Item 1A. Risk Factors.
An investment in our common shares is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider all of the risks discussed below, as well as the other information contained in this Annual Report. If any of the following risks develop into actual events, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected and the trading price of our common shares could decline.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR COMPANY
WE ARE AN EARLY-STAGE COMPANY WITH NO PROVED RESERVES, AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT MILESTONES THAT WE MUST ACHIEVE.
Our business plan is to explore, develop and produce crude oil, natural gas and/or natural gas liquid (collectively “ Hydrocarbons ”) from a tract of land (the “ Prospect ”) covered by Petroleum Exploration License (“PEL”) 512 (the “ License ”) in the State of South Australia. The Prospect is considered “undeveloped acreage,” which the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) defines as “lease acreage on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of commercial quantities of Hydrocarbons regardless of whether such acreage contains proved reserves.” We have no proved reserves. In view of our extremely limited history in the Hydrocarbon exploration business, an investor may have difficulty in evaluating us and our business, both current and future activities. An investor must consider our business and prospects in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in their early stage of development. For our business plan to succeed, we must successfully undertake most of the following activities:
Complete a material financing or similar transaction that will provide us with sufficient funds;
Drill successful exploratory test wells on the Prospect to determine the presence of Hydrocarbons in commercially viable quantities;
Develop the Prospect to a stage at which Hydrocarbons are being produced in commercially viable quantities;
Contract with purchasers of our commercial production of Hydrocarbons upon such commencement; and
Identify and enter into binding agreements with suitable third parties (such as joint venture partners and contractors) for the Prospect.
There can be no assurance that we will be successful in undertaking such activities. Our failure to undertake successfully most of the activities described above could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
WE HAVE A HISTORY OF LOSSES, AND WE MAY NOT BECOME PROFITABLE.
We have incurred losses since our inception. For our fiscal year ended February 28, 2022, we incurred net losses of $2,335,117. As of February 28, 2022, we had an accumulated deficit of $33,996,855. We expect our losses to continue as we incur significant capital expenditures and operating expenses to explore for Hydrocarbons on the Prospect. These continuing losses will most likely be greater than current levels. If our revenues do not increase substantially or if our expenses exceed our expectations, we may never become profitable. There can be no assurance that our exploration and production activities will produce Hydrocarbons in commercially viable quantities, if any at all. Moreover, even if we succeed in producing Hydrocarbons, we expect to incur operating losses until such time (if ever) as we produce and sell a sufficient volume of our commercial production to cover direct production costs as well as corporate overhead. There can be no assurance that sales of our Hydrocarbon production will ever generate significant revenues, that we will ever generate cash flow from our operations or that (if ever ) we will be to sustain in any future period.
WE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LEVERAGED.
During a two-year period beginning in May 2016, we took on a significant amount of debt through the sale of Senior Secured Convertible Debentures due (each [including an additional such debenture issued in November 2021] a “ Debenture ” and collectively the “ Debentures ”). After such two-year period, we placed a small number of additional Debentures. The amount of the indebtedness represented by outstanding Debentures (including principal and accrued interest) was approximately $11 million compounded through September 30, 2022. Our Debentures are secured by all of our assets owned directly or indirectly but for the License. The use of secured indebtedness to finance our business is referred to as leveraging. Leveraging increases the risk of loss to us if and to the extent we have insufficient revenue to pay our debt obligations. In such event, cash from other sources will be required. Our Debentures must be repaid or converted by the holders thereof on or before December 31, 2023. Unless we generate such cash, we may not have sufficient funds to pay our Debentures and other indebtedness when due. In such event, we might be required to sell our assets and properties to meet our obligations, or to seek an extension to our Debentures, or alternative debt or equity financing. If sale, extension or refinancing is not obtained or consummated, we could default in our obligations.
THE EXERCISE OF SECURED CREDITOR RIGHTS COULD RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT OR COMPLETE LOSS.
If we default on our Debentures, the remedy of our Debentures holders would be (among other things) to institute proceedings against our assets and properties to sell them to satisfy the amounts owed pursuant to our Debentures. This could result in the partial or total loss of our assets and properties. We have no assurance that, upon the exercise of our Debentures holders’ secured creditor rights, we would receive a return of anything on our assets and properties. The loss of our assets and properties by the exercise of our Debentures holders’ secured creditor rights would most likely materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or assets, and could result in a total loss to our stockholders.
OUR DEBENTURES FEATURE CERTAIN OPERATING COVENANTS THAT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE COMPANY.
