UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

Form 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014

Commission file number: 000-30586

 

 

 

 

Ivanhoe Energy Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Yukon, Canada   98-0372413
(State or other jurisdiction of   (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)

 

654-999 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 3E1
(604) 688-8323
(Address and telephone number of the registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.                þ  Yes  ¨  No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).                   ¨  Yes  ¨  No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

  Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer þ
  Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

¨Yes þ No

 

As at September 30, 2014, Ivanhoe Energy Inc. had 16,403,465 common shares outstanding with no par value.

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I  FINANCIAL INFORMATION 3
ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 3
ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 15
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 22
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 22
PART II  OTHER INFORMATION 23
ITEM 1A:  RISK FACTORS 23
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS 24

 

2
 

 

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

IVANHOE ENERGY INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(Unaudited)

 

       September 30,   December 31, 
(US$000s)  Note   2014   2013 
Assets               
Current Assets               
Cash and cash equivalents        357    23,556 
Restricted cash        500    500 
Accounts receivable        118    534 
Prepaid and other        452    942 
Assets held for sale        52,773    51,929 
         54,200    77,461 
                
Intangible assets   4    64,989    152,823 
Property, plant and equipment        347    1,066 
Long term receivables        807    603 
Notes receivable            220 
         120,343    232,173 
                
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity               
Current Liabilities               
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities         5,377    6,295 
         5,377    6,295 
                
Long term debt         61,319    63,012 
Long term provisions        3,414    2,589 
         70,110    71,896 
                
Shareholders’ Equity               
Share capital        586,358    586,358 
Contributed surplus        34,059    32,614 
Accumulated deficit        (570,184)   (458,695)
         50,233    160,277 
         120,343    232,173 
                
Nature of operations and going concern   1           

 

(See accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

3
 

 

IVANHOE ENERGY INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss

(Unaudited)

 

       Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(US$000s, except share and per share amounts)  Note   2014   2013   2014   2013 
                     
Interest and other income        8    292    58    382 
                          
Expenses and other                         
Operating        32    905    1,491    3,119 
Exploration and evaluation            4,699        4,699 
General and administrative        5,282    9,069    18,576    30,187 
Impairment of intangible assets   4    89,156        89,156     
Depreciation        130    255    255    739 
Foreign currency exchange (gain) loss        (2,917)   978    (2,958)   (1,949)
Derivative instruments gain            (1)       (177)
Finance        1,874    525    4,723    1,958 
Other (income) expenses        (106)       304     
         93,451    16,430    115,547    38,576 
                          
Loss before income taxes        (93,443)   (16,138)   (111,489)   (38,194)
                          
Recovery of (provision for) income taxes                         
Current                    (41)
Deferred            928        2,665 
             928        2,624 
                          
Net loss and total comprehensive loss from continuing operations        (93,443)   (15,210)   (111,489)   (35,570)
Net loss and total comprehensive loss from discontinued operations   3                (2,072)
Net loss and comprehensive loss        (93,443)   (15,210)   (111,489)   (37,642)
                          
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted                         
From continuing operations        (5.70)   (0.93)   (6.80)   (2.17)
From discontinued operations                    (0.13)
         (5.70)   (0.93)   (6.80)   (2.30)
                          
Weighted average number of common shares                         
Basic and diluted (000s)   5    16,403    16,403    16,403    16,390 

 

(See accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

4
 

  

IVANHOE ENERGY INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

(Unaudited)

 

       Share Capital             
       Shares       Contributed   Accumulated     
(US$000s, except share amounts)  Note   (000s)   Amount   Surplus   Deficit   Total 
                         
Balance January 1, 2013        16,387    586,108    29,759    (312,869)   302,998 
Net loss and comprehensive loss                    (37,642)   (37,642)
Funding of equity-settled share-based awards                (132)       (132)
Share-based compensation expense   6    16    250    2,224        2,474 
Balance September 30, 2013   5    16,403    586,358    31,851    (350,511)   267,698 

 

       Share Capital             
       Shares       Contributed   Accumulated     
(US$000s, except share amounts)  Note   (000s)   Amount   Surplus   Deficit   Total 
                         
Balance January 1, 2014        16,403    586,358    32,614    (458,695)   160,277 
Net loss and comprehensive loss                    (111,489)   (111,489)
Funding of equity-settled share-based awards                (93)       (93)
Share-based compensation expense   6            1,538        1,538 
Balance September 30, 2014   5    16,403    586,358    34,059    (570,184)   50,233 

 

(See accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

5
 

  

IVANHOE ENERGY INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

       Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(US$000s)  Note   2014   2013   2014   2013 
                     
Operating Activities                         
Net loss        (93,443)   (15,210)   (111,489)   (37,642)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities                         
Depreciation        130    255    255    739 
Exploration and evaluation expense            4,699        4,699 
Impairment of intangible assets        89,156        89,156     
Share-based compensation expense        408    1,231    1,726    3,335 
Unrealized foreign currency exchange (gain) loss        (2,813)   972    (3,128)   (1,789)
Unrealized derivative instruments gain            (1)       (177)
Current income tax expense                    41 
Deferred income tax expense (recovery)            (928)       (2,665)
Finance expense        1,874    525    4,723    1,958 
Loss on debt repayment and other        31    371    602     
Current income tax paid                    (1,761)
Interest paid            (11)       (531)
Share-based payments                (438)   (188)
Changes in non-cash working capital items   9    867    (2,326)   (646)   2,932 
Net cash used in operating activities        (3,790)   (10,423)   (19,239)   (31,049)
                          
Investing Activities                         
Intangible assets and assets held for sale expenditures        (447)   (3,587)   (1,559)   (15,275)
Property, plant and equipment expenditures            (346)       (795)
Restricted cash                    20,000 
Long term receivables        (61)   (431)   (202)   (859)
Interest paid            (33)   (1,974)   (1,518)
Changes in non-cash working capital items   9    63    337    23    2,193 
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities        (445)   (4,060)   (3,712)   3,746 
                          
Financing Activities                         
Changes in non-cash working capital items   9    15    4    12    19 
Net cash provided by financing activities        15    4    12    19 
                          
Foreign exchange (gain) loss on cash and cash equivalents held in a foreign currency        (57)   395    (260)   (326)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents, for the period        (4,277)   (14,084)   (23,199)   (27,610)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period        4,634    49,293    23,556    62,819 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period        357    35,209    357    35,209 

 

(See accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

6
 

  

IVANHOE ENERGY INC.

