Aurora Oil & Gas Reports First Quarter 2013 Financial Results

PERTH, Western Australia, May 14, 2013 /CNW/ - Aurora Oil & Gas Limited (TSX: AEF) (ASX: AUT) today released financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2013. All figures are reported in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

Highlights for the first quarter of 2013, including non-IFRS measures, compared to the corresponding quarter in 2012 are:

• Revenue US$128 million up 223%, 94% generated from liquids
• EBITDAX US$76 million up 254%
• Operating netback US$47.31/boe
• Funds from operations US$65 million up 259%
• Production up 287% to average of approximately 18,650 boe/d (pre royalty)
• Purchase of a 100% operated working interest in approximately 2,700 net acres in the Sugarkane Field.

		Three months ended
		Mar 31, 2013	Mar 31, 2012	Increase %
Financial
(US$ thousands unless otherwise stated)
Production revenue - Pre royalty		127,539	39,523	223%
EBITDAX^(1)		75,620	21,378	254%
	Per boe - (US$/boe)	45.04	48.73	(8%)
Funds from operations^(1)		65,498	18,252	259%
	Per share - basic (US cents per share)	14.62	4.43	230%
	Per boe - (US$/boe)	39.01	41.60	(6%)
Net profit before tax		45,368	13,778	229%
Net profit after tax^(2)		29,611	8,705	240%
	Per share - basic (US cents per share)	6.61	2.11	213%
	Per boe - (US$/boe)	17.64	19.84	(11%)
Net capital expenditures (including acquisitions)		222,108	90,142	146%
		As at	As at
		Mar 31, 2013	Dec 31, 2012	Increase %
Weighted average common shares outstanding (million)
	Basic	447.9	432.6	4%
	Diluted	456.4	439.4	4%

(1)	These financial measures are identified and defined below under "Non-IFRS Financial Measures"
(2)	The income tax expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 of $16 million reflects the annualized accounting deferred income tax expense for the year. No current income tax is due for payment for the 2013 year.

			Three months ended
			Mar 31, 2013	Mar 31, 2012	Increase %
Operating
Production - Pre royalties
	Natural gas (mscf/d)		22,267	4,911	353%
	Light/medium oil (bbls/d)		6,385	3,052	109%
	Condensate (bbls/d)		5,556	409	1,258%
	NGL (bbls/d)		3,003	541	455%
		Total oil equivalent (boe/d)	18,655	4,820	287%
Average Product prices achieved
	Natural gas (US$/mscf)		3.43	2.63	30%
	Light/medium oil (US$/bbl)		105.61	106.61	(1%)
	Condensate (US$/bbl)		102.93	101.22	2%
	NGL (US$/bbl)		27.88	58.82	(53%)
Netbacks			US$/boe	US$/boe
	Production revenue		75.96	90.09	(16%)
	Royalties		(20.34)	(23.69)	(14%)
	Production taxes		(2.52)	(3.15)	(20%)
	Operating expenses		(5.79)	(8.13)	(29%)
	Operating netback		47.31	55.12	(14%)
	Depletion, depreciation and amortisation		(10.67)	(6.29)	70%
	General and administrative expenses		(2.27)	(6.39)	(64%)
	Finance costs		(6.36)	(7.37)	14%
	Net profit before tax		27.02	31.40	(14%)
	Net profit after tax		17.64	19.84	(11%)

(1)	These financial measures are identified and defined below under "Non-IFRS Financial Measures"
(2)	Boe conversion is on a 6:1 basis, as explained below under "Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements."

Outlook

Looking forward for the remainder of 2013, Aurora is well funded for the planned development programs for its operated and non-operated acreage at the Sugarkane Field. The level of funding available exceeds forecast working capital requirements and provides capacity for capital expenditure programs in excess of that presently forecast for the Sugarkane Field development programs.

Based on the current drilling program for 2013 and current commodity prices, management expect growth in production, revenue and profitability to continue through 2013. This growth is expected to be funded by a combination of the increasing cash flow generated from production sales and Aurora's existing credit facility. The amount able to be drawn from this facility was recently increased from US$150 million to US$200 million during the first quarter.

