Yuma Energy, Inc. Announces it is Actively Seeking Strategic Alternatives, Provides an Update to its Liquidity and Operations, and Reports First Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Yuma Energy, Inc. Announces it is Actively Seeking Strategic Alternatives, Provides an Update to its Liquidity and Operations, and Reports First Quarter 2018 Financial Results

HOUSTON, May 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Yuma Energy, Inc. (NYSE American: YUMA) (the "Company" or "Yuma") today announced that it is actively seeking strategic alternatives and provided information related to its liquidity and operations. The Company also reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.

Strategic Alternatives

Yuma is currently exploring strategic alternatives in order to enhance and maximize shareholder value. These strategic alternatives may include, but are not limited to, a business combination, a merger, sale of assets, and possible capital market transactions. Yuma will thoroughly evaluate all opportunities and third-party proposals, if any, and will aggressively pursue options which are intended to add incremental shareholder value relative to its continued standalone activities.

Liquidity

Due to operating losses the Company sustained during recent quarters, which were partially a result of several events outside the reasonable control of the Company, including the suspension of production from several wells for a period of time and other associated factors, at March 31, 2018, the Company was not in compliance with its total debt to EBITDAX covenant for the trailing four quarter period under its credit facility. In addition, due to this non-compliance and the Company's anticipated non-compliance at June 30, 2018, the Company classified its bank debt as a current liability in its consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2018. On May 8, 2018, the Company received a waiver from its lenders to its compliance with the fiscal period total debt to EBITDAX for the trailing four quarter period financial ratio covenant for the period ended March 31, 2018, as long as it does not exceed 3.75 to 1.00.

As of March 31, 2018, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $27.05 million under its credit facility, and its total borrowing base was $40.5 million, leaving $13.45 million of undrawn borrowing base. As of May 8, 2018, the total borrowing base under the credit facility was reduced to $35.0 million. Since March 31, 2018, the Company has borrowed an additional $7.2 million for working capital, leaving $750,000 of undrawn borrowing base as of the date hereof.

A breach in the future of any of the terms and conditions of the credit facility or a breach of the financial covenants thereunder could result in acceleration of the Company's indebtedness, in which case the debt would become immediately due and payable. The Company currently anticipates non-compliance with various financial covenants at June 30, 2018.

The Company has initiated several strategic alternatives to remedy its limited liquidity, its debt covenant compliance issues, and to provide it with additional working capital to develop its existing assets. These may include, but are not limited to, reducing or eliminating capital expenditures previously planned for 2018; entering into commodity derivatives for a significant portion of its anticipated production for 2018; reducing general and administrative expenses; selling non-core assets; seeking merger and acquisition related opportunities; and potentially raising proceeds from capital markets transactions, including the sale of debt or equity securities. There can be no assurance that the exploration of strategic alternatives will result in a transaction.

The significant risks and uncertainties described above raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The Company has prepared its consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2018 on a going concern basis of accounting, which contemplates continuity of operations, realization of assets, and satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. The Company's consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2018 do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of the going concern uncertainty.

Operations Update

In 2017, the Company entered the Permian Basin through a joint venture with two privately held energy companies and established an Area of Mutual Interest ("AMI") covering approximately 33,280 acres in Yoakum County, Texas, located in the Northwest Shelf of the Permian Basin. The primary target within the AMI is the San Andres formation, which has been one of the largest producing formations in Texas to date. As of May 1, 2018, the Company held a 62.5% working interest in approximately 4,823 gross acres (3,014 net acres) within the AMI. In November, 2017, the Company spudded a salt water disposal well, the Jameson SWD #1. Upon completion of the salt water disposal well, the drilling rig was moved to the Company's State 320 #1H horizontal San Andres well, which was subsequently drilled and completed. The Company opened the well on March 1, 2018 to begin the dewatering process and establish production. As of May 6, 2018, the well was producing 31 barrels of oil, 89 Mcf of natural gas, and 3,908 barrels of water per day. While significant water production is typical and was expected from the well, early production rates have not met management's pre-drill expectations. The Company will continue to evaluate well performance and the commerciality of the prospect area, but given the well performance to date, the ability to establish commercial production in the prospect area is uncertain at this time. As of March 31, 2018, the salt water disposal well and the State 320 #1H well were classified as unproved properties within the Company's consolidated financial statements.

First Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Production

The following table presents the net quantities of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids produced and sold by the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, and the average sales price per unit sold.