Our Debentures contain operating covenants that prohibit us from certain actions (negative operating covenants) and that require us to continually undertake other actions (affirmative operating covenants). The negative operating covenants could preclude us from taking actions that we believe to be in the best interests of our stockholders. The affirmative operating covenants will require us to incur continuing costs and expense and could require us to take actions that we believe are not in our best interests. Moreover, our failure to comply with either negative operating covenants or affirmative operating covenants would most likely be a default under our Debentures, giving to our Debentures holders the rights described above.
Pandemics or disease outbreaks (such as the novel coronavirus, also known as the COVID-19 virus) could materially AND adversely affect us in a vareity of ways.
Pandemics or disease outbreaks such as COVID-19 could materially and adversely affect us in a number of ways. First, the current pandemic resulted, and future pandemics and epidemics could result, in economic downturns that could affect the market for our proposed products. Transport restrictions related to quarantines or travel bans, or simply declines in customers desire and willingness to travel, due to pandemics and epidemics have caused, and can be expected to cause when they occur in the future, significant declines in demand for products derived from crude oil, such as gasoline and jet fuel. Such declines greatly reduce not only the amount of products that can be sold on an aggregate basis, but also the price received for such products. Such results can be expected to have the following effects:
harm our financial results (especially revenues and profits) if and when we enter into commercial production.
harm our ability to raise funds (if needed) due to a diminished interest in investing in Hydrocarbon exploration and production companies in general.
depress our stock price, further harming our ability to raise funds.
Workforce limitations and travel restrictions resulting from pandemics or disease outbreaks and related government actions may impact many aspects of our business. We could experience interruptions or delays in receiving supplies of products and services from third parties due to staffing shortages, production slowdowns or stoppages, disruptions in delivery systems, travel limitations, mass transit disruptions, and the like. If a significant percentage of persons provided employment and other contractual services to us were unable to work, including because of illness or travel or government restrictions in connection with pandemics or disease outbreaks, our operations could be materially and adversely impacted.
Moreover, the spread of pandemics or disease outbreaks such as the COVID-19 virus may also disrupt logistics necessary to import, export, and deliver products to us or our customers. Ports and other channels of entry may be closed or operate at only a portion of capacity, as workers may be prohibited or otherwise unable to report to work, and means of transporting products within regions or countries may be limited for the same reason.
Currently, uncertainty continues to exist relating to the potential effect of COVID-19 on our business. Infections may become more widespread again, exacerbating an already challenging environment. The extent to which any pandemic or epidemic impacts our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, such as the ultimate geographic spread of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, travel restrictions and actions to contain the outbreak or treat its impact, such as social distancing and quarantines or lock-downs in the United States and other countries, business closures or business disruptions and the effectiveness of actions taken in the United States and other countries to contain and treat the disease.
Also, the current pandemic, and future pandemics and epidemics could hamper our efforts to provide our investors with timely information and comply with our filing obligations with the Commission. Of major concern is loss of key staff and/or service providers due to life threatening health issues.
OUR OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS AND ABILITY TO ISSUE ADDITIONAL COMMON SHARES COULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT DILUTION TO STOCKHOLDERS.
Our Debentures outstanding as of September 30, 2022 are convertible into 67,640,717 common shares, and the number of shares into which these Debentures may be converted is expected to increase in the future. An aggregate of 27,877,058 common shares can be acquired upon the exercise of the outstanding Warrants. The conversion price of our Debentures and the exercise price of the Warrants may be less than the then current market price of the common shares at the time of conversion and exercise. Future issuance of additional shares pursuant to the Debentures, Warrants or otherwise could cause immediate and substantial dilution to the net tangible book value of common shares issued and outstanding immediately before such transactions. Any future decrease in the net tangible book value of such issued and outstanding shares could materially and adversely affect the market value of the common shares. Moreover, any common shares issued as described above would further dilute the percentage ownership of existing stockholders. The terms on which we could obtain additional capital while our Debentures or the Warrants are outstanding may be adversely affected because of the potential dilution described in this risk factor.
WE NEED ADDITIONAL CAPITAL TO SATISFY OUR WORK COMMITMENT, TO PROVIDE WORKING CAPITAL AND TO DEVELOP THE PROSPECT, WHICH CAPITAL WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RAISE OR WHICH MAY BE AVAILABLE ONLY ON TERMS UNFAVORABLE TO US.
We have a work commitment with respect to the Prospect requiring us to expend significant stipulated amounts. We will need additional funds to satisfy the remainder of the work commitment, which includes the actual drilling of wells. Moreover, we will need working capital and further funds to explore and develop the Prospect in the manner that we prefer.
