RAM Energy Resources Reports an Amendment to Senior Credit Facility
July 01 2009 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
RAM Energy Resources, Inc. (Nasdaq: RAME) reported today that
the company has renegotiated certain terms of the company�s senior
secured credit facility with its commercial lenders. Effective June
26, 2009, RAM and the lenders amended the existing loan agreement
to provide for greater flexibility in certain financial covenants,
thereby facilitating execution of the company�s planned $40 to $45
million capital expenditures program in 2009. The amendment was
crafted to ensure compliance by the company with the various
financial covenants under the loan agreement through the remaining
term of the facility, based on company projections and current
commodity futures prices. In addition, the amendment permits
additional asset sales by the company up to an aggregate $10
million per year.
Under the terms of the amendment the maximum allowable leverage
ratio (total debt to trailing twelve months EBITDA) is increased to
4.75 times to 1 (from the previous 4.00 times to 1) and the minimum
allowable asset coverage ratio (reserve value to total debt) is
decreased to 1.50 times to 1 (from the previous 1.75 times to 1).
In addition, the amendment eliminates from the calculation of
EBITDA all charges relating to the settlement of the previously
disclosed Sacket class action lawsuit, and excludes payment in kind
(PIK) interest and the amortization of fees associated with the
amendment process from the calculation of interest expense for
purposes of the interest ratio covenant.
In exchange for the added flexibility afforded by these changes
to the credit facility, RAM agreed to increase the base cash
interest rate on both the revolving facility and term facility by
100 basis points, establish a LIBOR floor of 150 basis points
(resulting in approximately an additional 100 basis point increase
on monthly LIBOR-based borrowings) and pay an additional 2.75% in
PIK interest on the term portion of the facility. Accrued PIK
interest will be added to the principal balance of the term loan on
a monthly basis and paid at maturity.
The company estimates that as a result of the amendment, cash
interest expense under the senior secured credit facility
(excluding transaction fees) will increase by approximately $2.1
million for the six month period ending December 31, 2009, and by
approximately $2.7 million for calendar year 2010, in comparison
with projected cash interest expense under the terms of the
existing agreement and the current forward LIBOR curve. In
addition, capitalized PIK interest is estimated to be approximately
$1.6 million for the six month period ending December 31, 2009, and
approximately $3.2 million for calendar year 2010. As a result of
the amendment, RAM projects that the blended rate of cash interest
payable under the facility will increase to 6.8% per annum for the
second half of 2009, compared to a projected blended rate of 5.1%
under the terms of the loan agreement prior to the amendment.
Including the capitalized PIK interest, the total blended rate for
the second half of 2009 is projected to be approximately 8.1%.
Notwithstanding the increased rates provided under the amendment,
RAM reaffirms its annual interest expense guidance for the 2009
year of $17 to $18 million.
At June 30, 2009 the company had outstanding borrowings under
its credit facility of $255.4 million, composed of $113.4 million
of term debt and $142.0 million outstanding under its revolver,
which currently is subject to a $175 million borrowing base. Based
on the company�s outstanding debt balance at June 30, 2009, RAM
expects the cash interest percentage spread to our LIBOR floor to
be 2.75% on its revolving facility and 8.50% on its term loan
facility. The next scheduled redetermination of the borrowing base
will occur on October 1. Additionally the maturity schedule of the
debt remains unchanged; the revolving credit facility matures in
November 2011 and the term facility in November 2012.
�The negotiated amendment to our credit facility provides RAM
the flexibility to continue our focus on maintaining the firm�s
value in these uncertain times, while positioning for future
growth,� said Larry Lee, President and CEO. �Further, we continue
to benefit from the long life nature of our assets and selective
capital spending budget of $40 to $45 million, the results of which
allow us to reaffirm our annual production guidance of 2.5 million
barrels of oil equivalent in 2009,� added Mr. Lee.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to
be �forward-looking statements� within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this
release, other than statements of historical facts, that address
implicit estimates of borrowing availability, financial covenants,
future production, capital spending, cash flow, EBITDA, realized
prices of oil and gas, interest expense and events or developments
that the company expects or believes are forward-looking
statements. Although RAM believes the expectations expressed in
such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable
assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future
performance and actual results or developments may differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
forward-looking statements include oil and gas prices,
developmental, exploitation and exploration successes, actions
taken and to be taken by governments as a result of political and
economic conditions or other factors, inflation rates, continued
availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market
or business conditions as well as other risk factors described from
time to time in the company�s filings with the SEC. The company
assumes no obligation to update publicly such forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
RAM is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition,
development, exploitation and exploration of oil and gas properties
and the marketing of natural gas and crude oil. Company
headquarters are in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and its common shares are
traded on the Nasdaq Exchange under the symbol RAME. For additional
information, visit the company website at www.ramenergy.com.
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