                                         Three Months Ended
                                              March 31,
                                        -------------------

                                             2018                   2017
                                             ----                   ----

    Production volumes:

    Crude oil and condensate (Bbls)        47,157                 76,397

    Natural gas (Mcf)                     633,440                899,427

    Natural gas liquids (Bbls)             25,243                 33,474
                                           ------                 ------

         Total (Boe) (1)                  177,973                259,776
                                          =======                =======

    Average prices realized:

    Crude oil and condensate (per
     Bbl)                                  $65.02                 $49.95

    Natural gas (per Mcf)                   $2.83                  $2.84

    Natural gas liquids (per Bbl)          $31.22                 $23.15

             (1)    Barrels of oil equivalent
                     have been calculated on
                     the basis of six thousand
                     cubic feet (Mcf) of
                     natural gas equal to one
                     barrel of oil equivalent
                     (Boe).

Revenues

The following table presents the Company's revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

                                   Three Months Ended March 31,
                                   ----------------------------

                                                 2018                 2017
                                                 ----                 ----

    Sales of natural gas and crude
     oil:

    Crude oil and condensate               $3,066,258           $3,815,932

    Natural gas                             1,791,251            2,553,443

    Natural gas liquids                       788,027              775,049
                                              -------              -------

       Total revenues                      $5,645,536           $7,144,424
                                           ==========           ==========

Expenses

The Company's lease operating expenses ("LOE") and LOE per Boe for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, are set forth below:

                                   Three Months Ended March 31,
                                   ----------------------------

                                              2018                    2017
                                              ----                    ----

    Lease operating expenses            $1,665,320              $1,697,908

    Severance, ad valorem taxes
     and marketing                         960,448                 963,356
                                           -------                 -------

         Total LOE                      $2,625,768              $2,661,264
                                        ==========              ==========


    LOE per Boe                             $14.75                  $10.24

    LOE per Boe without severance,
     ad valorem taxes and
     marketing                               $9.36                   $6.54

Commodity Derivative Instruments

Commodity derivative instruments open as of March 31, 2018 are provided below. Natural gas prices are NYMEX Henry Hub prices, and crude oil prices are NYMEX West Texas Intermediate.

                                2018            2019

                         Settlement  Settlement (1)
                         ----------  -------------

    NATURAL GAS (MMBtu):

    Swaps

    Volume                 1,245,893         373,906

    Price                      $3.00           $3.00


    CRUDE OIL (Bbls):

    Swaps

    Volume                   140,818         156,320

    Price                     $53.17          $53.77

             (1)    Represents volumes through
                     March 2019.

About Yuma Energy, Inc.

Yuma Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is an independent Houston-based exploration and production company focused on acquiring, developing and exploring for conventional and unconventional oil and natural gas resources. Historically, the Company's operations have focused on onshore properties located in central and southern Louisiana and southeastern Texas where it has a long history of drilling, developing and producing both oil and natural gas assets. More recently, the Company has begun acquiring acreage in Yoakum County, Texas, with plans to explore and develop oil and natural gas assets in the Permian Basin. Finally, the Company has operated positions in Kern County, California, and non-operated positions in the East Texas Woodbine and the Bakken Shale in North Dakota. Its common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the trading symbol "YUMA."

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Statements that are not strictly historical statements constitute forward-looking statements and may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words such as "expects," "believes," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "potential," "possible," or "probable" or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "will," "should," or "could" be taken, occur or be achieved. The forward-looking statements include statements about future operations, and estimates of reserve and production volumes. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with expectations is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: our limited liquidity; the risks of the oil and natural gas industry (for example, operational risks in exploring for, developing and producing crude oil and natural gas); risks and uncertainties involving geology of oil and natural gas deposits; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; revisions to reserve estimates as a result of changes in commodity prices; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to future production, costs and expenses; potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; health, safety and environmental risks and risks related to weather; declines in oil and natural gas prices; inability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals, shortages of drilling equipment, oil field personnel and services, unavailability of gathering systems, pipelines and processing facilities and the possibility that government policies may change. The Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, recent current reports on Form 8-K, and other SEC filings discuss some of the important risk factors identified that may affect its business, results of operations, and financial condition. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

                                                              Yuma Energy, Inc.


                                                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                                 (Unaudited)



                                                            March 31,                December 31,

                                                                                2018                        2017
                                                                                ----                        ----


                                       ASSETS


    CURRENT ASSETS:

    Cash and cash
     equivalents                                                            $101,850                    $137,363

    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts:

      Trade                                                                3,569,760                   4,496,316

      Officer and employees                                                        -                     53,979

      Other                                                                  536,243                   1,004,479

    Prepayments                                                              837,877                     976,462

    Other deferred
     charges                                                                 406,881                     347,490
                                                                             -------                     -------


    Total current assets                                                   5,452,611                   7,016,089
                                                                           ---------                   ---------


    OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES (full cost method):

    Proved properties                                                    494,700,559                 494,216,531