We are actively engaged in efforts to complete a capital raising transaction sufficient for us to complete the third year of the work commitment and provide additional funds to cover general and administrative costs. In the past, we have used the services of firms that specialize in capital procurement, but we are currently pursuing our own capital raising initiatives. If funds are not procured pursuant to this arrangement, we will be constrained to seek alternative financing. We have no assurance that we will be successful in completing a transaction that will provide us with required funds. Our failure to honor our work commitment could result in our loss of the Prospect. Moreover, our failure to procure funds needed to develop operations sufficient to generate enough cash to retire our Debentures as they become due could result in Debentures holders’ eventual exercise of the rights of a secured creditor and the possible loss of all or a large part of our assets. If either of the preceding events were to occur, we could be forced to cease our current business plan, which could result in a complete to our stockholders. Our future liquidity will depend upon numerous factors, including the of our business efforts and our capital raising activities. If we obtain funds through the issuance of equity securities, the following results will or may occur:
the percentage ownership of our existing stockholders will be reduced.
the new equity securities could have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of the holders of our common shares.
We have no assurance of our ability to raise funds for any purpose.
THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL DOUBT AS TO WHETHER WE WILL CONTINUE OPERATIONS WITHOUT ADDITIONAL FINANCING.
Based on our assessment of the related risk factors (described further below), we believe there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue to operate as a going concern for the 12 months following the issuance of our February 28, 2022 financial statements. Our independent registered public accountant has added an emphasis paragraph to its report on our financial statements for the year ended February 28, 2022 regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. Key to this determination is our lack of any historical revenues and our accumulated deficit of $33,996,855 since inception through February 28, 2022. Since May 2016, we have placed Debentures having an aggregate original principal amount of $7,025,000. Proceeds from these placements largely financed our business for our fiscal years 2017 and 2018, and the first half of our fiscal year 2019. Since that time, we have financed our business primarily through private common shares financings, although we have also placed a small number of additional Debentures. Notwithstanding the preceding, we still need additional funds. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in securing funding, becoming profitable, or continuing our business without either a temporary or a permanent cessation.
IF WE GROW OUR BUSINESS AS PLANNED, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MANAGE PROPERLY OUR GROWTH, AND WE EXPECT OPERATING EXPENSES TO INCREASE, WHICH MAY IMPEDE OUR ABILITY TO ACHIEVE PROFITABILITY.
If we are successful in growing our business as we plan, our operations may expand rapidly and significantly. Any rapid growth could place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources. In order to manage the growth of our operations, we will be required to improve and expand existing operations; to implement new operational, financial and inventory systems, procedures and controls, including improvement of our financial and other internal management systems; and to train, manage and expand our staffing. If we are unable to manage growth effectively, our business, results of operations and financial condition will be materially and adversely affected. In addition, if we are successful in growing our business as we plan, we expect operating expenses to increase, and as a result, we will need to generate increased revenue to achieve and maintain profitability. These additional costs and expenses could delay our ability to achieve continuing .
CONDUCTING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY MAY RESULT IN INCREASED COSTS AND OTHER RISKS.
We plan on operating our business in Australia. Operating internationally exposes us to a number of risks. Examples include a possible downturn in local economic conditions due to local policy decisions, increases in duties and taxes, and other adverse changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting our business, or governing the operations of foreign based companies. Additional risks include currency fluctuations, interest rate movements, imposition of trade barriers, and restrictions on repatriation of earnings. If we are unable to address these risks adequately, our financial position and results of operations could be adversely affected.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR INDUSTRY
OIL AND NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION PRESENT MANY RISKS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE.
Our Hydrocarbon exploration, development and production activities are subject to many risks that may be unpredictable and are difficult to manage. In addition, the cost and timing of drilling, completing and operating wells is often uncertain. In conducting exploration and development activities, the presence of unanticipated pressure or irregularities in formations, miscalculations or accidents may cause exploration, development and production activities to be delayed or unsuccessful. This could result in a total loss of our investment in a particular drilling program. If exploration efforts are unsuccessful in establishing proved reserves in a timely manner and exploration activities cease, the amounts accumulated as unproved costs will be charged against earnings as impairments.
OUR FOCUS ON EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES EXPOSES US TO GREATER RISKS THAN ARE GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED IN LATER-STAGE HYDROCARBON PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT BUSINESSES.
If we are funded, most of our initial activity will involve drilling exploratory test wells on acreage with no proved Hydrocarbon reserves. While all drilling (whether developmental or exploratory) involves risks, exploratory drilling involves greater risks of dry holes or failure to find commercial quantities of Hydrocarbons. The economic success of any drilling program will depend on numerous factors, including the ability to estimate the volumes of recoverable reserves relating to the drilling program, rates of future production, future commodity prices, investment and operating costs and possible environmental liabilities. All of these factors may impact whether a drilling program will generate cash flows sufficient to provide a suitable return on investment. If we experience a series of failed drilling projects, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
CERTAIN CURRENT TRENDS COULD MATERIALLY ADVERSELY AFFECT US AND OUR INDUSTRY.