The selected financial and operational information outlined above should be read in conjunction with Aurora's unaudited interim financial report and related Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2013, which will be filed on SEDAR and will be available for review at www.sedar.com and on our website at www.auroraoag.com.au. Aurora's unaudited interim financial report and the financial information contained in this announcement were prepared in accordance with Australian equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (AIFRS). Compliance with AIFRS ensures compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Briefing Conference Call

Aurora will host a first quarter 2013 results briefing conference call on the following date:

May 14, 2013 at 7.00 p.m. Eastern Time/ 6:00 p.m. Central Time (North America)
May 15, 2013 at 7.00 a.m. Western Time/ 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (Australia)

Presentation PDF File

Aurora has filed a presentation to accompany the briefing conference call. Please access the presentation from the Corporate Presentations page of Aurora's website using the link below.

http://www.auroraoag.com.au/irm/content/corporate-presentations.aspx?RID=201

Call-in Details

To access either briefing call by telephone, please use one of the following numbers

From the USA: Operator Assisted Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 1 [phone]

From outside the USA International Dial-In #:  [phone]

Conference ID #: 59941630

Toll Free International Numbers:

Australia	1-800-287-011
Austria	0-800-297-216
China, North	10-800-714-1191
China, South	10-800-140-1195
France	0-800-917-449
Germany	0-800-183-0171
Hong Kong	800-901-563
Ireland	1-800-760-620
Japan	00-53-11-60-858
Korea (South)	003-0813-1987
Netherlands	0-800-022-1164
Norway	800-105-67
Singapore	800-101-2564
Switzerland	0-800-835-354
Taiwan	00-801-127-130
United Kingdom	0-800-051-7107

Please connect approximately ten minutes prior to the beginning of the call to ensure participation.

A recording of each briefing conference call will also be available on the Company's website following the briefing at http://www.auroraoag.com.au

About Aurora

Aurora is an Australian and Toronto listed oil and gas company active in the over-pressured liquids rich region of the Eagle Ford shale in Texas, United States. Aurora is engaged in the development and production of oil, condensate and natural gas in Karnes, Live Oak and Atascosa counties in South Texas.  Aurora participates in approximately 79,700 highly contiguous gross acres in the heart of the trend, including approximately 21,800 net acres within the Sugarkane Field in the over-pressured and liquids core of the Eagle Ford.

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release reflect management's expectations relating to, among other things, target dates, Aurora's expected drilling program and the ability to fund development are forward-looking statements, and can generally be identified by words such as "will", "expects", "intends", "believes", "estimates", "anticipates" or similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Statements relating to "reserves" are deemed to be forward-looking statements as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions that some or all of the reserves described can be profitably produced in the future. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.

References herein to "Sugarkane" or the "Sugarkane Field" are references to the Sugarkane natural gas and condensate field within the Eagle Ford and includes the two contiguous fields designated by the Texas Railroad Commission as the Sugarkane and Eagleville Fields.

Although management believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include risks related to: exploration, development and production; oil and gas prices, markets and marketing; acquisitions and dispositions; competition; additional funding requirements; reserve estimates being inherently uncertain; incorrect assessments of the value of acquisitions and exploration and development programs; environmental concerns; availability of, and access to, drilling equipment; reliance on key personnel; title to assets; expiration of licences and leases; credit risk; hedging activities; litigation; government policy and legislative changes; unforeseen expenses; negative operating cash flow; contractual risk; and management of growth. In addition, if any of the assumptions or estimates made by management prove to be incorrect, actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this document. Such assumptions include, but are not limited to, general economic, market and business conditions and corporate strategy. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements.

All of the forward-looking information in this press release is expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this document and Aurora disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law.

Non - IFRS Financial Measures

Within this Report references are made to certain financial measures that do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). Such measures are neither required by, nor calculated in accordance with IFRS, and therefore are considered Non-IFRS financial measures. Non-IFRS financial measures may not be comparable with the calculation of similar measures by other companies. Funds from operations, EBITDAX, net operating income, operating netback and adjusted net profit after tax are commonly used in the oil and gas industry.

