F O R M 1 0-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
(Mark One)
[x] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
For the transition period from ________ to _________
[Commission File Number 1-9260]
U N I T C O R P O R A T I O N
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware 73-1283193
-------- ----------
(State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1000 Kensington Tower
7130 South Lewis
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136
--------------- -----
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code (918) 493-7700
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
Title of each class Name of each exchange
------------------- on which registered
Common Stock, par value -------------------
$.20 per share New York Stock Exchange
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.
Yes _X_ No ___
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not
contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's
knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by
reference in PART III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
Aggregate Market Value of the Voting Stock Held By
Non-affiliates on March 7, 2002 - $390,907,479
Number of Shares of Common Stock
Outstanding on March 7, 2002 - 36,074,419
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
1. Portions of Registrant's Proxy Statement with respect to the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 1, 2002 are incorporated by
reference in Part III.
Exhibit Index - See Page 94
FORM 10-K
UNIT CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Item 1. Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Item 2. Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Item 3. Legal Proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders . . 22
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related
Stockholder Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Item 6. Selected Financial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations . . . . . . . . . 25
Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about
Market Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data . . . . . . 40
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on
Accounting and Financial Disclosure . . . . . . . . . 84
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant. . . 84
Item 11. Executive Compensation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
and Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions. . . . . 86
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports
on Form 8-K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Signatures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
1
UNIT CORPORATION
Annual Report
For The Year Ended December 31, 2001
PART I
Item 1. Business and Item 2. Properties
- ------- -------- ------- ----------
GENERAL
Through our wholly owned subsidiaries, we contract to drill onshore
oil and natural gas wells for others and explore, develop, acquire and
produce oil and natural gas properties for our self. We were founded in
1963 as a contract drilling company. Today our contract drilling
operations and our exploration and production operations are carried out
primarily in the natural gas producing provinces of the Oklahoma and Texas
areas of the Anadarko and Arkoma Basins and the Texas Gulf Cost. Our
contract drilling operations are also engaged in the East Texas and Rocky
Mountain region.
Our executive offices are located at 1000 Kensington Tower, 7130 South
Lewis, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136; telephone number (918) 493-7700. We also
have regional offices in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Woodward, Oklahoma,
Booker, Texas, Houston, Texas and Casper, Wyoming. When used in this
report, the terms Corporation, Unit, our, we and its refer to Unit
Corporation and, at times, Unit Corporation and/or one or more of its
subsidiaries.
LAND CONTRACT DRILLING OPERATIONS
We drill onshore natural gas and oil wells for a wide range of
customers through our wholly owned subsidiary Unit Drilling Company. A land
drilling rig consists, in part, of engines, drawworks or hoists, derrick or
mast, substructure, pumps to circulate the drilling fluid, blowout
preventers and drill pipe. Over the life of a typical rig, due to the
normal wear and tear of operating 24 hours a day, several of the major
components, such as engines, mud pumps and drill pipe, are replaced or
rebuilt on a periodic basis, while other components, such as the
substructure, mast and drawworks, can be utilized for extended periods of
time with proper maintenance. We also own additional equipment used in the
operation of our rigs, including large air compressors, trucks and other
support equipment.
While natural gas prices were high in early 2001, we continued to add
to our rig fleet. In January 2001, we purchased a 750 horse power diesel
electric rig with a 13,000 foot depth capacity for $3.2 million. In
February 2001, we purchased a 1,000 horse power, winterized mechanical rig,
with a 16,000 foot depth capacity, for $2.5 million. In May we acquired two
diesel electric rigs with depth capacities of 16,000 and 20,000 feet, for
$7.8 million. We also acquired a 16,000 foot depth capacity diesel electric
rig. This rig will, depending on industry conditions and additional capital
2
requirements, be placed in service when conditions warrant. The addition of
these five rigs brings our fleet to 55 at December 31, 2001, 54 of which
are currently capable of operating. Our rigs have depth capacities ranging
from 9,500 to 40,000 feet. As of March 1, 2002 twenty-nine of our rigs
were located in the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma and Texas, 6 in the Arkoma
Basins of Oklahoma while 12 were located in the East Texas and Gulf Coast
Region and 8 in the Rocky Mountain region. As of February 20, 2002, 34 of
our drilling rigs were operating under contract.
At present, we do not have a shortage of drilling rig related
equipment. However, at any given time our ability to use all of our rigs
is dependent on a number of conditions, including the availability of
qualified labor, drilling supplies and equipment as well as demand.
3
The following table sets forth, for each of the periods indicated,
certain information concerning our contract drilling operations:
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Number of Rigs
Owned at End
of Period 34.0 (1) 34.0 47.0 (2) 50.0 (3) 55.0 (4)
Average Number
of Rigs Owned
During Period 25.1 34.0 37.3 47.0 51.8
Average Number
of Rigs
Utilized (5) 20.0 22.9 23.1 39.8 46.3
Utilization
Rate (5) 80% 67% 62% 85% 90%
Average Revenue
Per Day (6) $6,309 $6,394 $6,582 $7,432 $9,879
Total Footage
Drilled
(Feet in
1000's) 1,736 2,203 2,211 3,650 4,008
Number of Wells
Drilled 167 198 197 316 361
- ---------------
(1) Includes 10 rigs acquired in the fourth quarter of 1997.
(2) Includes 13 rigs acquired in September 1999.
(3) Includes one rig acquired at the 2000 year-end and two additional rigs
that were completing construction.
(4) Includes 5 rigs acquired during the first 7 months of 2001.
(5) Utilization rates are based on a 365-day year and are calculated by
dividing the number of rigs utilized by the total number of rigs owned
during the period, including stacked rigs. A rig is considered utilized
when it is operating or being moved, assembled or dismantled under
contract.
(6) Represents total revenues from contract drilling operations divided by
the total number of days rigs were being utilized for the period.
4
The following table sets forth, as of February 20, 2002, the type and
approximate depth capability of each of our drilling rigs:
Approximate
Depth
Capability
Rig# Type (feet)
----- --------------------------- -----------
1 BDW 650 13,000
2 BDW 650 13,000
3 BDW 650 13,500
4 Gardner Denver 500 11,000
5 U-15 Unit Rig 11,000
6 BDW 800 16,000
8 Gardner Denver 800 16,000
9 BDW 800 16,000
10 BDW 450T 9,500
11 Gardner Denver 700 15,000
12 BDW 800 16,000
14 Gardner Denver 700 15,000
15 Mid-Continent 914-C 20,000
16 U-15 Unit Rig 11,000
17 Brewster N-75 15,000
18 BDW 650 12,500
19 Gardner Denver 500 12,000
20 Gardner Denver 700 15,000
21 Gardner Denver 700 15,000
22 BDW 800 16,000
23 Gardner Denver 700 14,000
24 Gardner Denver 700 14,000
25 Gardner Denver 700 15,000
26 National 610 E 13,500
27 BDW 650 13,000
28 Continental Emsco D-3 16,000
29 Brewster N-75A 15,000
30 BDW 1350-M 20,000
31 Shufelt 600 12,500
32 Brewster N-75 15,000
33 BDW 800 16,000
34 National 110-UE 20,000
35 Continental Emsco C-1 20,000
36 Gardner Denver 1500-E 25,000
37 Mid-Continent 914-EC 20,000
38 Mid-Continent 1220-EB 25,000
39 Mid-Continent U-36-A 12,000
40 BDW 800 16,000
100 National 80-UE 16,000 (1)
101 Continental Emsco D-3 16,000
102 Continental Emsco A-1500 20,000
112 Ideco E-3000 25,000
166 OIME E-3000 25,000
180 OIME E-3000 25,000
182 OIME E-3000 30,000
184 OIME E-3000 30,000
201 OIME E-4000 40,000
203 OIME E-2000 25,000
232 Continental Emsco D-3 II 16,000
233 Continental Emsco C-1 III 20,000
234 Continental Emsco D-3 II 16,000
235 Continental Emsco C-1 II 20,000
236 Gardner Denver 800 16,000
237 Continental Emsco C-1 II 20,000
254 OIME E-2000 25,000
5
(1) Rig 100 was acquired in 2001 and will not be refurbished and marketed
by us until industry conditions improve.
During most of the past 18 years, our contract drilling operations
encountered significant competition due to depressed levels of activity.
In the last half of 1999 through the first half of 2001, as oil and natural
gas prices increased, the demand for our contract drilling services
increased rapidly. However starting in October 2001 we began to experience
rapidly declining demand for our rigs as the prices of natural gas began to
fall from the high prices reached in January, 2001. We anticipate that
competition within the industry will, for the foreseeable future, continue
to adversely affect us.
Drilling Contracts. Our drilling contracts are predominantly obtained
through competitive bidding. Normally, our contracts are for a single well
with the terms and rates varying depending upon the nature and duration of
the work, the equipment and services supplied and other matters. The
contracts obligate us to pay certain operating expenses, including wages of
drilling personnel, maintenance expenses and incidental rig supplies and
equipment. Usually, the contracts are subject to termination by the
customer on short notice upon payment of a fee. These contracts also
specify certain provisions regarding indemnification against certain types
of claims involving injury to persons, property and for acts of pollution.
The specific provisions regarding the responsibility for, the extent of and
the type of claims covered is subject to negotiation on a contract by
contract basis.
Our compensation under a contract is based on the type of contract
used. The contracts we use are generally one of three types: a daywork; a
footage; or a turnkey contract. Additional compensation may also be
involved for special risks and unusual conditions. Under daywork
contracts, we provide the drilling rig with the required personnel to the
operator who supervises the drilling of the contracted well. Our
compensation is based on a negotiated rate for each day the rig is
utilized. Footage contracts usually require us to bear some of the
drilling costs in addition to providing the rig. We are compensated on a
negotiated rate, per foot drilled, upon completion of the well. Under
turnkey contracts, we contract to drill a well for a lump sum amount to a
specified depth and provide most of the equipment and services required.
We bear the risk of drilling the well to the contract depth and are
compensated when the contract provisions have been satisfied.
Drilling operations under a turnkey contract, in particular, may
result in us incurring losses if we underestimate the costs to drill the
well or if unforeseen events occur. To date, we have not experienced
significant losses in performing turnkey contracts. In 2001, we drilled one
turnkey well and turnkey revenue represented less than one percent of our
contract drilling revenues as compared to 9 percent for 2000. We had one
turnkey contract in progress at December 31, 2001. Because market
conditions as well as the desires of our customers determine the use of
turnkey contracts, we can't predict whether the portion of drilling
conducted on a turnkey basis will increase or decrease in the future.
6
Customers. During 2001, 10 contract drilling customers accounted for
approximately 49 percent of our total contract drilling revenues.
Approximately 4 percent of our total contract drilling revenues were
generated from drilling operations performed on oil and natural gas
properties of which we were the operator (including properties owned by
limited partnerships for which we acted as general partner).
Further information relating to contract drilling operations is
presented in Notes 1 and 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
set forth in Item 8 hereof.
OIL AND NATURAL GAS OPERATIONS
In 1979, we began to develop our exploration and production operations
to diversify our contract drilling revenues. Our wholly owned subsidiary,
Unit Petroleum Company, conducts our exploration and production activities.
As of December 31, 2001, we had estimated net proved reserves of 4,343
Mbbls and 228,254 MMcf. Our producing oil and natural gas interests,
undeveloped leaseholds and related assets are located primarily in
Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico and, to a lesser extent, in
Arkansas, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Alabama, Mississippi,
Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska and Canada. As of December 31, 2001, we had
an interest in a total of 2,974 wells in the United States, 688 of which we
are also the operator of. We also had an interest in 64 wells located in
Canada.
Our technical staff generates the majority of our development and
exploration prospects. When we are the operator of a property, we
generally employ our own drilling rigs and our own engineering staff
supervises the drilling operation.
7
Well and Leasehold Data. The tables below set forth certain
information regarding our oil and natural gas exploration and development
drilling activities for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
--------------------------------------------------------
1999 2000 2001
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Wells Drilled:
- --------------
Exploratory:
Oil - - - - 1 .01
Natural gas - - 2 1.63 8 3.60
Dry - - - - 5 4.46
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total - - 2 1.63 14 8.07
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Development:
Oil 1 .48 7 1.45 6 1.06
Natural gas 55 19.23 75 28.51 87 33.51
Dry 10 5.47 17 8.56 18 10.80
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total 66 25.18 99 38.52 111 45.37
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Oil and Natural
Gas Wells
Producing or
Capable of
Producing:
- ---------------
Oil - USA 783 224.10 799 278.06 786 279.06
Oil -
Canada - - - - - -
Gas - USA 1,950 403.50 2,088 431.11 2,188 457.38
Gas -
Canada 64 1.60 64 1.60 64 1.60
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total 2,797 629.20 2,951 710.77 3,038 738.04
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
On February 20, 2002, Unit was participating in the drilling of 3
gross (1.99 net) wells in the United States.
8
The following table summarizes our oil and natural gas leasehold
acreage as of the end of each of the years indicated:
Developed Acreage Undeveloped Acreage
--------------------- ---------------------
Gross Net Gross Net
--------- --------- --------- ---------
1999:
- -----
USA 548,011 142,472 55,989 35,245
Canada 39,040 976 25,293 25,293
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total 587,051 143,448 81,282 60,538
========= ========= ========= =========
2000:
- -----
USA 564,780 153,507 61,487 39,480
Canada 39,040 976 26,243 13,121
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total 603,820 154,483 87,730 52,601
========= ========= ========= =========
2001:
- -----
USA 567,731 155,890 110,489 69,229
Canada 39,040 976 7,273 3,636
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total 606,771 156,866 117,762 72,865
========= ========= ========= =========
9
Price and Production Data. The following table sets forth our average
sales price, oil and natural gas production volumes and average production
cost per equivalent Mcf [1 barrel (Bbl) of oil = 6 thousand cubic feet
(Mcf) of natural gas] of production for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
---------------------------------
1999 2000 2001
---------- ---------- ----------
Average Sales Price per Barrel of Oil
Produced:
USA $ 17.48 $ 26.95 $ 23.62
Canada - - -
Average Sales Price per Mcf of Natural
Gas Produced:
USA $ 2.05 $ 3.91 $ 4.00
Canada $ 1.81 $ 2.39 $ 4.21
Oil Production (Mbbls):
USA 424 488 492
Canada - - -
---------- ---------- ----------
Total 424 488 492
========== ========== ==========
Natural Gas Production (MMcf):
USA 17,402 19,239 18,819
Canada 35 46 45
---------- ---------- ----------
Total 17,437 19,285 18,864
========== ========== ==========
Average Production Expense per
Equivalent Mcf:
USA $ .59 $ .74 $ .86
Canada $ .56 $ .42 $ .51
10
Reserves. The following table sets forth our estimated proved
developed and undeveloped oil and natural gas reserves at the end of each
of the years indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
---------------------------------
1999 2000 2001
---------- ---------- ----------
Oil (Mbbls):
USA 4,527 4,183 4,343
Canada - - -
---------- ---------- ----------
Total 4,527 4,183 4,343
========== ========== ==========
Natural gas (MMcf):
USA 186,770 215,196 227,865
Canada 569 441 389
---------- ---------- ----------
Total 187,339 215,637 228,254
========== ========== ==========
Further information relating to oil and natural gas operations is
presented in Notes 1, 10 and 12 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements set forth in Item 8 hereof.
VOLATILE NATURE OF OUR OIL AND NATURAL GAS MARKETS;
FLUCTUATIONS IN PRICES
Our revenues, operating results, cash flows and future rate of growth
are significantly affected by the prevailing prices for natural gas and
oil. Historically, oil and natural gas prices have been volatile, and we
expect that they will continue to be volatile. Oil and natural gas prices
increased substantially in the last half of 1999 and throughout 2000 and by
January 2001, the average price we received for natural gas reached $9.35
per Mcf. Prices however, started to decline sharply thereafter and by
September 2001, the average price we received for natural gas was $2.05 per
Mcf. The average price we received for oil reached a high of $28.13 per
barrel in February 2001. Oil prices then started to decline and we
received the lowest average price of the year for oil of $16.28 per barrel
in December 2001.1
Because natural gas makes up the biggest part of our oil and natural
gas reserves, changes in natural gas prices have a disproportionate impact
on our financial results than do oil price changes.
11
Prices for oil and natural gas are subject to wide fluctuations in
response to relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for oil
and natural gas, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors
that are beyond our control. These factors include:
. political conditions in oil producing regions, including the
Middle East;
. the ability of the members of the Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries to agree to and maintain oil price and
production controls;
. the price of foreign imports;
. actions of governmental authorities;
. the domestic and foreign supply of oil and natural gas;
. the level of consumer demand;
. United States storage levels of natural gas;
. weather conditions;
. domestic and foreign government regulations;
. the price, availability and acceptance of alternative fuels; and
. overall economic conditions.
These factors and the volatile nature of the energy markets make it
impossible to predict with any certainty the future prices of oil and
natural gas.
Our oil production is sold at or near our wells under purchase
contracts at prevailing prices in accordance with arrangements customary in
the oil industry. Our natural gas production is sold to intrastate and
interstate pipelines as well as to independent marketing firms under
contracts with original terms ranging from one month to several years at
prices primarily determined on a daily basis. Most of these contracts
contain provisions for readjustment of price, termination and other terms
customary in the industry.
Our contract drilling operations are dependent on the level of demand
in our operating markets. Both short-term and long-term trends in oil and
natural gas prices affect demand. Because oil and natural gas prices are
volatile, the level of demand for our services can also be volatile.
Decreased oil and natural gas prices during 1998 and early 1999 adversely
affected our contract drilling activity by lowering the demand for our rigs
and reducing the rates we were able to charge for our drilling services.
With the increase in oil and natural gas prices starting in the last half
of 1999 and continuing through January 2001 our dayrates and rig
utilization increased substantially.
12
Natural gas prices began to fall in February, 2001, and as a result, we
began to experience less demand for our drilling rigs starting in October,
2001 and the rates received for our rigs also began to fall. We expect
that in the near term our customers will continue a cautious approach to
exploration and development spending until prices again begin to rise. As
a result, the future extent of the demand for our drilling services is
uncertain.
COMPETITION
All of our lines of business are highly competitive. Competition in
onshore contract drilling traditionally involves such factors as price,
efficiency, condition of equipment, availability of labor and equipment,
reputation and customer relations. Some of our competitors in the onshore
contract drilling business are substantially larger than we are and have
appreciably greater financial and other resources. The competitive
environment within which we operate is uncertain and extremely price
oriented.
Our oil and natural gas operations likewise encounter strong
competition from major oil companies, independent operators and others.
Many of these competitors have appreciably greater financial, technical and
other resources and are more experienced in the exploration for and
production of oil and natural gas than we are.
OIL AND NATURAL GAS PROGRAMS AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Our subsidiary, Unit Petroleum Company, serves as the general partner
of five oil and gas limited partnerships and 13 employee oil and gas
limited partnerships. Each year we form an employee partnership which
acquires an interest, ranging from 2.5% to 15% of our interest, in most of
the oil and natural gas wells we drill or acquire for our own account
during that particular year. The limited partners in the employee
partnerships are either employees or directors of Unit or its subsidiaries.
One of the companies we acquired, Questa Oil and Gas Co., also served as
the general partner of five private limited partnerships. We repurchased
the limited partners' interest in three of the five Questa partnerships in
the fourth quarter of 2000 and three of the partnerships were dissolved. In
the first quarter of 2001, we purchased additional interests in the
remaining two Questa partnerships and subsequently dissolved one of those
partnerships.
Under the terms of our partnership agreements, the general partner has
broad discretionary authority to manage the business and operations of the
partnership, including the authority to make decisions on such matters as
the partnership's participation in a drilling location or a property
acquisition, the partnership's expenditure of funds and the distribution of
funds to partners. Because the business activities of the limited partners
on the one hand, and the general partner on the other hand, are not the
same, conflicts of interest will exist and it is not possible to entirely
eliminate such conflicts. Additionally, conflicts of interest may arise
when we are the operator of an oil and natural gas well and also provide
contract drilling services. In such cases, these drilling operations are
13
done under contracts containing terms and conditions comparable to those
contained in our drilling contracts with non-affiliated operators. We
believe we fulfill our responsibility to each contracting party and comply
fully with the terms of the agreements which regulate such conflicts.