Worldwide concern over the risks of climate change is growing. This has led to the following developments and could lead to further movement in the following directions:
Laws are being adopted or considered to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve fuel, use fewer Hydrocarbons, and utilize more alternative energy sources. These laws include cap and trade regimes, carbon taxes, trade tariffs, minimum renewable usage requirements, restrictive permitting, increased efficiency standards, and incentives or mandates for alternative or renewable energy. Government and other activist persons are also seeking to promote their climate change agendas indirectly, such as by seeking to reduce the availability of or increase the cost for, financing and investment in our industry and taking actions intended to promote changes in business strategy for companies in this industry.
Consumer sentiment appears to be shifting against fuel sources that leave a large carbon footprint (such as Hydrocarbons) and in favor of products that use alternative energy sources. As an example, sales of electric vehicles increased rapidly for most of the second decade of the 21 st century, and this could continue into the future. Investors (including sovereign wealth, pension, and endowment funds) are increasingly sensitive to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters, opting to divest their holdings of (or not acquire investments in) companies in our industry. Organizations provide information to investors on corporate governance and related matters and have developed ratings processes for evaluating companies on their approach to ESG matters. Such ratings are used by some investors to inform their investment and voting decisions. All of this could have negative impacts on the stock prices and access to capital markets of companies in our industry.
In response to the two points made above, research into new technologies to reduce the cost and increase the use of alternative energy sources is increasing. These technologies include advanced biofuels and hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, breakthrough energy efficiency processes, and advanced energy-saving materials.
The effect of the actions described above could have the potential to reduce demand for Hydrocarbons, to increase the costs of producing Hydrocarbons and products based on them (thereby increasing the prices, but reducing the quantity sold, of end-products), to affect adversely revenues, margins and investment returns or even render certain proposed projects economically unfeasible, and to increase regulatory compliance costs, as well as shift Hydrocarbon demand toward relatively lower-carbon sources such as natural gas. The full effects of the current trends (which are beyond our control) create a great deal of uncertainty as to their ultimate impact, and these effects may not be fully felt for many years to come. Nevertheless, these trends may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
WE WILL RELY ON INDEPENDENT EXPERTS AND TECHNICAL OR OPERATIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS OVER WHOM WE MAY HAVE LIMITED CONTROL.
We are, and will continue to be, engaging independent contractors to provide us with technical assistance and services. These include the services of geologists, geophysicists, chemists, landmen, engineers and scientists. We also are and will be relying upon them to analyze the Prospect and any other future prospects to determine methods in which the Prospect may be developed in a cost-effective manner and to select drill sites. In addition, we intend to rely on the owners and operators of oil rigs and drilling equipment, and on providers of oilfield services, to drill and develop our prospects to production. Moreover, if our properties hold commercial quantities of Hydrocarbons, we would need to rely on third-party gathering, trucking and/or pipeline facilities to transport and purchase our production. Our limited control over the activities and business practices of these providers, any inability on our part to maintain satisfactory commercial relationships with them or their failure to provide quality services could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
SHORTAGES OF RIGS, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND PERSONNEL COULD DELAY OR OTHERWISE ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR COST OF OPERATIONS OR OUR ABILITY TO OPERATE ACCORDING TO OUR BUSINESS PLAN.
If drilling activity increases in the Western Flank, a general shortage of drilling and completion rigs, field equipment and qualified personnel could develop. As a result, the costs and delivery times of rigs, equipment and personnel could be substantially greater than in previous years. From time to time, these costs have sharply increased and could do so again. The demand for and wage rates of qualified drilling rig crews generally rise in response to the increasing number of active rigs in service and could increase sharply in the event of a shortage. Shortages of drilling and completion rigs, field equipment or qualified personnel could delay, restrict or curtail our exploration and development operations, which could in turn adversely affect our results of operations.
OUR REVIEW OF PROPERTIES CANNOT ASSURE THAT ALL DEFICIENCIES OR ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS MAY BE IDENTIFIED OR AVOIDED.
