of the NYMEX futures index, interest rates, volatility and credit worthiness. The Company’s basis swaps are estimated using internal discounted cash flow calculations based upon forward commodity price curves.  

 


14

 

 


 


Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in thousands):


 

March 31, 2010

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using:

 

 

 

Quoted Prices

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

in Active

 

Other

 

Significant

 

 

 

Markets

 

Observable Inputs

 

Unobservable Inputs

 

Assets (Liabilities)

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

at Fair Value

Derivative assets

$                        — 

 

$                   171,118 

 

$                       59,720 

 

$                230,838 

Derivative liabilities

 — 

 

 (2,901)

 

 (11,326)

 

 (14,227)

Total

$                        — 

 

$                   168,217 

 

$                       48,394 

 

$                216,611 


 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using:

 

 

 

Quoted Prices

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

in Active

 

Other

 

Significant

 

 

 

Markets

 

Observable Inputs

 

Unobservable Inputs

 

Assets (Liabilities)

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

at Fair Value

Derivative assets

$                        — 

 

$                   129,309 

 

$                       45,516 

 

$               174,825 

Derivative liabilities

 — 

 

 (2,313)

 

 (20,796)

 

 (23,109)

Total

$                        — 

 

$                   126,996 

 

$                       24,720 

 

$               151,716 


The table below presents reconciliations for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three-month period ended March 31, 2010. The fair values of Level 3 derivative instruments are estimated using proprietary valuation models that utilize both market observable and unobservable parameters. Level 3 instruments presented in the table consist of net derivatives valued using pricing models incorporating assumptions that, in the Company’s judgment, reflect the assumptions a marketplace participant would have used at March 31, 2010.


 

For the three months ended March 31, 2010

 

(in thousands)

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

$                       24,720 

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):

 

Included in earnings

 16,044 

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

 19,239 

Purchases, issuances, and settlements

 (11,609)

Transfers into/out of Level 3

 — 

Balance at end of period

$                       48,394 

Change in unrealized gains (losses) included in earnings relating to derivatives still held as of March 31, 2010

$                         4,435 


 

15

 

 


 


(8)

DEBT


The components of debt as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 consisted of the following:


 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

2010

 

2009

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

Short-term debt:

 

 

 

7.15% Senior Notes due 2018

$                   1,200 

 

$                   1,200 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt:

 

 

 

Variable rate (1.296% at March 31, 2010) unsecured revolving credit facility

 344,800 

 

 324,500 

7.5% Senior Notes due 2018

 600,000 

 

 600,000 

7.35% Senior Notes due 2017

 15,000 

 

 15,000 

7.125% Senior Notes due 2017

 25,000 

 

 25,000 

7.15% Senior Notes due 2018

 33,000 

 

 33,000 

 

 1,017,800 

 

 997,500 

 

 

 

 

Total debt

$            1,019,000 

 

$               998,700 


Senior Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees  


The indentures governing the Company’s senior notes contain covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of the Company and/or its subsidiaries’ ability to incur liens, to engage in sale and leaseback transactions and to merge, consolidate or sell assets. All of the Company’s senior notes are guaranteed by its subsidiaries SEECO, Inc. (“SEECO”), Southwestern Energy Production Company (“SEPCO”) and Southwestern Energy Services Company (“SES”). These guarantees may be unconditionally released in certain circumstances. All of these guarantees are currently in place. Please refer to Note 15, “Condensed Consolidating Financial Information” for additional information.


Credit Facility  


On February 9, 2007, the Company amended its unsecured revolving credit facility (as further amended, the “Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of banks for which JPMorgan Chase Bank acts as the Administrative Agent. The Credit Facility expires in February 2012 and has a borrowing capacity of $1.0 billion, which may be increased to up to $1.25 billion at any time upon the Company’s agreement with its existing or additional lenders. The interest rate on the Credit Facility is calculated based upon the Company’s debt rating and is currently 87.5 basis points over the current London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”).


The Credit Facility is currently guaranteed by the Company’s subsidiaries, SEECO, SEPCO and SES and requires additional subsidiary guarantors if certain guaranty coverage levels are not satisfied. The Credit Facility also contains covenants which impose certain restrictions on the Company. Under the credit agreement, the Company must keep total debt (as defined in the Credit Facility) at or below 60% of its total capital (as defined in the Credit Facility), must maintain a certain level of stockholders’ equity (as defined in the Credit Facility), and must maintain a ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (as defined in the Credit Facility) to interest expense of 3.5 or above. There are also restrictions on the ability of the Company’s subsidiaries to incur debt. At March 31, 2010, the Company was in compliance with the covenants of its debt agreements. The credit status of the financial institutions participating in the Company’s Credit Facility could adversely impact its ability to borrow funds under the facility. While the Company believes all of the lenders under the Credit Facility have the ability to provide funds, it cannot predict whether each lender will be able to meet its obligation under the facility.


 

16

 

 


 


(9)   CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS


 

Commitments


In the first quarter of 2010, the Company was awarded exclusive licenses by the Province of New Brunswick in Canada to conduct an exploration program covering approximately 2.5 million acres in the province. The licenses require the Company to make certain capital investments in New Brunswick of approximately CDN $47 million in the aggregate over the next three years. In order to obtain the licenses, the Company provided promissory notes payable on demand to the Minister of Finance of the Province of New Brunswick with an aggregate principal amount of CDN $44.5 million. The promissory notes secure the Company's capital expenditure obligations under the licenses and are returnable to the Company to the extent the Company performs such obligations. If the Company fails to fully perform, the Minister of Finance may retain a portion of the applicable promissory notes in an amount equal to any deficiency. The Company intends to begin the exploration program in 2010 and, as of March 31, 2010, no liability has been recognized in connection with the promissory notes.

Environmental Risk

The Company is subject to laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. The Company’s policy is to accrue environmental and cleanup related costs of a non-capital nature when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and when the amount can be reasonably estimated. Management believes any future remediation or other compliance related costs will not have a material effect on the financial position or reported results of operations of the Company.


Litigation


The Company is subject to litigation and claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. The Company accrues for such items when a liability is both probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. In the opinion of management, the results of such litigation and claims currently pending will not have a material effect on the financial position or reported results of operations of the Company.


(10) INTEREST AND INCOME TAXES


 

Interest payments of $23.9 million and $23.4 million were made for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. No federal income tax payments were made for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.

 

 

17

 

 


 

 

(11) PENSION PLAN AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS


 

The Company has defined pension and postretirement benefit plans which cover substantially all of the Company’s employees. Net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit costs include the following components for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:


 

Pension Benefits

 

For the three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2010

 

2009

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

Service cost

$                  1,774 

 

$                  1,287 

Interest cost

 812 

 

 718 

Expected return on plan assets

 (876)

 

 (702)

Amortization of prior service cost

 86 

 

 83 

Amortization of net loss

 202 

 

 212 

Net periodic benefit cost

$                  1,998 

 

$                  1,598 


 

Other Postretirement Benefits

 

For the three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2010

 

2009

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

Service cost

$                     272 

 

$                     174 

Interest cost

 49 

 

 34 

Amortization of transition obligation

 16 

 

 16 

Amortization of prior service cost

 4 

 

 3 

Amortization of net loss

 5 

 

 2 

Net periodic benefit cost

$                     346 

 

$                     229 

 


 

The Company currently expects to contribute $9.6 million to the pension plans and $0.1 million to the postretirement benefit plan in 2010. As of March 31, 2010, there have been no contributions to the pension plans and the postretirement benefit plan.