    Unproved properties -
     not subject to
     amortization                                                          9,127,056                   6,794,372
                                                                           ---------                   ---------


                                                                         503,827,615                 501,010,903

    Less:  accumulated
     depreciation,
     depletion and
     amortization                                                      (423,342,487)              (421,165,400)
                                                                        ------------                ------------


    Net oil and gas
     properties                                                           80,485,128                  79,845,503
                                                                          ----------                  ----------


    OTHER PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:

    Land, buildings and
     improvements                                                          1,600,000                   1,600,000

    Other property and
     equipment                                                             2,845,459                   2,845,459
                                                                           ---------                   ---------

                                                                           4,445,459                   4,445,459

    Less: accumulated
     depreciation and
     amortization                                                        (1,449,769)                (1,409,535)
                                                                          ----------                  ----------


    Net other property
     and equipment                                                         2,995,690                   3,035,924
                                                                           ---------                   ---------


    OTHER ASSETS AND DEFERRED CHARGES:

    Deposits                                                                 467,592                     467,592

    Other noncurrent
     assets                                                                   79,997                     270,842
                                                                              ------                     -------


    Total other assets
     and deferred charges                                                    547,589                     738,434
                                                                             -------                     -------


    TOTAL ASSETS                                                         $89,481,018                 $90,635,950
                                                                         ===========                 ===========

                                                                  Yuma Energy, Inc.


                                                       CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - CONTINUED

                                                                     (Unaudited)



                                                                     March 31,                 December 31,

                                                                                         2018                        2017
                                                                                         ----                        ----


                                    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY


    CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    Current maturities of debt                                                    $27,424,499                    $651,124

    Accounts payable, principally
     trade                                                                         13,778,740                  11,931,218

    Commodity derivative
     instruments                                                                    1,476,071                     903,003

    Asset retirement obligations                                                       88,721                     277,355

    Other accrued liabilities                                                       1,765,817                   2,295,438
                                                                                    ---------                   ---------


    Total current liabilities                                                      44,533,848                  16,058,138
                                                                                   ----------                  ----------


    LONG-TERM DEBT                                                                          -                 27,700,000
                                                                                          ---                 ----------


    OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:

    Asset retirement obligations                                                   10,352,150                  10,189,058

    Commodity derivative
     instruments                                                                      485,234                     336,406

    Deferred rent                                                                     281,852                     290,566

    Employee stock awards                                                             239,095                     191,110
                                                                                      -------                     -------


    Total other noncurrent
     liabilities                                                                   11,358,331                  11,007,140
                                                                                   ----------                  ----------


    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Notes 2 and 15)


    EQUITY

    Series D convertible preferred stock

       ($0.001 par value, 7,000,000
        authorized, 1,937,262 issued
        and outstanding as of March
        31, 2018, and 1,904,391
        issued and outstanding as of
        December 31, 2017)                                                              1,937                       1,904

    Common stock

       ($0.001 par value, 100 million
        shares authorized, 23,230,169
        outstanding as of March 31,
        2018 and 22,661,758
        outstanding as of December
        31, 2017)                                                                      23,230                      22,662

    Additional paid-in capital                                                     56,728,467                  55,064,685

    Treasury stock at cost
     (369,238 shares as of March
     31, 2018 and 13,343 shares as
     of December 31, 2017)                                                          (434,557)                   (25,278)

    Accumulated earnings (deficit)                                               (22,730,238)               (19,193,301)
                                                                                  -----------                 -----------


    Total equity                                                                   33,588,839                  35,870,672
                                                                                   ----------                  ----------


    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                                                  $89,481,018                 $90,635,950
                                                                                  ===========                 ===========

                                   Yuma Energy, Inc.


                         CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                                      (Unaudited)


                                                             Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                             ----------------------------

                                                                         2018                     2017
                                                                         ----                     ----


    REVENUES:

    Sales of
     natural gas
     and crude oil                                                 $5,645,536               $7,144,424
                                                                   ----------               ----------


    EXPENSES:

    Lease operating
     and production
     costs                                                          2,625,768                2,661,264

    General and
     administrative
     - stock-based
     compensation                                                     296,293                   51,735

    General and
     administrative
     - other                                                        1,749,237                2,176,002

    Depreciation,
     depletion and
     amortization                                                   2,217,321                3,140,940

    Asset
     retirement
     obligation
     accretion
     expense                                                          142,940                  138,569

    Bad debt
     expense                                                           65,808                        -
                                                                       ------                      ---

    Total expenses                                                  7,097,367                8,168,510
                                                                    ---------                ---------


    LOSS FROM
     OPERATIONS                                                   (1,451,831)             (1,024,086)
                                                                   ----------               ----------