We plan on undertaking reviews that we believe are consistent with industry practice for our drilling programs. However, these reviews will often be limited in scope, and may not reveal all existing or potential problems, or permit us to become sufficiently familiar with the related properties to assess all potential problems. Moreover, we may not perform an inspection on every platform or well, and our inspections may not reveal all structural or environmental problems. Our license rights with respect to the Prospect contain no indemnification for environmental liabilities. Accordingly, we will pursue our drilling programs on an “as is” basis, which could require us to make substantial expenditures to remediate environmental contamination. If a property deficiency or environmental problem cannot be satisfactorily remedied to warrant commencing drilling operations on a property, we could lose our entire investment in the asset.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FULLY INSURE AGAINST ALL RISKS RELATED TO OUR PROPOSED OPERATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN SUBSTANTIAL CLAIMS FOR WHICH WE ARE UNDERINSURED OR UNINSURED.
We currently do not have any insurance with regard to our proposed Hydrocarbon exploration and production activities. Prior to commencing these activities, we do intend to obtain insurance that we believe will be consistent with prevailing industry practices. We have no assurance that we will be able to obtain such insurance, or if obtained, we will be able to maintain it if costs become prohibitively expensive. Moreover, we have no assurance that such insurance will cover all risks. Losses and liabilities arising from uninsured and underinsured events, which could arise from even one catastrophic event, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our exploration, drilling and other activities are subject to risks such as:
fires and explosions;
environmental hazards, such as uncontrollable flows of natural gas, oil, brine, well fluids, toxic gas or other pollution into the environment, including groundwater contamination;
abnormally pressured formations;
mechanical failures of drilling equipment;
personal injuries and death, including insufficient worker compensation coverage for third-party contractors who provide drilling services; and
natural disasters, such as adverse weather conditions.
Our business could be negatively affected by security threats, including cybersecurity threats, and other disruptions.
We will depend to a meaningful extent on digital technologies to conduct our business. These technologies will relate to seismic, financial, operating and other data. Cyber incidents have recently increased, and have involved malicious software and attempts to gain unauthorized access to data and systems. Our technologies, systems, networks, and those of our business partners, may become the target of cyberattacks or information security breaches that could result in the unauthorized release, misuse, loss or destruction of proprietary and other information, or other disruption of our business operations. Our implementation of various procedures and controls to monitor and mitigate security threats and to increase security for our information, facilities and infrastructure may result in increased capital and operating costs. Moreover, there can be no assurance that such procedures and controls will be sufficient to prevent security from occurring. Any security could likely materially and affect our business, financial condition or results of operation.
OPERATIONAL IMPEDIMENTS MAY HINDER OUR ACCESS TO HYDROCARBON MARKETS OR DELAY OUR PRODUCTION.
We expect to deliver Hydrocarbons through trucking systems, gathering systems and pipelines that we do not own. Existing facilities may not be available to us now or in the future. The marketability of our future production depends in part upon the availability, proximity and capacity of truck terminals, pipelines, natural gas gathering systems and processing facilities owned by others. Our failure to establish suitable contractual relationships with respect to our production would materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, any significant change in our arrangements with trucking firms, gathering system or pipeline owners and operators or other market factors affecting the overall infrastructure facilities servicing our properties could adversely impact our ability to deliver the Hydrocarbons we produce to markets in a satisfactory manner. In some cases, we may be required to shut in wells, at least temporarily, for lack of a market because of the inadequacy or unavailability of transportation facilities. If that were to occur, we would be unable to timely realize revenue from those wells until arrangements were made to deliver our production to market. Moreover, our ability to produce and market Hydrocarbons could be impacted by:
government regulations; and
government transportation, tax and energy policies.
HYDROCARBON RESERVES DECLINE ONCE A PROPERTY BECOMES PRODUCTIVE, AND WE EXPECT TO NEED TO FIND ADDITIONAL RESERVES TO SUSTAIN REVENUE GROWTH.
Even if we add Hydrocarbon reserves through our exploration activities, our reserves will decline as they are produced. We will be constantly challenged to add additional reserves through further exploration or further development of our existing properties. There can be no assurance that our exploration and development activities will be successful in adding new reserves. If we fail to replace reserves, our level of production and cash flows will be adversely impacted.
WE EXPECT TO HAVE LIMITED CONTROL OVER ACTIVITIES ON PROPERTIES WE DO NOT OPERATE, WHICH COULD REDUCE OUR PRODUCTION AND REVENUES.
We expect that we will operate all of our initial wells. However, some of our business activities could be conducted through joint operating agreements under which we own partial interests in Hydrocarbon properties. In such situations, we may not operate the related properties and in some cases, we may not have the ability to remove the operator in the event of poor performance. As a result, we may have a limited ability to exercise influence over normal operating procedures, expenditures or future development of underlying properties and their associated costs. The failure of an operator of our wells to adequately perform operations, or an operator’s breach of the applicable agreements, could reduce our production and revenues. The success and timing of our drilling and development activities on properties operated by others therefore depend upon a number of factors outside of our and the operator’s control, including:
timing and amount of capital expenditures;
expertise and financial resources; and
inclusion of other participants.