EBITDAX

EBITDAX represents net income (loss) for the period before income tax expense or benefit, gains and losses attributable to the disposal of projects, finance costs, depletion, depreciation and amortization expense, other non-cash charges, expenses or income, one-off or non-recurring fees, expenses and charges and exploration and evaluation expenses.

The following table reconciles net profit after tax to EBITDAX:

		Mar-13	Mar-12
		US$'000	US$'000
Net profit after tax		29,611	8,705
Adjustments:
	Share based payment expense	1,374	1,227
	Depletion, depreciation and amortisation expense	17,915	2,758
	Interest income	(10)	(41)
	Finance costs	10,677	3,233
	Net foreign exchange (gain)	44	(56)
	Other income	(30)	-
	Income tax expense	15,757	5,073
	Exploration and evaluation costs	282	479
EBITDAX		75,620	21,378

Funds from Operations

Funds from operations represent funds provided by operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital.

The following table reconciles net profit after tax to funds from operations:

		Mar-13	Mar-12
		US$'000	US$'000
Net profit after tax		29,611	8,705
Add/(less) non-cash items:
	Depletion, depreciation and amortisation expense	17,915	2,758
	Amortisation of borrowing costs and discount/premium of financial instrument	777	360
	Share based payment expense	1,374	1,227
	Income tax expense	15,757	5,073
	Net foreign exchange (gain) / loss	44	(56)
	Employee benefit provision	20	185
Funds from operations		65,498	18,252

The Company considers funds from operations and EBITDAX as key measures as both assist in demonstrating the ability of the business to generate the cash flow necessary to fund future growth through capital investment. Neither should be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than net income or cash provided by operating activities (or any other IFRS financial measure) as an indicator of the Company's performance. Because EBITDAX excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income, the EBITDAX presented by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Adjusted Net Profit After Tax

Adjusted net profit after tax represents net profit after tax before non-recurring items. During the quarters ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 there were no one off or non-recurring items included in net profit after tax.

Management also uses certain industry benchmarks such as net operating income and operating netback to analyse financial and operating performance.

Net Operating Income

Net operating income represents net oil and gas revenue attributable to Aurora after distribution to royalty holders.

Operating Netback

Operating netback as presented, represents revenue from production less royalties, state taxes, transportation and operating expenses calculated on a boe basis. Management considers operating netback an important measure to evaluate its operational performance as it demonstrates its field level profitability relative to current commodity prices.

Defined Reserves and Resource Terms

• "bbls" means barrels.
• "boe" means barrels of oil equivalent and have been calculated using liquid volumes of oil, condensate and NGLs and treated volumes of gas converted using a ratio of 6 mscf to 1 bbl of liquid equivalent unless otherwise stated.
• "scf" means standard cubic feet.
• "m" or "M" prefix means thousand.
• "mm" or "MM" prefix means million.
• "NGLs" means natural gas liquids
• "b" or "B" prefix means billion.
• "/d" suffix means per day.

Boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of 6 mscf:1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.  Given the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6 mscf:1 bbl, utilising a conversion ratio of 6 mscf:1 bbl may be misleading. Unless stated otherwise, all per boe references are a reference to Aurora's per boe production on a working interest basis before deduction of royalties.

 

 

 

 

SOURCE: Aurora Oil & Gas Limited

Media Contact:

Shaun Duffy
F T I Consulting
Tel: [phone]
Mob: [phone]
[email protected]

Jane Munday
F T I Consulting
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[email protected]

Executive Management Contact:

Jonathan Stewart
Executive Chairman
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Douglas E. Brooks
Group Chief Executive Officer
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Aurora Oil & Gas Limited ABN 90 008 787 988

HEAD OFFICE
Level 20, 77 St. Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
GPO Box 2530 Perth, WA 6001, Australia
t [phone], f [phone], e [email protected]

HOUSTON
Aurora USA Oil & Gas, Inc. a subsidiary of Aurora Oil & Gas Limited
1111 Louisiana, Suite 4550, Houston, TX 77002 USA
t [phone], f [phone]

www.auroraoag.com.au