The Company maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation supplemental retirement savings plan (“Non-Qualified Plan”) for certain key employees who may elect to defer and contribute a portion of their compensation, as permitted by the plan. Shares of the Company’s common stock purchased under the terms of the Non-Qualified Plan are presented as treasury stock and totaled 206,604 shares at March 31, 2010 compared to 203,830 shares at December 31, 2009.


(12)

EQUITY


On April 8, 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors approved and the Company entered into, a Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (“Rights Agreement”), dated as of April 9, 2009, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., which amended, restated, superseded and replaced the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of April 12, 1999, as amended. The Rights Agreement extends the term of the agreement until April 8, 2019 and amends each Right (which initially represented the right to purchase one share of the Common Stock) to represent the right to purchase, when exercisable, a unit consisting of one one-thousandth of a share (“Unit”) of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series A Preferred Stock”) at a purchase price of $150.00 per Unit (“Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment.


In connection with the Rights Agreement, the Board of Directors approved the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights (“Certificate of Designation”) establishing the Series A Preferred Stock, which was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 9, 2009, and reserved 1,000,000 shares for issuance under the Rights Agreement. Pursuant to the Certificate of Designation, when issued, each share of the Series A Preferred Stock

 

 

18

 

 



 

entitles the holder thereof to 1,000 votes, subject to adjustment, on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company. Except as otherwise set forth in the Certificate of Designation or provided by law, the holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of the Common Stock will vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Company.


On February 24, 2010, the Company's Board of Directors approved, and the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent, entered into, an amendment to the Rights Agreement pursuant to which the final expiration date of the rights (each as defined in the Rights Agreement) was advanced from April 8, 2019 to February 26, 2010. As a result of the amendment, the rights are no longer outstanding or exercisable.


(13)

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION


 The Company recognized the following amounts in employee stock-based compensation costs for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:


 

For the three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2010

 

2009

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation cost – general and administrative expense

$                  2,297 

 

$                  2,152 

Stock-based compensation cost – capitalized

 1,708 

 

 1,511 


As of March 31, 2010, there was $33.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to the Company’s unvested stock option and restricted stock grants. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.7 years.

 

The following table summarizes stock option activity for the first three months of 2010 and provides information for options outstanding as of March 31, 2010.


 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Average

 

Number

 

Exercise

 

of Options

 

Price

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2009

 5,649,233 

 

$                   11.59 

Granted

 30,915 

 

 44.65 

Exercised

 (110,319)

 

 2.30 

Forfeited or expired

 (4,317)

 

 35.89 

Outstanding at March 31, 2010

 5,565,512 

 

$                   11.94 

Exercisable at March 31, 2010

 4,717,941 

 

$                     7.66 


The following table summarizes restricted stock activity for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and provides information for unvested shares as of March 31, 2010.

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Average

 

Number

 

Grant Date

 

of Shares

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

Unvested shares at December 31, 2009

 794,529 

 

$                   33.70 

Granted

 8,670 

 

 43.98 

Vested

 (46,346)

 

 28.10 

Forfeited

 (5,325)

 

 35.05 

Unvested shares at March 31, 2010

 751,528 

 

$                   34.16 

 

 

19

 

 


 


(14)

SEGMENT INFORMATION


The Company’s reportable business segments have been identified based on the differences in products or services provided. Revenues for the E&P segment are derived from the production and sale of natural gas and crude oil. The Midstream Services segment generates revenue through the marketing of both Company and third-party produced gas volumes and through gathering fees associated with the transportation of natural gas to market.


Summarized financial information for the Company’s reportable segments is shown in the following table. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of the 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Management evaluates the performance of its segments based on operating income, defined as operating revenues less operating costs and expenses. Income before income taxes, for the purpose of reconciling the operating income (loss) amount shown below to consolidated income before income taxes, is the sum of operating income (loss), interest expense and interest and other income (loss). The “Other” column includes items not related to the Company’s reportable segments including real estate and corporate items.


 

Exploration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And

 

Midstream

 

 

 

 

 

Production

 

Services

 

Other

 

Total

 

(in thousands)

Three months ended March 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from external customers

$     485,071 

 

$     183,046 

 

$              — 

 

$       668,117 

Intersegment revenues

 6,998 

 

 448,597 

 

 246 

 

 455,841 

Operating income

 250,431 

 

 37,624 

 

 35 

 

 288,090 

Interest and other income (loss) (1)

 (45)

 

 68 

 

 — 

 

 23 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense

 132,707 

 

 6,161 

 

 149 

 

 139,017 

Interest expense (1)

 2,300 

 

 4,208 

 

 — 

 

 6,508 

Provision for income taxes (1)

 96,765 

 

 13,059 

 

 13 

 

 109,837 

Assets

 4,245,617 

(2)

 772,040 

 

 114,577 

(3)

 5,132,234 

Capital investments (4)

 411,433 

 

 49,266 

 

 12,926 

 

 473,625 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And

 

Midstream

 

 

 

 

 

Production

 

Services

 

Other

 

Total

 

(in thousands)

Three months ended March 31, 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from external customers

$     372,562 

 

$     168,135 

 

$            120 

 

$       540,817 

Intersegment revenues

 5,523 

 

 225,339 

 

 112 

 

 230,974 

Operating income (loss)

 (727,893)

(5)

 27,362 

 

 39 

 

 (700,492)

Interest and other income(1)

 363 

 

 — 

 

 2 

 

 365 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense

 120,131 

 

 3,926 

 

 171 

 

 124,228 

Impairment of natural gas and oil properties

 907,812 

 

 — 

 

 — 

 

 907,812 

Interest expense (1)

 3,243 

 

 441 

 

 — 

 

 3,684 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes (1)

 (281,339)

 

 10,365 

 

 15 

 

 (270,959)

Assets

 3,506,323 

(2)

 525,331 

 

 196,922 

(3)

 4,228,576 

Capital investments (4)

 450,403 

 

 50,921 

 

 1,868 

 

 503,192 


(1)

Interest income, interest expense and the provision (benefit) for income taxes by segment are allocated as they are incurred at the corporate level.

(2)

Includes capital investments for office, technology, drilling rigs and other ancillary equipment not directly related to gas and oil property acquisition, exploration and development activities.

(3)

Other assets represent corporate assets not allocated to segments and assets, including investments in cash equivalents, for non-reportable segments.

(4)

Capital investments include increases of $27.3 million and $23.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, relating to the change in accrued expenditures between periods.

(5)

The operating loss for the E&P segment for the three months ended March 31, 2009 includes a $907.8 million non-cash ceiling test impairment of our natural gas and oil properties resulting from a significant decline in natural gas prices from December 31, 2008 to March 31, 2009.


 

20

 

 


 


Included in intersegment revenues of the Midstream Services segment are $405.9 million and $196.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, for marketing of the Company’s E&P sales. Corporate assets include cash and cash equivalents, furniture and fixtures, prepaid debt and other costs. Corporate general and administrative costs, depreciation expense and taxes other than income are allocated to the segments. All of the Company’s operations are currently located within the United States. The Company intends to begin an exploration program in New Brunswick, Canada in 2010.


(15)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION


The Company is providing unaudited condensed consolidating financial information for SEECO, SEPCO and SES, its subsidiaries that are guarantors of the Company’s registered public debt, and for its other subsidiaries that are not guarantors of such debt. These wholly owned subsidiary guarantors have jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guaranteed the Company’s 7.35% Senior Notes and 7.125% Senior Notes. The subsidiary guarantees (i) rank equally in right of payment with all of the existing and future senior debt of the subsidiary guarantors; (ii) rank senior to all of the existing and future subordinated debt of the subsidiary guarantors; (iii) are effectively subordinated to any future secured obligations of the subsidiary guarantors to the extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations; and (iv) are structurally subordinated to all debt and other obligations of the subsidiaries of the guarantors.