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(tabular amounts in US$000s, except share and per share amounts)

 

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND GOING CONCERN

 

Ivanhoe Energy Inc. (the “Company” or “Ivanhoe”) is a publicly listed limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Yukon, Canada. Ivanhoe’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”). The principal corporate office of Ivanhoe is located at 999 Canada Place, Suite 654, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3E1. The Company’s registered and records office is located at 300-204 Black Street, Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 2M9.

 

Ivanhoe is an independent international heavy oil exploration and development company with a proprietary heavy oil upgrading process (“HTL™”). The Company has two significant heavy oil development projects – Tamarack in Canada and Block 20 in Ecuador, HTL facilities in the United States and business development opportunities worldwide.

 

The September 30, 2014 unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements (“Financial Statements”) have been prepared using International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”), applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business as they become due and assumes that Ivanhoe will be able to meet its obligations and continue operations for at least its next fiscal year. Recoverable values may be substantially different from carrying values as shown and these Financial Statements do not give effect to adjustments that may be necessary to the carrying values and classification of assets and liabilities should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. Such adjustments could be material.

 

At September 30, 2014, Ivanhoe had an accumulated deficit of $570.2 million and working capital deficiency of $4.0 million, excluding assets held for sale. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, cash used in operating activities was $19.2 million and the Company expects to incur further losses in the development of its business. Continuing as a going concern is dependent upon attaining future profitable operations to repay liabilities arising in the normal course of operations and accessing additional capital to develop the Company’s properties. Ivanhoe intends to finance its future funding requirements through a combination of strategic investors and/or public and private debt and equity markets, either at the parent company level or at the project level, and through the sale of interests in existing oil and gas properties. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain such financing, or obtain it on favorable terms, or realize proceeds on its assets held for sale. Without access to additional financing or other cash generating activities in 2014, there is material uncertainty that casts substantial doubt that the Company will be able to continue as a going concern.

 

The September 30, 2014 Financial Statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorized for issue on October 28, 2014.

 

The Financial Statements are presented in US dollars (“$”) and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars except where otherwise indicated. References to “Cdn$” are to Canadian dollars.

 

2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

2.1 Statement of Compliance

 

The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34, “Interim Financial Reporting” (“IAS 34”), using accounting policies consistent with IFRS as issued by the IASB. The Financial Statements are not subject to qualification relating to the application of IFRS as issued by the IASB.

 

The Financial Statements are condensed as they do not include all of the information required for full annual financial statements, and they should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2013 prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. The same accounting policies, presentation and methods of computation have been followed in these Financial Statements as were applied in the Company’s annual IFRS consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 except as discussed below.

 

7
 

  

2.2 Basis of Presentation

 

The Financial Statements have been prepared on an historical cost basis, except derivative instruments, which are measured at fair value.

 

2.3 Standards and Interpretations Issued But Not Yet Adopted

The Company has reviewed new and revised accounting pronouncements listed below that have been issued, but are not yet effective. There are no other standards or interpretations currently issued, but not yet adopted, that are anticipated to have a material effect on the reported loss or net assets of the Company.

 

i. IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (“IFRS 9”)

 

On July 24, 2014, the IASB issued IFRS 9, “Financial Instruments” (“IFRS 9”) to replace IAS 39, “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” (“IAS 39”). IFRS 9 uses a single approach to determine whether a financial asset is measured at amortized cost or fair value, as opposed to the multiple rules in IAS 39. The approach is based on how an entity manages its financial instruments given its business model and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial assets. The standard also requires a single impairment method to be used, replacing the multiple impairment methods in IAS 39. IFRS 9 is effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted if IFRS 9 is adopted in its entirety at the beginning of a fiscal period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting IFRS 9 on its consolidated financial statements.

 

2.4 Changes in Accounting Policy and Disclosure

 

IFRIC 21 "Levies" was developed by the IFRS Interpretations Committee ("IFRIC") and is applicable to all levies imposed by governments under legislation, other than outflows that are within the scope of other standards (e.g., IAS 12 "Income Taxes") and fines or other penalties for breaches of legislation. The interpretation clarifies that an entity recognizes a liability for a levy when the activity that triggers payment, as identified by the relevant legislation, occurs. It also clarifies that a levy liability is accrued progressively only if the activity that triggers payment occurs over a period of time, in accordance with the relevant legislation. Lastly, the interpretation clarifies that a liability should not be recognized before the specified minimum threshold to trigger that levy is reached. The retrospective adoption of this interpretation does not have any impact on the Company's financial statements.

 

3. RESULTS OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

Analysis of the results of discontinued operations and on the disposal of the assets of the Zitong Block and Pan-China Resources Ltd., constituting the discontinued operations, is as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
Revenue                
Expenses and other                
Net income before tax and before disposal                
Income taxes                
Net income after tax and before disposal                 
                     
Pre-tax loss on disposal                (2,072)
Tax on disposal                
After-tax loss on disposal                (2,072)
Net income from discontinued operations               (2,072)

 

The loss on disposal for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 consisted of professional services rendered in connection with the disposal of the assets constituting the discontinued operations.

 

8
 

  

The net cash flows attributable to the operating, investing and financing activities of the discontinued operations are as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
Operating activities               (2,072)
Investing activities                
Financing activities                
Total cash flows               (2,072)

 

4. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

   Exploration and Evaluation Assets         
   Asia   Canada   Latin
America
   Total   HTL™
Technology
   Total Intangible
Assets
 
Cost                              
Balance December 31, 2012   14,659    141,627    36,872    193,158    92,153    285,311 
Additions   722    11,196    7,982    19,900        19,900 
Exploration and evaluation expense   (15,381)           (15,381)       (15,381)
Impairment charge                   (92,153)   (92,153)
Assets reclassified as held for sale           (44,854)   (44,854)       (44,854)
Balance December 31, 2013       152,823        152,823        152,823 
Additions       1,322        1,322        1,322 
Impairment charge       (89,156)       (89,156)       (89,156)
Balance September 30, 2014       64,989        64,989        64,989 

 

The Tamarack Project is a cash-generating unit under IFRS and is reported in the Canadian segment.