EMPLOYEES
As of February 20, 2002, we had approximately 949 employees in our
land contract drilling operations, 58 employees in our oil and natural gas
operations and 51 in our general corporate area. None of our employees are
represented by a union or labor organization nor have our operations ever
been interrupted by a strike or work stoppage. We consider relations with
our employees to be satisfactory.
OPERATING AND OTHER RISKS
Our drilling operations are subject to the many hazards inherent in
the drilling industry, including injury or death to personnel, blowouts,
cratering, explosions, fires, loss of well control, loss of hole, damaged
or lost drilling equipment and damage or loss from inclement weather. Our
exploration and production operations are subject to these and similar
risks. Any of these events could result in personal injury or death,
damage to or destruction of equipment and facilities, suspension of
operations, environmental damage and damage to the property of others.
Generally, drilling contracts provide for the division of responsibilities
between a drilling company and its customer, and we seek to obtain
indemnification from our drilling customers by contract for some of these
risks. To the extent that we are unable to transfer these risks to our
drilling customers, we seek protection through insurance. However, our
insurance or our indemnification agreements, if any, may not adequately
protect us against liability from all of the consequences of the hazards
described above. In addition, even if we have insurance coverage we may
still have a degree of exposure based on the amount of our deductible. The
occurrence of an event not fully insured or indemnified against, or the
failure of a customer to meet its indemnification obligations, could result
in substantial losses to us. In addition, we may not be able to obtain
insurance to cover any or all of these risks. Even if available, the
insurance might not be adequate to cover all of our losses, or we might
decide against obtaining that insurance because of high premiums or other
costs.
Exploration and development operations involve numerous risks that may
result in dry holes, the failure to produce oil and natural gas in
commercial quantities and the inability to fully produce discovered
reserves. The cost of drilling, completing and operating wells is
substantial and uncertain. Our operations may be curtailed, delayed or
cancelled as a result of many things beyond our control, including:
. unexpected drilling conditions;
. pressure or irregularities in formations;
. equipment failures or accidents;
. adverse weather conditions;
14
. compliance with governmental requirements; and
. shortages or delays in the availability of drilling rigs or delivery
crews and the delivery of equipment.
The majority of the wells in which we own an interest are operated by
other parties. As a result, we have little control over the operations of
such wells which can act to increase our risk. Operators of these wells
may act in ways that are not in our best interests.
Our future performance depends upon our ability to find or acquire
additional oil and natural gas reserves that are economically recoverable.
In general, production from oil and natural gas properties declines as
reserves are depleted, with the rate of decline depending on reservoir
characteristics. Unless we successfully replace the reserves that we
produce, our reserves will decline, resulting eventually in a decrease in
oil and natural gas production and lower revenues and cash flow from
operations. Historically, we have succeeded in increasing reserves after
taking production into account through our oil and natural gas operations.
However, it is possible that we may not be able to continue to replace
reserves from such activities. Low prices of oil and natural gas may
further limit the kinds of reserves that we can economically develop.
Lower prices also decrease our cash flow and may cause us to decrease
capital expenditures.
GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS
The production and sale of oil and natural gas is highly affected by
various state and federal regulations. All states in which we conduct
activities impose restrictions on the drilling, production, transportation
and sale of oil and natural gas.
Under the Natural Gas Act of 1938, the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (the "FERC") regulates the interstate transportation and the
sale in interstate commerce for resale of natural gas. The FERC's
jurisdiction over interstate natural gas sales was substantially modified
by the Natural Gas Policy Act under which the FERC continued to regulate
the maximum selling prices of certain categories of gas sold in "first
sales" in interstate and intrastate commerce. Effective January 1, 1993,
however, the Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act (the "Decontrol Act")
deregulated natural gas prices for all "first sales" of natural gas.
Because "first sales" include typical wellhead sales by producers, all
natural gas produced from our natural gas properties is being sold at
market prices, subject to the terms of any private contracts which may be
in effect. The FERC's jurisdiction over natural gas transportation was not
affected by the Decontrol Act.
Our sales of natural gas are affected by intrastate and interstate gas
transportation regulation. Beginning in 1985, the FERC adopted regulatory
changes that have significantly altered the transportation and marketing of
natural gas. These changes were intended by the FERC to foster competition
by, among other things, transforming the role of interstate pipeline
15
companies from wholesale marketers of natural gas to the primary role of
gas transporters. All natural gas marketing by the pipelines was required
to be divested to a marketing affiliate, which operates separately from the
transporter and in direct competition with all other merchants. As a
result of the various omnibus rulemaking proceedings in the late 1980s and
the individual pipeline restructuring proceedings of the early to mid-
1990s, the interstate pipelines are now required to provide open and
nondiscriminatory transportation and transportation-related services to all
producers, natural gas marketing companies, local distribution companies,
industrial end users and other customers seeking service. Through similar
orders affecting intrastate pipelines that provide similar interstate
services, the FERC expanded the impact of open access regulations to
intrastate commerce.
More recently, the FERC has pursued other policy initiatives that have
affected natural gas marketing. Most notable are (1) the large-scale
divestiture of interstate pipeline-owned gas gathering facilities to
affiliated or non-affiliated companies; (2) further development of rules
governing the relationship of the pipelines with their marketing
affiliates; (3) the publication of standards relating to the use of
electronic bulletin boards and electronic data exchange by the pipelines to
make available transportation information on a timely basis and to enable
transactions to occur on a purely electronic basis; (4) further review of
the role of the secondary market for released pipeline capacity and its
relationship to open access service in the primary market; and (5)
development of policy and promulgation of orders pertaining to its
authorization of market-based rates (rather than traditional cost-of-
service based rates) for transportation or transportation-related services
upon the pipeline's demonstration of lack of market control in the relevant
service market. It remains to be seen what effect the FERC's other
activities will have on the access to markets, the fostering of competition
and the cost of doing business.
As a result of these changes, sellers and buyers of natural gas have
gained direct access to the particular pipeline services they need and are
better able to conduct business with a larger number of counter parties.
We believe these changes generally have improved the access to markets for
natural gas while, at the same time, substantially increasing competition
in the natural gas marketplace. We cannot predict what new or different
regulations the FERC and other regulatory agencies may adopt or what effect
subsequent regulations may have on production and marketing of natural gas
from our properties.
In the past, Congress has been very active in the area of natural gas
regulation. However, as discussed above, the more recent trend has been in
favor of deregulation and the promotion of competition in the natural gas
industry. Thus, in addition to "first sales" deregulation, Congress also
repealed incremental pricing requirements and natural gas use restraints
previously applicable. There are other legislative proposals pending in the
Federal and State legislatures which, if enacted, would significantly
affect the petroleum industry. At the present time, it is impossible to
predict what proposals, if any, might actually be enacted by Congress or
the various state legislatures and what effect, if any, these proposals
might have on the production and marketing of natural gas by us. Similarly,
16
and despite the trend toward federal deregulation of the natural gas
industry, whether or to what extent that trend will continue or what the
ultimate effect will be on the production and marketing of natural gas by
us cannot be predicted.
Our sales of oil and natural gas liquids are not regulated and are at
market prices. The price received from the sale of these products is
affected by the cost of transporting the products to market. Much of that
transportation is through interstate common carrier pipelines. Effective
as of January 1, 1995, the FERC implemented regulations generally
grandfathering all previously approved interstate transportation rates and
establishing an indexing system for those rates by which adjustments are
made annually based on the rate of inflation, subject to certain conditions
and limitations. These regulations may tend to increase the cost of
transporting oil and natural gas liquids by interstate pipeline, although
the annual adjustments may result in decreased rates in a given year. These
regulations have generally been approved on judicial review. Every five
years, the FERC will examine the relationship between the annual change in
the applicable index and the actual cost changes experienced by the oil
pipeline industry. We are not able to predict with certainty what effect,
if any, these relatively new federal regulations or the periodic review of
the index by the FERC will have on us.
Federal, state, and local agencies have promulgated extensive rules
and regulations applicable to our oil and natural gas exploration,
production and related operations. Oklahoma, Texas and other states
require permits for drilling operations, drilling bonds and the filing of
reports concerning operations and impose other requirements relating to the
exploration of oil and natural gas. Many states also have statutes or
regulations addressing conservation matters including provisions for the
unitization or pooling of oil and natural gas properties, the establishment
of maximum rates of production from oil and natural gas wells and the
regulation of spacing, plugging and abandonment of such wells. The statutes
and regulations of some states limit the rate at which oil and natural gas
can be produced from our properties. The federal and state regulatory
burden on the oil and natural gas industry increases our cost of doing
business and affects its profitability. Because these rules and regulations
are frequently amended or reinterpreted, we are unable to predict the
future cost or impact of complying with those laws.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT OF FURTHER ACTIVITY
Statements in this document as well as information contained in
written material, press releases and oral statements issued by or on behalf
of us contain, or may contain, certain "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of federal securities laws. All statements, other than
statements of historical facts, included in this document which address
activities, events or developments which we expect or anticipate will or
may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The words
"believes," "intends," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "estimates,"
"predicts" and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-
looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among
others, such things as:
17
. our year 2002 plans;
. the amount and nature of our future capital expenditures;
. the number of wells we intend to drill or rework;
. demand for our oil and natural gas and the price we will be paid for
such production;
. our oil and natural gas prospects;
. estimates of our proved oil and natural gas reserves;
. reserve potential;
. development and infill drilling potential;
. expansion and other development trends of the oil and natural gas
industry;
. our business strategy;
. production of our oil and natural gas reserves;
. expansion and growth of our business and operations; and
. the use of our drilling rig services and what we will be paid for such
services.
These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by
us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends,
current conditions and expected future developments as well as other
factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances.2 However, whether
actual results and developments will conform to our expectations and
predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which could
cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, including:
. the risk factors discussed in this document;
. general economic, market or business conditions;
. the nature or lack of business opportunities that may be presented to
and pursued by us;
. demand for our land drilling services;
. changes in laws or regulations; and
. other factors, most of which are beyond our control.
In order to provide a more thorough understanding of the possible
effects of some of these influences on any forward-looking statements made
by us, the following discussion outlines certain factors that in the future
could cause our consolidated results for 2002 and beyond to differ
materially from those that may be set forth in any such forward-looking
statement made by or on behalf of us.
Commodity Prices
The prices we receive for our oil and natural gas production have a
direct impact on the amount of our revenues, our profitability and the
amount of our cash flow as well as our ability to meet our projected
financial and operational goals. The prices for natural gas and crude oil
are heavily dependent on a number of factors beyond our control, including
the demand for oil and/or natural gas; current weather conditions in the
continental United States (which can greatly influence the demand for
natural gas at any given time as well as the price to be received for such
natural gas); and the ability of current distribution systems in the United
States to effectively meet the demand for oil and or natural gas at any
18
given time, particularly in times of peak demand which may result due to
adverse weather conditions. Oil prices are extremely sensitive to foreign
influences that may be based on political, social or economic
underpinnings, any one of which could have an immediate and significant
effect on the price and supply of oil. In addition, prices of both natural
gas and oil are becoming more and more influenced by trading on the
commodities markets which, at times, has tended to increase the volatility
associated with these prices resulting, at times, in large differences in
such prices even on a month-to-month basis. All of these factors,
especially when coupled with the fact that much of our product prices are
determined on a daily basis, can, and at times do, lead to wide
fluctuations in the prices we receive.
Based on our 2001 production, a $.10 per Mcf change in what we are
paid for our natural production would result in a corresponding $146,000
per month ($1,752,000 annualized) change in our pre-tax cash flow. A $1.00
per barrel change in our oil price would have a $33,000 per month ($396,000
annualized) change in our pre-tax cash flow. During 2001, substantially all
of our natural gas and crude oil volumes were sold at market responsive
prices.
In order to reduce our exposure to short-term fluctuations in the
price of oil and natural gas, we sometimes enter into hedging or swap
arrangements. Our hedging or swap arrangements apply to only a portion of
our production and provide only partial price protection against declines
in oil and natural gas prices. These hedging or swap arrangements may
expose us to risk of financial loss and limit the benefit to us of
increases in prices.
Drilling Customer Demand
Demand for our drilling services is dependent almost entirely on the
needs of third parties. Based on past history, such parties' requirements
are subject to a number of factors, independent of any subjective factors,
that directly impact the demand for our drilling rigs. These include the
availability of funds to such third parties to carry out their drilling
operations during any given time period which, in turn, are often subject
to downward revision based on decreases in the then current prices of oil
and natural gas. Many of our customers are small to mid-size oil and
natural gas companies whose drilling budgets tend to be susceptible to the
influences of current price fluctuations. Other factors that affect our
ability to work our drilling rigs are: the weather which, under adverse
circumstances, can delay or even cause a project to be abandoned by an
operator; the competition faced by us in securing the award of a drilling
contract in a given area; our experience and recognition in a new market
area; and the availability of labor to run our drilling rigs.
Uncertainty Of Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of
proved reserves and their values, including many factors beyond our
control. The reserve data included in this document represent only
estimates. Reservoir engineering is a subjective and inexact process of
estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas that cannot be
19
measured in an exact manner. Estimates of economically recoverable oil and
natural gas reserves depend on a number of variable factors, including
historical production from the area compared with production from other
producing areas, and assumptions concerning:
. the effects of regulations by governmental agencies;
. future oil and natural gas prices;
. future operating costs;
. severance and excise taxes;
. development costs; and
. workover and remedial costs.
Some or all of these assumptions may vary considerably from actual
results. For these reasons, estimates of the economically recoverable
quantities of oil and natural gas attributable to any particular group of
properties, classifications of those reserves based on risk of recovery,
and estimates of the future net cash flows from reserves prepared by
different engineers or by the same engineers but at different times may
vary substantially. Accordingly, reserve estimates may be subject to
downward or upward adjustment. Actual production, revenues and expenditures
with respect to our reserves will likely vary from estimates, and those
variances may be material.
The information regarding discounted future net cash flows included in
this document should not be considered as the current market value of the
estimated oil and natural gas reserves attributable to our properties. As
required by the SEC, the estimated discounted future net cash flows from
proved reserves are based on prices and costs as of the date of the
estimate, while actual future prices and costs may be materially higher or
lower. Actual future net cash flows also will be affected by the following
factors:
. the amount and timing of actual production;
. supply and demand for oil and natural gas;
. increases or decreases in consumption; and
. changes in governmental regulations or taxation.
In addition, the 10% discount factor, which is required by the SEC to
be used in calculating discounted future net cash flows for reporting
purposes, is not necessarily the most appropriate discount factor based on
interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with our
operations or the oil and natural gas industry in general.
We periodically review the carrying value of our oil and natural gas
properties under the full cost accounting rules of the SEC. Under these
rules, capitalized costs of proved oil and natural gas properties may not
exceed the present value of estimated future net revenues from proved
reserves, discounted at 10%. Application of the ceiling test generally
requires pricing future revenue at the unescalated prices in effect as of
the end of each fiscal quarter and requires a write-down for accounting
purposes if the ceiling is exceeded, even if prices were depressed for only
a short period of time. We may be required to write down the carrying value
20
of our oil and natural gas properties when oil and natural gas prices are
depressed or unusually volatile. If a write-down is required, it would
result in a charge to earnings but would not impact cash flow from
operating activities. Once incurred, a write-down of oil and natural gas
properties is not reversible at a later date.
We are continually identifying and evaluating opportunities to acquire
oil and natural gas properties, including acquisitions that would be
significantly larger than those consummated to date by us. We cannot
assure you that we will successfully consummate any acquisition, that we
will be able to acquire producing oil and natural gas properties that
contain economically recoverable reserves or that any acquisition will be
profitably integrated into our operations.
Debt and Bank Borrowing
We have experienced and expect to continue to experience substantial
working capital needs due to our growth in drilling operations and our
active exploration and development programs. Historically, we have funded
our working capital needs through a combination of internally generated
cash flow, equity financing and borrowings under our bank loan agreement.
As a result of our working capital requirements, we currently have, and
will continue to have, a certain amount of indebtedness. At December 31,
2001, our long-term debt outstanding was $31.0 million. As of December 31,
2001, we had a total loan commitment of $100 million, but we elected to
limit the amount available for borrowing under our bank loan agreement to
$60 million to reduce cost. The amount outstanding under our bank loan
agreement at December 31, 2001 was $30.0 million.
Our level of debt, the cash flow needed to satisfy our indebtedness
and the covenants governing our indebtedness could:
. limit funds otherwise available for financing our capital
expenditures, our drilling program or other activities or cause us to
curtail these activities;
. limit our flexibility in planning for or reacting to changes in our
business;
. place us at a competitive disadvantage to some of our competitors that
are less leveraged than us;
. make us more vulnerable during periods of low oil and natural gas
prices or in the event of a downturn in our business; and
. prevent us from obtaining additional financing on acceptable terms or
limit amounts available under our existing or any future credit
facilities.
Our ability to meet our debt service obligations will depend on our
future performance. If the requirements of our indebtedness are not
satisfied, a default would be deemed to occur and our lenders would be
entitled to accelerate the payment of the outstanding indebtedness. If
this occurs, we would not have sufficient funds available nor would we be
able to obtain the financing required to meet our obligations.
21
The amount of our existing debt as well as its future debt is, to a
large extent, a function of the costs associated with the projects
undertaken by us at any given time and the cash flow received by us.
Generally, the costs incurred by us in our normal operations are those
associated with the drilling of oil and natural gas wells, the acquisition
of producing properties, and the costs associated with the maintenance or
expansion of our drilling rig fleet. To some extent, these costs,
particularly the first two items, are discretionary and we maintain a
degree of control regarding the timing and/or the need to incur the same.
However, in some cases, unforeseen circumstances may arise, such as in the
case of an unanticipated opportunity to acquire a large producing property
package or the need to replace a costly rig component due to an unexpected
loss, which could force us to incur increased debt above that which we had
expected or forecasted. Likewise, for many of the reasons mentioned above,
our cash flow may not be sufficient to cover our current cash requirements
which would then require us to increase our debt either through bank
borrowings or otherwise.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
- ------- -----------------
We are a party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary
course of our business, none of which, in our opinion, will result in
judgments which would have a material adverse effect on our financial
position, operating results or cash flows.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- ------- ---------------------------------------------------
No matters were submitted to our security holders during the fourth
quarter of 2001.
22
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
- ------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Matters
-------
Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol "UNT." The following table identifies the high and low sales prices
per share of our common stock for the periods indicated:
2000 2001
------------------------- -------------------------
QUARTER High Low High Low
------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
First $ 11.5000 $ 6.6250 $ 21.3750 $ 16.3000
Second $ 14.5625 $ 9.0000 $ 23.0000 $ 14.5000
Third $ 16.2500 $ 11.8125 $ 15.8000 $ 7.4100
Fourth $ 19.4375 $ 12.3750 $ 14.2400 $ 8.2900
On February 20, 2002, there were 1,985 record holders of our common
stock.
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and currently
intend to continue our policy of retaining earnings from our operations.
Our loan agreement prohibits us from declaring and paying dividends (other
than stock dividends) in any fiscal year in an amount greater than 25
percent of our preceding year's consolidated net income and then only if
our working capital provided from operations for the previous year was
equal to or greater than 175 percent of the current maturities of our long-
term debt at the end of the previous year.
23
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
- ------- -----------------------
Year Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------------------------
1997 (1) 1998 (1) 1999 (1) 2000 2001
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(In thousands except per share amounts)
Revenues $ 96,478 $ 97,274 $ 102,352 $ 201,264 $ 259,179
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Net Income $ 12,330 $ 1,428 $ 3,048 $ 34,344 $ 62,766
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Earnings Per
Common Share:
Basic $ .47 $ .05 $ .10 $ .96 $ 1.75
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Diluted $ .46 $ .05 $ .10 $ .95 $ 1.73
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Total Assets $ 213,416 $ 233,096 $ 295,567 $ 346,288 $ 417,253
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Long-Term Debt $ 55,480 $ 75,048 $ 67,239 $ 54,000 $ 31,000
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Other Long-Term
Liabilities $ 2,363 $ 2,368 $ 2,325 $ 3,597 $ 4,110
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Cash Dividends
Per Common Share $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
----------------------
(1) Restated for the merger with Questa Oil and Gas Co.
See Management's Discussion of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations for a review of 1999, 2000 and 2001 activity.