The Company has not presented separate financial and narrative information for each of the subsidiary guarantors because it believes that such financial and narrative information would not provide any additional information that would be material in evaluating the sufficiency of the guarantees. The following condensed consolidating financial information summarizes the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the Company’s guarantor and non-guarantor subsidiaries.


 

21

 

 


 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantors

 

Non-Guarantors

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

(in thousands)

Three months ended March 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues

$                  ― 

 

$          642,827 

 

$            67,322 

 

$           (42,032)

 

$          668,117 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas purchases – midstream services

 ― 

 

 158,016 

 

 ― 

 

 (348)

 

 157,668 

Operating expenses

 ― 

 

 58,159 

 

 19,845 

 

 (41,438)

 

 36,566 

General and administrative expenses

 ― 

 

 28,125 

 

 5,065 

 

 (246)

 

 32,944 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 ― 

 

 132,375 

 

 6,642 

 

 ― 

 

 139,017 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 ― 

 

 12,589 

 

 1,243 

 

 ― 

 

 13,832 

Total operating costs and expenses

 ― 

 

 389,264 

 

 32,795 

 

 (42,032)

 

 380,027 

Operating income

 ― 

 

 253,563 

 

 34,527 

 

 ― 

 

 288,090 

Other income (loss)

 ― 

 

 (47)

 

 70 

 

 ― 

 

 23 

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

 171,797 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 (171,797)

 

 ― 

Interest expense

 ― 

 

 2,874 

 

 3,634 

 

 ― 

 

 6,508 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 171,797 

 

 250,642 

 

 30,963 

 

 (171,797)

 

 281,605 

Provision for income taxes

 ― 

 

 97,761 

 

 12,076 

 

 ― 

 

 109,837 

Net income (loss)

 171,797 

 

 152,881 

 

 18,887 

 

 (171,797)

 

 171,768 

Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 ― 

 

 (29)

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 (29)

Net income (loss) attributable to Southwestern Energy

$          171,797 

 

$           152,910 

 

$            18,887 

 

$         (171,797)

 

$          171,797 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues

$                  ― 

 

$          524,829 

 

$            43,053 

 

$           (27,065)

 

$          540,817 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas purchases – midstream services

 ― 

 

 149,246 

 

 ― 

 

 (66)

 

 149,180 

Operating expenses

 ― 

 

 40,880 

 

 13,179 

 

 (26,887)

 

 27,172 

General and administrative expenses

 ― 

 

 20,820 

 

 3,001 

 

 (112)

 

 23,709 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 ― 

 

 119,786 

 

 4,442 

 

 ― 

 

 124,228 

Impairment of natural gas and oil properties

 ― 

 

 907,812 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 907,812 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 ― 

 

 8,450 

 

 758 

 

 ― 

 

 9,208 

Total operating costs and expenses

 ― 

 

 1,246,994 

 

 21,380 

 

 (27,065)

 

 1,241,309 

Operating income (loss)

 ― 

 

 (722,165)

 

 21,673 

 

 ― 

 

 (700,492)

Other income

 ― 

 

 361 

 

 4 

 

 ― 

 

 365 

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

 (432,830)

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 432,830 

 

 ― 

Interest expense

 ― 

 

 2,949 

 

 735 

 

 ― 

 

 3,684 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 (432,830)

 

 (724,753)

 

 20,942 

 

 432,830 

 

 (703,811)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 ― 

 

 (279,020)

 

 8,061 

 

 ― 

 

 (270,959)

Net income (loss)

 (432,830)

 

 (445,733)

 

 12,881 

 

 432,830 

 

 (432,852)

Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 ― 

 

 (22)

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 (22)

Net income (loss) attributable to Southwestern Energy

$         (432,830)

 

$         (445,711)

 

$            12,881 

 

$          432,830 

 

$         (432,830)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

22

 

 


 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantors

 

Non- Guarantors

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

(in thousands)

March 31, 2010:


 


 


 


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$          13,706 

 

$                 27 

 

$               167 

 

$                 ― 

 

$          13,900 

Accounts receivable

 390 

 

 253,844 

 

 15,300 

 

 ― 

 

 269,534 

Inventories

 ― 

 

 23,455 

 

 765 

 

 ― 

 

 24,220 

Other

 13,347 

 

 248,946 

 

 1,813 

 

 ― 

 

 264,106 

Total current assets

 27,443 

 

 526,272 

 

 18,045 

 

 ― 

 

 571,760 

Intercompany receivables

 1,714,053 

 

 (1,256,013)

 

 (443,184)

 

 (14,856)

 

 ― 

Investments

 ― 

 

 10,746 

 

 (10,745)

 

 (1)

 

 ― 

Property and equipment

 89,056 

 

 6,816,804 

 

 723,362 

 

 ― 

 

 7,629,222 

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

 (43,685)

 

 (3,048,659)

 

 (74,370)

 

 ― 

 

 (3,166,714)

 

 45,371 

 

 3,768,145 

 

 648,992 

 

 ― 

 

 4,462,508 

Investments in subsidiaries (equity method)

 1,832,713 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 (1,832,713)

 

 ― 

Other assets

 19,687 

 

 44,466 

 

 33,813 

 

 ― 

 

 97,966 

Total assets

$     3,639,267 

 

$     3,093,616 

 

$        246,921 

 

$   (1,847,570)

 

$     5,132,234 

 










LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts and notes payable

$        120,037 

 

$        339,021 

 

$          24,815 

 

$        (14,857)

 

$        469,016 

Other current liabilities

 2,962 

 

 144,185 

 

 1,894 

 

 ― 

 

 149,041 

Total current liabilities

 122,999 

 

 483,206 

 

 26,709 

 

 (14,857)

 

 618,057 

Long-term debt

 1,017,800 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 1,017,800 

Deferred income taxes

 (91,298)

 

 851,300 

 

 99,169 

 

 ― 

 

 859,171 

Other liabilities

 37,381 

 

 43,257 

 

 4,183 

 

 ― 

 

 84,821 

Total liabilities

 1,086,882 

 

 1,377,763 

 

 130,061 

 

 (14,857)

 

 2,579,849 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity

 2,552,385 

 

 1,715,853 

 

 116,860 

 

 (1,832,713)

 

 2,552,385 

Total liabilities and equity

$     3,639,267 

 

$     3,093,616 

 

$        246,921 

 

$   (1,847,570)

 

$     5,132,234 


 

23

 

 


 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantors

 

Non- Guarantors

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

(in thousands)

December 31, 2009:


 


 


 


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$            7,378 

 

$            5,776 

 

$                 30 

 

$                 ― 

 

$          13,184 

Accounts receivable

 1,158 

 

 247,139 

 

 14,779 

 

 ― 

 

 263,076 

Inventories

 ― 

 

 29,156 

 

 853 

 

 ― 

 

 30,009 

Other

 11,510 

 

 204,131 

 

 42,591 

 

 ― 

 

 258,232 

Total current assets

 20,046 

 

 486,202 

 

 58,253 

 

 ― 

 

 564,501 

Intercompany receivables

 1,751,398 

 

 (1,260,932)

 

 (474,575)

 

 (15,891)

 

 ― 

Investments

 ― 

 

 10,746 

 

 (10,745)

 

 (1)

 

 ― 

Property and equipment

 78,733 

 

 6,401,531 

 

 673,757 

 

 ― 

 

 7,154,021 

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

 (41,658)

 

 (2,919,403)

 

 (65,707)

 