 

In the third quarter of 2014, the Company reviewed the carrying values of its intangible assets as a result of the decline in the Company’s market capitalization which can be viewed as an indicator of impairment. As a result of this review, the Company determined that the recoverable amount of the Tamarack Project was less than its carrying amount. This decline in value is in part a result of the decision by the Alberta Energy Regulator (“AER”) to delay the Tamarack application approval process and a delay by the Company in advancing the Tamarack Project or securing a strategic joint investor. The Company assessed the recoverable amount of the Tamarack Project based on a fair value less costs of disposal methodology with consideration to the enterprise values of other companies with similar assets that bear some geological resemblance to the Tamarack Project. This analysis provided the Company with an estimated reserve value per barrel of contingent and probable reserves which it used to estimate that the recoverable value of the Tamarack Project at September 30, 2014 was $65.0 million. The Company has recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $89.2 million in relation to the Tamarack Project for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 

5. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

On August 14, 2014, the Company, following authorization by its shareholders, proceeded with a share consolidation or reverse stock split at a ratio of seven “old” common shares-for-one “new” common share (the “Consolidation Ratio”) which reduced the number of outstanding common shares from approximately 114.8 million to approximately 16.4 million. The share consolidation also resulted in proportionate adjustments to outstanding stock options and RSUs as well as an adjustment to the conversion price of the Company’s 5.75% Convertible Unsecured Subordinated Debentures (“Convertible Debentures”). The share consolidation also increased the loss per share amount by the Consolidation Ratio.

 

9
 

  

6. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

 

Share-based transactions were charged to earnings, as general and administrative or operating expenses, as follows:

 

  

Three months ended September

30,

   Nine Months ended September 30, 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
Share-based expense related to                    
Equity settled transactions   388    674    1,538    2,474 
Cash settled transactions   20    557    188    861 
Total share-based expense   408    1,231    1,726    3,335 

 

6.1 Stock Option Plan

 

Details of transactions under the Company’s stock option plan are as follows:

 

   Number of
Stock Options
(000s)
   Weighted Average
Exercise Price
(Cdn$)
 
Outstanding, December 31, 2012   708    39.76 
Granted   370    15.12 
Exercised        
Expired   (160)   35.98 
Forfeited   (76)   46.06 
Outstanding, December 31, 2013   842    29.11 
Granted   245    3.67 
Exercised   -    - 
Expired   (58)   46.62 
Forfeited   (205)   23.26 
Outstanding, September 30, 2014   824    21.77 
           
Exercisable, December 31, 2013   340    44.17 
Exercisable, September 30, 2014   342    34.30 

 

Shares authorized for issuance under the option plan at September 30, 2014 were 1.6 million (December 31, 2013 – 1.6 million).

 

No stock options were exercised in the nine months ending September 30, 2014 (2013 – nil).

 

The weighted average fair value of stock options granted from the stock option plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was Cdn$2.63 (2013 – Cdn$10.15) per option at the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The weighted average assumptions used for the calculation were:

 

Nine months ended September 30,  2014   2013 
Expected life (in years)   6.0    6.2 
Volatility (1)   87.5%   76.9%
Dividend yield        
Risk-free rate   1.7%   1.6%
Estimated forfeiture rate   9.6%   10.0%

 

(1)Expected volatility factor based on historical volatility of the Company’s publicly traded common shares.

 

10
 

  

The following table summarizes information in respect of stock options outstanding and exercisable at September 30, 2014:

 

Range of Exercise Prices (Cdn$)  Outstanding
(000s)
   Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
(years)
   Weighted Average
Exercise Price
(Cdn$)
 
3.08 to 6.30   195    5.8    3.65 
6.31 to 13.65   29    5.4    9.80 
13.66 to 16.80   285    5.4    15.54 
16.81 to 44.94   153    3.7    24.96 
44.95 to 68.88   162    3.0    53.64 
    824    4.7    21.77 

 

6.2 Restricted Share Unit Plan (“RSU”)

 

Details of transactions under the Company’s RSU plan are as follows:

 

   Number of
RSUs
(000s) (1)
   Weighted Average
Fair Value
(Cdn$)
 
Outstanding, December 31, 2012   125    15.12 
Granted   242    5.04 
Vested   (45)   14.49 
Forfeited   (7)   13.58 
Outstanding, December 31, 2013   315    7.07 
Granted   340    2.79 
Vested   (118)   6.11 
Forfeited   (187)   4.03 
Outstanding, September 30, 2014   350    3.23 

 

(1)Includes RSUs that will be withheld on behalf of employees to satisfy statutory tax withholding requirements.

 

The weighted average assumptions used for the calculation were:

 

Nine Months ended September 30,  2014   2013 
Expected life (in years)   2.0    2.0 
Volatility (1)   140.3%   76.4%
Dividend yield   -     
Risk-free rate   1.1%   1.1%
Estimated forfeiture rate   9.6%   18.8%

 

(1)Expected volatility factor based on historical volatility of the Company’s publicly traded common shares.

 

The liabilities arising from the RSUs to be settled by way of cash payments and the intrinsic value of those liabilities are:

 

   September 30, 2014 
Current liabilities related to RSUs   227 
Long term liabilities related to RSUs   128 
Intrinsic value of vested and unreleased RSUs   - 

 

11
 

  

7. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

7.1 Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured at Amortized Cost

 

Except as detailed below, the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments recognized at amortized cost approximates their carrying value due to the short term maturity of these instruments.

 

   September 30,
2014
   December 31,
2013
 
Convertible Debentures          
Carrying amount   61,319    63,012 
Fair value   16,895    31,017 

 

The fair value of the liability component of the Convertible Debentures was estimated using the closing price of the publicly traded debentures at period end.

 

7.2 Risks Arising from Financial Instruments

 

Ivanhoe is exposed in varying degrees to normal market risks resulting from foreign currency exchange rate risk, credit risk, interest rate risk and liquidity risk. The Company recognizes these risks and manages its operations to minimize the exposure to the extent practicable. There have not been any significant changes to the Company’s exposure to risks, or processes to manage these risks as described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 (“2013 Form 10-K”).

