Warren Resources

Warren Resources, a small driller that drilled and brought online their first two Marcellus Shale wells last year, is based in Houston and operates in California, Colorado, Wyoming and Pennsylvania. In February MDN told you that Warren missed an important $7.5 million payment, the first ominous signal of what was to come (see Warren Resources Misses $7.5M Debt Payment, 30-Day Clock Ticking). The next week the company announced no new drilling, anywhere, in 2016–hinting they might have to file for bankruptcy (see Warren Resources: Potential Bankruptcy, No Drilling in 2016). That happened, in June (see Warren Resources Files for Bankruptcy, Wiping Out Stockholders). Yesterday Warren announced it has emerged from bankruptcy proceedings and ready to continue on. Warren had over $545 million in debt that they magically waved the bankruptcy wand over and turned into equity (stock ownership). In the process, previous stockholders/owners got nothing–their shares became worthless…
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Warren Resources, a small driller that drilled and brought online their first two Marcellus Shale wells last year, is based in Houston and operates in California, Colorado, Wyoming and Pennsylvania. In February MDN told you that Warren missed an important $7.5 million payment, the first ominous signal of what was to come (see Warren Resources Misses $7.5M Debt Payment, 30-Day Clock Ticking). The next week the company announced no new drilling, anywhere, in 2016–hinting they might have to file for bankruptcy (see Warren Resources: Potential Bankruptcy, No Drilling in 2016). In March the New York Stock Exchange threatened to de-list Warren’s stock (see Pretty in Pink? Warren Resources Put on Notice for Stock Delisting). In April, the board changed the definition and role of the company’s CEO to become CRO–Chief Restructuring Officer–a sure sign of what was ahead (see Warren Resources Preps for Bankruptcy, New Role for CEO). Indeed, this one was pretty easy to predict. Last week Warren filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and has worked out a deal to transfer ownership of the company to two debt-holders: 82.5% of the company will now be owned by GSO Capital (owed $248 million), and the rest will go to Claren Road Asset Management (owed $57 million). Claren isn’t happy with the deal. Current/existing stockholders? They get zip. Wiped out. Screwed. That’s how it works in our great country–debt-holders get to take over and equity-holders (i.e. owners) get taken to the cleaners…
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We’ve heard of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), a Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Chief Risk Officer (CRO). But until now, we’d never heard of a Chief Restructuring Officer. Somebody who’s full-time job it is to work on keep the company from shutting its doors and liquidating the assets. Warren Resources has just appointed it’s current CEO and President, James Watt, as the company’s Chief Restructuring Officer. In February MDN reported that Warren–a small, independent exploration and production company with an ongoing drilling programs in California, Wyoming, and in the northeast Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale–had missed a $7.5 million payment (see Warren Resources: Potential Bankruptcy, No Drilling in 2016). At the time, Warren said if the company could not come to a workable agreement regarding an out-of-court restructuring, it would have to seek protection from its creditors through a bankruptcy proceeding. In Warren’s announcement yesterday, they once again warned of potential bankruptcy–for the third time. Without saying outright “we’re about to file for bankruptcy,” the company issued a very clear and loud signal that’s just what they’re about to do…
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As MDN pointed out in February, Warren Resources is on the cusp of bankruptcy (see Warren Resources: Potential Bankruptcy, No Drilling in 2016). They are a small driller–at least in the Marcellus–having drilled two Marcellus wells last year. Earlier this month we brought you the news that the NASDAQ Stock Exchange is threatening to stop trading the company’s stock (see Pretty in Pink? Warren Resources Put on Notice for Stock Delisting). Last week Warren issued its fourth quarter and full year 2015 update. It’s fairly short and to the point: last year Warren lost $620 million. Most of that loss was a paper loss–$578M for impairments. Unlike other drillers, Warren doesn’t include a copy of their financial spreadsheets with their announcement. They make you go fishing on the Securities and Exchange Commission website to find their financial information. It appears they’re making it intentionally difficult to easily obtain the information…
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As MDN pointed out last month, Warren Resources is on the cusp of bankruptcy (see Warren Resources: Potential Bankruptcy, No Drilling in 2016). They are a small driller (drilled two Marcellus wells last year), and they’re trying their hardest–but it’s tough out there. Add one more problem to the pile for Warren. The company’s stock is currently traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange. NASDAQ has let Warren know that unless the company can get the stock price above $1 for ten consecutive days by June 20th, they will be delisted. Meaning they become a penny stock traded on what is known as the pink sheets. The last time the stock was $1 or above was May 2015. We hope they like the color pink…