 ― 

 

 (3,026,768)

 

 37,075 

 

 3,482,128 

 

 608,050 

 

 ― 

 

 4,127,253 

Investments in subsidiaries (equity method)

 1,625,645 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 (1,625,645)

 

 ― 

Other assets

 20,161 

 

 20,043 

 

 38,292 

 

 ― 

 

 78,496 

Total assets

$     3,454,325 

 

$     2,738,187 

 

$        219,275 

 

$   (1,641,537)

 

$     4,770,250 

 










LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts and notes payable

$        149,485 

 

$        293,176 

 

$          24,401 

 

$        (15,892)

 

$        451,170 

Other current liabilities

 2,937 

 

 80,462 

 

 1,847 

 

 ― 

 

 85,246 

Total current liabilities

 152,422 

 

 373,638 

 

 26,248 

 

 (15,892)

 

 536,416 

Long-term debt

 997,500 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 997,500 

Deferred income taxes

 (75,222)

 

 796,640 

 

 90,484 

 

 ― 

 

 811,902 

Other liabilities

 38,644 

 

 40,265 

 

 4,542 

 

 ― 

 

 83,451 

Total liabilities

 1,113,344 

 

 1,210,543 

 

 121,274 

 

 (15,892)

 

 2,429,269 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity

 2,340,981 

 

 1,527,644 

 

 98,001 

 

 (1,625,645)

 

 2,340,981 

Total liabilities and equity

$     3,454,325 

 

$     2,738,187 

 

$        219,275 

 

$   (1,641,537)

 

$     4,770,250 


 

24

 

 


 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantors

 

Non-Guarantors

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

$        (51,556)

 

$        388,384 

 

$          80,751 

 

$                 ― 

 

$        417,579 

Investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital investments

 (9,874)

 

 (380,221)

 

 (52,027)

 

 ― 

 

 (442,122)

Other

 3,292 

 

 (5,902)

 

 3,259 

 

 ― 

 

 649 

Net cash used in investing activities

 (6,582)

 

 (386,123)

 

 (48,768)

 

 ― 

 

 (441,473)

Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intercompany activities

 39,856 

 

 (8,010)

 

 (31,846)

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

Payments on revolving long-term debt

 (621,600)

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 (621,600)

Borrowings under revolving long-term debt

 641,900 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 641,900 

Other items

 4,310 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 4,310 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 64,466 

 

 (8,010)

 

 (31,846)

 

 ― 

 

 24,610 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 6,328 

 

 (5,749)

 

 137 

 

 ― 

 

 716 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 7,378 

 

 5,776 

 

 30 

 

 ― 

 

 13,184 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$          13,706 

 

$                 27 

 

$               167 

 

$                 ― 

 

$          13,900 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

$          31,055 

 

$        361,094 

 

$          15,146 

 

$                 ― 

 

$        407,295 

Investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital investments

 (2,946)

 

 (426,019)

 

 (51,518)

 

 ― 

 

 (480,483)

Other

 1,822 

 

 (7,139)

 

 947 

 

 ― 

 

 (4,370)

Net cash used in investing activities

 (1,124)

 

 (433,158)

 

 (50,571)

 

 ― 

 

 (484,853)

Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intercompany activities

 (107,364)

 

 72,064 

 

 35,300 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

Other items

 (36,397)

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 ― 

 

 (36,397)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 (143,761)

 

 72,064 

 

 35,300 

 

 ― 

 

 (36,397)

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 (113,830)

 

 ― 

 

 (125)

 

 ― 

 

 (113,955)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 195,969 

 

 ― 

 

 308 

 

 ― 

 

 196,277 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$          82,139 

 

$                 ― 

 

$               183 

 

$                 ― 

 

$          82,322 

 


25

 

 


 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.


The following updates information as to Southwestern Energy Company’s financial condition provided in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and analyzes the changes in the results of operations between the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. For definitions of commonly used natural gas and oil terms used in this Form 10-Q, please refer to the “Glossary of Certain Industry Terms” provided in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.


The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the risks described in the “Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements” in the forepart of this Form 10-Q, in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in Part I and elsewhere in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in Part II in this Form 10-Q and any other Form 10-Q filed during the fiscal year. You should read the following discussion with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in this Form 10-Q.


OVERVIEW


Background


Southwestern Energy Company is an independent energy company engaged in natural gas and crude oil exploration, development and production (E&P). We are also focused on creating and capturing additional value through our natural gas gathering and marketing businesses, which we refer to as Midstream Services.


Our primary business is the exploration for and production of natural gas within the United States with our current operations being principally focused on development of an unconventional gas reservoir located on the Arkansas side of the Arkoma Basin, which we refer to as the Fayetteville Shale play.  We are also actively engaged in exploration and production activities in Oklahoma, Texas and Pennsylvania and recently announced a three year exploration program in New Brunswick, Canada that we intend to begin in 2010. We operate principally in two segments: E&P and Midstream Services.


We are focused on providing long-term growth in the net asset value of our business, which we achieve in our E&P business through the drillbit. We derive the vast majority of our operating income and cash flow from the natural gas production of our E&P business and expect this to continue in the future. We expect that growth in our operating income and revenues will primarily depend on natural gas prices and our ability to increase our natural gas production. We expect our natural gas volumes to continue to increase due to the ongoing development of our Fayetteville Shale play in Arkansas. The price we expect to receive for our natural gas is a critical factor in the capital investments we make in order to develop our properties and increase our production and significant, sustained declines in natural gas prices affects our ability to market natural gas on economically attractive terms to our customers. In recent years, there has been a significant decline in natural gas prices as evidenced by New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) natural gas prices ranging from a high of $13.58 per Mcf in 2008 to a low of $2.51 per Mcf in 2009. Natural gas prices fluctuate due to a variety of factors we cannot control or predict. These factors, which include increased supplies of natural gas due to greater exploration and development activities, weather conditions, political and economic events, and competition from other energy sources, impact supply and demand for natural gas, which in turn determines the sale prices for our production. In addition to the factors identified above, the prices we realize for our production are affected by our hedging activities as well as locational differences in market prices.


Recent Financial and Operating Results


We reported net income attributable to Southwestern Energy of $171.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, or $0.49 per diluted share, up from a net loss attributable to Southwestern Energy of $432.8 million, or $1.26 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2009. The loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009 includes a $907.8 million, or $558.3 million net of taxes, non-cash ceiling test impairment of our natural gas and oil properties resulting from a significant decline in natural gas prices from December 31, 2008 to March 31, 2009.


Our natural gas and oil production increased to 90.0 Bcfe for the three months ended March 31, 2010, up 41% from the three months ended March 31, 2009. The 26.1 Bcfe increase in our 2010 production was primarily due to a 25.3 Bcf increase in net production from our Fayetteville Shale play as a result of our ongoing development program. The


 

26

 

 


 


average price realized for our gas production, including the effects of hedges, decreased approximately 9% to $5.42 per Mcf for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as compared to the same period in 2009.


Our E&P segment reported operating income of $250.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, up from an operating loss of $727.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009.  The loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009 includes a $907.8 million, or $558.3 million net of taxes, non-cash ceiling test impairment of our natural gas and oil properties.  Excluding the $907.8 million non-cash ceiling test impairment, operating income increased primarily due to a $154.8 million increase in revenue resulting from higher production volumes which were partially offset by a $44.3 million decrease in revenues due to lower realized prices from the sale of our production and a $43.5 million increase in our operating costs and expenses.


Operating income for our Midstream Services segment was $37.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, up from $27.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, due to an increase of $24.2 million in gathering revenues which was partially offset by a decrease of $1.7 million in the margin generated from our natural gas marketing activities and a $12.3 million increase in operating costs and expenses, exclusive of gas purchase costs.