 

12
 

  

8. SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

The following table presents the Company’s segment loss, capital investments and identifiable assets and liabilities:

 

   Asia   Canada   Latin
America
   Technology
Development
   Corporate (3)   Total 
Segment income from continuing operations                              
For the three months ended September 30, 2014       2            6    8 
For the three months ended September 30, 2013       1        239    52    292 
                               
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014       2            56    58 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013       2        299    81    382 
Segment loss from continuing operations                              
For the three months ended September 30, 2014   (18)   (89,445)   (1,448)   (669)   (1,863)   (93,443)
For the three months ended September 30, 2013   (4,829)   (729)   (1,709)   (2,719)   (5,224)   (15,210)
                               
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014   (235)   (91,516)   (4,358)   (3,922)   (11,458)   (111,489)
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013   (5,319)   (1,856)   (5,349)   (6,920)   (16,126)   (35,570)
Segment assets (1)                              
As at September 30, 2014   34    65,549    92,796    18    (38,054)   120,343 
As at December 31, 2013   125    153,682    92,342    87    (14,063)   232,173 
Segment liabilities (2)                              
As at September 30, 2014   16,696    174,279    118,023    74,551    (313,439)   70,110 
As at December 31, 2013   16,552    170,897    113,140    70,698    (299,391)   71,896 
Capital investments – Intangible                              
For the three months ended September 30, 2014       68    379            447 
For the three months ended September 30, 2013   31    598    2,958            3,587 
                               
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014       726    833            1,559 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013   693    7,230    7,352            15,275 
Capital investments – Property, plant and equipment                              
For the three months ended September 30, 2014                        
For the three months ended September 30, 2013   (2)               348    346 
                               
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014                        
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013   (50)       (80)       925    795 

 

(1)Segment assets include investments in subsidiaries that are eliminated for consolidation under Corporate and assets classified as held for sale in the Latin America segment.

 

(2)Liabilities for Corporate include intercompany receivables of $421.7 million as at September 30, 2014 (December 31, 2013 - $408.3 million) required to eliminate intercompany payables upon consolidation.

 

(3)As at, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 the Corporate segment includes the results of, and any remaining assets and liabilities not related to the transfer of the participating interest in the Zitong Petroleum Contract to Shell China Exploration and Production Co. from Sunwing Zitong Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

13
 

  

9. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

 

Changes in non-cash activities for the Company are comprised of the following:

 

   Three months ended
September 30,
   Nine Months ended
September 30,
 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
Operating activities                    
Accounts receivable   102    3,062    402    9,877 
Note receivable   4    (3)   219    5 
Prepaid and other current assets   69    163    491    1,187 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   692    (5,548)   (1,758)   (8,137)
    867    (2,326)   (646)   2,932 
Investing activities                
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   63    337    23    2,193 
    63    337    23    2,193 
Financing activities                    
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   15    4    12    19 
    945    (1,985)   (611)   5,144 

 

10. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Ivanhoe is party to cost sharing agreements with other companies which are related or controlled through common directors or shareholders. Through these agreements, the Company shares office space, furnishings, equipment, air travel and communications facilities in various international locations. Ivanhoe also shares the costs of employing administrative and non-executive management personnel at these offices.

 

The attribution of the related party expenses is as follows:

 

      Three months ended
September 30,
   Nine Months ended
September 30,
 
Related Party  Nature of Transaction  2014   2013   2014   2013 
Global Mining Management Corp.  Administration   183    125    335    409 
Ivanhoe Capital Aviation Ltd.  Aircraft   300    300    900    900 
Ivanhoe Capital Services Ltd.  Administration   95    82    300    363 
1092155 Ontario Inc.  HTL® technology   12    16    39    40 
Ivanhoe Systems PTE Ltd.  Information Technology               50 
       590    523    1,574    1,762 

 

The liabilities of the Company include the following amounts due to related parties:

 

Related Party  Nature of Transaction  September 30,
2014
   December 31,
2013
 
Global Mining Management Corp.  Administration   46    38 
Ivanhoe Capital Aviation Ltd.  Aircraft   500    - 
Ivanhoe Capital Services Ltd.  Administration   202    20 
1092155 Ontario Inc.  HTL® technology   16    - 
       765    58 

 

The Company has incurred $1.6 million in related party expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 ($1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013) of which $0.7 million remains unpaid and outstanding as of September 30, 2014 (September 30, 2013 - $0.1 million).

 

The consulting agreement with 1092155 Ontario Inc. expired September 30, 2014 and is not being renewed.

 

On October 10, 2014, the Company’s founder and Executive Co-Chairman, Robert Friedland provided a $2.2 million secured bridge loan to the Company to augment its working capital. Concurrent with the advancing of the bridge loan, Mr. Friedland resigned as the Executive Co-Chairman and as a director of the Company. Mr. Friedland’s bridge loan bears interest at the rate of 10% per annum, with a maturity of six months from the date of advance. The loan is secured by a first charge against the assets of the Company, with the exception of all assets and subsidiaries of Ivanhoe Energy Latin America.

 

14
 

  

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

With the exception of historical information, certain matters discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”), including those within this Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”), are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

 

Statements that contain words such as “could”, “should”, “can”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “propose”, “plan”, “expect”, “seek”, “believe”, “will”, “may” and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q include, but are not limited to, statements relating to or associated with individual wells, regions or projects and future crude oil prices. Any statements as to possible future production levels; future royalty and tax levels; future capital expenditures, their timing and their allocation to exploration and development activities; future asset acquisitions or dispositions; future sources of funding for the Company’s capital programs and plans related to enhancing the Company’s liquidity; future debt levels; availability of future credit facilities; possible commerciality of the Company’s projects; development plans, including the Company’s Tamarack Project, or capacity expansions; future ability to execute dispositions of assets or businesses; future formation of joint ventures and other business relationships with third parties; future sources of liquidity, cash flows and their uses; future drilling of new wells; ultimate recoverability of current and long term assets; ultimate recoverability of reserves or resources; expected operating costs; estimates on a per share basis; future foreign currency exchange rates, future expenditures and future allowances relating to environmental matters and the Company’s ability to comply therewith; dates by which certain areas will be developed, come on-stream or reach expected operating capacity; and changes in any of the foregoing may be forward-looking statements.