HYDROCARBONS ARE COMMODITIES SUBJECT TO PRICE VOLATILITY BASED ON MULTIPLE FACTORS OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF PRODUCERS, AND LOW PRICES MAY MAKE PROPERTIES UNECONOMIC.
Hydrocarbons are commodities, and, therefore, their prices are subject to wide fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in supply and demand. Historically, the markets for Hydrocarbons have been volatile. These markets will likely continue to be volatile in the future. The prices a producer may expect and its level of production depend on numerous factors beyond its control, such as those described in “Item 1. Business - Markets and Marketing.” Lower Hydrocarbons prices may not only decrease revenues on a per unit basis, but also may reduce the volume of Hydrocarbons that can be economically produced. Lower prices will also negatively impact the value of proved reserves.
COMMODITY PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT DECISIONS MAY CAUSE US TO FOREGO ADDITIONAL FUTURE PROFITS OR RESULT IN MAKING ADDITIONAL CASH PAYMENTS.
To reduce our exposure to changes in the prices of Hydrocarbons, we may enter into commodity price risk management agreements for a portion of our Hydrocarbon production. The agreements that we could enter into generally would have the effect of providing us with a fixed price for a portion of the expected future Hydrocarbon production over a fixed period of time. Commodity price risk management agreements expose us to the risk of financial loss, including the following:
production is less than expected;
the counter-party to the commodity price risk management agreement may default on its contractual obligations to us;
we could be required to post additional cash to cover margin requirements, which could materially and adversely affect liquidity;
we could be unable to meet additional margin requirements, which could result in the closing of positions thereby leading to a financial loss as well as the possible loss of the anticipated benefits of the related hedging transactions;
there may be a change in the expected differential between the underlying price in the commodity price risk management agreement and actual prices received; and
market prices may exceed the prices for which we are contracted to receive, resulting in the need to make significant cash payments.
Furthermore, commodity price risk management arrangements may limit the benefit we would receive from increases in the prices for Hydrocarbons.
OUR PROPERTIES MAY BE SUBJECT TO SUBSTANTIAL IMPAIRMENT OF THEIR RECORDED VALUE.
The accounting rules for our properties, for which we establish proved reserves, will require us to review periodically their carrying value for possible impairment. If Hydrocarbon prices decrease or if the recoverable reserves on a property are revised downward, we may be required to record impairment write-downs, which would result in a negative impact to our financial position. We also may be required to record impairment write-downs for properties lacking economic access to markets and must record impairment write-downs for our Prospect as the license for it expires or when we expect such license to expire without an extension, both of which could also negatively impact our financial position.
OUR COMPETITORS INCLUDE LARGER, BETTER-FINANCED AND MORE EXPERIENCED COMPANIES.
The Hydrocarbon industry is intensely competitive. As an early-stage company, we must compete against larger companies that may have greater financial and technical resources than we have and substantially more experience in our industry. These competitive advantages may better enable our competitors to sustain the impact of higher exploration and production costs, Hydrocarbon price volatility, productivity variances among properties, overall industry cycles and other factors related to our industry. The advantages of our competitors may also negatively impact our ability to acquire prospective properties, develop reserves, attract and retain quality personnel and raise capital.
CONDUCTING OPERATIONS IN THE HYDROCARBON INDUSTRY SUBJECTS US TO COMPLEX LAWS AND REGULATIONS, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS THAT CAN HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE COST, MANNER OR FEASIBILITY OF DOING BUSINESS.
Companies that explore for and develop, produce and sell Hydrocarbons in Australia are subject to extensive government laws and regulations, including complex tax laws and environmental laws and regulations, and are required to obtain various permits and approvals from government agencies. If these permits are not issued or unfavorable restrictions or conditions are imposed on our drilling activities, we may not be able to conduct our operations as planned. Alternatively, failure to comply with these laws and regulations, including the requirements to obtain any permits, may result in the suspension or termination of our operations and subject us to administrative, civil and criminal penalties. Compliance costs can be significant. Further, these laws and regulations could change in ways that substantially increase our costs and associated liabilities. We cannot be certain that existing laws or regulations, as currently interpreted or reinterpreted in the future, or future laws or regulations will not harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. For example, matters subject to regulation and the types of permits required include:
water discharge and disposal permits for drilling operations;
drilling permits;
reclamation;
spacing of wells;
occupational safety and health;
air quality, noise levels and related permits;
rights-of-way and easements;
calculation and payment of royalties;
gathering, transportation and marketing of Hydrocarbons;
taxation;
waste disposal; and
flaring on-site of unsold natural gas.