Net cash provided by operating activities increased 3% to $417.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $407.3 million for the same period in 2009, due to an increase in net income adjusted for non-cash expenses primarily resulting from increased revenues due to higher production volumes, partially offset by a decrease in changes in working capital. We had capital investments of $473.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, of which $411.4 million was invested in our E&P segment compared to $503.2 million for the same period of 2009, of which $450.4 million was invested in our E&P segment.

 

Recent Developments


Production Guidance Update


As a result of operational and weather-related delays in our Fayetteville Shale play during the first quarter of 2010, we revised our previous expected gas and oil production range for 2010 from 400 to 410 Bcfe to 393 to 401 Bcfe, an increase of approximately 32% over 2009 levels (using midpoints). Of the 393 to 401 Bcfe of expected production in 2010, approximately 337 to 343 Bcf is expected to come from the Fayetteville Shale play.


First International Exploration Program


In the first quarter of 2010, we were awarded exclusive licenses to conduct an exploration program covering approximately 2.5 million acres in New Brunswick, Canada. We intend to begin this program, which is our first outside of the United States, in 2010. We are required to make certain capital investments totaling approximately CDN $47 million over the terms of the licenses, which are each three years. The 2010 capital investments for this program are included in New Ventures under our 2010 planned E&P investments. We refer you to “Capital Investments” and “Financing Requirements” below for a discussion of our capital investments.


 

27

 

 


 


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


The following discussion of our results of operations for our segments is presented before intersegment eliminations. We evaluate our segments as if they were stand alone operations and accordingly discuss their results prior to any intersegment eliminations. Interest expense, interest income, income tax expense and stock-based compensation are discussed on a consolidated basis.


Exploration and Production

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

Revenues (in thousands)

$               492,069 

 

$               378,085 

Impairment of natural gas and oil properties (in thousands)

$                        ― 

 

$               907,812 

Operating costs and expenses (in thousands)

$               241,638 

 

$               198,166 

Operating income (loss) (in thousands)

$               250,431 

 

$              (727,893)

 

 

 

 

Gas production (MMcf)

 89,689 

 

 63,689 

Oil production (MBbls)

 46 

 

 34 

Total production (MMcfe)

 89,964 

 

 63,893 

 

 

 

 

Average gas price per Mcf, including hedges

$                     5.42 

 

$                     5.94 

Average gas price per Mcf, excluding hedges

$                     4.87 

 

$                     3.81 

Average oil price per Bbl

$                   75.55 

 

$                   34.90 

 

 

 

 

Average unit costs per Mcfe:

 

 

 

Lease operating expenses

$                     0.78 

 

$                     0.78 

General & administrative expenses

$                     0.29 

 

$                     0.31 

Taxes, other than income taxes

$                     0.14 

 

$                     0.13 

Full cost pool amortization

$                     1.41 

 

$                     1.82 


Revenues


Revenues for our E&P segment were up $114.0 million, or 30%, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Higher natural gas production volumes in the first quarter of 2010 increased revenues by $154.4 million while lower realized prices for our gas production decreased revenue by $46.2 million. We expect our natural gas production volumes to continue to increase due to the development of our Fayetteville Shale play in Arkansas. Natural gas and oil prices are difficult to predict and subject to wide price fluctuations. As of April 28, 2010, we had hedged 48.0 Bcf of our remaining 2010 gas production, 92.1 Bcf of our 2011 gas production and 29.3 Bcf of our 2012 gas production to limit our exposure to price fluctuations. Additionally, as of April 28, 2010, we have outstanding fair value hedges in place on 3.9 Bcf, 0.9 Bcf and 4.3 Bcf of commitments for 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. These fair value hedges are a mixture of floating-price swap purchases and sales relating to our gas production. We refer you to Note 6 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q and to the discussion of “Commodity Prices” provided below for additional information.


Production


Natural gas and oil production for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was up approximately 41%, from the comparable period in 2009, to 90.0 Bcfe, due primarily to a 25.3 Bcf increase in net natural gas production from our Fayetteville Shale play as a result of our ongoing development program. Natural gas production represented nearly 100% of our total production for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and was up approximately 41% to 89.7 Bcf compared to the same period in 2009. Net production from the Fayetteville Shale was 75.5 Bcf for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to 50.2 Bcf for the same period in 2009.

 

 

28

 

 


 

 

Commodity Prices


The average price realized for our gas production, including the effects of hedges, decreased approximately 9% to $5.42 per Mcf for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as compared to the same period in 2009. The decrease in the average price realized reflects the decreased effect of our price hedging activities which more than offset higher average gas prices, excluding hedges, for the first three months of 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009. We periodically enter into various hedging and other financial arrangements with respect to a portion of our projected natural gas and crude oil production in order to ensure certain desired levels of cash flow and to minimize the impact of price fluctuations, including fluctuations in locational market differentials (we refer you to Item 3 and Note 6 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q for additional discussion).


Our hedging activities increased the average gas price $0.55 per Mcf for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to an increase of $2.13 per Mcf for the same period in 2009. We had protected approximately 53% of our gas production for the three months ended March 31, 2010 from the impact of widening basis differentials through our hedging activities and sales arrangements. Disregarding the impact of hedges, the average price received for our gas production for the three months ended March 31, 2010 of $4.87 per Mcf was approximately $1.06 per Mcf higher than the three months ended March 31, 2009 and $0.43 lower than average NYMEX spot price, primarily due to locational market differentials. At March 31, 2010, we had basis protected on approximately 138 Bcf of our remaining 2010 expected gas production through financial hedging activities and physical sales arrangements at a differential to NYMEX gas prices of approximately $0.10 per Mcf. Our E&P segment receives a sales price for our natural gas at a discount to NYMEX spot prices due to locational basis differentials, while transportation charges and fuel charges also reduce the price received. In 2010, we expect to pay average third-party transportation charges in the range of $0.25 to $0.32 per Mcf and average fuel charges in the range of 0.25% to 1.00% of transported volumes.


As of April 28, 2010, we had NYMEX fixed price hedges in place on notional volumes of 27.0 Bcf of our remaining 2010 gas production at an average price of $9.04 per MMBtu and collars in place on notional volumes of 21.0 Bcf of our remaining 2010 gas production at an average floor and ceiling price of $6.68 and $8.31 per MMBtu, respectively.


As of April 28, 2010, we had NYMEX fixed price hedges in place on notional volumes of 30.0 Bcf of our 2011 gas production and collars in place on notional volumes of 62.1 Bcf and 29.3 Bcf of our 2011 and 2012 gas production, respectively. Additionally, we have basis swaps on 33.0 Bcf for the remainder of 2010 and 12.0 Bcf for 2011, in order to reduce the effects of widening market differentials on prices we receive.


Operating Income


Operating income from our E&P segment increased to $250.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to an operating loss of $727.9 million for the same period in 2009. The loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009 includes a $907.8 million non-cash ceiling test impairment of our natural gas and oil properties resulting from a significant decline in natural gas prices from year-end 2008. Excluding the $907.8 million non-cash ceiling test impairment, operating income for the first three months of 2010 increased as a result of a 30% increase in revenues due to the growth in our production volumes which more than offset the decline in our average realized gas prices, including the effect of hedges, as well as a $43.5 million increase in operating costs and expenses resulting from our significant production growth.


Operating Costs and Expenses


Lease operating expenses per Mcfe for our E&P segment were $0.78 for both the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.