 

Statements relating to “reserves” are forward-looking statements, as they involve the implied assessment, based on estimates and assumptions, that the reserves described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated and can be profitably produced in the future.

 

The forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including the risk that the outcome that they predict will not be achieved. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations and anticipations, estimates and intentions expressed in the forward-looking statements, including those set out below and those detailed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in the 2013 Form 10-K. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the Company’s short history of limited revenue, losses and negative cash flow from its current exploration and development activities in Canada, Ecuador, Mongolia and the United States; the Company’s limited cash resources and consequent need for additional financing; the ability to raise capital as and when required, or to raise capital on acceptable terms; the timing and extent of changes in prices for oil and gas; competition for oil and gas exploration properties from larger, better financed oil companies; environmental risks; title matters; drilling and operating risks; uncertainties about the estimates of reserves and the potential success of the Company’s Heavy-to-light (“HTL®”) technology; the potential success of the Company’s oil and gas properties in Canada, Ecuador and Mongolia; the prices of goods and services; the availability of drilling rigs and other support services; legislative and government regulations; political and economic factors in countries in which the Company operates; and implementation of the Company’s capital investment program.

 

The forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

 

15
 

 

 

 

Special Note to Canadian Investors

 

The Company is a registrant under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and voluntarily files reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and other forms used by registrants that are US domestic issuers. Therefore, the Company’s reserves estimates and securities regulatory disclosures generally follow SEC requirements of US domestic issuers. National Instrument 51-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities (“NI 51-101”), adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators (“CSA”), prescribes certain standards for the preparation, and disclosure of reserves and related information by Canadian issuers. The Company has been granted certain exemptions from NI 51-101. Please refer to the Special Note to Canadian Investors in the 2013 Form 10-K.

 

Advisories

 

This Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s September 30, 2014 unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements (the “Financial Statements”) contained herein, and the audited annual consolidated financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in the 2013 Form 10-K. The Financial Statements have been prepared using accounting policies consistent with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, Interim Financial Reporting (“IAS 34”).

 

As a foreign private issuer in the United States, Ivanhoe is permitted to file with the SEC financial statements prepared under IFRS as issued by the IASB, without a reconciliation to US GAAP. It is possible that some of the Company’s accounting policies under IFRS could be different from US GAAP.

 

ALL TABULAR AMOUNTS ARE EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS OF U.S. DOLLARS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA.

 

Electronic copies of the Company’s filings with the SEC and the CSA are available, free of charge, through the Company’s website (www.ivanhoeenergy.com) or, upon request, by contacting its investor relations department at (604) 688-6630. Alternatively, the SEC and the CSA each maintains a website (www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com) from which the Company’s periodic reports and other public filings with the SEC and the CSA can be obtained. Copies of the charters for each of the committees of the Company's board of directors are available through the Company’s website at www.ivanhoeenergy.com. The information contained on or accessible through the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

   Three months ended September 30,   Nine months ended September 30, 
($000, except as stated)  2014   2013   2014   2013 
Capital expenditures   447    3,933    1,559    16,070 
                     
Net cash used in operating activities   (3,790)   (10,423)   (19,239)   (31,049)
Net loss from continuing operations   (93,443)   (15,210)   (111,489)   (35,570)
Net loss per share from continuing operations – basic and diluted   (5.70)   (0.93)   (6.80)   (2.17)

 

Net loss from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2014 was $93.4 million, which was $78.2 million higher compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $15.2 million incurred during the same period in 2013. The increase is primarily due to an $89.2 million impairment charge recorded on the Tamarack Project. Also included in the net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2014 was $5.3 million in general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses, a $2.9 million foreign exchange gain and $1.9 million in finance expenses. These items are explained in detail below.

 

Net loss from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $111.5 million, which was $75.9 million higher compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $35.6 million incurred during the same period in 2013. The increase is primarily due to an $89.2 million impairment charge recorded on the Tamarack Project. Also included in the net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $18.6 million in general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses, a $3.0 million foreign exchange gain and $4.7 million in finance expenses. These items are explained in detail below.

 

16
 

  

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Impairment Charges

 

The Company’s net loss from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2014 of $93.4 million was largely due to a $89.2 million non-cash impairment charge related to the Tamarack Project.

 

In the third quarter of 2014, the Company reviewed the carrying values of its intangibles assets as a result of the decline in the Company’s market capitalization, which can be viewed as an indicator of impairment. As a result of this review, the Company determined that the recoverable amount of the Tamarack Project was less than its carrying amount. This decline in value is in part a result of the decision by the Alberta Energy Regulator (“AER”) to delay the Tamarack application approval process and a delay by the Company in advancing the Tamarack Project or securing a strategic joint investor.

 

In December 2013, the Company learned that the AER intends to conduct a thorough technical review of the factors that affect reservoir containment of shallow steam-assisted gravity drainage (“SAGD”) projects and will be consulting with stakeholders to develop formal regulatory requirements. Following discussions with each affected industry applicant, the AER issued a bulletin with interim guidelines. The AER now indicates that they will develop the new requirements following extensive industry and stakeholder engagement. This decision and process affects all shallow SAGD projects, including Ivanhoe's Tamarack Project.

 

Ivanhoe met with the AER in December 2013 and was advised that, per the interim guidelines, the Tamarack application would not continue to be processed until (a) 3D seismic has been collected and interpreted over the entire initial development area and (b) the maximum operating pressure meets the interim guidelines. The Company then prepared to launch a seismic program over the remaining portion of the initial development area for which seismic had not been shot, and continued to discuss with the AER the validity of the Company’s methodology for its proposed maximum operating pressure. The Company was given an indication that the AER might consider assessing and ruling on the validity of its methodology, but in a letter dated February 6, 2014 and received by the Company on February 24, 2014 the AER said that it would not do so. At that point the Company cancelled the seismic program for the winter.

 

The Company is continuing its discussions with the AER and is exploring its alternatives for moving the Tamarack Project forward. In addition, the Company continues its discussions with local stakeholders to address any statements of concern as part of the regulatory process. Ivanhoe continues to believe that its proposed development plan for the Tamarack Project is safe and economically viable and expects that the project will be approved. However, until the new formal regulatory requirements are known, Ivanhoe cannot determine whether the Tamarack Project, as currently proposed, will ultimately fit within those requirements.