24
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
- ------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Results of Operations
---------------------
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY
- ---------------------------------
Our financial condition and liquidity, for current operations, depends
on our cash flow from operating activities and borrowings under our bank
loan agreement. Our cash flow is influenced mainly by the prices we receive
for our natural gas production, the demand for and the dayrates we receive
for our drilling rigs and, to a lesser extent, the prices we receive for
our oil production. Our loan agreement provides for a revolving credit
facility, which terminates on May 1, 2005 followed by a three-year term
loan. At December 31, 2001, we had borrowed $30.0 million, which was 50
percent of the amount available, as elected by us on October 1, 2001, and
represented 30 percent of the loan value of our assets as determined by our
banks on October 1, 2001. Most of our capital expenditures are
discretionary and directed toward future growth.
Our Oil and Natural Gas Operations. Natural gas comprises
approximately 90 percent of our total oil and natural gas reserves. Any
appreciable change in natural gas prices has a significant affect on our
revenues, cash flow and the value of our oil and natural gas reserves. Such
price changes also influence the demand for our natural gas production, our
drilling rigs (since they are used mainly to drill natural gas wells) and
the amount we can charge for our contract drilling services.
Based on our 2001 production, a $.10 per Mcf change in what we are
paid for our natural production would result in a corresponding $146,000
per month ($1,752,000 annualized) change in our pre-tax cash flow. Our 2001
average natural gas price declined from a high of $9.35 per Mcf in January
to $2.05 per Mcf in September (an 78 percent decrease) before recovering to
$2.16 per Mcf in December. For the year, our average natural gas price was
$4.00 per Mcf. A $1.00 per barrel change in our oil price would have a
$33,000 per month ($396,000 annualized) change in our pre-tax cash flow. We
received the highest average oil price for the year during February at
$28.13 per barrel. For the balance of the year oil prices declined
resulting in our lowest average oil price of $16.28 per barrel in December.
Our average oil price for the year was $23.62 per barrel.
Generally, prices and demand for domestic natural gas are influenced
by weather conditions, supply imbalances and by world wide oil price
levels. Domestic oil prices are primarily influenced by world oil market
developments. All of these factors are beyond our control and we can not
predict nor measure their future influence on the prices we will receive.
Because natural gas prices have such a significant affect on the value
of our oil and natural gas reserves declines in these prices can result in
a reduction of the carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties.
Likewise, price declines can also adversely affect the semi-annual
25
determination of the amount available for us to borrow under our bank loan
agreement since that determination is based mainly on the value of our oil
and natural gas reserves. Such a reduction could limit our ability to
carry out our planned capital projects.
Hedging Activities. Periodically we hedge the prices we will receive
for a portion of our future natural gas and oil production. We do so in an
attempt to reduce the impact and uncertainty that price fluctuations have
on our cash flow. In the first quarter of 2000, we entered into swap
transactions to lock in a portion of our oil production at higher oil
prices. These transactions applied to approximately 50 percent of our daily
oil production covering the period from April 1, 2000 to July 31, 2000 and
25 percent of our daily oil production for August and September of 2000 at
prices ranging from $24.42 to $27.01. We entered into a collar contract
covering approximately 25 percent of our daily oil production from November
1, 2000 through February 28, 2001. The collar had a floor of $26.00 per
barrel and a ceiling of $33.00 per barrel and we received $0.86 per barrel
for entering into the transaction. During 2000, the net effect of our oil
hedging transactions for oil reduced our oil revenues by $465,000. We did
not have any hedging transactions for natural gas in 2000. During the first
quarter of 2001, our oil hedging transaction yielded an increase in our oil
revenues of $17,200.
We entered into a natural gas collar contract for approximately 36
percent of our June and July 2001 natural gas production at a floor price
of $4.50 and a ceiling price of $5.95. We also entered into two natural
gas collar contracts for approximately 38 percent of our September through
November 2001 natural gas production. Both contracts had a floor price of
$2.50. One contract had a ceiling price of $3.68 and the other contract had
a ceiling price of $4.25. For the year our natural gas collar contracts
added $2,030,000 to our natural gas revenues. We did not have any hedging
transactions outstanding at December 31, 2001 nor on February 20, 2002.
Contract Drilling Operations. Our drilling operations are subject to
many factors that influence the number of rigs we have working at any one
time as well as the costs and revenues associated with such work. These
factors include competition from other drilling contractors, the prevailing
prices for natural gas and oil, the availability of labor to operate our
rigs and our ability to supply the type of equipment required. We have not
encountered major difficulty in hiring and retaining rig crews, but such
shortages have occurred periodically in the past. If demand for drilling
rigs was to increase rapidly in the future, shortages of experienced
personnel would limit our ability to increase the number of rigs we could
operate.
Low oil and natural gas prices during most of the 1980's and 1990's
reduced demand for domestic land contract drilling rigs. However, in the
last half of 1999 and throughout 2000, as oil and natural gas prices
increased, we experienced a substantial increase in demand for our rigs.
Our average utilization of 44.6 rigs (95 percent) in January 2001 increased
to 51.9 rigs (96 percent) in July before dropping to 33.5 rigs (62 percent)
in December 2001. Our average utilization for the year was 46.3 rigs (90
percent).
26
As demand for our rigs increased during the year so did the dayrates
we received. Our average dayrate in January was $8,176 and by September it
had increased to $11,142. However, as demand began to decrease so did our
rates and by December our average dayrate was $9,594. That rate has
continued to fall into the first quarter of 2002. Based on the average
utilization rate we achieved in 2001, a $100 per day change in dayrates has
a $4,630 per day ($1,690,000 annualized) change in our pre-tax operating
cash flow.
We anticipate that for the first half of 2002 the number of our rigs
operating will range in the mid to high thirties and dayrates will continue
to decline early in the first quarter before stabilizing. Utilization and
dayrates for the last half of 2002 and beyond will depend mainly on the
price of natural gas during the first half of 2002 and beyond. Even if
demand increases in 2002, we anticipate that competition will continue to
influence our operations.
Bank Loan Agreement. On July 24, 2001, we signed a $100 million bank
loan agreement. At our election the amount currently available for us to
borrow is set at $60 million. Although the current value of our assets
would have allowed us to have access to the full $100 million, we elected
to set the loan commitment at $60 million in order to reduce financing
costs since we are charged a facility fee of .375 of 1 percent on the
amount available but not borrowed.
Each year on April 1 and October 1 our banks redetermine the loan
value of our assets. This value is primarily determined to be an amount
equal to a percentage of the discounted future value of our oil and natural
gas reserves, as determined by the banks. In addition, an amount
representing a part of the value of our drilling rig fleet, limited to $20
million, is added to the loan value. Our loan agreement provides for a
revolving credit facility which terminates on May 1, 2005 followed by a
three-year term loan. Borrowing under our loan agreement totaled $30.0
million at December 31, 2001 and $28.0 million on February 20, 2002.
Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at the
Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. prime rate ("Prime Rate") or the London
Interbank Offered Rates ("Libor Rate") plus 1.00 to 1.50 percent depending
on the level of debt as a percentage of the total loan value. Subsequent
to May 1, 2005, borrowings under the loan agreement bear interest at the
Prime Rate or the Libor Rate plus 1.25 to 1.75 percent depending on the
level of debt as a percentage of the total loan value. In addition, the
loan agreement allows us to select, at any time between the date of the
agreement and 3 days prior to the start of the term loan, a fixed rate for
the amount outstanding under the credit facility. Our ability to select the
fixed rate option is subject to a number of conditions, all of which are
more fully set out in the loan agreement.
The interest rate on our bank debt was 3.3 percent at December 31,
2001 and 3.0 percent on February 20, 2002. At our election, any portion of
our outstanding bank debt may be fixed at the Libor Rate, as adjusted
depending on the level of our debt as a percentage of the amount available
for us to borrow. The Libor Rate may be fixed for periods of up to 30, 60,
90 or 180 days with the remainder of our bank debt being subject to the
27
Prime Rate. During any Libor Rate funding period, we may not pay any part
of the outstanding principal balance which is subject to the Libor Rate.
Borrowings subject to the Libor Rate were $28.0 million at December 31,
2001 and February 20, 2002.
The loan agreement requires us to maintain consolidated net worth of
at least $125 million, a current ratio of not less than 1 to 1, a ratio of
long-term debt, as defined in the loan agreement, to consolidated tangible
net worth not greater than 1.2 to 1 and a ratio of total liabilities, as
defined in the loan agreement, to consolidated tangible net worth not
greater than 1.65 to 1. In addition, working capital provided by our
operations, as defined in the loan agreement, cannot be less than $40
million in any year. We are prohibited from paying dividends (other than
stock dividends) during any fiscal year in excess of 25 percent of our
consolidated net income from the preceding fiscal year and we can pay
dividends only if working capital provided from our operations during the
preceding year is equal to or greater than 175 percent of current
maturities of long-term debt at the end of the preceding year. We also
cannot incur additional debt except in certain very limited exceptions and
the creation or existence of mortgages or liens, other than those in the
ordinary course of business, on any of our property is prohibited unless it
is in favor of our banks.
Shareholders' Equity, Working Capital and Capital Expenditures. Our
shareholders' equity at December 31, 2001 was $279.2 million giving us a
ratio of long-term debt-to-total capitalization of 10 percent. Net cash
provided by operations in 2001 was $133.0 million compared to $67.4 million
in 2000. We had working capital of $17.6 million at December 31, 2001. Our
total 2001 capital expenditures were $108.8 million ($400,000 net in
accounts payable), of which $56.9 million was spent on our oil and natural
gas operations, $51.3 million was spent on our drilling segment and
$539,000 was spent primarily on furniture and fixtures and leasehold
improvements.
Additional Oil and Gas Information. Our decisions on whether we try
to increase our oil and natural gas reserves through acquisitions or
through drilling depends on the prevailing or anticipated market
conditions, potential return on investment, future drilling potential and
the availability of opportunities to obtain financing under the
circumstances involved, all of which tend to provide us with a large degree
of flexibility in determining when and if to incur such costs. As a result
of the high natural gas prices during the last half of 2000 and into the
first half of 2001, there were not many opportunities during 2001 to
acquire producing properties at prices we consider attractive. As a result
we spent $48.0 million on exploration and development drilling, $7.5
million for undeveloped leasehold and only $1.4 million for producing
property acquisitions. We drilled 125 wells in 2001 as compared with 101
wells in 2000. Based on current prices, for 2002, we plan to drill an
estimated 140 wells and have total capital expenditures of approximately
$65 million for exploration, development drilling and acquisition of oil
and natural gas properties.
28
On March 20, 2000, we completed the acquisition, by merger, of Questa
Oil and Gas Co.("Questa") under which Questa became a wholly owned
subsidiary of Unit Corporation. In the merger, each of Questa's
outstanding shares of common stock (excluding treasury shares) was
converted into .95 shares of our common stock. We issued approximately 1.8
million shares as a result of this merger. The merger was accounted for as
a pooling of interests and, accordingly, all amounts prior to the merger
were restated, unless otherwise noted, as if the companies had been
combined during the periods presented.
Additional Drilling Information. While natural gas prices were high
in early 2001, we continued to add to our rig fleet. In January 2001, we
purchased a 750 horse power diesel electric rig with a 13,000 foot depth
capacity for $3.2 million. This rig was working in our Gulf Coast region at
December 31, 2001. In February 2001, we purchased a 1,000 horse power,
winterized mechanical rig, with a 16,000 foot depth capacity, for $2.5
million. This rig was under contract in our Rocky Mountain region on
December 31, 2001. In May we acquired two diesel electric rigs with depth
capacities of 16,000 and 20,000 feet, for $7.8 million. These two rigs are
both working in our Gulf Coast region. We also acquired a 16,000 foot depth
capacity diesel electric rig. This rig will, depending on industry
conditions and additional capital requirements, be placed in service when
conditions warrant. The addition of these five rigs brings our fleet to
55, 54 of which are currently capable of operating. During 2001, we spent
$38.7 million for new drilling rigs, drilling rig components and
refurbishments of existing rigs, $11.6 million for new drill pipe and
collars and $1.0 million for transportation equipment. For 2002 we
anticipate that we will spend approximately $20 million on our drilling
operations.
Our contract drilling segment provides drilling services for our
exploration and production segment. The contracts for these services are
issued under the same conditions and rates as the contracts that we are in
with unrelated parties. The profit received by our contract drilling
segment of $179,000 and $2,259,000 in 2000 and 2001, respectively, for this
work was used to reduce the carrying value of our oil and natural gas
properties rather than being included in our profits in current operations.
29
Contractual Commitments. We have various contractual obligations at
December 31, 2001, which are as follows:
Payments Due by Period
-----------------------------------------------
Less
Contractual Than 1 2-3 4-5 After 5
Obligations Total Year Years Years Years
------------- --------- ------- -------- --------- --------
(In thousands)
Bank Debt(1) $ 30,000 $ - $ - $ 15,833 $14,167
Hickman
Note(2) 2,000 1,000 1,000 - -
Retirement
Agreement(3) 1,330 20 470 600 240
Gas Purchaser
Prepay-
ment(4) 437 437 - - -
Operating
Leases(5) 2,306 654 1,296 344 12
--------- ------- -------- --------- --------
Total
Contractual
Obligations $ 36,073 $2,111 $ 2,766 $ 16,777 $14,419
========= ======= ======== ========= ========
-------------------
(1) See Previous Discussion in Management Discussion and Analysis
regarding bank debt.
(2) On November 20, 1997, we acquired Hickman Drilling Company
pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger entered into by and
between us, Hickman Drilling Company and all of the holders of
the outstanding capital stock of Hickman Drilling Company. As
part of this acquisition, the former shareholders of Hickman
held, as of December 31, 2001, promissory notes in the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of $2.0 million (See Note 4 of our
Consolidated Financial Statements). These notes are payable in
equal annual installments on January 2, 2002 and January 2, 2003.
The notes bear interest at the Chase Prime Rate, which at
December 31, 2001 and February 20, 2002 was 4.75 percent. At
February 20, 2002 the promissory notes outstanding totaled $1.0
million.
(3) In the second quarter of 2001, we recorded $1.3 million in
additional employee benefit expenses for the present value of a
separation agreement made in connection with the retirement of
King Kirchner from his position as Chief Executive Officer. The
liability associated with this expense, including accrued
interest, will be paid in $25,000 monthly payments starting in
July 2003 and continuing through June 2009 (See Note 4 of our
Consolidated Financial Statements).
(4) Due to a settlement agreement, which terminated at December 31,
1997, we have a liability of $437,000 at December 31, 2001,
included in current portion of long-term debt on our Consolidated
30
Balance Sheet, representing proceeds received from a natural gas
purchaser as prepayment for natural gas. The $437,000 is payable on
June 1, 2002.
(5) We lease office space in Tulsa, Houston and Woodward under the
terms of operating leases expiring through January 31, 2007 (See
Note 9 of our Consolidated Financial Statements).
At December 31, 2001, we also have the following commitments and
contingencies that could create, increase or accelerate our liabilities:
Amount of Commitment Expiration
Per Period
-------------------------------------
Total
Amount
Committed Less
Other Or Than 1 2-3 4-5 After 5
Commitments Accrued Year Years Years Years
--------------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(In thousands)
Deferred
Compensation
Agreement(1) $ 1,277 Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Separation
Benefit
Agreement(2) $ 1,959 $ 436 Unknown Unknown Unknown
Repurchase
Obliga-
tions(3) Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
(1) We provide a salary deferral plan which allows participants to
defer the recognition of salary for income tax purposes until
actual distribution of benefits, which occurs at either
termination of employment, death or certain defined unforeseeable
emergency hardships. We recognize payroll expense and record a
liability, included in other long-term liabilities in our
Consolidated Balance Sheet, at the time of deferral (See Note 6
of our Consolidated Financial Statements).
(2) Effective January 1, 1997, We adopted a separation benefit plan
("Separation Plan"). The Separation Plan allows eligible
employees whose employment with us is involuntarily terminated
or, in the case of an employee who has completed 20 years of
service, voluntarily or involuntarily terminated, to receive
benefits equivalent to 4 weeks salary for every whole year of
service completed with Unit up to a maximum of 104 weeks. To
receive payments the recipient must waive any claims against us
in exchange for receiving the separation benefits. On October
28, 1997, we adopted a Separation Benefit Plan for Senior
Management ("Senior Plan"). The Senior Plan provides certain
officers and key executives of Unit with benefits generally
equivalent to the Separation Plan. The Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors has absolute discretion in the selection
of the individuals covered in this plan (See Note 6 of our
31
Consolidated Financial Statements).
(3) We formed The Unit 1984 Oil and Gas Limited Partnership and the
1986 Energy Income Limited Partnership along with private limited
partnerships (the "Partnerships") with certain qualified
employees, officers and directors from 1984 through 2002, with a
subsidiary of ours serving as General Partner. The Partnerships
were formed for the purpose of conducting oil and natural gas
acquisition, drilling and development operations and serving as
co-general partner with us in any additional limited partnerships
formed during that year. The Partnerships participated on a
proportionate basis with us in most drilling operations and most
producing property acquisitions commenced by us for our own
account during the period from the formation of the Partnership
through December 31 of each year. These partnership agreements
require, upon the election of a limited partner, that we
repurchase the limited partner's interest at amounts to be
determined by appraisal in the future. Such repurchases in any
one year are limited to 20 percent of the units outstanding. We
made repurchases of $10,000 and $14,000 in 1999 and 2000,
respectively, for such limited partners' interests. No
repurchases were made in 2001 (See Note 9 of our Consolidated
Financial Statements).
Oil and Natural Gas Limited Partnerships. We are the general partner
for eighteen oil and natural gas partnerships which were formed privately
and publicly. The partnership's revenues and costs are shared in accordance
with formulas prescribed in each limited partnership agreement. The
partnerships reimburse us for contract drilling, well supervision and
general and administrative expense reimbursements. Related party
transactions for contract drilling and well supervision fees are the
related party's share of such costs. These costs are billed on the same
basis as billings to unrelated parties for similar services. General and
administrative reimbursements consist of direct general and administrative
expense incurred on the related party's behalf as well as indirect expenses
allocated to the related parties. Such allocations are based on the
related party's level of activity and are considered by management to be
reasonable. During the 1999, 2000 and 2001, the total paid to us for all
of these fees was $694,000, $966,000 and $1,107,000, respectively. Our
proportionate share of assets, liabilities and net income relating to the
oil and natural gas partnerships is included in our consolidated financial
statements.
At December 31, 2001, we owned a 40 percent equity interest in a
natural gas gathering and processing company. Our balance sheet investment
and equity in the company totaled $1.6 million at December 31, 2001. At
December 31, 2001 and February 20, 2002, we were not guaranteeing any
indebtedness of the gas gathering and processing company.
At December 31, 2001, one of our subsidiaries owned 4,949,500 shares
of common stock and 1,800,000 warrants of Shenandoah Resources Ltd., a
Canadian oil and natural gas exploration and production company. The
investment of $346,000 is part of other assets in our consolidated balance
sheet and was written down by $2.1 million during 2001.
32
Critical Accounting Policies. We account for our oil and natural gas
exploration and development activities using the full cost method of
accounting. Under this method, all costs incurred in the acquisition,
exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties are
capitalized. At the end of each quarter, the net capitalized costs of our
oil and natural gas properties is limited to the lower of unamortized cost
or a ceiling. The ceiling is defined as the sum of the present value (10
percent discount rate) of estimated future net revenues from proved
reserves, based on period-ending oil and natural gas prices, plus the lower
of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties included in the
costs being amortized less related income tax. If the net capitalized costs
of our oil and natural gas properties exceed the ceiling, we are subject to
a ceiling test write-down to the extent of such excess. A ceiling test
write-down is a non-cash charge to earnings. If required, it reduces
earnings and impacts stockholders' equity in the period of occurrence and
results in lower depreciation, depletion and amortization expense in future
periods.
The risk that we will be required to write-down the carrying value of
our oil and natural gas properties increases when oil and natural gas
prices are depressed or if we have substantial downward revisions in our
estimated proved reserves. Application of these rules during periods of
relatively low oil or natural gas prices, even if temporary, increases the
probability of a ceiling test write-down. Based on oil and natural gas
prices in effect on December 31, 2001 ($2.51 per Mcf for natural gas and
$17.71 per barrel for oil), the unamortized cost of our domestic oil and
natural gas properties did not exceed the ceiling of our proved oil and
natural gas reserves. Natural gas pricing has been erratic since year-end
and any significant declines below year-end prices used in the reserve
evaluation would likely result in a ceiling test write-down in subsequent
quarterly reporting periods.