General and administrative expenses per Mcfe were $0.29 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $0.31 for the same period in 2009, reflecting the effects of our increased production volumes.  In total, general and administrative expenses for our E&P segment were $26.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $19.7 million for the same period in 2009. Payroll, employee incentive compensation, and other employee-related costs increased by $4.8 million as a result of the expansion of our E&P operations in the Fayetteville Shale play.

 

 

29

 

 


 

 

Taxes other than income taxes per Mcfe increased to $0.14 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $0.13 for the same period in 2009. Taxes other than income taxes per Mcfe vary from period to period due to changes in severance and ad valorem taxes that result from the mix of our production volumes and fluctuations in commodity prices.

 

Our full cost pool amortization rate averaged $1.41 per Mcfe for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $1.82 per Mcfe for the same period in 2009. The decline in the average amortization rate for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the same period of 2009 was primarily the result of the $907.8 million non-cash ceiling test impairment recorded in the first quarter of 2009. The amortization rate is impacted by the timing and the amount of reserve additions and the costs associated with those additions, revisions of previous reserve estimates due to both price and well performance, impairments that result from full cost ceiling tests, proceeds from the sale of properties that reduce the full cost pool and the levels of costs subject to amortization.


Unevaluated costs excluded from amortization were $630.5 million at March 31, 2010 compared to $595.4 million at December 31, 2009. The increase in unevaluated costs since December 31, 2009 primarily resulted from a $28.6 million increase in our undeveloped leasehold acreage and seismic costs.


The timing and amount of production and reserve additions could have a material impact on our per unit costs; if production or reserves additions are lower than projected, our per unit costs could increase.


Midstream Services

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2010

 

2009

 

(in thousands, except volumes)

 

 

 

 

Revenues – marketing

$                564,988 

 

$                351,056 

Revenues – gathering

$                  66,655 

 

$                  42,418 

Gas purchases – marketing

$                560,003 

 

$                344,403 

Operating costs and expenses

$                  34,016 

 

$                  21,709 

Operating income

$                  37,624 

 

$                  27,362 

Gas volumes marketed (Bcf)

 107.9 

 

 86.5 

Gas volumes gathered (Bcf)

 125.7 

 

 79.5 


Revenues


Revenues from our marketing activities were up 61% to $565.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.  The increase in marketing revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 resulted from an increase in the volumes marketed and an increase in the prices received for volumes marketed.  For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the volumes marketed increased 25% and the price received for volumes marketed increased 29% compared to the same period in 2009.


Revenues from our gathering activities were up 57% to $66.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.  The increase in gathering revenues resulted from a 58% increase in the gas volumes gathered compared to the same period in 2009.


Of the total volumes marketed, production from our E&P operated wells accounted for 98% and 95% of the marketed volumes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Increases and decreases in marketing revenues due to changes in commodity prices are largely offset by corresponding changes in gas purchase expenses.  Substantially all of the increase in gathering revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 resulted from an increase in volumes gathered related to the Fayetteville Shale play. Gathering volumes, revenues and expenses for this segment are expected to continue to grow as reserves related to our Fayetteville Shale play are developed and production increases.

 

 

30

 

 


 

 

Operating Income


Operating income from our Midstream Services segment increased $10.3 million to $37.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 due to an increase of $24.2 million in gathering revenues, which offset a decrease of $1.7 million in the margin generated from our natural gas marketing activities and a $12.3 million increase in operating costs and expenses, exclusive of purchased gas costs. The margin generated from natural gas marketing activities was $5.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to $6.7 million for the same period in 2009.  Margins may fluctuate depending on the prices paid for commodities and the ultimate disposition of those commodities.  The increase in volumes marketed for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as compared to the prior year period, resulted from the marketing of our increased E&P production volumes.  We enter into hedging activities from time to time with respect to our gas marketing activities to provide margin protection. We refer you to Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks” included in this Form 10-Q for additional information.


Interest Expense and Interest Income


Interest expense, net of capitalization, increased to $6.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to $3.7 million same period in 2009.  We capitalized interest of $7.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $11.2 million for the same period in 2009. The increase in interest expense, net of capitalization, was primarily due to the $3.3 million decrease in capitalized interest which resulted from our lower weighted average interest rate for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.  Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was less than $0.1 million compared to $0.4 million for the same period in 2009 and is recorded in other income in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.


Income Taxes


Our effective tax rates were 39.0% and 38.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, we recorded an income tax expense of $109.8 million compared to an income tax benefit of $271.0 million for the same period in 2009.  The income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2009 primarily resulted from the $907.8 million non-cash impairment of our gas and oil properties which was recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2009. We do not expect to be subject to current federal income taxes in 2010.   


Stock-Based Compensation Expense


We recognized expense of $2.3 million and capitalized $1.7 million for stock-based compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $2.2 million expensed and $1.5 million capitalized for the comparable period in 2009. We refer you to Note 13 in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q for additional discussion of our equity based compensation plans.



New Accounting Standards


On January 1, 2010, we implemented certain provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) Topic 810, “Consolidation.” The new provisions (a) require a qualitative rather than a quantitative approach to determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”); (b) amend certain guidance pertaining to the determination of the primary beneficiary when related parties are involved; (c) amend certain guidance for determining whether an entity is a VIE; and (d) require continuous assessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. The implementation did not have an impact on our results of operations or financial condition.


On January 1, 2010, we implemented certain provisions of Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-06, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820)—Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements” (“Update 2010-06”). Update 2010-06 requires us to (a) provide information about movements of assets among Levels 1 and 2 of the three-tier fair value hierarchy; (b) provide a reconciliation of purchases, sales, issuance, and settlements of financial instruments valued with a Level 3 method; and (c) provide fair value measurement disclosures for each class of financial assets and liabilities. The implementation did not have an impact on our results of operations or financial condition. Required disclosures for the reconciliation of purchases, sales, issuance and settlements of financial instruments valued with a Level 3 method are effective for us beginning on January 1, 2011 and we do not expect the implementation to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.


 

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES


We depend primarily on internally-generated funds, our Credit Facility (we refer you to Note 8 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q and the section below under “Financing Requirements” for additional discussion of our Credit Facility) and funds accessed through debt and equity markets to operate our businesses. We may borrow up to $1.0 billion under our Credit Facility from time to time. The amount available under our Credit Facility may be increased, in increments or in the aggregate, to up to $1.25 billion at any time upon our agreement with our existing or additional lenders. As of March 31, 2010, we had borrowings of $344.8 million under our Credit Facility compared to $324.5 at December 31, 2009.


Net cash provided by operating activities increased 3% to $417.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $407.3 million for the same period in 2009, due to an increase in net income adjusted for non-cash expenses primarily resulting from increased revenues due to higher production volumes, partially offset by a decrease in changes in working capital. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, cash generated from our operating activities funded 94% of our cash requirements for capital investments with the balance funded through borrowings under our Credit Facility.


We believe that our operating cash flow and available funds under our Credit Facility will be adequate to meet our capital and operating requirements for 2010. The credit status of the financial institutions participating in our Credit Facility could adversely impact our ability to borrow funds under the Credit Facility. While we believe all of the lenders under the facility have the ability to provide funds, we cannot predict whether each will be able to meet its obligation.


Our cash flow from operating activities is highly dependent upon the market prices that we receive for our gas and oil production. Natural gas and oil prices are subject to wide fluctuations and are driven by market supply and demand factors which are impacted by the overall state of the economy. The price received for our production is also influenced by our commodity hedging activities, as more fully discussed in Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks” and Note 6 in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q. Our commodity hedging activities are subject to the credit risk of our counterparties being financially unable to complete the transaction. We actively monitor the credit status of our counterparties, performing both quantitative and qualitative assessments based on their credit ratings and credit default swap rates where applicable, and to date have not had any credit defaults associated with our transactions. However, any future failures by one or more counterparties could negatively impact our cash flow from operating activities.