Under these laws and regulations, we could be liable for:
personal injuries;
property damage;
oil spills;
discharge of hazardous materials;
remediation and clean-up costs;
fines and penalties; and
natural resource damages.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR MANAGEMENT
WE DEPEND ON CERTAIN KEY PERSONNEL.
We rely upon the efforts and skills of our current management. The loss of the services of any member of management, including the lack of sufficient time to devote to our operations, could materially and adversely affect our operations. The employment agreements and consulting agreements that we have entered into with members of management contain no non-competition agreement with us, and therefore allow the related member of management to terminate his agreement upon 60-days’ notice. As a result, any member of management may discontinue providing his services to us at any time and for any reason, and even thereafter commence competition with us. Moreover, we do not currently maintain key man life insurance on any member of management.
OUR CURRENT MANAGEMENT RESOURCES MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE FUTURE, AND WE HAVE NO ASSURANCE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ATTRACT ADDITIONAL QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
There can be no assurance that the current level of management is sufficient to perform all responsibilities necessary or beneficial for management to perform. Our future success also depends on our continuing ability to attract, assimilate and retain highly qualified sales, technical and managerial personnel. Competition for these individuals is intense, and there can be no assurance that we can attract, assimilate or retain necessary personnel in the future.
OUR MANAGEMENT OWNS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR OUTSTANDING SHARES, AND CUMULATIVE VOTING IS NOT AVAILABLE TO STOCKHOLDERS.
Our current senior management owns approximately 62.59% of our outstanding common shares as of the date of the filing of this Report. Cumulative voting in the election of directors is not authorized in our First Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation. Accordingly, it is not permitted as a matter of law. As a result, the holder or holders of a majority of our outstanding common shares may elect all of our directors. Management’s large percentage ownership of our outstanding common shares will enable them to maintain their positions as such and thus their control of our business and affairs.
OUR OBLIGATION TO INDEMNIFY MEMBERS OF MANAGEMENT COULD REQUIRE US TO PAY THEM FOR LOSSES CAUSED BY THEM, AND LIMITATIONS ON CLAIMS AGAINST STOCKHOLDERS COULD PREVENT OUR RECOVERY OF SUCH LOSSES FROM THEM.
The corporation law of Nevada allows a Nevada corporation to indemnify its directors and each of its officers, agents, contractors and/or employees to the extent that certain standards are met, and our First Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation permit indemnification of our directors, and our Bylaws require indemnification of our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by law. If the required standards are met, we could be required to indemnify management for losses caused by them. Further, we may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any such persons whether or not we have the power to indemnify such person against the liability insured against. Moreover, the corporation law of Nevada allows a Nevada corporation to limit the liability of its directors to the corporation and its stockholders to a certain extent, and our First Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws have eliminated the director’s liability to the maximum extent permitted by law. Consequently, because of the actions or omissions of our management, we could incur substantial losses and be prevented from recovering such losses from such persons. Further, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission maintains that indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act is the public policy expressed in the Securities Act, and is therefore unenforceable.
We may not have adequate internal controls over financial reporting.
While we are constantly striving to improve our internal controls over financial reporting, our management has determined that our disclosure controls, procedures and controls over financial reporting are not sufficiently effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Commission. Our Board of Directors has not designated an Audit Committee and we do not have any outside directors. We have implemented a number of disbursing, accounting and financial statement preparation and review processes, and as a result the financial controls of the Company have been improved. If we do not have adequate internal accounting controls, we may also be unable to prepare accurate accounts on a timely basis to meet our continuing financial reporting obligations and we may not be able to satisfy our obligations under applicable securities laws.
There may be limitations on the effectiveness of our internal controls, and a failure of our control systems to prevent error or fraud may materially harm us.
We do not expect that internal control over financing reporting, even if timely and well established, will prevent all errors and fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. Failure of our control systems to prevent error or fraud could materially and adversely affect our business.
WE HAVE NOT VOLUNTARILY IMPLEMENTED VARIOUS CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MEASURES, IN THE ABSENCE OF WHICH, STOCKHOLDERS MAY HAVE MORE LIMITED PROTECTIONS AGAINST INTERESTED DIRECTOR TRANSACTIONS, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND SIMILAR MATTERS.