The value of our oil and natural gas reserves is used to determine the
loan value under our loan agreement. This value is affected by both price
changes and the measurement of reserve volumes. Oil and natural gas
reserves cannot be measured exactly. Our estimate of oil and natural gas
reserves require extensive judgments of our reservoir engineering data and
are generally less precise than other estimates made in connection with
financial disclosures. Assigning monetary values to such estimates does not
reduce the subjectivity and changing nature of such reserve estimates.
Indeed the uncertainties inherent in the disclosure are compounded by
applying additional estimates of the rates and timing of production and the
costs that will be incurred in developing and producing the reserves. We
utilizes Ryder Scott Company, independent petroleum consultants, to review
our reserves as prepared by our reservoir engineers.
Drilling equipment, transportation equipment and other property and
equipment are carried at cost. Renewals and betterments are capitalized
while repairs and maintenance are expensed. Realization of the carrying
value of property and equipment is reviewed for possible impairment
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
amount may not be recoverable. Assets are determined to be impaired if a
forecast of undiscounted estimated future net operating cash flows directly
33
related to the asset including disposal value if any, is less than the
carrying amount of the asset. If any asset is determined to be impaired,
the loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the
asset exceeds its fair value. An estimate of fair value is based on the
best information available, including prices for similar assets. Changes in
such estimates could cause Unit to reduce the carrying value of property
and equipment.
Under "footage" and "turnkey" contracts, we bear the risk of
completion of the well, so revenues and expenses are recognized using the
completed contract method. The entire amount of a loss, if any, is recorded
when the loss can be determined. The costs of uncompleted drilling
contracts include expenses incurred to date on "footage" or "turnkey"
contracts, which are still in process at the end of the period, and are
included in other current assets.
EFFECTS OF INFLATION
- --------------------
In the 18 years prior to the last half of 1999, the effects of
inflation on our operations was minimal due to low inflation rates and
moderate demand for contract drilling services. However, starting in the
last half of 1999 and throughout 2000 and the first three quarters of 2001,
as drilling rig dayrates and utilization increased, the impact of inflation
increased as the availability of used equipment and third party services
decreased. Due to industry-wide demand for qualified labor, contract
drilling labor costs increased substantially in the summer of 2000 and once
again in the summer of 2001. How inflation will affect us in the future
will depend on additional increases, if any, realized in our drilling rig
rates and the prices we receive for our oil and natural gas. If industry
activity recovers and returns to levels achieved in early 2001, shortages
in support equipment such as drill pipe, third party services and qualified
labor could occur resulting in additional corresponding increases in our
material and labor costs. These conditions may limit our ability to
realize improvements in operating profits.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
- -----------------------------------
On January 1, 2001, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
Standard No. 133 (subsequently amended by Financial Accounting Standard
No.'s 137 and 138), "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities" (FAS 133). This statement requires all derivatives to be
recognized on the balance sheet and measured at fair value. If a
derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, we are required to measure
the effectiveness of the hedge, or the degree that the gain (loss) for the
hedging instrument offsets the loss (gain) on the hedged item, at each
reporting period. The effective portion of the gain (loss) on the
derivative instrument is recognized in other comprehensive income as a
component of equity and subsequently reclassified into earnings when the
forecasted transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of a
derivative's change in fair value is required to be recognized in earnings
immediately. Derivatives that do not qualify for hedge treatment under FAS
133 must be recorded at fair value with gains (losses) recognized in
34
earnings in the period of change. We periodically enter into derivative
commodity instruments to hedge our exposure to price fluctuations on oil
and natural gas production. Such instruments include regulated natural gas
and crude oil futures contracts traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange
(NYMEX) and over-the-counter swaps and basic hedges with major energy
derivative product specialists. At December 31, 2001, we were not holding
any natural gas or oil derivative contracts.
On July 20, 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, "Goodwill and
Other Intangible Assets" (FAS 142). For goodwill and intangible assets
already recorded in the financial statements, FAS 142 ends the amortization
of goodwill and certain intangible assets and subsequently requires, at
least annually, that an impairment test be performed on such assets to
determine whether the fair value has changed. We expensed $243,000
annually for the amortization of goodwill, and the unamortized balance of
goodwill is $5,088,000 at December 31, 2001. FAS 142 is effective for the
fiscal years starting after December 15, 2001 (January 1, 2002 for us). We
do not believe the future impact from the adoption of FAS 142 on our
financial position or results of operation will be material.
In July 2001, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations" (FAS
143). FAS 143 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002
(January 1, 2003 for us) and establishes an accounting standard requiring
the recording of the fair value of liabilities associated with the
retirement of long-lived assets (mainly plugging and abandonment costs for
our depleted wells) in the period in which the liability is incurred (at
the time the wells are drilled). We have not yet determined the effect of
the adoption of FAS 143 on our financial position or results of operations.
In August 2001, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived
Assets" (FAS 144). FAS 144 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2001 (January 1, 2002 for us). This statement supersedes
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121 "Accounting for the
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed
Of" and amends Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 for the
accounting and reporting of discontinued operations, as it relates to long-
lived assets. We do not believe the future impact from the adoption of FAS
144 on our financial position or results of operations will be material.
35
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
- ---------------------
2001 versus 2000
- ----------------
Net income for 2001 was $62,766,000, compared with $34,344,000 for
2000. This increase was due to increases in the use of our drilling rigs,
as well as, the dayrates we received for the use of the drilling rigs.
High natural gas prices in the last quarter of 2000 and the first quarter
of 2001 increased the demand for our drilling rigs which in turn pushed
contract drilling dayrates higher.
Our oil and natural gas revenues decreased 2 percent in 2001 when
compared with 2000. The average natural gas prices we received in 2001
increased 2 percent, but this increase was offset by a 2 percent reduction
in our natural gas production. The average oil price we received dropped
12 percent while oil production increased one percent between the
comparative years. We drilled 125 gross wells (53.4 net wells) in 2001,
compared to 101 gross wells (40.2 net wells) in 2000.
In 2001, revenues from our contract drilling operations increased by
55 percent as the average number of our drilling rigs being used increased
from 39.8 in 2000 to 46.3 in 2001. Revenues per rig per day increased 33
percent between the comparative years. Daywork revenues represented 88
percent of our total drilling revenues in 2001 and 75 percent in 2000.
Operating margins (revenues less operating costs) for our oil and
natural gas operations were 75 percent in 2001 and 79 percent in 2000.
This decrease resulted mainly from declines in production on older wells
without corresponding declines in operating expenses. Total operating cost
increased 12 percent and was due mainly to the addition of new wells
through development drilling and increases in ad valorem taxes, workover
expenses and compression fees.
Our contract drilling operating margins increased from 22 percent in
2000 to 46 percent in 2001. The additional operating margin was generally
due to additional revenue received per day and an increase in the number of
rigs being used. Our contract drilling operating cost per rig per day
decreased $400 in 2001 when compared with 2000 as increased usage reduced
the impact of our fixed indirect drilling expenses. Total contract drilling
operating costs were up 8 percent in 2001 versus 2000 primarily due to
increased utilization and increases in field labor cost.
Contract drilling depreciation increased 16 percent due to higher rig
utilization. Depreciation, depletion and amortization ("DD&A") of our oil
and natural gas properties increased 20 percent due primarily to a $2.1
million impairment of our investment in a company which has oil and natural
gas properties located in Canada and from a 11 percent increase in the
average DD&A rate per Mcfe to $0.91 in 2001 from $0.82 Mcfe in 2000.
General and administrative expenses increased 29 percent. In the
second quarter of 2001, we recorded $1.3 million in additional employee
benefit expenses for the present value of a separation agreement made in
36
connection with the retirement of King Kirchner from his position as Chief
Executive Officer. The liability associated with this expense plus accrued
interest will be paid in $25,000 monthly payments starting in July 2003 and
continuing through June 2009. Interest expense decreased 45 percent as our
average outstanding debt decreased 28 percent during 2001. The average
interest rate decreased from 7.9 percent in 2000 to 5.7 percent in 2001.
2000 versus 1999
- ----------------
Net income for 2000 was $34,344,000, compared with $3,048,000 for
1999. This improvement was mainly due to increases in our natural gas and
oil prices and production volumes. Higher oil and natural gas prices also
elevated the demand for our drilling rigs, resulting in increased
utilization of our rigs, dayrates and net income.
Our oil and natural gas revenues increased 99 percent in 2000 due to a
91 percent and 54 percent rise in the average prices we received for
natural gas and oil, respectively. For the year, natural gas production
increased by 11 percent and oil production increased by 15 percent when
compared to 1999. Production grew as we drilled 101 gross wells (40.2 net
wells) in 2000 compared to 51 gross wells (21.4 net wells) in 1999. Natural
gas production for the fourth quarter of 2000 exceeded 1999's fourth
quarter production by 11 percent.
In 2000, revenues from our contract drilling operations increased by
95 percent as the average number of our drilling rigs being used increased
from 23.1 in 1999 to 39.8 in 2000. Revenues per rig per day increased 13
percent between the comparative years. The acquisition of the Parker
drilling rigs added 6.5 rigs to our utilization rate in the fourth quarter
of 1999 and 9.0 rigs to our 2000 utilization at dayrates substantially
higher than those achieved in our other marketing area. Our rigs,
excluding those acquired from Parker, added 9.3 rigs to utilization and
added an additional 10 percent to their revenue per rig per day. Daywork
revenues represented 75 percent of our total drilling revenues in 2000 and
61 percent in 1999.
Operating margins (revenues less operating costs) for our oil and
natural gas operations were 79 percent in 2000 and 67 percent in 1999.
This increase resulted primarily from the increase in the average oil and
natural gas prices we received. Total operating costs between the
comparative years increased 31 percent due primarily to the 113 percent
increase in production taxes incurred as a result of higher revenues and to
a lesser extent from the addition of new wells through development
drilling.
Our contract drilling operating margins increased from 14 percent in
1999 to 22 percent in 2000. The additional operating margin was generally
due to additional revenue received per day and an increase in the number of
rigs utilized. Our contract drilling operating cost per rig day increased
$109 in 2000 as total contract drilling operating costs were up 76 percent
in 2000 versus 1999 primarily due to increased utilization.
37
Contract drilling depreciation increased 75 percent due to the impact
of higher depreciation per operating day associated with the newly acquired
Parker rigs and an overall increase in our rig utilization. Depreciation,
depletion and amortization ("DD&A") of our oil and natural gas properties
increased 8 percent due to additional production volumes. The average DD&A
rate per Mcfe decreased 4 percent to $0.82 in 2000.
General and administrative expenses increased 14 percent as certain
employee costs, outside contract services and office expenses increased due
to the growth in both of our operating segments. Interest expense
decreased 3 percent as our average outstanding debt decreased 14 percent
during 2000. The average interest rate increased from 7.0 percent in 1999
to 7.9 percent in 2000.
On May 3, 1999, our contract drilling office in Moore, Oklahoma was
struck by a tornado destroying two buildings and damaging various vehicles
and drilling equipment. In May 1999, we received $500,000 of insurance
proceeds for the destroyed buildings, and, as a result, in the second
quarter of 1999, we recognized a gain of $315,000 recorded as part of other
revenues. During the first quarter of 2000, we received the final
insurance proceeds totaling $987,000 for the contents of the destroyed
buildings, damaged equipment and clean up costs. From these proceeds, we
recognized a gain of $599,000 recorded as part of other revenues in the
first quarter of 2000.
Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
- -------- ----------------------------------------------------------
Our operations are exposed to market risks primarily as a result of
changes in commodity prices and interest rates.
Commodity Price Risk. Our major market risk exposure is in the price
we receive for our oil and natural gas production. The price we receive is
primarily driven by the prevailing worldwide price for crude oil and market
prices applicable to our natural gas production. Historically, prices we
have received for our oil and natural gas production have been volatile and
such volatility is expected to continue. The price of natural gas also
effects the demand for our rigs and the amount we can charge for the use of
the rigs. Based on our 2001 production, a $.10 per Mcf change in what we
are paid for our natural gas production would result in a corresponding
$146,000 per month ($1,752,000 annualized) change in our pre-tax cash flow.
A $1.00 per barrel change in our oil price would have a $33,000 per month
($396,000 annualized) change in our pre-tax cash flow.
Periodically we hedge the prices we will receive for a portion of our
future natural gas and oil production. We do so in an attempt to reduce
the impact and uncertainty that price fluctuations have on our cash flow.
In the first quarter of 2000, we entered into swap transactions to lock in
a portion of our oil production at higher oil prices. These transactions
applied to approximately 50 percent of our daily oil production covering
the period from April 1, 2000 to July 31, 2000 and 25 percent of our daily
oil production for August and September of 2000 at prices ranging from
$24.42 to $27.01. We entered into a collar contract covering approximately
25 percent of our daily oil production from November 1, 2000 through
38
February 28, 2001. The collar had a floor of $26.00 per barrel and a
ceiling of $33.00 per barrel and we received $0.86 per barrel for entering
into the transaction. During 2000, the net effect of our oil hedging
transactions for oil reduced our oil revenues by $465,000. We did not have
any hedging transactions for natural gas in 2000. During the first quarter
of 2001, our oil hedging transaction yielded an increase in our oil
revenues of $17,200.
We entered into a natural gas collar contract for approximately 36
percent of our June and July 2001 natural gas production at a floor price
of $4.50 and a ceiling price of $5.95. We also entered into two natural
gas collar contracts for approximately 38 percent of our September through
November 2001 natural gas production. Both contracts had a floor price of
$2.50. One contract had a ceiling price of $3.68 and the other contract had
a ceiling price of $4.25. For the year our natural gas collar contracts
added $2,030,000 to our natural gas revenues. We did not have any hedging
transactions outstanding at December 31, 2001 nor on February 20, 2002.
Interest Rate Risk. Our interest rate exposure relates to our long-
term debt, all of which bears interest at variable rates based on the prime
rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate ("Libor Rate"). At our election,
borrowings under our revolving credit and term loan may be fixed at the
Libor Rate for periods up to 180 days. Historically, we have not utilized
any financial instruments, such as interest rate swaps, to manage our
exposure to increases in interest rates. However, we may use such
financial instruments in the future should our assessment of future
interest rates warrant such use. Based on our average outstanding long-term
debt in 2001, a one percent change in the floating rate would change our
annual cash flow before income taxes by approximately $450,000.
39
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
- ------- --------------------------------------------
UNIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of December 31,
----------------------
2000 2001
---------- ----------
(In thousands)
ASSETS
- ------
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 726 $ 391
Accounts receivable (less allowance for
doubtful accounts of $919 and $604) 40,220 33,886
Materials and supplies 3,802 5,358
Income tax receivable - 3,198
Prepaid expenses and other 1,269 3,761
---------- ----------
Total current assets 46,017 46,594
---------- ----------
Property and Equipment:
Drilling equipment 196,736 244,698
Oil and natural gas properties, on
the full cost method 349,707 406,491
Transportation equipment 5,803 6,441
Other 8,801 9,231
---------- ----------
561,047 666,861
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion,
amortization and impairment 270,690 304,643
---------- ----------
Net property and equipment 290,357 362,218
---------- ----------
Other Assets 9,914 8,441
---------- ----------
Total Assets $ 346,288 $ 417,253
========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
consolidated financial statements
40
UNIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - CONTINUED
As of December 31,
----------------------
2000 2001
---------- ----------
(In thousands)
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
- -----------------------------------
Current Liabilities:
Current portion of long-term
debt and other liabilities $ 1,627 $ 1,893
Accounts payable 21,012 16,292
Accrued liabilities 9,854 10,616
Contract advances 179 240
---------- ----------
Total current liabilities 32,672 29,041
---------- ----------
Long-Term Debt 54,000 31,000
---------- ----------
Other Long-Term Liabilities (Note 4) 3,597 4,110
---------- ----------
Deferred Income Taxes 41,479 73,940
---------- ----------
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9)
Shareholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value,
5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued - -
Common stock, $.20 par value,
75,000,000 shares authorized,
35,768,344 and 36,006,267
shares issued, respectively 7,154 7,201
Capital in excess of par value 139,872 141,977
Retained earnings 67,514 130,280
Treasury stock at cost (30,000 shares) - (296)
---------- ----------
Total shareholders' equity 214,540 279,162
---------- ----------
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 346,288 $ 417,253
========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
consolidated financial statements
41
UNIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended December 31,
-------------------------------------
1999 2000 2001
---------- ---------- ----------
(Restated,
See Note 2)
(In thousands except per share amounts)
Revenues:
Contract drilling $ 55,479 $ 108,075 $ 167,042
Oil and natural gas 46,225 92,016 90,237
Other 648 1,173 1,900
---------- ---------- ----------
Total revenues 102,352 201,264 259,179
---------- ---------- ----------
Expenses:
Contract drilling:
Operating costs 47,721 84,051 91,006
Depreciation 6,851 11,999 13,888
Oil and natural gas:
Operating costs 15,084 19,754 22,196
Depreciation, depletion,
amortization and
impairment 17,114 18,492 22,116
General and administrative 5,750 6,560 8,476
Interest 5,268 5,136 2,818
---------- ---------- ----------
Total expenses 97,788 145,992 160,500
---------- ---------- ----------
Income Before Income Taxes 4,564 55,272 98,679
---------- ---------- ----------
Income Tax Expense:
Current 29 621 5,609
Deferred 1,487 20,307 30,304
---------- ---------- ----------
Total income taxes 1,516 20,928 35,913
---------- ---------- ----------
Net Income $ 3,048 $ 34,344 $ 62,766
========== ========== ==========
Net Income Per Common Share:
Basic $ .10 $ .96 $ 1.75
========== ========== ==========
Diluted $ .10 $ .95 $ 1.73
========== ========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
consolidated financial statements
42
UNIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Year Ended December 31, 1999, 2000 and 2001
(1999 Restated, See Note 2)
Accumulated
Capital Other
In Excess Comprehen-
Common Of Par Retained sive Treasury
Stock Value Earnings Income Stock Total
-------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- ----------
(In thousands)
Balances,
January 1, 1999 $ 5,478 $ 81,915 $ 30,122 $ - $ (131) $ 117,384
Net income - - 3,048 - - 3,048
Activity in
employee
compensation
plans
(252,511 50 680 - - 131 861
shares)
Sale of common
stock
(7,000,000
shares) 1,400 48,682 - - - 50,082
Issuance of
stock for
acquisition
(1,000,000
shares) 200 7,938 - - - 8,138
Questa purchase
of treasury
shares - (8) - - - (8)
-------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- ----------
Balances,
December 31, 1999 7,128 139,207 33,170 - - 179,505
Net income - - 34,344 - - 34,344
Activity in
employee
compensation
plans
(135,419
shares) 26 665 - - - 691
-------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- ----------
Balances,
December 31, 2000 $ 7,154 $ 139,872 $ 67,514 $ - $ - $ 214,540
======== ========== ========= ========= ========= ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
consolidated financial statements
43
UNIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - CONTINUED
Year Ended December 31, 1999, 2000 and 2001
(1999 Restated, See Note 2)
Accumulated
Capital Other
In Excess Comprehen-
Common Of Par Retained sive Treasury
Stock Value Earnings Income Stock Total
-------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- ----------
(In thousands)
Balances,
December 31, 2000 $ 7,154 $ 139,872 $ 67,514 $ - $ - $ 214,540
Net Income - - 62,766 - - 62,766
Activity in
employee
compensation
plans
(237,923
shares) 47 2,105 - - - 2,152
Purchase of
treasury
shares
(30,000
shares) - - - - (296) (296)
Other
comprehensive
income (net
of tax):
Change in
value of
cash
flow
deriva-
tive
instru-
ments
used
as cash
flow
hedges - - - 1,258 - 1,258
Adjustments
reclasif-
ication -
derivative
settlments - - - (1,258) - (1,258)
-------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- ----------
Balances,
December 31, 2001 $ 7,201 $ 141,977 $130,280 $ - $ (296) $ 279,162
======== ========== ========= ========= ========= ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
consolidated financial statements
44
UNIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------
1999 2000 2001
---------- ---------- ----------
(Restated,
See Note 2)
(In thousands)
Cash Flows From Operating
Activities:
Net Income $ 3,048 $ 34,344 $ 62,766
Adjustments to reconcile
net income to net cash
provided (used) by
operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion,
amortization and
impairment 24,285 30,946 36,642
Equity in net earnings of
unconsolidated subsidiary - - (1,148)
Loss (gain) on disposition
of assets (400) (969) (56)
Employee stock compensation
plans 436 443 2,873
Bad debt expense 255 350 -
Deferred tax expense 1,487 20,307 30,304
Changes in operating assets and
liabilities increasing
(decreasing) cash:
Accounts receivable (8,450) (18,500) 6,334
Materials and supplies 49 (543) (1,556)
Prepaid expenses and other 140 (96) (3,533)
Accounts payable 2,667 (1,370) (155)
Accrued liabilities 1,590 3,067 929
Contract advances 48 (179) 61
Other liabilities (442) (440) (440)
---------- ---------- ----------
Net cash provided by
operating activities 24,713 67,360 133,021
---------- ---------- ----------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
consolidated financial statements
45
UNIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - CONTINUED
Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------
1999 2000 2001
---------- ---------- ----------
(Restated,
See Note 2)
(In thousands)
Cash Flows From Investing
Activities:
Capital expenditures (including
producing property
acquisitions) $ (69,503) $ (60,447) $(108,339)
Proceeds from disposition of
property and equipment 1,438 4,259 2,631
(Acquisition) disposition
of other assets 91 (2,656) 17
---------- ---------- ----------
Net cash used in
investing activities (67,974) (58,844) (105,691)
---------- ---------- ----------
Cash Flows From Financing
Activities:
Borrowings under line of credit 61,600 31,200 57,200
Payments under line of credit (68,400) (44,439) (79,200)
Net payments on notes payable
and other long-term debt (1,090) (556) (1,000)
Proceeds from sale of
common stock 50,136 250 609
Book overdrafts (Note 1) 2,974 3,108 (4,978)
Acquisition of treasury stock - - (296)
---------- ---------- ----------
Net cash provided by
(used in) financing
activities 45,220 (10,437) (27,665)
---------- ---------- ----------
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash
and Cash Equivalents 1,959 (1,921) (335)
Cash and Cash Equivalents,
Beginning of Year 688 2,647 726
---------- ---------- ----------
Cash and Cash Equivalents,
End of Year $ 2,647 $ 726 $ 391
========== ========== ==========
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash
Flow Information:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest $ 5,850 $ 5,135 $ 2,807
Income taxes $ 30 $ 519 $ 7,779
See Note 2 for non-cash investing activities.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
consolidated financial statements
46
UNIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
- ---------------------------------------------------
Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements
include the accounts of Unit Corporation and its directly and indirectly
wholly owned subsidiaries ("Unit"). The investment in limited partnerships
is accounted for on the proportionate consolidation method, whereby Unit's
share of the partnerships' assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses is
included in the appropriate classification in the accompanying consolidated
financial statements.