Additionally, our short-term cash flows are dependent on the timely collection of receivables from our customers and partners. We actively manage this risk through credit management activities and through the date of this filing have not experienced any significant write-offs for non-collectable amounts. However, any sustained inaccessibility of credit by our customers and partners could adversely impact our cash flows.


Due to the above factors, we are unable to forecast with certainty our future level of cash flow from operations. Accordingly, we will adjust our discretionary uses of cash dependent upon available cash flow.


Capital Investments


Our capital investments were $473.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $503.2 million for the same period in 2009. Our E&P segment investments were $411.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $450.4 million for the same period in 2009. Our E&P segment capitalized internal costs of $33.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $24.1 million for the comparable period in 2009. These internal costs were directly related to acquisition, exploration and development activities and are included as part of the cost of natural gas and oil properties. The increase in internal costs capitalized is due to the addition of personnel and related costs in our exploration and development segment.


Although the remainder of our $2.1 billion capital investment program for 2010 is expected to be funded by cash flow from operations and borrowings from our Credit Facility, we may adjust the level of our investments dependent upon the level of cash flow generated from operations and our ability to borrow under our Credit Facility.


 

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Financing Requirements


Our total debt outstanding was $1,019.0 million at March 31, 2010 compared to $998.7 million at December 31, 2009. Our Credit Facility has a borrowing capacity of $1.0 billion, which may be increased, in increments or in the aggregate, to up to $1.25 billion at any time upon our agreement with our existing or additional lenders. As of March 31, 2010, we had $344.8 million outstanding under our Credit Facility with a weighted average interest rate of 1.296% compared to $324.5 million outstanding at December 31, 2009 with a weighted average interest rate of 1.106%. The interest rate on our Credit Facility is calculated based upon our public debt rating and is currently 87.5 basis points over LIBOR. Our publicly traded notes are rated BB+ by Standard and Poor’s and we have a Corporate Family Rating of Ba2 by Moody’s. Any downgrades in our public debt ratings could increase our cost of funds under the Credit Facility.


Our Credit Facility contains covenants which impose certain restrictions on us. Under the Credit Facility, we must keep our total debt at or below 60% of our total capital, must maintain a certain level of equity and must maintain a ratio of EBITDA to interest expense of 3.5 or above. Our Credit Facility’s financial covenants with respect to capitalization percentages exclude the noncontrolling interest in equity, the effects of non-cash entries that result from any full cost ceiling impairments, hedging activities and our pension and other postretirement liabilities. Therefore, under our Credit Facility our capital structure at March 31, 2010 would have been 25% debt and 75% equity. We were also in compliance with all of the covenants of our Credit Facility at March 31, 2010. Although we do not anticipate any violations of our financial covenants, our ability to comply with those covenants is dependent upon the success of our exploration and development program and upon factors beyond our control, such as the market prices for natural gas and oil. If we are unable to borrow under our Credit Facility, we would have to decrease our capital investment plans.


At March 31, 2010, our capital structure consisted of 29% debt and 71% equity. Equity at March 31, 2010 includes a gain in accumulated other comprehensive gain of $130.6 million related to our hedging activities and a loss of $10.8 million related to our pension and other postretirement liabilities. The amount recorded in equity for our hedging activities is based on the current market value of our hedges at March 31, 2010 and does not necessarily reflect the value that we will receive or pay when the hedges are ultimately settled, nor does it take into account revenues to be received associated with the physical delivery of sales volumes hedged.


Our hedges allow us to ensure a certain level of cash flow to fund our operations. At April 28, 2010 we have hedged 48.0 Bcf of our remaining 2010 gas production, 92.1 Bcf of our expected 2011 gas production and 29.3 Bcf of our expected 2012 gas production.  Additionally, as of April 28, 2010, we have outstanding fair value hedges in place on 3.9 Bcf, 0.9 Bcf and 4.3 Bcf of commitments for 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. These fair value hedges are a mixture of floating-price swap purchases and sales relating to our gas production. The amount of long-term debt we incur will be dependent upon commodity prices and our capital investment plans. If commodity prices remain near their current prices, we may decrease and/or reallocate our planned capital investments.


Contractual Obligations and Contingent Liabilities and Commitments


We have various contractual obligations in the normal course of our operations and financing activities. There have been no material changes to our contractual obligations from those disclosed in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.


Contingent Liabilities and Commitments


In the first quarter of 2010, we were awarded exclusive licenses by the Province of New Brunswick in Canada to conduct an exploration program covering approximately 2.5 million acres in the province. The licenses require us to make certain capital investments in New Brunswick of approximately CDN $47 million in the aggregate over the next three years. In order to obtain the licenses, we provided promissory notes payable on demand to the Minister of Finance of the Province of New Brunswick with an aggregate principal amount of CDN $44.5 million. The promissory notes secure our capital expenditure obligations under the licenses and are returnable to us to the extent we perform such obligations. If we fail to fully perform, the Minister of Finance may retain a portion of the applicable promissory notes in an amount equal to any deficiency. We intend to begin the exploration program in 2010 and, as of March 31, 2010, no liability has been recognized in connection with the promissory notes.

 

 

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Substantially all of our employees are covered by defined benefit and postretirement benefit plans. We currently expect to contribute approximately $9.6 million to our pension plans and $0.1 million to our postretirement benefit plan in 2010. As of March 31, 2010, we have made no contributions to our pension plans and postretirement benefit plan. At March 31, 2010, we recognized a liability of $15.3 million as a result of the underfunded status of our pension and other postretirement benefit plans compared to a liability of $13.3 million at December 31, 2009.


In March of 2010, the President of the United States signed into law comprehensive health care reform legislation under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (HR 3590) and the Health Care Education and Affordability Reconciliation Act (HR 4872) (the “Acts”). The Acts contain provisions which could impact our accounting for retiree medical benefits in future periods. However, the extent of that impact, if any, cannot be determined until regulations are promulgated under the Acts and additional interpretations of the Acts become available.  Elements of the Acts, the impact of which are currently not determinable, include the elimination of lifetime limits on retiree medical coverage.  Based on the analysis to date of the provisions in the Acts in which the impacts are reasonably determinable, a re-measurement of our Other Postretirement Benefits is not required at this time.  For further information regarding our pension and other postretirement benefit plans, we refer you to Note 11 in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q.


We are subject to litigation and claims (including with respect to environmental matters) that arise in the ordinary course of business. Management believes, individually or in aggregate, such litigation and claims will not have a material adverse impact on our financial position or results of operations, but these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties and management’s view may change in the future, at which time management may reserve amounts that are reasonably estimable.


Working Capital


We maintain access to funds that may be needed to meet our capital requirements through our Credit Facility described in “Financing Requirements” above. We had negative working capital of $46.3 million at March 31, 2010, and positive working capital of $28.1 million at December 31, 2009. Current assets increased by $7.3 million at March 31, 2010 compared to December 31, 2009, primarily due to a $31.7 million increase in our current hedging assets and partially offset by a $19.2 million decrease in our current deferred tax assets. Current liabilities increased by $81.6 million at March 31, 2010 compared to December 31, 2009 primarily as a result of a $68.6 million increase in our current deferred income taxes related to our hedging activities and a $25.8 million increase in accounts payable.