Certain Federal legislation, including the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, has resulted in the adoption of various corporate governance measures designed to promote the integrity of corporate management and securities markets. Some of these measures have been adopted in response to legal requirements. Others have been adopted by companies in response to the requirements of national securities exchanges, such as the NYSE or the NASDAQ Stock Market, on which their securities are listed. Among the corporate governance measures that are required under the rules of national securities exchanges are those that address board of directors’ independence, audit committee oversight, and the adoption of a code of ethics. Although we have adopted a Code of Ethics, we have not yet adopted any of these other corporate governance measures and, since our securities are not yet listed on a national securities exchange, we are not required to do so. We have not adopted certain corporate governance measures such as an audit or other independent committees of our Board of Directors because we do not have sufficient funds available to do so. Possibly if we were to adopt some or all of these corporate governance measures, stockholders would benefit from somewhat greater assurances that internal corporate decisions were being made by disinterested directors and that policies had been implemented to define responsible conduct. For example, in the of audit, nominating and compensation committees comprised of at least a majority of independent directors, decisions concerning matters such as compensation packages to our senior officers and recommendations for director nominees may be made by a majority of directors who have an interest in the outcome of the matters being decided. Although we intend to bolster our corporate governance capabilities as funds become available for this purpose, prospective investors should bear in mind our current of corporate governance measures in formulating their investment decisions.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR COMMON SHARES
OUR COMMON SHARES HAVE EXPERIENCED LIMITED TRADING.
Our common shares are quoted on the over-the-counter markets under the name “Discovery Energy Corp.” and the symbol “DENR”. The volume of trading of our common shares has been extremely limited. There can be no assurance as to the prices at which our common shares will trade in the future. Until our common shares become more broadly held and orderly markets develop and even thereafter, the prices of our common shares may fluctuate significantly. Prices for our common shares will be determined in the marketplace and may be influenced by many factors, including the following:
The depth and liquidity of the markets for our common shares;
Investor perception of us and the industry in which we participate;
General economic and market conditions;
Responses to quarter-to-quarter variations in operating results;
Failure to meet securities analysts’ estimates;
Changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;
Changes in laws, regulations and policies;
Conditions, trends or announcements in the Hydrocarbon industry;
Announcements of significant acquisitions, strategic alliances, joint ventures or capital commitments by us or our competitors;
Additions or departures of key personnel;
Sales of our common shares;
Accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting rules that affect our financial statements; and
Other factors and events beyond our control.
The market price of our common shares could experience significant fluctuations unrelated to our operating performance. As a result, a stockholder (due to personal circumstances) may be required to sell such stockholder’s common shares at a time when our stock price is depressed due to random fluctuations, which are possibly based on factors beyond our control.
INCREASES IN THE SALES VOLUME OF OUR SHARES COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT US.
We have a very thinly traded market for our shares. Future sales of a large number of our shares may have a depressive effect on the price of our common shares, and might also adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital.
THE TRADING PRICE OF OUR COMMON SHARES MAY ENTAIL ADDITIONAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, WHICH COULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT SUCH TRADING PRICE.
The trading price of our common shares historically has been below $5.00 per share. As a result of this price level, trading in our common shares is subject to the requirements of certain rules promulgated under the Exchange Act. These rules require additional disclosure by broker dealers in connection with any trades generally involving any non-NASDAQ equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. Such rules require the delivery, before any penny stock transaction, of a disclosure schedule explaining the penny stock market and the risks associated therewith and impose various sales practice requirements on broker dealers who sell penny stocks to persons other than established customers and accredited investors (generally institutions). For these types of transactions, the broker dealer must determine the suitability of the penny stock for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction before sale. The additional burdens imposed upon broker dealers by such requirements may discourage broker dealers from effecting transactions in our common shares. As a consequence, the market liquidity of our common shares could be severely affected or limited by these regulatory requirements.
PROVISIONS OF OUR ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS MAY DELAY OR PREVENT A TAKEOVER, WHICH MAY NOT BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR STOCKHOLDERS.
Provisions of our First Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws may be deemed to have anti-takeover effects, which include when and by whom special meetings of our stockholders may be called, and may delay, defer or prevent a takeover attempt. In addition, our First Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such rights and preferences, as may be determined by our Board of Directors. Of this authorized preferred stock, no shares are currently issued and outstanding. Our Board of Directors may, without stockholder approval, issue up to 10,000,000 preferred stock with dividends, liquidation, conversion or voting rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of our common stockholders.
STOCKHOLDERS HAVE NO GUARANTEE OF DIVIDENDS AND MAY BE CONSTRAINED TO SELL THEIR SHARES TO REALIZE A RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT.
The holders of our common shares are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefore. To date, we have paid no cash dividends. Currently, our outstanding Debentures prohibit us from paying dividends without the consent of our Debentures holders. Even if such a prohibition did not exist, the Board of Directors will most likely not declare any dividends in the foreseeable future, but will instead retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations. As a result, an investor will probably need to sell some or all of their shares to realize a return on an investment in them, and investors may not be able to sell such shares at or above the price they paid for them.