Nature of Business. Unit is engaged in the land contract drilling of
natural gas and oil wells and the exploration, development, acquisition and
production of oil and natural gas properties. Unit's current contract
drilling operations are focused primarily in the natural gas producing
provinces of the Oklahoma and Texas areas of the Anadarko and Arkoma
Basins, the Texas Gulf Coast and the Rocky Mountain regions. Unit's primary
exploration and production operations are also conducted in the Anadarko
and Arkoma Basins and in the Texas Gulf Coast area with additional
properties in the Permian Basin. The majority of its contract drilling and
exploration and production activities are oriented toward drilling for and
producing natural gas. At December 31, 2001, Unit had an interest in a
total of 3,038 wells and served as operator of 688 of those wells. Unit
provides land contract drilling services for a wide range of customers
using the drilling rigs, which it owns and operates. In 2001, 54 of Unit's
55 rigs performed contract drilling services.
Drilling Contracts. Unit recognizes revenues generated from "daywork"
drilling contracts as the services are performed, which is similar to the
percentage of completion method. Under "footage" and "turnkey" contracts,
Unit bears the risk of completion of the well therefore, revenues and
expenses are recognized using the completed contract method. The duration
of all three types of contracts range typically from 20 to 90 days, but
some of our daywork contracts in the Rocky Mountains can range up to one
year. The entire amount of a loss, if any, is recorded when the loss is
determinable. The costs of uncompleted drilling contracts include expenses
incurred to date on "footage" or "turnkey" contracts, which are still in
process at the end of the period, and are included in other current assets.
47
Cash Equivalents and Book Overdrafts. Unit includes as cash
equivalents, certificates of deposits and all investments with maturities
at date of purchase of three months or less which are readily convertible
into known amounts of cash. Book overdrafts are checks that have been
issued prior to the end of the period, but not presented to Unit's bank for
payment prior to the end of the period. At December 31, 2000 and 2001, book
overdrafts of $6.1 million and $1.1 million have been included in accounts
payable.
Property and Equipment. Drilling equipment, transportation equipment
and other property and equipment are carried at cost. Renewals and
betterments are capitalized while repairs and maintenance are expensed.
Depreciation of drilling equipment is recorded using the units-of-
production method based on estimated useful lives, including a minimum
provision of 20 percent of the active rate when the equipment is idle.
Unit uses the composite method of depreciation for drill pipe and collars
and calculates the depreciation by footage actually drilled compared to
total estimated remaining footage. Depreciation of other property and
equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated
useful lives of the assets ranging from 3 to 15 years.
Realization of the carrying value of property and equipment is
reviewed for possible impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.
Assets are determined to be impaired if a forecast of undiscounted
estimated future net operating cash flows directly related to the asset
including disposal value if any, is less than the carrying amount of the
asset. If any asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured as
the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair
value. An estimate of fair value is based on the best information
available, including prices for similar assets. Changes in such estimates
could cause Unit to reduce the carrying value of property and equipment.
When property and equipment components are disposed of, the cost and
the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any
resulting gain or loss is generally reflected in operations. For
dispositions of drill pipe and drill collars, an average cost for the
appropriate feet of drill pipe and drill collars is removed from the asset
account and charged to accumulated depreciation and proceeds, if any, are
credited to accumulated depreciation.
48
Goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of the
acquisition of Hickman Drilling Company over the fair value of the net
assets acquired and has been amortized on the straight-line method using a
25 year life through December 31, 2001. On July 20, 2001, the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" (FAS 142). For
goodwill and intangible assets recorded in the financial statements, FAS
142 ends the amortization of goodwill and certain intangible assets and
subsequently requires, at least annually, that an impairment test be
performed on such assets to determine whether the fair value has changed.
FAS 142 is effective for the fiscal years starting after December 15, 2001
(January 1, 2002 for Unit). We do not believe the future impact from the
adoption of FAS 142 on our financial position or results of operation will
be material. Net goodwill reported in other assets at December 31, 2000
and 2001 was $5,331,000 and $5,088,000, respectively with accumulated
amortization at December 31, 2000 and 2001 of $750,000 and $993,000,
respectively.
Oil and Natural Gas Operations. Unit accounts for its oil and natural
gas exploration and development activities on the full cost method of
accounting prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
Accordingly, all productive and non-productive costs incurred in connection
with the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas
reserves are capitalized and amortized on a composite units-of-production
method based on proved oil and natural gas reserves. Unit capitalizes
internal costs that can be directly identified with its acquisition,
exploration and development activities. Independent petroleum engineers
annually review Unit's determination of its oil and natural gas reserves.
The average composite rates used for depreciation, depletion and
amortization ("DD&A") were $0.85, $0.82 and $0.91 per Mcfe in 1999, 2000
and 2001, respectively. The calculation of DD&A includes estimated future
expenditures to be incurred in developing proved reserves and estimated
dismantlement and abandonment costs, net of estimated salvage values.
Unit's unproved properties totaling $14.4 million are excluded from the
DD&A calculation. In the event the unamortized cost of oil and natural gas
properties being amortized exceeds the full cost ceiling, as defined by the
SEC, the excess is charged to expense in the period during which such
excess occurs. The full cost ceiling is based principally on the estimated
future discounted net cash flows from Unit's oil and natural gas
properties. As discussed in Note 12, such estimates are imprecise. As
part of the merger with Questa, the oil and gas properties of Questa were
restated from the successful effort method of accounting to the full cost
method of accounting used by Unit Corporation.
No gains or losses are recognized upon the sale, conveyance or other
disposition of oil and natural gas properties unless a significant reserve
amount is involved.
The SEC's full cost accounting rules prohibit recognition of income in
current operations for services performed on oil and natural gas properties
in which Unit has an interest or on properties in which a partnership, of
which Unit is a general partner, has an interest. Accordingly, in 2000 and
2001, Unit recorded $179,000 and $2,259,000 of contract drilling profits,
49
respectively, as a reduction of the carrying value of its oil and natural
gas properties rather than including these profits in current operations.
No contract drilling profits were realized on such interests in 1999.
Limited Partnerships. Unit's wholly owned subsidiary, Unit Petroleum
Company, is a general partner in eighteen oil and natural gas limited
partnerships sold privately and publicly. Some of Unit's officers,
directors and employees own the interests in most of these partnerships.
Unit shares partnership revenues and costs in accordance with formulas
prescribed in each limited partnership agreement. The partnerships also
reimburse Unit for certain administrative costs incurred on behalf of the
partnerships.
Income Taxes. Measurement of current and deferred income tax
liabilities and assets is based on provisions of enacted tax law; the
effects of future changes in tax laws or rates are not included in the
measurement. Valuation allowances are established where necessary to
reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. Income
tax expense is the tax payable for the year and the change during that year
in deferred tax assets and liabilities.
Natural Gas Balancing. Unit uses the sales method for recording
natural gas sales. This method allows for recognition of revenue, which
may be more or less than our share of pro-rata production from certain
wells. Based upon the 2001 average natural gas price received of $3.89 per
Mcf which excludes the effects of hedging, Unit estimates its balancing
position to be approximately $6.4 million on under-produced properties and
approximately $6.1 million on over-produced properties. Unit's policy is to
expense the pro-rata share of lease operating costs from all wells as
incurred. Such expenses relating to the balancing position on wells in
which Unit has imbalances are not material.
Employee and Director Stock Based Compensation. Unit applies APB
Opinion 25 in accounting for its stock option plans for its employees and
directors. Under this standard, no compensation expense is recognized for
grants of options, which include an exercise price equal to or greater than
the market price of the stock on the date of grant. Accordingly, based on
Unit's grants in 1999, 2000 and 2001 no compensation expense has been
recognized. As provided by Financial Accounting Standard No. 123
"Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," Unit has disclosed the pro forma
effects of recording compensation for such option grants based on fair
value in Note 6 to the financial statements.
50
Self Insurance. Unit utilizes self insurance programs for employee
group health and worker's compensation. Self insurance costs are accrued
based upon the aggregate of estimated liabilities for reported claims and
claims incurred but not yet reported. Accrued liabilities include
$4,462,000 and $4,583,000 for employer group health insurance and worker's
compensation at December 31, 2000 and 2001, respectively. Due to high
premium cost, Unit has decided to increase its deductible for general
liability claims from $25,000 to $200,000.
Treasury Stock. On August 30, 2001, Unit's Board of Directors
authorized the purchase of up to one million shares of Unit's common stock.
The timing of stock purchases are made at the discretion of management. At
December 31, 2001, 30,000 shares had been repurchased for $296,000.
Financial Instruments and Concentrations of Credit Risk. Financial
instruments, which potentially subject Unit to concentrations of credit
risk, consist primarily of trade receivables with a variety of national and
international oil and natural gas companies. Unit does not generally
require collateral related to receivables. Such credit risk is considered
by management to be limited due to the large number of customers comprising
Unit's customer base. During 2001, one purchaser of Unit's oil and natural
gas production accounted for approximately 15 percent of consolidated
revenues. At December 31, 2001, accounts receivable from one oil and
natural gas purchaser was approximately $2.1 million. In addition, at
December 31, 2000 and 2001, Unit had a concentration of cash of $1.7
million and $2.0 million, respectively, with one bank.
Hedging Activities. On January 1, 2001, Unit adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standard No. 133 (subsequently amended by Financial
Accounting Standard No.'s 137 and 138), "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities" (FAS 133). This statement requires all
derivatives to be recognized on the balance sheet and measured at fair
value. If a derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, Unit is
required to measure the effectiveness of the hedge, or the degree that the
gain (loss) for the hedging instrument offsets the loss (gain) on the
hedged item, at each reporting period. The effective portion of the gain
(loss) on the derivative instrument is recognized in other comprehensive
income as a component of equity and subsequently reclassified into earnings
when the forecasted transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion
of a derivative's change in fair value is required to be recognized in
earnings immediately. Derivatives that do not qualify for hedge treatment
under FAS 133 must be recorded at fair value with gains (losses) recognized
in earnings in the period of change. Unit periodically enters into
derivative commodity instruments to hedge its exposure to price
fluctuations on oil and natural gas production. Such instruments include
regulated natural gas and crude oil futures contracts traded on the New
York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and over-the-counter swaps and basic
hedges with major energy derivative product specialists. Initial adoption
of this standard was not material. In the first quarter of 2000, Unit
entered into swap transactions in an effort to lock in a portion of its
daily production at the higher oil prices which currently existed. These
transactions applied to approximately 50 percent of Unit's daily oil
production covering the period from April 1, 2000 to July 31, 2000 and 25
51
percent of our oil production for August and September of 2000, at prices
ranging from $24.42 to $27.01. Unit entered into a collar contract for
approximately 25 percent of its daily production for the period covering
November 1, 2000 to February 28, 2001. The collar had a floor of $26.00
and a ceiling of $33.00 and Unit received $0.86 per barrel for entering
into the collar transaction. During 2000, the net effect of these hedging
transactions yielded a reduction in Unit's oil revenues of $465,000. During
the first quarter of 2001, the net effect of this hedging transaction
yielded an increase in oil revenues of $17,200. During the second quarter
of 2001, Unit entered into a natural gas collar contract for approximately
36 percent of its June and July 2001 natural gas production, at a floor
price of $4.50 and a ceiling price of $5.95. During the third quarter of
2001, Unit entered into two natural gas collar contracts for approximately
38 percent of its September thru November 2001 natural gas production. Both
contracts had a floor price of $2.50. One contract had a ceiling price of
$3.68 and the other contract had a ceiling price of $4.25. During 2001
natural gas collar contracts added $2,030,000 to Unit's natural gas
revenues. At December 31, 2001, Unit was not holding any natural gas or oil
derivative contracts.
Accounting Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
Impact of Financial Accounting Pronouncements. On July 20, 2001, the
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" (FAS
142). For goodwill and intangible assets already in the financial
statements, FAS 142 ends the amortization of goodwill and certain
intangible assets and subsequently requires, at least annually, that an
impairment test be performed on such assets to determine whether the fair
value has changed. Unit expensed $243,000 annually for the amortization of
goodwill, and the unamortized balance of goodwill is $5,088,000 at December
31, 2001. FAS 142 is effective for the fiscal years starting after December
15, 2001 (January 1, 2002 for Unit). Unit does not believe the future
impact from the adoption of FAS 142 on our financial position or results of
operations will be material.
In July 2001, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations" (FAS
143). FAS 143, is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002
(January 1, 2003 for Unit), and establishes an accounting standard
requiring the recording of the fair value of liabilities associated with
the retirement of long-lived assets (mainly plugging and abandonment costs
for Unit's depleted wells), in the period in which the liabilities are
incurred (at the time the wells are drilled). Unit has not yet determined
the effect of the adoption of FAS 143 on its financial position or results
of operations.
52
In August 2001, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 144, "Accounting for Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived
Assets" (FAS 144). FAS 144 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2001 (January 1, 2002 for Unit). This statement supersedes
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121 "Accounting for the
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed
Of" and amends Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 for the
accounting and reporting of discontinued operations, as it relates to long-
lived assets. Unit does do not believe the future impact from the adoption
of FAS 144 on our financial position and results of operation will be
material.
53
NOTE 2 - ACQUISITIONS
- ---------------------
On March 20, 2000, Unit completed the acquisition, by merger, of
Questa Oil and Gas Co.("Questa") under which Questa became a wholly owned
subsidiary of Unit Corporation. In the merger each of Questa's outstanding
shares of common stock (excluding treasury shares) was converted into .95
shares of our common stock. Unit issued approximately 1.8 million shares
as a result of this merger. The merger has been accounted for as a pooling
of interests and, accordingly, all amounts in the financial statements have
been restated as if the companies had been combined throughout the periods
presented.
The results of operations for each company and the combined amounts
presented in Unit Corporation's consolidated financial statements are as
follows:
Three Months
Year Ended Ended
December 31, March 31,
1999 2000
-------------- --------------
(In thousands)
Revenues:
Unit Corporation $ 97,453 $ 35,807
Questa 4,899 1,420
-------------- --------------
Combined $ 102,352 $ 37,227
============== ==============
Net Income:
Unit Corporation $ 1,486 $ 3,095
Questa 1,562 483
-------------- --------------
Combined $ 3,048 $ 3,578
============== ==============
Questa's net income has been increased by $527,000 in 1999 and
increased by $12,000 in the first quarter of 2000 to restate Questa's
financial statements to the full cost method of accounting used by Unit.
54
NOTE 3 - EARNINGS PER SHARE
- ---------------------------
The following data shows the amounts used in computing earnings per
share.
WEIGHTED
INCOME SHARES PER-SHARE
(NUMERATOR) (DENOMINATOR) AMOUNT
------------- ------------- ----------
For the Year Ended
December 31, 1999:
Basic earnings per
common share $ 3,048,000 29,639,000 $ 0.10
==========
Effect of dilutive
stock options 274,000
------------- -------------
Diluted earnings per
common share $ 3,048,000 29,913,000 $ 0.10
============= ============= ==========
For the Year Ended
December 31, 2000:
Basic earnings per
common share $ 34,344,000 35,723,000 $ 0.96
==========
Effect of dilutive
stock options 409,000
------------- -------------
Diluted earnings per
common share $ 34,344,000 36,132,000 $ 0.95
============= ============= ==========
For the Year Ended
December 31, 2001:
Basic earnings per
common share $ 62,766,000 35,967,000 $ 1.75
==========
Effect of dilutive
stock options 291,000
------------- -------------
Diluted earnings per
common share $ 62,766,000 36,258,000 $ 1.73
============= ============= ==========
55
The following options and their average exercise prices were not
included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the
option exercise prices were greater than the average market price of common
shares for the years ended December 31,:
1999 2000 2001
---------- ---------- ----------
Options 196,500 144,000 153,000
========== ========== ==========
Average exercise price $ 8.49 $ 16.59 $ 16.79
========== ========== ==========
NOTE 4 - LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
- -------------------------------------------------------
Long-term debt consisted of the following as of December 31, 2000 and
2001:
2000 2001
---------- ----------
(In thousands)
Revolving credit and term loan,
with interest at December 31,
2000 and 2001 of 7.8 percent
and 3.3 percent, respectively $ 52,000 $ 30,000
Notes payable for Hickman
Drilling Company acquisition
with interest at December 31,
2000 and 2001 of 9.5 percent
and 4.75 percent, respectively 3,000 2,000
---------- ----------
55,000 32,000
Less current portion 1,000 1,000
---------- ----------
Total long-term debt $ 54,000 $ 31,000
========== ==========
At December 31, 2001, Unit has a $100 million bank loan agreement
consisting of a revolving credit facility through May 1, 2005 and a term
loan thereafter, maturing on May 1, 2008. Borrowings under the loan
agreement are limited to a commitment amount. Although, the current value
of Unit's assets under the latest loan value computation supported a full
$100 million, Unit elected to set the loan commitment at $60 million in
order to reduce costs. The loan value under the revolving credit facility
is subject to a semi-annual re-determination calculated primarily as the
sum of a percentage of the discounted future value of Unit's oil and
natural gas reserves, as determined by the banks. In addition, an amount
representing a part of the value of Unit's drilling rig fleet, limited to
56
$20 million, is added to the loan value. Any declines in commodity prices
would adversely impact the determination of the loan value.
Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at the
Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. prime rate ("Prime Rate") or the London
Interbank Offered Rates ("Libor Rate") plus 1.00 to 1.50 percent depending
on the level of debt as a percentage of the total loan value. Subsequent
to May 1, 2005, borrowings under the loan agreement bear interest at the
Prime Rate or the Libor Rate plus 1.25 to 1.75 percent depending on the
level of debt as a percentage of the total loan value.