 

The Company assessed the recoverable amount of the Tamarack Project based on a fair value less costs of disposal methodology with consideration to the enterprise values of other companies with similar assets that bear some geological resemblance to the Tamarack Project. This analysis provided the Company with an estimated reserve value per barrel of contingent and probable reserves which it used to estimate that the recoverable value of the Tamarack Project at September 30, 2014 was $65.0 million. The Company has recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $89.2 million in relation to the Tamarack Project for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 

General and Administrative

 

G&A expenses mainly consist of staff, office and legal and other contract services costs.

 

G&A expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2014 were $5.3 million, which was $3.8 million lower compared to G&A expenses of $9.1 million incurred during the same period in 2013. The decrease is primarily due to a $1.9 million decrease in staff costs as a result of reduced staffing levels in 2014, a $1.0 million decrease in legal costs related to the proceedings discussed in Part II, Item 1 “Legal Proceedings” disclosed within this Form 10-Q, and a $1.0 million net decrease related to other miscellaneous G&A items as a result of the decreased business activities.

 

G&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were $18.6 million, which was $11.6 million lower compared to G&A expenses of $30.2 million incurred during the same period in 2013. The decrease is primarily due to a $6.6 million decrease in staff costs as a result of reduced staffing levels in 2014, a $2.9 million decrease in legal costs related to the proceedings discussed in Part II, Item 1 “Legal Proceedings” disclosed within this Form 10-Q, a $1.5 million decrease in travel and business expenses due to reduced business activities, and a $0.6 million net decrease related to other miscellaneous G&A items.

 

17
 

  

Foreign Currency Exchange

 

The gain or loss on foreign currency exchange results from the revaluation of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the Company’s functional currency, the US dollar, at each period end and from the settlement of the Company’s receivables and payables denominated in foreign currencies.

 

Foreign currency exchange gains for the three months ended September 30, 2014 were $2.9 million, which was a $3.8 million change from the $1.0 million foreign currency exchange loss incurred during the same period in 2013. The $2.9 million gain is primarily due to a $3.0 million gain for the three months ended September 30, 2014 on the revaluation of the Cdn$73.3 million of Convertible Debentures. The Canadian dollar weakened in relation to the US dollar in the third quarter of 2014 compared with a strengthening in the same period in 2013.

 

Foreign currency exchange gains for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were $3.0 million which was a $1.1 million change from the $1.9 million foreign currency exchange loss during the same period in 2013. The $3.0 million gain is primarily due to a $3.3 million gain for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 on the revaluation of the Cdn$73.3 million of Convertible Debentures. The Canadian dollar weakened more in relation to the US dollar during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. The foreign exchange gain was partially offset by the Company holding less Canadian dollar cash in the first nine months of 2014 than it did in the same period in 2013, resulting in decreased losses on translation of the Canadian dollar cash in the first nine months of 2014 compared to same period in 2013.

 

Finance

 

Finance expense consists of interest expense and the unwinding of the discount rate for decommissioning obligations.

 

Finance expense for the three months ended September 30, 2014 was $1.9 million, which was $1.4 million higher when compared to the finance expense of $0.5 million incurred during the same period in 2013. The increase is primarily due a lower allocation of interest expense to capital projects mainly resulting from the Company suspending activity on its Tamarack oil sands project in the second quarter of 2014.

 

Finance expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $4.7 million, which was $2.7 million higher when compared to the finance expense of $2.0 million incurred during the same period in 2013. The increase is primarily due a lower allocation of interest expense to capital projects mainly resulting from Ivanhoe suspending activity on its Tamarack oil sands project in the first half of 2014.

 

Recovery of Income Taxes

 

The deferred income tax recovery for the three months ended September 30, 2014 was $nil, which was $0.9 million lower compared to a recovery of $0.9 million incurred during the same period in 2014. The decrease is primarily due to the impact of no additional deferred income tax recoveries being recognized for net operating losses.

 

The deferred income tax recovery for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $nil, which was $2.7 million lower compared to a recovery of $2.7 million incurred during the same period in 2014. The decrease is primarily due to the impact of no additional deferred income tax recoveries being recognized for net operating losses.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the Company's financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

 

18
 

  

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

 

The following information about the Company’s contractual obligations and other commitments summarizes certain liquidity and capital resource requirements. The information presented in the table below does not include planned, but not legally committed, capital expenditures or obligations that are discretionary and/or being performed under contracts which are cancelable with a 30-day notification period.

 

   Total   2014   2015   2016   2017   After 2017 
Long term debt(1)   65,407    -    -    65,407    -    - 
Interest on long term debt(1)   7,521    1,880    3,761    1,880    -    - 
Decommissioning obligations(2)   4,984    -    -    196    -    4,788 
Leases   1,253    187    393    271    244    158 
Total   79,165    2,067    4,154    67,754    244    4,946 

 

(1)Long term debt is denominated in Canadian dollars and has been translated to US dollars at an exchange rate of approximately Cdn$1.00 = US$0.8922.

 

(2)Represents undiscounted decommissioning obligations after inflation. The discounted value of these estimated obligations ($3.2 million) is provided for in the consolidated financial statements.

 

Long Term Debt and Interest

 

As described in the financial statements included in the 2013 Form 10-K, the Company issued Cdn$73.3 million of Convertible Debentures maturing on June 30, 2016. The Convertible Debentures bear interest at an annual rate of 5.75%, payable semi-annually on the last day of June and December of each year.

 

Decommissioning Provisions

 

The Company is required to remedy the effect of its activities on the environment at its operating sites by dismantling and removing production facilities and remediating any damage caused. At September 30, 2014, Ivanhoe estimated the total undiscounted, inflated cost to settle its decommissioning obligations in Canada, for the FTF in the United States and in Ecuador was $5.0 million. These costs are expected to be incurred in 2016-2032, 2029 and 2038, respectively.

 

Leases

 

The Company has long term leases for office space and vehicles, which expire between 2014 and 2018.

 

Other

 

Should Ivanhoe receive government and other approvals necessary to develop the northern border of one of the Tamarack Project leases, the Company may be required to make a cash payment to Talisman Energy Canada of up to Cdn$15.0 million, as a conditional, final payment for the 2008 purchase transaction. This section of the lease is not the subject of the current project for which the Company has requested approval from the AER.