    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

    Net gains
     (losses) from
     commodity
     derivatives                                                  (1,251,260)               3,556,783

    Interest
     expense                                                        (466,292)               (496,091)

    Gain on other
     property and
     equipment                                                              -                 555,642

    Other, net                                                        (3,537)                  36,408
                                                                       ------                   ------

    Total other
     income
     (expense)                                                    (1,721,089)               3,652,742
                                                                   ----------                ---------


    INCOME (LOSS)
     BEFORE INCOME
     TAXES                                                        (3,172,920)               2,628,656


    Income tax
     expense                                                                -                  26,531
                                                                          ---                  ------


    NET INCOME
     (LOSS)                                                       (3,172,920)               2,602,125


    PREFERRED STOCK:

    Dividends paid
     in kind                                                          364,017                  339,610
                                                                      -------                  -------


    NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS

                                                                 $(3,536,937)              $2,262,515
                                                                  ===========               ==========


    INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE:

    Basic                                                             ($0.16)                   $0.19

    Diluted                                                           ($0.16)                   $0.16


    WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:

    Basic                                                          22,813,130               12,211,256

    Diluted                                                        22,813,130               14,056,170

                                          Yuma Energy, Inc.


                                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                             (Unaudited)


                                                                      Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                                      ----------------------------

                                                                                   2018                    2017
                                                                                   ----                    ----

    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    Reconciliation of net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used
     in) operating activities:

    Net income (loss)                                                      $(3,172,920)             $2,602,125

    Depreciation, depletion
     and amortization of
     property and equipment                                                   2,217,321               3,140,940

    Amortization of debt
     issuance costs                                                             184,733                  81,843

    Deferred rent
     liability, net                                                              33,117                       -

    Stock-based
     compensation expense                                                       296,293                  51,735

    Settlement of asset
     retirement obligations                                                   (147,122)                      -

    Asset retirement
     obligation accretion
     expense                                                                    142,940                 138,569

    Bad debt expense                                                             65,808                       -

    Net (gains) losses from
     commodity derivatives                                                    1,251,260             (3,556,783)

    Gain on sales of fixed
     assets                                                                           -              (555,642)

    Loss on write-off of
     liabilities net of
     assets                                                                       3,631                       -

    Changes in assets and liabilities:

    (Increase) decrease in
     accounts receivable                                                        879,333               (795,740)

    Decrease in prepaids,
     deposits and other
     assets                                                                     138,585                 306,021

    (Decrease) increase in accounts payable
     and other current and non-current
     liabilities

                                                                              2,507,831               (461,542)
                                                                              ---------                --------

    NET CASH PROVIDED BY
     (USED IN) OPERATING
     ACTIVITIES                                                               4,400,810                 951,526
                                                                              ---------                 -------


    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    Capital expenditures
     for oil and gas
     properties                                                             (3,507,005)            (2,053,826)

    Proceeds from sale of
     oil and gas properties                                                   1,000,000                 641,056

    Derivative settlements                                                    (529,364)                 98,700
                                                                               --------                  ------

    NET CASH PROVIDED BY
     (USED IN) INVESTING
     ACTIVITIES                                                             (3,036,369)            (1,314,070)
                                                                             ----------              ----------


    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    Proceeds from
     borrowings on senior
     credit facility                                                          6,350,000                       -

    Repayment of borrowings
     on senior credit
     facility                                                               (7,000,000)                      -

    Repayments of
     borrowings -insurance
     financing                                                                (276,625)              (255,026)

    Debt issuance costs                                                               -               (76,452)

    Shelf registration
     costs                                                                     (64,050)                      -

    Treasury stock
     repurchases                                                              (409,279)                (4,170)
                                                                               --------                  ------

    NET CASH PROVIDED BY
     (USED IN) FINANCING
     ACTIVITIES                                                             (1,399,954)              (335,648)
                                                                             ----------                --------


    NET DECREASE IN CASH
     AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                                                      (35,513)              (698,192)


    CASH AND CASH
     EQUIVALENTS AT
     BEGINNING OF PERIOD                                                        137,363               3,625,686
                                                                                -------               ---------


    CASH AND CASH
     EQUIVALENTS AT END OF
     PERIOD                                                                    $101,850              $2,927,494
                                                                               ========              ==========


    Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

    Interest payments (net
     of interest
     capitalized)                                                              $145,871                $264,542

    Interest capitalized                                                       $115,541                 $44,550

    Supplemental disclosure of significant non-cash activity:

    (Increase) decrease in
     capital expenditures
     financed by accounts
     payable                                                                   $168,934            $(1,434,132)

CONTACT: James J. Jacobs, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Yuma Energy, Inc., 1177 West Loop South, Suite 1825, Houston, TX 77027, Telephone: (713) 968-7000

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