At Unit's election, any portion of the debt outstanding may be fixed
at the Libor Rate for 30, 60, 90 or 180 days. During any Libor Rate
funding period the outstanding principal balance of the note to which such
Libor Rate option applies may not be paid. Borrowings under the Prime Rate
option may be paid anytime in part or in whole without premium or penalty.
Unit paid an origination fee of $60,000 at inception of the loan
agreement and a facility fee of 3/8 of one percent is charged for any
unused portion of the commitment amount. Some of Unit's drilling rigs are
collateral for such indebtedness and the balance of Unit's assets are
subject to a negative pledge.
The loan agreement includes prohibitions against (i) the payment of
dividends (other than stock dividends) during any fiscal year in excess of
25 percent of the consolidated net income of Unit during the preceding
fiscal year, and only if working capital provided from operations during
said year is equal to or greater than 175 percent of current maturities of
long-term debt at the end of such year, (ii) the incurrence by Unit or any
of its subsidiaries of additional debt with certain very limited exceptions
and (iii) the creation or existence of mortgages or liens, other than those
in the ordinary course of business, on any property of Unit or any of its
subsidiaries, except in favor of its banks. The loan agreement also
requires that Unit maintain consolidated net worth of at least $125
million, a current ratio of not less than 1 to 1, a ratio of long-term
debt, as defined in the loan agreement, to consolidated tangible net worth
not greater than 1.2 to 1 and a ratio of total liabilities, as defined in
the loan agreement, to consolidated tangible net worth not greater than
1.65 to 1. In addition, working capital provided by operations, as defined
in the loan agreement, cannot be less than $40 million in any year.
In November 1997, Unit completed the acquisition of Hickman Drilling
Company. In association with this acquisition, we issued an aggregate of
$5.0 million in promissory notes payable in five equal annual installments
commencing January 2, 1999, with interest at the Prime Rate.
57
Other long-term liabilities consisted of the following as of December
31, 2000 and 2001:
2000 2001
---------- ----------
(In thousands)
Natural gas purchaser prepayment $ 877 $ 437
Separation benefit plan 1,811 1,959
Deferred compensation plan 1,536 1,277
Retirement agreement - 1,330
---------- ----------
4,224 5,003
Less current portion 627 893
---------- ----------
Total other long-term liabilities $ 3,597 $ 4,110
========== ==========
At December 31, 2001, Unit has a prepayment balance of $437,000
representing proceeds received from a purchaser for prepayment of natural
gas under a natural gas settlement agreement, which terminated on December
31, 1997. This amount is net of natural gas recouped and net of certain
amounts disbursed to other owners for their proportionate share of the
prepayments. At termination, the December 31, 1997 prepayment balance of
$2.2 million became payable in equal annual payments over a five year
period. The final payment of $437,000 is due on June 1, 2002.
Unit has other long-term liabilities of $4,110,000, consisting of
$1,523,000 accrued in connection with its separation benefit plans,
$1,277,000 accrued in connection with its Deferred Compensation Plan and
$1,310,000 for the present value of a separation agreement, made in the
second quarter of 2001, in connection with the retirement of King Kirchner
from his position as Chief Executive Officer.
Estimated annual principal payments under the terms of long-term debt
and other long-term liabilities from 2002 through 2006 are $1,893,000,
$1,170,000, $300,000, $6,133,000 and $10,300,000. Based on the borrowing
rates currently available to Unit for debt with similar terms and
maturities, long-term debt at December 31, 2001 approximates its fair
value.
58
NOTE 5 - INCOME TAXES
- ---------------------
A reconciliation of the income tax expense, computed by applying the
federal statutory rate to pre-tax income to Unit's effective income tax
expense is as follows:
1999 2000 2001
---------- ---------- ----------
(In thousands)
Income tax expense computed by
applying the statutory rate $ 1,552 $ 19,345 $ 34,538
State income tax, net of
federal benefit 139 1,575 2,859
Goodwill and other (175) 8 (1,484)
---------- ---------- ----------
Income tax expense $ 1,516 $ 20,928 $ 35,913
========== ========== ==========
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are comprised of the following at
December 31, 2000 and 2001:
2000 2001
----------- -----------
(In thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Allowance for losses
and nondeductible accruals $ 3,308 $ 3,867
Net operating loss carryforward 15,027 -
Statutory depletion carryforward 2,260 2,874
Alternative minimum tax credit
carryforward 1,123 5,196
----------- -----------
Gross deferred tax assets 21,718 11,937
Deferred tax liability:
Depreciation, depletion and
amortization (63,197) (83,720)
----------- -----------
Net deferred tax liability (41,479) (71,783)
Current deferred tax asset - 2,157
----------- -----------
Non-current - deferred tax
liability $ (41,479) $ (73,940)
=========== ===========
59
Realization of the deferred tax asset is dependent on generating
sufficient future taxable income. Although realization is not assured,
management believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset
will be realized. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered
realizable, however, could be reduced in the near-term if estimates of
future taxable income are reduced.
At December 31, 2001, Unit has an excess statutory depletion
carryforward of approximately $7,562,000, which may be carried forward
indefinitely and is available to reduce future taxable income, subject to
statutory limitations.
NOTE 6 - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT AND COMPENSATION PLANS
- ------------------------------------------------
In December 1984, the Board of Directors approved the adoption of an
Employee Stock Bonus Plan ("the Plan") whereby 330,950 shares of common
stock were authorized for issuance under the Plan. On May 3, 1995, Unit's
shareholders approved and amended the Plan to increase by 250,000 shares
the aggregate number of shares of common stock that could be issued under
the Plan. Under the terms of the Plan, bonuses may be granted to employees
in either cash or stock or a combination thereof, and are payable in a lump
sum or in annual installments subject to certain restrictions. On January
4, 1999, 87,376 shares of common stock were issued for payment of Unit's
1998 year-end bonuses. No shares were issued under the Plan in 2000 and
2001.
Unit also has a Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan"), which provides
for the granting of options for up to 2,700,000 shares of common stock to
officers and employees. The Option Plan permits the issuance of qualified
or nonqualified stock options. Options granted become exercisable at the
rate of 20 percent per year one year after being granted and expire after
ten years from the original grant date. The exercise price for options
granted under this plan is the fair market value of the common stock on the
date of the grant.
60
Activity pertaining to the Stock Option Plan is as follows:
WEIGHTED
NUMBER AVERAGE
OF EXERCISE
SHARES PRICE
----------- ----------
Outstanding at January 1, 1999 769,360 $ 4.19
Exercised (109,760) 2.76
Cancelled (2,000) 10.00
----------- ----------
Outstanding at December 31, 1999 657,600 4.41
Granted 146,000 16.59
Exercised (79,700) 4.19
Cancelled (4,200) 4.94
----------- ----------
Outstanding at December 31, 2000 719,700 6.87
Exercised (177,200) 3.13
Cancelled (10,400) 10.26
----------- ----------
Outstanding at December 31, 2001 532,100 $ 8.09
=========== ==========
OUTSTANDING OPTIONS
AT DECEMBER 31, 2001
------------------------------------
WEIGHTED
AVERAGE WEIGHTED
NUMBER REMAINING AVERAGE
EXERCISE OF CONTRACTUAL EXERCISE
PRICES SHARES LIFE PRICE
----------------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
$ 2.75 - $ 3.75 270,500 5.3 years $ 3.42
$ 7.25 - $16.69 261,600 7.2 years $ 12.92
61
EXERCISABLE OPTIONS
AT DECEMBER 31, 2001
------------------------
WEIGHTED
NUMBER AVERAGE
EXERCISE OF EXERCISE
PRICES SHARES PRICE
------------------------------------ ----------- -----------
$ 2.75 - $ 3.75 189,500 $ 3.27
$ 7.25 - $16.69 139,800 $ 10.28
Options for 414,200, 407,900 and 329,300 shares were exercisable with
weighted average exercise prices of $3.96, $4.24 and $6.25 at December 31,
1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively.
In February and May 1992, the Board of Directors and shareholders,
respectively, approved the Unit Corporation Non-Employee Directors' Stock
Option Plan (the "Old Plan") and in February and May 2000, the Board of
Directors and shareholders, respectively, approved the Unit Corporation
2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Directors' Plan").
Under the Directors' Plan, which replaced the Old Plan, an aggregate of
300,000 shares of Unit's common stock may be issued upon exercise of the
stock options. Under the Old Plan, on the first business day following
each annual meeting of stockholders of Unit, each person who was then a
member of the Board of Directors of Unit and who was not then an employee
of Unit or any of its subsidiaries was granted an option to purchase 2,500
shares of common stock. Under the Directors' Plan, commencing with the
year 2000 annual meeting, the amount granted has been increased to 3,500
shares of common stock. The option price for each stock option is the fair
market value of the common stock on the date the stock options are granted.
No stock options may be exercised during the first six months of its term
except in case of death and no stock options are exercisable after ten
years from the date of grant.
62
Activity pertaining to the Directors' Plan is as follows:
WEIGHTED
NUMBER AVERAGE
OF EXERCISE
SHARES PRICE
----------- ----------
Outstanding at January 1, 1999 72,500 $ 5.74
Granted 12,500 6.90
Exercised (5,000) 5.13
Cancelled (2,500) 8.94
----------- ----------
Outstanding at December 31, 1999 77,500 5.86
Granted 17,500 12.19
----------- ----------
Outstanding at December 31, 2000 95,000 7.03
Granted 17,500 17.54
Exercised (37,000) 6.80
----------- ----------
Outstanding at December 31, 2001 75,500 $ 9.58
=========== ==========
OUTSTANDING AND
EXERCISABLE OPTIONS
AT DECEMBER 31, 2001
------------------------------------
WEIGHTED
AVERAGE WEIGHTED
NUMBER REMAINING AVERAGE
EXERCISE OF CONTRACTUAL EXERCISE
PRICES SHARES LIFE PRICE
----------------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
$ 1.75 - $ 3.75 17,500 1.8 years $ 3.16
$ 6.87 - $17.54 58,000 7.4 years $ 11.51
63
Unit applies APB Opinion 25 in accounting for Unit's Stock Option Plan
and Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan. Accordingly, based on the
nature of Unit's grants of options, no compensation cost has been
recognized in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Had compensation been determined on the
basis of fair value pursuant to FASB Statement No. 123, net income and
earnings per share would have been reduced as follows:
1999 2000 2001
--------- --------- ---------
Net Income (In thousands):
As reported $ 3,048 $ 34,344 $ 62,766
========= ========= =========
Pro forma $ 2,652 $ 33,986 $ 61,822
========= ========= =========
Basic Earnings per Share:
As reported $ .10 $ .96 $ 1.75
========= ========= =========
Pro forma $ .09 $ .95 $ 1.72
========= ========= =========
Diluted Earnings per Share:
As reported $ .10 $ .95 $ 1.73
========= ========= =========
Pro forma $ .09 $ .94 $ 1.71
========= ========= =========
The fair value of each option granted is estimated using the Black-
Scholes model. Unit's estimate of stock volatility in 1999, 2000 and 2001
was 0.55, based on previous stock performance. Dividend yield was estimated
to remain at zero with a risk free interest rate of 6.70, 5.26 and 5.41
percent in 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. Expected life ranged from 1
to 10 years based on prior experience depending on the vesting periods
involved and the make up of participating employees. The aggregate fair
value of options granted during 2000 under the Stock Option Plan were
$1,470,000. No options were issued under the Stock Option Plan in 1999 and
2001. Under the Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan the aggregate
fair value of options granted during 1999, 2000 and 2001 were $58,000,
$99,000 and $201,000, respectively.
Under Unit's 401(k) Employee Thrift Plan, employees who meet specified
service requirements may contribute a percentage of their total
compensation, up to a specified maximum, to the plan. Unit may match each
employee's contribution, up to a specified maximum, in full or on a partial
basis. The Company made discretionary contributions under the plan of
105,819, 58,353 and 35,016 shares of common stock and recognized expense of
$464,000, $595,000 and $1,082,000 in 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively.
Unit provides a salary deferral plan ("Deferral Plan") which allows
participants to defer the recognition of salary for income tax purposes
until actual distribution of benefits which occurs at either termination of
64
employment, death or certain defined unforeseeable emergency hardships.
Funds set aside in a trust to satisfy Unit's obligation under the Deferral
Plan at December 31, 1999, 2000 and 2001 totaled $1,165,000, $1,536,000 and
$1,277,000, respectively. Unit recognizes payroll expense and records a
liability at the time of deferral.
Effective January 1, 1997, Unit adopted a separation benefit plan
("Separation Plan"). The Separation Plan allows eligible employees whose
employment with Unit is involuntarily terminated or, in the case of an
employee who has completed 20 years of service, voluntarily or
involuntarily terminated, to receive benefits equivalent to 4 weeks salary
for every whole year of service completed with Unit up to a maximum of 104
weeks. To receive payments the recipient must waive any claims against
Unit in exchange for receiving the separation benefits. On October 28,
1997, Unit adopted a Separation Benefit Plan for Senior Management ("Senior
Plan"). The Senior Plan provides certain officers and key executives of
Unit with benefits generally equivalent to the Separation Plan. The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has absolute discretion in
the selection of the individuals covered in this plan. Unit recognized
expense of $502,000, $558,000 and $589,000 in 1999, 2000 and 2001,
respectively, for benefits associated with anticipated payments from both
separation plans.
We have entered into key employee change of control contracts with
five of our executive officers. These severance contracts have an initial
three-year term that is automatically extended for one year upon each
anniversary, unless a notice not to extend is given by us. If a change of
control of the company, as defined in the contracts, occurs during the term
of the severance contract, then the contract becomes operative for a fixed
three-year period. The severance contracts generally provide that the
executive's terms and conditions for employment (including position, work
location, compensation and benefits) will not be adversely changed during
the three-year period after a change of control. If the executive's
employment is terminated by the company (other than for cause, death or
disability), the executive terminates for good reason during such three-
year period, or the executive terminates employment for any reason during
the 30-day period following the first anniversary of the change of control,
and upon certain terminations prior to a change of control or in connection
with or in anticipation of a change of control, the executive is generally
entitled to receive, in addition to certain other benefits, any earned but
unpaid compensation; up to 2.9 times the executive's base salary plus
annual bonus (based on historic annual bonus); and the company matching
contributions that would have been made had the executive continued to
participate in the company's 401(k) plan for up to an additional three
years.
The severance contract provides that the executive is entitled to
receive a payment in an amount sufficient to make the executive whole for
any excise tax on excess parachute payments imposed under Section 4999 of
the Code. As a condition to receipt of these severance benefits, the
executive must remain in the employ of the company prior to change of
control and render services commensurate with his position.
65
NOTE 7 - TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES
- ------------------------------------------
Unit formed private limited partnerships (the "Partnerships") with
certain qualified employees, officers and directors from 1984 through 2001,
with a subsidiary of Unit serving as General Partner. Questa Oil and Gas
Co. formed five private limited partnerships for 1981 to 1993. The
Partnerships were formed for the purpose of conducting oil and natural gas
acquisition, drilling and development operations and serving as co-general
partner with Unit in any additional limited partnerships formed during that
year. The Partnerships participated on a proportionate basis with Unit and
Questa, respectively, in most drilling operations and most producing
property acquisitions commenced by Unit or Questa for their own account
during the period from the formation of the Partnerships through December
31 of each year. Unit repurchased the limited partner's interest in three
of five Questa partnerships in the fourth quarter of 2000 and one of the
Questa partnerships in the first quarter of 2001 and the four partnerships
were dissolved.
Amounts received in the years ended December 31 from both public and
private Partnerships for which Unit and Questa are a general partner are as
follows:
1999 2000 2001
--------- --------- ---------
(In thousands)
Contract drilling $ 94 $ 296 $ 416
Well supervision and other fees $ 425 $ 478 $ 498
General and administrative
expense reimbursement $ 175 $ 192 $ 193
Related party transactions for contract drilling and well supervision
fees are the related party's share of such costs. These costs are billed
to related parties on the same basis as billings to unrelated parties for
such services. General and administrative reimbursements are both direct
general and administrative expense incurred on the related party's behalf
and indirect expenses allocated to the related parties. Such allocations
are based on the related party's level of activity and are considered by
management to be reasonable.
A subsidiary of Unit paid the Partnerships, for which Unit or a
subsidiary is the general partner, $9,000, $6,000 and $3,000 during the
years ended December 31, 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively, for purchases
of natural gas production.
66
NOTE 8 - SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
- --------------------------------
Unit maintains a Shareholder Rights Plan (the "Plan") designed to
deter coercive or unfair takeover tactics, to prevent a person or group
from gaining control of Unit without offering fair value to all
shareholders and to deter other abusive takeover tactics, which are not in
the best interest of shareholders.
Under the terms of the Plan, each share of common stock is accompanied
by one right, which given certain acquisition and business combination
criteria, entitles the shareholder to purchase from Unit one one-hundredth
of a newly issued share of Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock at a price subject to adjustment by Unit or to purchase from an
acquiring company certain shares of its common stock or the surviving
company's common stock at 50 percent of its value.
The rights become exercisable 10 days after Unit learns that an
acquiring person (as defined in the Plan) has acquired 15 percent or more
of the outstanding common stock of Unit or 10 business days after the
commencement of a tender offer, which would result in a person owning 15
percent or more of such shares. Unit can redeem the rights for $0.01 per
right at any date prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the
tenth day following the time Unit learns that a person has become an
acquiring person or (ii) May 19, 2005 (the "Expiration Date"). The rights
will expire on the Expiration Date, unless redeemed earlier by Unit.
NOTE 9 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
- ---------------------------------------
Unit leases office space under the terms of operating leases expiring
through January 31, 2007. Future minimum rental payments under the terms
of the leases are approximately $654,000, $648,000, $648,000, $193,000 and
$151,000 in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. Total rent
expense incurred by the Company was $422,000, $535,000 and $582,000 in
1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively.
The Unit 1984 Oil and Gas Limited Partnership and the 1986 Energy
Income Limited Partnership agreements along with the employee oil and gas
limited partnerships require, upon the election of a limited partner, that
Unit repurchase the limited partner's interest at amounts to be determined
by appraisal in the future. Such repurchases in any one year are limited
to 20 percent of the units outstanding. Unit made repurchases of $10,000
and $14,000 in 1999 and 2000, respectively, for such limited partners'
interests. No repurchases were made in 2001. Subsequent to the merger, in
2000, Unit also paid $17,000 for additional interest in two of the Questa
limited partnerships and $1,980,000 for all the remaining interest in three
other Questa partnerships. In 2001, Unit paid $15,000 for interests in two
of the Questa limited partnerships and subsequently dissolved one of the
Questa partnerships.
67
Unit is a party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary
course of its business none of which, in management's opinion, will result
in judgments which would have a material adverse effect on Unit's financial
position, operating results or cash flows.
NOTE 10 - INDUSTRY SEGMENT INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------
In 1998, Unit adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No.
131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information."
Unit has two business segments: Contract Drilling and Oil and Natural Gas,
representing its two strategic business units offering different products
and services. The Contract Drilling segment provides land contract drilling
of oil and natural gas wells and the Oil and Natural Gas segment is engaged
in the development, acquisition and production of oil and natural gas
properties.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those
described in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Note 1).
Management evaluates the performance of Unit's operating segments based on
operating income, which is defined as operating revenues less operating
expenses and depreciation, depletion and amortization. Unit has natural
gas production in Canada, which is not significant.
68
1999 2000 2001
---------- ---------- ----------
(In thousands)
Revenues:
Contract drilling $ 55,479 $ 108,075 $ 167,042
Oil and natural gas 46,225 92,016 90,237
Other 648 1,173 1,900
---------- ---------- ----------
Total revenues $ 102,352 $ 201,264 $ 259,179
========== ========== ==========
Operating Income (1):
Contract drilling $ 907 $ 12,025 $ 62,148
Oil and natural gas 14,027 53,770 45,925
---------- ---------- ----------
Total operating income 14,934 65,795 108,073
General and administrative
expense (5,750) (6,560) (8,476)
Interest expense (5,268) (5,136) (2,818)
Other income (expense)- net 648 1,173 1,900
---------- ---------- ----------
Income before income taxes $ 4,564 $ 55,272 $ 98,679
========== ========== ==========
Identifiable Assets (2):
Contract drilling $ 125,853 $ 141,324 $ 183,471
Oil and natural gas 164,252 198,251 220,476
---------- ---------- ----------
Total identifiable assets 290,105 339,575 403,947
Corporate assets 5,462 6,713 13,306
---------- ---------- ----------
Total assets $ 295,567 $ 346,288 $ 417,253
========== ========== ==========
69
1999 2000 2001
---------- ---------- ----------
(In thousands)
Capital Expenditures:
Contract drilling $ 55,656 $ 22,045 $ 51,280
Oil and natural gas 21,532 39,884 56,933
Other 744 3,324 539
---------- ---------- ----------
Total capital expenditures $ 77,932 $ 65,253 $ 108,752
========== ========== ==========
Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization
and Impairment:
Contract drilling $ 6,851 $ 11,999 $ 13,888
Oil and natural gas 17,114 18,492 22,116
Other 320 455 638
---------- ---------- ----------
Total depreciation, depletion,
amortization and impairment $ 24,285 $ 30,946 $ 36,642
========== ========== ==========
- ----------------------
(1) Operating income is total operating revenues less operating expenses,
depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment and does not
include non-operating revenues, general corporate expenses, interest
expense or income taxes.