 

From time to time, Ivanhoe enters into consulting agreements whereby a success fee may be payable if and when either a definitive agreement is signed or certain other contractual milestones are met. Under the agreements, the consultant may receive cash, common shares, stock options or some combination thereof. Similarly, agreements entered into by the Company may contain cancellation fees or liquidated damages provisions for early termination.  These fees are not considered to be material.

 

The Company may provide indemnities to third parties, in the ordinary course of business, that are customary in certain commercial transactions, such as purchase and sale agreements. The terms of these indemnities will vary based upon the contract, the nature of which prevents Ivanhoe from making a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential amounts that may be required to be paid. The Company’s management is of the opinion that any resulting settlements relating to indemnities are not likely to be material.

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is subject to legal proceedings being brought against it. While the final outcome of these proceedings is uncertain, the Company believes that these proceedings, in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a material effect on its financial position or earnings.

 

19
 

  

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

The Company’s cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, as reflected in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, are summarized in the following table:

 

   Three months ended September 30,   Nine months ended September 30, 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
Cash used in operating activities   (3,790)   (10,423)   (19,239)   (31,049)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities   (445)   (4,060)   (3,712)   3,746 
Cash provided by financing activities   15    4    12    19 

 

Liquidity

 

On October 10, 2014, the Company announced that its working capital was augmented by a $2.2 million secured bridge loan provided by founder and Executive Co-Chairman, Robert Friedland. Concurrent with providing the bridge loan to the Company, Mr. Friedland resigned as the Company’s Executive Co-Chairman and as a director citing potential conflicts of interest. The bridge loan bears interest at the rate of 10% per annum, with a maturity of six months from the date of advance. Mr. Friedland’s loan is secured by a first charge against the assets of the Company, with the exception of all assets and subsidiaries of Ivanhoe Energy Latin America.

 

As at October 28, 2014, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $2.0 million. The Company’s existing financial resources are insufficient to fund the future capital expenditures necessary to advance the development of its existing projects. The Company expects to receive a net tax refund from a sovereign government, which will enhance liquidity in the near term. The Company also has engaged advisors who are assisting in the pursuit of additional funding with a view to providing the Company with sufficient liquidity through the end of 2015. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to secure sources of new financing, or do so on favorable terms.

 

These activities include discussions with a large international oil company for the creation of a joint financial participation arrangement in respect of its Block 20 project in Ecuador. The transaction contemplated by these discussions, if and when consummated, would be expected to generate additional cash. Ivanhoe’s potential consortium partner in the Block has asked for additional time to review their potential investments due to a change in its senior management. It is expected that joint negotiations with the planned consortium and the Government will resume in the fourth quarter of 2014. However, no assurance can be given that the negotiations will resume during this time frame. Without timely access to a sufficient source of financing to enable the Company to make its planned capital expenditures and otherwise fund the cost of carrying on its business, the Company may have to significantly curtail its existing business activities and may be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended September 30, 2014 was $3.8 million, which was $6.6 million lower compared to net cash used in operating activities of $10.4 million incurred during the same period in 2013. The decrease is primarily due to $3.0 million in decreased G&A expenses as discussed above which excludes non-cash share-based compensation expense, $4.7 million less in exploration and evaluation costs expensed for the Asia segment, and $1.1 million in other net changes impacting operating activities.

 

Net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $19.2 million, which was $11.8 million lower compared to net cash used in operating activities of $31.0 million incurred during the same period in 2013. The decrease is primarily due to $9.9 million in decreased cash G&A expenses as discussed above which excludes non-cash share-based compensation expense, $4.7 million less in exploration and evaluation costs expensed for the Asia segment, and $2.8 million in other net changes impacting operating activities.

 

20
 

   

Capital Structure

 

   As at September 30, 2014   As at December 31, 2013 
Long term debt   61,319    55.0%   63,012    28.2%
Shareholders’ equity   50,233    45.0%   160,277    71.8%
Total capital   111,552    100.0%   223,289    100.0%

 

On September 6, 2013, the Company received a notification letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of the NASDAQ notifying the Company that its common shares did not meet the minimum bid price requirements set forth in the NASDAQ Listing Rules and that the Company could regain compliance if, at any time prior to March 5, 2014, the closing bid price of the Company’s common shares was at least $1.00 for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days. On February 18, 2014, the Company applied to the NASDAQ for an additional compliance period of 180 days, which was granted based in part on the Company’s undertaking to effect a share consolidation sufficient to comply with the minimum price should other factors not result in a minimum price of $1.00 per share.

 

At a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on August 13, 2014, the Company’s shareholders approved a proposal to effect a share consolidation as a means of regaining compliance with NASDAQ's minimum bid price requirements prior to September 2, 2014. On August 14, 2014, the Company announced that it would proceed with the share consolidation and that the Company's Board of Directors had selected a share consolidation ratio of one “new” common share for every seven existing common shares. The share consolidation reduced the number of outstanding common shares from approximately 114.8 million to approximately 16.4 million. 

 

On September 3, 2014, the Company announced that it had received notification from the NASDAQ that it regained compliance with the $1.00 minimum bid price rule for a NASDAQ listed issuer. The Company's common shares maintained a closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share for the required 10 consecutive business days from August 18, 2014 to August 29, 2014.

  

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

 

On October 10, 2014, the Company announced that its working capital was augmented by a $2.2 million secured bridge loan provided by founder and Executive Co-Chairman, Robert Friedland. Concurrent with the advancing of the bridge loan, Mr. Friedland resigned as the Executive Co-Chairman and as a director of the Company. Mr. Friedland is the largest shareholder of the Company, owning 16.78% of the issued and outstanding common shares, as well as holding $7.0 million principal amount of the Company’s outstanding Convertible Debentures.

 

Mr. Friedland’s bridge loan bears interest at the rate of 10% per annum, with a maturity of six months from the date of advance. The loan is secured by a first charge against the assets of the Company, with the exception of all assets and subsidiaries of Ivanhoe Energy Latin America.

 

On September 22, 2014, the Company announced the appointment of Blair Vago as the Company's Acting Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Vago, Ivanhoe's Divisional Controller in Ecuador, assumed the duties of Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer from Greg Phaneuf, whose resignation from the position took effect on October 10, 2014.