Gas in Underground Storage


We record our gas stored in inventory that is owned by the E&P segment at the lower of weighted average cost or market. The gas in inventory for the E&P segment is used primarily to supplement production in meeting the segment’s contractual commitments, especially during periods of colder weather. In determining the lower of cost or market for storage gas, we utilize the gas futures market in assessing the price we expect to be able to realize for our gas in inventory. We recorded a $4.3 million non-cash natural gas inventory impairment charge for the three months ended March 31, 2009 to reduce the current portion of our natural gas inventory to the lower of cost or market. A decline in the future market price of natural gas could result in additional write-downs of our gas in underground storage carrying cost.

 

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK


Market risks relating to our operations result primarily from the volatility in commodity prices, basis differentials and interest rates, as well as credit risk concentrations. We use natural gas and crude oil swap agreements and options and interest rate swaps to reduce the volatility of earnings and cash flow due to fluctuations in the prices of natural gas and oil and in interest rates. Our Board of Directors has approved risk management policies and procedures to utilize financial products for the reduction of defined commodity price risk. Utilization of financial products for the reduction of interest rate risks is subject to the approval of our Board of Directors. These policies prohibit speculation with derivatives and limit swap agreements to counterparties with appropriate credit standings.


Credit Risk


Our financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade receivables and derivative contracts associated with commodities trading. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables are limited due to the large number of our customers and their dispersion across geographic areas. No single customer accounted for greater than 10% of accounts receivable at March 31, 2010. In addition, see the discussion of credit risk associated with commodities trading below.


Interest Rate Risk


At March 31, 2010, we had $1,019.0 million of total debt with a weighted average interest rate of 5.38%. Our revolving credit facility has a floating interest rate (1.296% at March 31, 2010). At March 31, 2010, we had $344.8 million of borrowings outstanding under our Credit Facility. Interest rate swaps may be used to adjust interest rate exposures when deemed appropriate. We do not have any interest rate swaps in effect currently.


Commodities Risk


We use over-the-counter natural gas and crude oil swap agreements and options to hedge sales of our production and to hedge activity in our Midstream Services segment against the inherent price risks of adverse price fluctuations or locational pricing differences between a published index and the NYMEX futures market. These swaps and options include (1) transactions in which one party will pay a fixed price (or variable price) for a notional quantity in exchange for receiving a variable price (or fixed price) based on a published index (referred to as price swaps), (2) transactions in which parties agree to pay a price based on two different indices (referred to as basis swaps), and (3) the purchase and sale of index-related puts and calls (collars) that provide a “floor” price below which the counterparty pays funds equal to the amount by which the price of the commodity is below the contracted floor, and a “ceiling” price above which we pay to the counterparty the amount by which the price of the commodity is above the contracted ceiling.


The primary market risks relating to our derivative contracts are the volatility in market prices and basis differentials for natural gas and crude oil. However, the market price risk is offset by the gain or loss recognized upon the related sale or purchase of the natural gas or sale of the oil that is hedged. Credit risk relates to the risk of loss as a result of non-performance by our counterparties. The counterparties are primarily major investment and commercial banks which management believes present minimal credit risks. The credit quality of each counterparty and the level of financial exposure we have to each counterparty are closely monitored to limit our credit risk exposure. Additionally, we perform both quantitative and qualitative assessments of these counterparties based on their credit ratings and credit default swap rates where applicable. We have not incurred any counterparty losses related to non-performance and do not anticipate any losses given the information we have currently. However, given the volatility in the financial markets in recent years, we cannot be certain that we will not experience such losses in the future.

 

 

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Exploration and Production


The following table provides information about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in commodity prices and that are used to hedge prices for gas production. The table presents the notional amount in Bcf, the weighted average contract prices and the fair value by expected maturity dates. At March 31, 2010, the fair value of our financial instruments related to natural gas production was a $215.7 million asset.


 

 

Weighted

Weighted

Weighted

Weighted

 

 

 

Average

Average

Average

Average

Fair value at

 

 

Price to be

Floor

Ceiling

Basis

March 31,

 

 

Swapped

Price

Price

Differential

2010

 

Volume

($/MMBtu)

($/MMBtu)

($/MMBtu)

($/MMBtu)

($ in millions)

Natural Gas (Bcf):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed Price Swaps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 27.0 

 9.04 

 — 

 — 

 — 

 128.7 

2011

 30.0 

 6.69 

 — 

 — 

 — 

 40.0 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floating Price Swaps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 1.5 

 4.58 

 — 

 — 

 — 

 (0.9)

2012

 4.3 

 5.69 

 — 

 — 

 — 

 (0.5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costless-Collars:

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 21.0 

 — 

 6.68 

 8.31 

 — 

 51.7 

2011

 7.3 

 — 

 5.75 

 7.06 

 — 

 5.3 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basis Swaps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 33.0 

 — 

 — 

 — 

 (0.34)

 (6.9)

2011

 12.0 

 — 

 — 

 — 

 (0.28)

 (1.7)

 

At March 31, 2010, our basis swaps did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that do not qualify as cash flow hedges are recorded in gas and oil sales. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, we recorded an unrealized gain of $4.8 million related to the basis swaps that did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment and an unrealized gain of $0.1 million related to the change in estimated ineffectiveness of our cash flow hedges. Typically, our hedge ineffectiveness results from changes at the end of a reporting period in the price differentials between the index price of the derivative contract, which is primarily a NYMEX price, and the index price for the point of sale for the cash flow that is being hedged.


At December 31, 2009, we had outstanding natural gas price swaps on total notional volumes of 36.0 Bcf in 2010 and 30.0 Bcf in 2011 for which we will receive fixed prices ranging from $6.50 to $10.04 per MMBtu. At December 31, 2009, we had outstanding fixed price basis differential swaps on 46.5 Bcf of 2010 and 9.0 Bcf of 2011 gas production that did not qualify for hedge treatment.


At December 31, 2009, we had collars in place on notional volumes of 30.0 Bcf in 2010 at an average floor and ceiling price of $6.80 and $8.43 per MMBtu, respectively.


Midstream Services


At March 31, 2010, our Midstream Services segment had outstanding fair value hedges in place on 0.2 Bcf, 0.1 Bcf, 0.1 Bcf of gas for 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. These hedges are a mixture of floating-price swap purchases and sales relating to our gas marketing activities. These hedges have contract months from April 2010 through March 2012 and have a net fair value liability of $0.5 million as of March 31, 2010.

 

 

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.


We have performed an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act). Our disclosure controls and procedures are the controls and other procedures that we have designed to ensure that we record, process, accumulate and communicate information to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures and submission within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those determined to be effective can provide only a level of reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Based on the evaluation, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2010. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended March 31, 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.


The Company is subject to litigation and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company accrues for such items when a liability is both probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. In the opinion of management, the results of such litigation and claims will not have a material effect on the results of operations or the financial position of the Company.


ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.


There were no additions or material changes to the Company’s risk factors as disclosed in Item 1A of Part I in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.


ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.


Not applicable.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.


Not applicable.


ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.


Not applicable.

 

 

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.


(31.1)

Certification of CEO filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


(31.2)

Certification of CFO filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


(32.1)

Certification of CEO and CFO furnished pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


(101.INS)

Interactive Data File Instance Document


(101.SCH)

Interactive Data File Schema Document


(101.CAL)

Interactive Data File Calculation Linkbase Document


(101.LAB)

Interactive Data File Label Linkbase Document


(101.PRE)

Interactive Data File Presentation Linkbase Document


(101.DEF)

Interactive Data File Definition Linkbase Document


 

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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.


 

 

 

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY

 

 

 

Registrant


Dated:

April 29, 2010

 

/s/ GREG D. KERLEY

 

 

 

Greg D. Kerley

 

 

 

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer





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