(2) Identifiable assets are those used in Unit's operations in each
industry segment. Corporate assets are principally cash and cash
equivalents, short-term investments, corporate leasehold improvements,
furniture and equipment.
70
NOTE 11 - SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------
Summarized quarterly financial information for 2000 and 2001 is as
follows:
THREE MONTHS ENDED
---------------------------------------------------
MARCH 31 JUNE 30 SEPTEMBER 30 DECEMBER 31
----------- ----------- ------------ -----------
(In thousands except per share amounts)
Year Ended
December 31, 2000:
Revenues $ 37,227 $ 43,587 $ 54,788 $ 65,662
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Gross profit(1) $ 7,719 $ 11,810 $ 18,154 $ 28,112
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Income before
income taxes $ 5,648 $ 9,076 $ 15,622 $ 24,926
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Net income $ 3,578 $ 5,627 $ 9,685 $ 15,454
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Earnings per
common share:
Basic $ 0.10 $ 0.16 $ 0.27 $ 0.43
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Diluted (2) $ 0.10 $ 0.16 $ 0.27 $ 0.43
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Year Ended
December 31, 2001:
Revenues $ 70,443 $ 71,087 $ 68,399 $ 49,250
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Gross profit(1) $ 33,414 $ 32,091 $ 27,277 $ 15,291
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Income before
income taxes $ 30,862 $ 29,070 $ 25,170 $ 13,577
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Net income(3) $ 19,172 $ 18,048 $ 15,631 $ 9,915
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Earnings per
common share:
Basic (4) $ 0.53 $ 0.50 $ 0.43 $ 0.28
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Diluted $ 0.53 $ 0.50 $ 0.43 $ 0.27
=========== =========== =========== ===========
- ------------------
(1) Gross Profit excludes other revenues, general and administrative
expense and interest expense.
71
(2) Due to the effect of price changes of Unit's stock, diluted earnings
per share for the year's four quarters, which includes the effect of
potential dilutive common shares calculated during each quarter, does not
equal the annual diluted earnings per share, which includes the effect of
such potential dilutive common shares calculated for the entire year.
(3) The net income for the three months ended December 31, 2001 includes a
tax benefit of $2.1 million relating to an increase in the estimated
amount of statutory depletion carryforward.
(4) Due to the effect of rounding basic earnings per share for the year's
four quarters does not equal the annual earnings per share.
72
NOTE 12 - OIL AND NATURAL GAS INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------
The capitalized costs at year end and costs incurred during the year
were as follows:
USA CANADA TOTAL
----------- --------- -----------
(In thousands)
1999:
Capitalized costs:
Proved properties $ 301,725 $ 508 $ 302,233
Unproved properties 9,654 382 10,036
----------- --------- -----------
311,379 890 312,269
Accumulated depreciation,
depletion, amortization
and impairment (158,147) (420) (158,567)
----------- --------- -----------
Net capitalized costs $ 153,232 $ 470 $ 153,702
=========== ========= ===========
Cost incurred:
Unproved properties $ 1,724 $ 101 $ 1,825
Producing properties 3,733 28 3,761
Exploration 2,037 - 2,037
Development 13,909 - 13,909
----------- --------- -----------
Total costs incurred $ 21,403 $ 129 $ 21,532
=========== ========= ===========
2000:
Capitalized costs:
Proved properties $ 338,159 $ 553 $ 338,712
Unproved properties 10,795 200 10,995
----------- --------- -----------
348,954 753 349,707
Accumulated depreciation,
depletion, amortization
and impairment (176,515) (435) (176,950)
----------- --------- -----------
Net capitalized costs $ 172,439 $ 318 172,757
=========== ========= ===========
Cost incurred:
Unproved properties $ 5,522 $ 16 $ 5,538
Producing properties 3,752 45 3,797
Exploration 2,409 - 2,409
Development 28,140 - 28,140
----------- --------- -----------
Total costs incurred $ 39,823 $ 61 $ 39,884
=========== ========= ===========
73
USA CANADA TOTAL
----------- --------- -----------
(In thousands)
2001:
Capitalized costs:
Proved properties $ 391,216 $ 888 $ 392,104
Unproved properties 14,207 180 14,387
----------- --------- -----------
405,423 1,068 406,491
Accumulated depreciation,
depletion, amortization
and impairment (196,270) (475) (196,745)
----------- --------- -----------
Net capitalized costs $ 209,153 $ 593 $ 209,746
=========== ========= ===========
Cost incurred:
Unproved properties $ 7,503 $ 21 $ 7,524
Producing properties 1,419 - 1,419
Exploration 9,336 - 9,336
Development 38,359 295 38,654
----------- --------- -----------
Total costs incurred $ 56,617 $ 316 $ 56,933
=========== ========= ===========
74
The results of operations for producing activities are provided below.
USA CANADA TOTAL
----------- --------- -----------
(In thousands)
1999:
Revenues $ 42,999 $ 63 $ 43,062
Production costs (11,739) (20) (11,759)
Depreciation, depletion,
amortization and impairment (16,848) (8) (16,856)
----------- --------- -----------
14,412 35 14,447
Income tax expense (4,387) (14) (4,401)
----------- --------- -----------
Results of operations for
producing activities
(excluding corporate
overhead and financing costs) $ 10,025 $ 21 $ 10,046
=========== ========= ===========
2000:
Revenues $ 88,461 $ 110 $ 88,571
Production costs (16,457) (19) (16,476)
Depreciation, depletion
and amortization (18,258) (15) (18,273)
----------- --------- -----------
53,746 76 53,822
Income tax expense (20,350) (30) (20,380)
----------- --------- -----------
Results of operations for
producing activities
(excluding corporate
overhead and financing costs) $ 33,396 $ 46 $ 33,442
=========== ========= ===========
2001:
Revenues $ 86,810 $ 190 $ 87,000
Production costs (18,636) (23) (18,659)
Depreciation, depletion
and amortization (19,756) (40) (19,796)
----------- --------- -----------
48,418 127 48,545
Income tax expense (17,621) (40) (17,661)
----------- --------- -----------
Results of operations for
producing activities
(excluding corporate
overhead and financing costs) $ 30,797 $ 87 $ 30,884
=========== ========= ===========
75
Estimated quantities of proved developed oil and natural gas reserves
and changes in net quantities of proved developed and undeveloped oil and
natural gas reserves were as follows (unaudited):
USA CANADA TOTAL
---------------- --------------- ----------------
NATURAL NATURAL NATURAL
OIL GAS OIL GAS OIL GAS
BBLS MCF BBLS MCF BBLS MCF
------- -------- ------- ------- ------- --------
(In thousands)
1999:
Proved developed and
undeveloped reserves:
Beginning of year 3,629 175,884 - 523 3,629 176,407
Revision of previous
estimates 1,046 1,308 - 81 1,046 1,389
Extensions,
discoveries and
other additions 157 19,398 - - 157 19,398
Purchases of minerals
in place 139 7,922 - - 139 7,922
Sales of minerals - -
in place (20) (340) - - (20) (340)
Production (424) (17,402) - (35) (424) (17,437)
------- -------- ------ -------- ------- --------
End of Year 4,527 186,770 - 569 4,527 187,339
======= ======== ====== ======== ======= ========
Proved developed
reserves:
Beginning of year 2,749 134,504 - 421 2,749 134,925
End of year 3,583 144,992 - 467 3,583 145,459
2000:
Proved developed and
undeveloped reserves:
Beginning of year 4,527 186,770 - 569 4,527 187,339
Revision of previous
estimates (45) 6,385 - (82) (45) 6,303
Extensions,
discoveries and
other additions 286 37,896 - - 286 37,896
Purchases of minerals
in place 229 4,893 - - 229 4,893
Sales of minerals - -
in place (326) (1,509) - - (326) (1,509)
Production (488) (19,239) - (46) (488) (19,285)
------- -------- ------ -------- ------- --------
End of Year 4,183 215,196 - 441 4,183 215,637
======= ======== ====== ======== ======= ========
Proved developed
reserves:
Beginning of year 3,583 144,992 - 467 3,583 145,459
End of year 3,222 162,718 - 389 3,222 163,107
76
USA CANADA TOTAL
---------------- --------------- ----------------
NATURAL NATURAL NATURAL
OIL GAS OIL GAS OIL GAS
BBLS MCF BBLS MCF BBLS MCF
------- -------- ------- ------- ------- --------
(In thousands)
2001:
Proved developed and
undeveloped reserves:
Beginning of year 4,183 215,196 - 441 4,183 215,637
Revision of previous
estimates (214) (24,253) - (7) (214) (24,260)
Extensions,
discoveries and
other additions 861 54,521 - - 861 54,521
Purchases of minerals
in place 8 1,246 - - 8 1,246
Sales of minerals
in place (3) (26) - - (3) (26)
Production (492) (18,819) - (45) (492) (18,864)
------- -------- ------- ------- ------- --------
End of Year 4,343 227,865 - 389 4,343 228,254
======= ======== ======= ======= ======= ========
Proved developed
reserves:
Beginning of year 3,222 162,718 - 389 3,222 163,107
End of year 2,753 150,419 - 338 2,753 150,757
77
Oil and natural gas reserves cannot be measured exactly. Estimates of
oil and natural gas reserves require extensive judgments of reservoir
engineering data and are generally less precise than other estimates made
in connection with financial disclosures. Unit utilizes Ryder Scott
Company, independent petroleum consultants, to review our reserves as
prepared by our reservoir engineers.
Proved reserves are those quantities which, upon analysis of
geological and engineering data, appear with reasonable certainty to be
recoverable in the future from known oil and natural gas reservoirs under
existing economic and operating conditions. Proved developed reserves are
those reserves, which can be expected to be recovered through existing
wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Proved undeveloped
reserves are those reserves which are expected to be recovered from new
wells on undrilled acreage or from existing wells where a relatively major
expenditure is required.
Estimates of oil and natural gas reserves require extensive judgments
of reservoir engineering data as previously explained. Assigning monetary
values to such estimates does not reduce the subjectivity and changing
nature of such reserve estimates. Indeed the uncertainties inherent in the
disclosure are compounded by applying additional estimates of the rates and
timing of production and the costs that will be incurred in developing and
producing the reserves. The information set forth herein is, therefore,
subjective and, since judgments are involved, may not be comparable to
estimates submitted by other oil and natural gas producers. In addition,
since prices and costs do not remain static and no price or cost
escalations or de-escalations have been considered, the results are not
necessarily indicative of the estimated fair market value of estimated
proved reserves nor of estimated future cash flows.
78
The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows ("SMOG")
was calculated using year-end prices and costs, and year-end statutory tax
rates, adjusted for permanent differences, that relate to existing proved
oil and natural gas reserves. SMOG as of December 31 is as follows
(unaudited):
USA CANADA TOTAL
----------- --------- -----------
(In thousands)
1999:
Future cash flows $ 557,915 $ 1,281 $ 559,196
Future production and
development costs (213,929) (344) (214,273)
Future income tax expenses (81,039) (175) (81,214)
----------- --------- -----------
Future net cash flows 262,947 762 263,709
10% annual discount for
estimated timing of cash flows (95,722) (285) (96,007)
----------- --------- -----------
Standardized measure of
discounted future net cash
flows relating to proved oil
and natural gas reserves $ 167,225 $ 477 $ 167,702
=========== ========= ===========
2000:
Future cash flows $2,260,796 $ 4,155 $2,264,951
Future production and
development costs (484,900) (433) (485,333)
Future income tax expenses (574,099) (1,099) (575,198)
----------- --------- -----------
Future net cash flows 1,201,797 2,623 1,204,420
10% annual discount for
estimated timing of cash flows (527,210) (1,184) (528,394)
----------- --------- -----------
Standardized measure of
discounted future net cash
flows relating to proved oil
and natural gas reserves $ 674,587 $ 1,439 $ 676,026
=========== ========= ===========
2001:
Future cash flows $ 676,051 $ 975 $ 677,026
Future production and
development costs (279,499) (341) (279,840)
Future income tax expenses (94,037) (134) (94,171)
----------- --------- -----------
Future net cash flows 302,515 500 303,015
10% annual discount for
estimated timing of cash flows (125,238) (194) (125,432)
----------- --------- -----------
Standardized measure of
discounted future net cash
flows relating to proved oil
and natural gas reserves $ 177,277 $ 306 $ 177,583
=========== ========= ===========
79
The principal sources of changes in the standardized measure of
discounted future net cash flows were as follows (unaudited):
USA CANADA TOTAL
----------- --------- -----------
(In thousands)
1999:
Sales and transfers of oil and
natural gas produced,
net of production costs $ (31,260) $ (44) $ (31,304)
Net changes in prices and
production costs 42,319 23 42,342
Revisions in quantity
estimates and changes in
production timing 987 44 1,031
Extensions, discoveries and
improved recovery, less
related costs 24,035 - 24,035
Purchases of minerals in place 8,612 - 8,612
Sales of minerals in place (320) - (320)
Accretion of discount 8,096 44 8,140
Net change in income taxes (18,355) 7 (18,348)
Other - net 1,888 4 1,892
----------- --------- -----------
Net change 36,002 78 36,080
Beginning of year 131,223 399 131,622
----------- --------- -----------
End of year $ 167,225 $ 477 $ 167,702
=========== ========= ===========
2000:
Sales and transfers of oil and
natural gas produced,
net of production costs $ (72,005) $ (91) $ (72,096)
Net changes in prices and
production costs 647,313 1,854 649,167
Revisions in quantity
estimates and changes in
production timing 44,991 (324) 44,667
Extensions, discoveries and
improved recovery, less
related costs 184,624 - 184,624
Purchases of minerals in place 23,144 - 23,144
Sales of minerals in place (3,469) - (3,469)
Accretion of discount 19,881 51 19,932
Net change in income taxes (293,357) (581) (293,938)
Other - net (43,760) 53 (43,707)
----------- --------- -----------
Net change 507,362 962 508,324
Beginning of year 167,225 477 167,702
----------- --------- -----------
End of year $ 674,587 $ 1,439 $ 676,026
=========== ========= ===========
80
USA CANADA TOTAL
----------- --------- -----------
(In thousands)
2001:
Sales and transfers of oil and
natural gas produced,
net of production costs $ (68,174) $ (167) $ (68,341)
Net changes in prices and
production costs (768,295) (1,600) (769,895)
Revisions in quantity
estimates and changes in
production timing (32,705) 13 (32,692)
Extensions, discoveries and
improved recovery, less
related costs 54,127 - 54,127
Purchases of minerals in place 1,217 - 1,217
Sales of minerals in place (220) - (220)
Accretion of discount 99,953 205 100,158
Net change in income taxes 271,421 524 271,945
Other - net (54,634) (108) (54,742)
----------- --------- -----------
Net change (497,310) (1,133) (498,443)
Beginning of year 674,587 1,439 676,026
----------- --------- -----------
End of year $ 177,277 $ 306 $ 177,583
=========== ========= ===========
Unit's SMOG and changes therein were determined in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 69. Certain information
concerning the assumptions used in computing SMOG and their inherent
limitations are discussed below. Management believes such information is
essential for a proper understanding and assessment of the data presented.
The assumptions used to compute SMOG do not necessarily reflect
management's expectations of actual revenues to be derived from those
reserves nor their present worth. Assigning monetary values to the reserve
quantity estimation process does not reduce the subjective and ever-
changing nature of such reserve estimates. Additional subjectivity occurs
when determining present values because the rate of producing the reserves
must be estimated. In addition to errors inherent in predicting the
future, variations from the expected production rate could result from
factors outside of management's control, such as unintentional delays in
development, environmental concerns or changes in prices or regulatory
controls. Also, the reserve valuation assumes that all reserves will be
disposed of by production. However, other factors such as the sale of
reserves in place could affect the amount of cash eventually realized.
Future cash flows are computed by applying year-end spot prices of oil
($17.71) and natural gas ($2.51) relating to proved reserves to the year-
end quantities of those reserves. Future price changes are considered only
to the extent provided by contractual arrangements in existence at year-
end.
81
Future production and development costs are computed by estimating the
expenditures to be incurred in developing and producing the proved oil and
natural gas reserves at the end of the year, based on continuation of
existing economic conditions.
Future income tax expenses are computed by applying the appropriate
year-end statutory tax rates to the future pretax net cash flows relating
to proved oil and natural gas reserves less the tax basis of Unit's
properties. The future income tax expenses also give effect to permanent
differences and tax credits and allowances relating to Unit's proved oil
and natural gas reserves.
Care should be exercised in the use and interpretation of the above
data. As production occurs over the next several years, the results shown
may be significantly different as changes in production performance,
petroleum prices and costs are likely to occur.
82
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Shareholders and Board of Directors
Unit Corporation
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the
related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders'
equity and cash flows present fairly in all material respects, the
financial position of Unit Corporation and its subsidiaries at December 31,
2000 and 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001, in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the accompanying financial
statement schedule presents fairly, in all material respects, the
information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related
consolidated financial statements. These financial statements and
financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's
management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. We
conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with
auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America which
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.
An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the
amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,
and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe
that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Tulsa, Oklahoma
February 20, 2002
83
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
- ------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Disclosure.
---------------------
None.
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
- -------- --------------------------------------------------
The table below and accompanying footnotes set forth certain
information concerning each of our executive officers. Unless otherwise
indicated, each has served in the positions set forth for more than five
years. Executive officers are elected for a term of one year. There are
no family relationships between any of the persons named.
NAME AGE POSITION
- ---------------- --- ----------------------------------------
John G. Nikkel 67 President, Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Operating Officer and Director
Earle Lamborn 67 Senior Vice President, Drilling and
Director
Philip M. Keeley 60 Senior Vice President, Exploration
and Production
Larry D. Pinkston 47 Vice President, Treasurer and Chief
Financial Officer
Mark E. Schell 44 General Counsel and Secretary
Mr. Nikkel joined Unit in 1983 as its President and a director. On
July 1, 2001, Mr. Nikkel was elected to the additional office of Chief
Executive Officer. From 1976 until January 1982 when he co-founded Nike
Exploration Company, Mr. Nikkel was an officer and director of Cotton
Petroleum Corporation, serving as the President of that Company from 1979
until his departure. Prior to joining Cotton, Mr. Nikkel was employed by
Amoco Production Company for 18 years, last serving as Division Geologist
for Amoco's Denver Division. Mr. Nikkel presently serves as President and
a director of Nike Exploration Company. Mr. Nikkel received a Bachelor of
Science degree in Geology and Mathematics from Texas Christian University.1
Mr. Lamborn has been actively involved in the oil field for over 49
years, joining Unit's predecessor in 1952 prior to it becoming a publicly-
held corporation. He was elected Vice President, Drilling in 1973 and to
his current position as Senior Vice President and director in 1979.
84
Mr. Keeley joined Unit in November 1983 as a Senior Vice President,
Exploration and Production. Prior to that time, Mr. Keeley co-founded
(with Mr. Nikkel) Nike Exploration Company in January 1982 and until
December 2001 served as the Executive Vice President and a director of that
company. From 1977 until 1982, Mr. Keeley was employed by Cotton Petroleum
Corporation, serving first as Manager of Land and from 1979 as Vice
President and a director. Before joining Cotton, Mr. Keeley was employed
for four years by Apexco, Inc. as Manager of Land and prior thereto he was
employed by Texaco, Inc. for nine years. He received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Petroleum Land Management from the University of Oklahoma.