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Last week MDN told you of a troubling sign at Warren Resources–the company had missed a $7.5 million payment on notes (IOUs) and the clock is now ticking (see Warren Resources Misses $7.5M Debt Payment, 30-Day Clock Ticking). Yesterday Warren released information on 2015 reserve and production figures. As part of that update, they say this: “If Warren cannot come to a workable agreement regarding an out-of-court restructuring, it will have to seek protection from its creditors through a bankruptcy proceeding in order to preserve and maximize value for its stakeholders” (emphasis added). In other words, if the people they owe money to don’t back off, the only choice left is to declare bankruptcy. Warren also said yesterday they won’t spend a penny on drilling in 2016…
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Warren Resources, a small, independent exploration and production company with an ongoing drilling programs in California, Wyoming, and in the northeast Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale, announced yesterday they won’t (for now) make a $7.5 million in payments due on IOUs (i.e. notes) that are due to be made this month. Even though they claim to have enough money in the bank. Big red flag. Instead, Warren has hired investment bank Jeffries LLC to help the company with “potential restructuring of its balance sheet” and the company has “initiated restructuring discussions with representatives of the creditors under its first and second lien credit facilities.” Restructuring is a cheaper and (if you can swing it) better alternative than bankruptcy. The question is, will Warren’s restructuring be enough to keep the company out of bankruptcy proceedings? The terms of missing the payment allow a 30-day grace period before bad stuff begins to happen. The clock is ticking…
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In November, MDN told you that Warren Resources, a small, independent exploration and production company with an ongoing drilling programs in California, Wyoming, and in the northeast Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale, had finally chosen a new CEO nearly a year after the previous CEO abruptly resigned (see After Almost a Year, Warren Resources Gets New CEO). Yesterday Warren announced further “restructuring”–by which they mean “out with the old team, in with the new team.” In addition to a new CEO Warren has a new CFO and now a new VP for Accounting. The people who have been occupying those roles will be leaving the company by March. Here’s the details of the house-cleaning at Warren Resources…
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Warren Resources, a small, independent exploration and production company with an ongoing drilling programs in California, Wyoming, and in the northeast Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale, recently moved their headquarters from New York City to Denver, Colorado (see Warren Resources Says Bye-Bye to NYC Headquarters, Hello Denver). Warren’s Marcellus program is small–very small. They spent just $3.8 million in 3Q15 to complete two “upper” Marcellus wells (see Warren Res. 3Q15: $190M Paper Loss, Completes 2 Upper Marcellus Wells). However, they remain active in the Marcellus and may one day expand their activity here, so we keep tabs on them. The company is facing some serious challenges. Last December Warren’s CEO and Chairman of the Board, Philip Epstein, suddenly quit (see CEO of Warren Resources Quits, Replaced by Citrus Energy CEO). Since Epstein’s departure, Citrus Energy CEO Lance Peterson (a Warren board member) had taken the reigns as interim CEO. The search is now over and Warren has just announced the appointment of a new CEO…
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Warren Resources, a small, independent exploration and production company with an ongoing drilling programs in California, Wyoming, and in the northeast Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale, issued their third quarter 2015 update and held an analyst call earlier this week. The company experienced a $189.5 million loss for the quarter, most of that being a paper loss due to writing down the value of assets (the pattern we’ve seen with almost every other Marcellus/Utica driller in 3Q15). Warren only spent $3.8 million in the Marcellus in 3Q15–to finish two drilled “Upper Marcellus” wells (see Warren Resources Releases Details on 2 “Upper” Marcellus Wells). Below are select portions of both the 3Q15 press release update and from the analyst conference call transcript…
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Last week MDN told you that Warren Resources, a small, independent exploration and production company headquartered in New York City with a very small Marcellus drilling program (just two wells this year) is looking for a new CEO (see Help Wanted: Warren Resources Launches Search for New CEO). Warren Resources also issued an operations update last week. The update shows Warren is done drilling their two planned Marcellus Shale wells for 2015 and has now begin the completions process, which is expected to be done sometime in August. Below is the introduction and Marcellus portions of Warren’s operational update from last week, which includes the boast that Warren has the lowest breakeven cost in the Marcellus…
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