 

OUTLOOK

 

Corporate

 

Management’s plans for financing future expenditures include traditional project financing, debt and mezzanine financing, the sale of non-current assets or the sale of equity securities as well as the potential for partnerships or other arrangements with strategic investors. However, no assurances can be given that Ivanhoe will be able to arrange such financing, to enter into one or more strategic business alliances with third parties or that the Company will be able to sell non-core assets on acceptable terms or raise sufficient additional capital. If the Company is unable to enter into such business alliances or obtain adequate additional financing, the Company may be required to abandon assets and otherwise curtail its operations.

  

21
 

  

 

Block 20 Project Update

 

The Company previously has disclosed its joint venture strategy with the goal of financing the continued appraisal and development of Block 20. Ivanhoe invited one of the world’s largest national oil companies (NOC) that has experience working in Ecuador, to review Ivanhoe’s investment in Block 20. This resulted in an agreement in principle subject to the approval of the Ecuadorian government. Structured commercially as a ‘farm-in’, the arrangement agreed in principle with the NOC will recognize Ivanhoe’s investment to-date. If and when a definitive agreement is signed, the NOC will become the majority partner in and operator of Block 20.

 

Ivanhoe and the NOC presented a joint proposal to the Ecuadorian Government on March 21, 2014. Due to the importance and size of Block 20, the government took time to carefully consider its options for the development of Block 20 and has decided that it would like to advance negotiations regarding the proposal.

 

In the interim, the NOC has asked for more time to review its potential investments on a world-wide basis due to a change in senior management. Ivanhoe is optimistic that the planned consortium and government negotiations regarding Block 20 will resume in the fourth quarter of 2014 with the possibility of a successful conclusion in the first quarter of 2015. However, no assurance can be given at this time.

 

Ivanhoe has negotiated the process and terms of a termination by mutual agreement of the Specific Services Contract with the government under which Ivanhoe has operated Block 20 since 2008 and the migration to a new Service Contract with the consortium. Ivanhoe and the NOC have worked to assure that this process fully complied with the government’s protocol.

 

Tamarack

 

The Company continues to participate in industry wide initiatives to assist the AER in establishing a long term shallow SAGD Policy. To this end, a senior technical representative from Ivanhoe will sit on the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producer’s (CAPP) steering committee. Feedback to the AER from this steering committee is anticipated to be delivered in the first quarter of 2015. The Company has suspended spending and development on Tamarack until the new shallow SAGD regulations are known. The Company continues to consider and investigate alternative technologies that can be used to develop the 2P reserves and resources of the Tamarack property.

  

Heavy to Light (HTL)

 

The Company’s discussions with the National Oil Company of Colombia continued in the third quarter. Despite the recent drop in oil prices, the Company believes that HTL projects will still be able to generate attractive rates of return.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

There has been no material change in the Company’s assessment of its sensitivity to market risk since its presentation set forth in Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in the 2013 Form 10-K.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s management, including its Executive Chairman and its Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of September 30, 2014. Based upon this evaluation, management concluded that these controls and procedures were (1) designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to the Company’s Executive Chairman and its Chief Financial Officer as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure and (2) effective, in that they provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

 

It should be noted that while the Company’s Executive Chairman and its Chief Financial Officer believe that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures provide a reasonable level of assurance that they are effective, they do not expect that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.

 

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting in the quarter ended September 30, 2014, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

  

22
 

  

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Cotundo Minerales S.A.

 

On August 9, 2013, Cotundo Minerales S.A. (“Cotundo”) served us with a notice of claim against the Company, two of its subsidiaries, and Company board member Robert Friedland, filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. The Company and its two subsidiaries were served on August 9, 2013. The Company and its two subsidiaries filed a response on September 24, 2013. The suit alleges that the Company misused confidential information provided to it by Cotundo related to the Pungarayacu heavy oil field in Ecuador. Cotundo seeks damages in the form of lost profits, an imposition of a trust in favor of Cotundo, a transfer of Ivanhoe’s interest in the Pungarayacu field to Cotundo, interest, and costs. To date, there have been no discovery requests.

 

The plaintiff and claims in the recent lawsuit by Cotundo overlap with those from a previous lawsuit filed against the Company, its subsidiaries, Mr. Friedland and others in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado on November 20, 2008. That case was dismissed by the trial court for lack of personal jurisdiction, and that dismissal was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit on July 12, 2012. The plaintiffs filed a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on January 14, 2013. Both the district court and the appellate court in the prior case awarded fees and costs to the Ivanhoe defendants.

 

The likelihood of loss or gain resulting from this dispute, and the estimated amount of ultimate loss or gain, are not determinable or reasonably estimable at this time. The Company believes that the plaintiff’s claims have no merit.

 

GAR Energy

 

For details regarding this lawsuit see “GAR Energy” in Item 3 of the 2013 Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

An evidentiary hearing on the merits (trial) in the ensuing arbitration was held September 9-13, 2013. On March 14, 2014 the Company received the decision from the arbitrators. The panel awarded a take-nothing judgment against the plaintiffs and in favor of the Company, meaning that the Company prevailed entirely on the merits. In addition, on June 11, 2014 the arbitrators awarded the Company $1.0 million in attorneys’ fees.  The plaintiffs had insurance coverage for this risk and the Company and the insurer agreed on a $0.8 million settlement.  This payment was received in October 2014.

 

ITEM 1A: RISK FACTORS

 

Ivanhoe is exposed in varying degrees to normal market risks inherent in the oil and gas industry, including commodity price risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk, credit risk, interest rate risk and liquidity risk. The Company recognizes these risks and manages its operations to minimize the exposure to the extent practicable. There have not been any significant changes to the Company’s exposure to risks, or processes to manage these risks as described in the Company’s 2013 Form 10-K.

 

23
 

  

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit Number   Description of Document
     
10.1   Offer Letter between the Company and Blair Vago
     
31.1   Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
31.2   Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
32.1   Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
32.2   Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereto duly authorized.

 

IVANHOE ENERGY INC.

 

By: /s/ Blair Vago  
  Blair Vago  
  Acting Vice President and Chief Financial Officer  
     
Date: October 30, 2014  

 

24