Mr. Pinkston joined Unit in December 1981. He had served as Corporate
Budget Director and Assistant Controller prior to being appointed as
Controller in February 1985. He has been Treasurer since December 1986 and
was elected to the position of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
in May 1989. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from East
Central University of Oklahoma and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. Schell joined Unit in January of 1987, as its Secretary and
General Counsel. From 1979 until joining Unit, Mr. Schell was Counsel,
Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors of C & S Exploration,
Inc. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from
Arizona State University and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University
of Tulsa Law School. He is a member of the Oklahoma and American Bar
Association as well as being a member of the American Corporate Counsel
Association and the American Society of Corporate Secretaries.
The balance of the information required in this Item 10 is
incorporated by reference from Unit's Proxy Statement to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Company's 2002
annual meeting of stockholders.
85
Item 11. Executive Compensation
- -------- ----------------------
Information required by this item is incorporated by reference from
Unit's Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission in connection with Unit's 2002 annual meeting of stockholders.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
- -------- --------------------------------------------------------------
Information required by this item is incorporated by reference from
Unit's Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission in connection with Unit's 2002 annual meeting of stockholders.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
- -------- ----------------------------------------------
Information required by this item is incorporated by reference from
Unit's Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission in connection with Unit's 2002 annual meeting of stockholders.
86
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on
- -------- ------------------------------------------------------
Form 8-K
---------
(a) Financial Statements, Schedules and Exhibits:
1. Financial Statements:
---------------------
Included in Part II of this report:
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2000 and 2001
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
December 31, 1999, 2000 and 2001
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for
the years ended December 31, 1999, 2000 and 2001
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
December 31, 1999, 2000 and 2001
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Accountants
2. Financial Statement Schedules:
------------------------------
Included in Part IV of this report for the years ended December 31,
1999, 2000 and 2001:
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
Other schedules are omitted because of the absence of conditions under
which they are required or because the required information is
included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
The exhibit numbers in the following list correspond to the numbers
assigned such exhibits in the Exhibit Table of Item 601 of Regulation
S-K.
3. Exhibits:
--------
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated November 21, 1997, by and
among the Registrant, Unit Drilling Company, the Shareholders
and Hickman Drilling Company (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's
Form 8-K dated November 21, 1997, which is incorporated
herein by reference).
87
2.2 Asset Purchase Agreement dated August 12, 1999, by and among Unit
Corporation, Parker Drilling Company and Parker Drilling Company
North America, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 99.1 to Unit's Form 8-K
dated September 23, 1999, which is incorporated herein by
reference).
2.3 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 8, 1999, among
Unit Corporation, Questa Oil & Gas Co. and Unit Acquisition
Company (filed as Appendix A to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus
which forms a part of Unit's Registration Statement on Form S-4 as
S.E.C. File No. 333-94325, which is incorporated herein by
reference).
2.4 Form of Stockholder Agreement, between Unit Corporation and the
directors and executive officers of Questa Oil & Gas Co. (filed as
Exhibit 2.2 of Unit's Registration Statement on Form S-4 as S.E.C.
File No. 333-94325, which is incorporated herein by reference).
3.1.4 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Unit
Corporation dated May 11, 2000 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to
Unit's Form 8-K dated June 29, 2000, which is incorporated
herein by reference).
3.1.5 Certificate of Correction of the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of Unit Corporation (filed as
Exhibit 3.1 to Unit's Form 8-K dated August 23, 2001, which
is incorporated herein by reference).
3.2 By-Laws of Unit Corporation (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Unit's
Form 8-K dated August 23, 2001, which is incorporated herein
by reference).
4.1 Form of Promissory Note issued to the Shareholders of Hickman
Drilling Company pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated November 21, 1997 (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Form
8-K dated November 21, 1997, which is incorporated herein by
reference).
4.2.3 Form of Common Stock Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.1 on
Form S-3 as S.E.C. File No. 333-83551, which is incorporated
herein by reference).
4.2.6 Rights Agreement between Unit Corporation and Chemical Bank,
as Rights Agent (filed as Exhibit 1 to Unit's Form 8-A filed
with the S.E.C. on May 23, 1995, File No. 1-92601 and
incorporated herein by reference).
4.2.7 First Amendment of Rights Agreement dated May 19, 1995,
between the Company and Mellon Shareholder Services LLC, as
Rights Agent (filed as Exhibit 4 to Unit's Form 8-K dated
August 23, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference).
89
10.1.25 Loan Agreement dated July 7, 2001 (filed as an Exhibit to
Unit's Quarterly Report under cover of Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2001, which is incorporated herein by
reference).
10.2.2 Unit 1979 Oil and Gas Program Agreement of Limited
Partnership (filed as Exhibit I to Unit Drilling and
Exploration Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 as
S.E.C. File No. 2-66347, which is incorporated herein by
reference).
10.2.10 Unit 1984 Oil and Gas Program Agreement of Limited
Partnership (filed as an Exhibit 3.1 to Unit 1984 Oil and Gas
Program's Registration Statement Form S-1 as S.E.C. File No.
2-92582, which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.2.18 Unit 1991 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership Agreement
of Limited Partnership (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual
Report under cover of Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1991, which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.2.19 Unit 1992 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership Agreement
of Limited Partnership (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual
Report under cover of Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1992, which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.2.20 Unit 1993 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership Agreement
of Limited Partnership (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual
Report under cover of Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1992, which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.2.21* Unit Drilling and Exploration Employee Bonus Plan (filed as
Exhibit 10.16 to Unit's Registration Statement on Form S-4 as
S.E.C. File No. 33-7848, which is incorporated herein by
reference).
10.2.22* The Company's Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan (filed
as an Exhibit to Unit's Registration Statement on Form S-8 as
S.E.C. File No's. 33-19652, 33-44103 and 33-64323 which is
incorporated herein by reference).
10.2.23* Unit Corporation Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan
(filed as an Exhibit to Form S-8 as S.E.C. File No. 33-49724,
which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.2.24* Unit Corporation Employees' Thrift Plan (filed as an Exhibit
to Form S-8 as S.E.C. File No. 33-53542, which is
incorporated herein by reference).
10.2.25 Unit Consolidated Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership
Agreement. (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual Report under
cover of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993,
which is incorporated herein by reference).
89
10.2.26 Unit 1994 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership Agreement
of Limited Partnership (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual
Report under cover of Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1993, which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.2.27* Unit Corporation Salary Deferral Plan (filed as an Exhibit to
Unit's Annual Report under cover of Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1993, which is incorporated herein by
reference).
10.2.28 Unit 1995 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership Agreement
of Limited Partnership (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual
Report, under cover of Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1994, which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.2.29 Unit 1996 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership Agreement
of Limited Partnership (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual
Report under cover of Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1995, which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.2.30* Separation Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and Participating
Subsidiaries (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual Report
under the cover of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1996, which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.2.31 Unit 1997 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership Agreement
of Limited Partnership (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual
Report under the cover of Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996).
10.2.32 Unit Corporation Separation Benefit Plan for Senior
Management (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Quarterly Report
under cover of Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
1997, which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.2.33 Unit 1998 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership Agreement
of Limited Partnership (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual
Report under the cover of Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997).
10.2.34 Unit 1999 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership Agreement
of Limited Partnership (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual
Report under the cover of Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1998).
10.2.35 Unit 2000 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership Agreement
of Limited Partnership (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual
Report under the cover of Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1999).
10.2.36* Unit Corporation 2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option
Plan (filed as an Exhibit to Form S-8 as S.E.C. File No. 333-
38166, which is incorporated herein by reference).
90
10.2.37* Unit Corporation's Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan
(filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Registration Statement on Form
S-8 as S.E.C. File No. 333-39584 which is incorporated herein
by reference).
10.2.38 Unit 2001 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership Agreement
of Limited Partnership (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual
Report under the cover of Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2000).
10.2.39* Form of Unit Corporation Key Employee Change of Control
Contract (filed as an Exhibit to Unit's Annual Report under
the cover of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000).
10.2.40 Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into between the
Company and its executive officers and directors (filed as
Exhibit 10 to Unit's Form 8-K dated August 23, 2001, which is
incorporated herein by reference).
10.2.41 Unit 2002 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership Agreement
of Limited Partnership (filed herein).
21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant (filed herewith).
23 Consent of Independent Accountants (filed herewith).
99.2 Separation Agreement, dated May 11, 2001, between the
Registrant and Mr. Kirchner (filed as Exhibit 99.A4 to Unit's
Form 8-K dated May 18, 2001, which is incorporated herein by
reference).
* Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan identified pursuant
to the requirements of Item 14 of Form 10-K.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K:
No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended
December 31, 2001.
91
Schedule II
UNIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:
Additions Balance
Balance at charged to Deductions at
beginning costs & & net end of
Description of period Expenses write-offs period
----------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(In thousands)
Year ended
December 31, 1999 $ 434 $ 305 $ 15 $ 583
========== ========== ========== ==========
Year ended
December 31, 2000 $ 583 $ 350 $ 14 $ 919
========== ========== ========== ==========
Year ended
December 31, 2001 $ 919 $ - $ 315 $ 604
========== ========== ========== ==========
Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance:
Balance
Balance at At
Beginning End of
Description of period Additions Deductions Period
----------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(In thousands)
Year ended
December 31, 1999 $ 530 $ - $ 195 $ 335
========== ========== ========== ==========
Year ended
December 31, 2000 $ 335 $ - $ 335 $ -
========== ========== ========== ==========
Year ended
December 31, 2001 $ - $ - $ - $ -
========== ========== ========== ==========
92
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
UNIT CORPORATION
DATE: March 7, 2002 By: /s/ John G. Nikkel
----------------- ---------------------------
JOHN G. NIKKEL
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in the capacities indicated on the 20th day of March, 2001.
Name Title
- ------------------------------- -----------------------------------
/s/ King P. Kirchner
- ------------------------------- Chairman of the Board and Director
KING P. KIRCHNER
/s/ John G. Nikkel
- ------------------------------- President and Chief Executive Officer
JOHN G. NIKKEL Chief Operating Officer, Director
/s/ Earle Lamborn
- ------------------------------- Senior Vice President, Drilling,
EARLE LAMBORN Director
/s/ Larry D. Pinkston
- ------------------------------- Vice President, Chief Financial
LARRY D. PINKSTON Officer and Treasurer
/s/ Stanley W. Belitz
- ------------------------------- Controller
STANLEY W. BELITZ
/s/ J. Michael Adcock
- ------------------------------- Director
J. MICHAEL ADCOCK
/s/ Don Cook
- ------------------------------- Director
DON COOK
/s/ William B. Morgan
- ------------------------------- Director
WILLIAM B. MORGAN
- ------------------------------- Director
JOHN S. ZINK
/s/ John H. Williams
- ------------------------------- Director
JOHN H. WILLIAMS
93
EXHIBIT INDEX
-----------------------
Exhibit
No. Description Page
- ------ ----------------------------------------------- -----
10.2.41 Unit 2002 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership Agreement of Limited Partnership.
21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23 Consent of Independent Accountants.
93
CONFIDENTIAL
For Private Placement Purposes Only Copy No. _________________
UNIT 2002 EMPLOYEE OIL AND GAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
1000 Kensington Tower I
7130 South Lewis
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136
(918) 493-7700
A PRIVATE OFFERING
OF
UNITS OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTEREST
_____________________________________
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES ACTS IN RELIANCE ON
EXEMPTIONS PROVIDED BY SUCH ACTS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR
TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACTS OR AN
OPINION OF CONNER & WINTERS ACCEPTABLE TO THE GENERAL PARTNER THAT SUCH
REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. FURTHER, THE RESALE OF A UNIT MAY RESULT IN
SUBSTANTIAL TAX LIABILITY TO THE INVESTOR. SEE "FEDERAL INCOME TAX
CONSIDERATIONS." ACCORDINGLY, THESE UNITS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ONLY
FOR LONG-TERM INVESTMENT. SEE "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION -- SUITABILITY OF
INVESTORS."
_____________________________________
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRIVATE OFFERING MEMORANDUM IS
PROVIDED BY THE GENERAL PARTNER SOLELY FOR THE PERSONS RECEIVING IT FROM THE
GENERAL PARTNER AND ANY REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PRIVATE OFFERING
MEMORANDUM, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OR THE DIVULGENCE OF ANY OF ITS CONTENTS IS
PROHIBITED AND MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF CERTAIN STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE
OFFEREE, BY ACCEPTING DELIVERY OF THIS PRIVATE OFFERING MEMORANDUM, AGREES TO
RETURN IT AND ALL ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS TO THE GENERAL PARTNER IF THE OFFEREE DOES
NOT UNDERTAKE TO PURCHASE ANY OF THE UNITS OFFERED HEREBY.
_____________________________________
Private Offering Memorandum Date December 20, 2001
600 Preformation
Units of Limited Partnership Interest
in the
UNIT 2002 EMPLOYEE
OIL AND GAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
_____________________________________
$1,000 Per Unit Plus Possible
Additional Assessments of $100 Per Unit
(Minimum Investment - 2 Units)
Minimum Aggregate Subscriptions Necessary
to Form Partnership - 50 Units
_____________________________________
A maximum of 600 (minimum of 50) units of limited partnership interest
("Units") in the UNIT 2002 EMPLOYEE OIL AND GAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a proposed
Oklahoma limited partnership (the "Partnership"), are being offered privately
only to certain employees of Unit Corporation ("UNIT") and its subsidiaries and
the directors of UNIT at a price of $1,000 per Unit. Subscriptions shall be for
not less than 2 Units ($2,000). The Partnership is being formed for the
purpose of conducting oil and gas drilling and development operations.
Purchasers of the Units will become Limited Partners in the Partnership. Unit
Petroleum Company ("UPC" or the "General Partner") will serve as General Partner
of the Partnership. UPC's address is 1000 Kensington Tower I, 7130 South Lewis
Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136, and telephone (918) 493-7700.
THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE GENERAL PARTNER
AND THE LIMITED PARTNERS ARE GOVERNED BY THE
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (THE "AGREEMENT"),
A COPY OF WHICH ACCOMPANIES THIS MEMORANDUM AND IS
INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE
AN INVESTMENT IN THE UNITS IS SPECULATIVE AND INVOLVES
A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE "RISK FACTORS". CERTAIN
SIGNIFICANT RISKS INCLUDE:
. Drilling to establish productive oil and natural gas properties
is inherently speculative.
. Participants will rely solely on the management capability and
expertise of the General Partner.
. Limited Partners must assume the risks of an illiquid investment.
. Investment in the Units is suitable only for investors having
sufficient financial resources and who desire a long-term
investment.
. Conflicts of interest exist and additional conflicts of interest
may arise between the General Partner and the Limited Partners,
and there are no pre-determined procedures for resolving any such
conflicts.
ii
. Significant tax considerations to be considered by an
investor include:
. possible audit of income tax returns of the Partnership
and/or the Limited Partners and adjustment to their reported
tax liabilities; and
. a Limited Partner will not benefit from his or her shares of
Partnership deductions in excess of his or her share of
Partnership income unless he or she has passive income from
other activities.
. There can be no assurance that the Partnership will have adequate
funds to provide cash distributions to the Limited Partners. The
amount and timing of any such distributions will be within the
complete discretion of the General Partner.
. The amount of any cash distribution which a Limited Partner may
receive from the Partnership could be insufficient to pay the tax
liability incurred by such Limited Partner with respect to income
or gain allocated to such Limited Partner by the Partnership.
. Certain provisions in the Agreement modify what would otherwise
be the applicable Oklahoma law as to the fiduciary standards for
general partners in limited partnerships. Those standards in the
Agreement could be less advantageous to the Limited Partners than
the corresponding fiduciary standards otherwise applicable under
Oklahoma law. The purchase of Units may be deemed as consent to
the fiduciary standards set forth in the Agreement.
_____________________________________
EXCEPT AS STATED HEREIN UNDER "ADDITIONAL INFORMATION," NO PERSON HAS
BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER
THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PRIVATE OFFERING MEMORANDUM IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
OFFERING AND SUCH REPRESENTATIONS, IF ANY, MAY NOT BE RELIED UPON. THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRIVATE OFFERING MEMORANDUM IS AS OF THE DATE
HEREOF UNLESS ANOTHER DATE IS SPECIFIED.
_____________________________________
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE NOT TO CONSTRUE THE CONTENTS OF
THIS PRIVATE OFFERING MEMORANDUM AS LEGAL, BUSINESS, OR TAX ADVICE.
EACH INVESTOR SHOULD CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN ATTORNEY, BUSINESS ADVISOR
AND TAX ADVISOR AS TO LEGAL, BUSINESS, TAX AND RELATED MATTERS
CONCERNING HIS OR HER INVESTMENT. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE URGED TO
REQUEST ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THEY MAY CONSIDER NECESSARY TO MAKE
AN INFORMED INVESTMENT DECISION.
_____________________________________
iii
THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED
BY THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, THE OKLAHOMA SECURITIES
COMMISSION OR BY THE SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY OTHER STATE, NOR HAS
ANY COMMISSION OR AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THIS OFFERING
OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PRIVATE OFFERING MEMORANDUM. ANY
REPRESENTATION CONTRARY TO THE FOREGOING IS UNLAWFUL.
_____________________________________
THESE UNITS ARE BEING OFFERED SUBJECT TO PRIOR SALE, TO WITHDRAWAL,
CANCELLATION OR MODIFICATION OF THE OFFER WITHOUT NOTICE AND TO THE FURTHER
CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN.
_____________________________________
IN CONNECTION WITH THE REGISTRATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP AS A "TAX
SHELTER" PURSUANT TO SECTION 6111 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS
AMENDED, PLEASE NOTE THAT ISSUANCE OF A REGISTRATION NUMBER DOES NOT INDICATE
THAT AN INVESTMENT IN THE PARTNERSHIP OR THE CLAIMED TAX BENEFITS THEREFROM HAVE
BEEN REVIEWED, EXAMINED OR APPROVED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
_____________________________________
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
----------------------
Each prospective investor, or his or her qualified representative
named in writing, is hereby offered the opportunity (1) to obtain additional
information necessary to verify the accuracy of the information supplied
herewith or hereafter, and (2) to ask questions and receive answers concerning
the terms and conditions of the offering. If you desire to avail yourself of
the opportunity, please contact:
Mark E. Schell, Esq.
1000 Kensington Tower I
7130 South Lewis
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136
(918) 493-7700
iv
The following documents and instruments are available to qualified
offerees upon written request:
1. Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-
Laws of UNIT.
2. Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of Unit Petroleum
Company.
3. UNIT's Employees' Thrift Plan.
4. UNIT's Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan and related
prospectuses covering shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of outstanding options.
5. UNIT's Non Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.
6. The Credit Agreement and the notes payable of UNIT.
7. All periodic reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and all
proxy materials filed by or on behalf of UNIT with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, during
calendar year 2001, the annual report to shareholders and
all quarterly reports to shareholders submitted by UNIT to
its shareholders during calendar year 2001.
8. The agreements of limited partnership for the prior oil and
gas drilling programs and prior employee programs of Unit
Petroleum Company, UNIT and Unit Drilling and Exploration
Company ("UDEC").
9. All periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and all reports and information provided to
limited partners in all limited partnerships of which Unit
Petroleum Company, UNIT or UDEC now serves or has served in
the past as a general partner.
10. The agreement of limited partnership for the Unit 1986
Energy Income Limited Partnership.
v
SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
-------------------
Page
----
SUMMARY OF PROGRAM.......................................................... 1
Terms of the Offering..................................................... 1
Risk Factors.............................................................. 2
Additional Financing...................................................... 4
Proposed Activities....................................................... 4
Application of Proceeds................................................... 5
Participation in Costs and Revenues....................................... 6
Compensation.............................................................. 6
Federal Income Tax Considerations; Opinion of Counsel..................... 6
RISK FACTORS................................................................ 7
INVESTMENT RISKS........................................................ 7
TAX STATUS AND TAX RISKS................................................14
OPERATIONAL RISKS.......................................................15
TERMS OF THE OFFERING.......................................................17
General...................................................................17
Limited Partnership Interests.............................................17
Subscription Rights.......................................................18
Payment for Units; Delinquent Installment.................................19
Right of Presentment......................................................20
Rollup or Consolidation of Partnership....................................21
ADDITIONAL FINANCING........................................................22
Additional Assessments....................................................22
Prior Programs............................................................23
Partnership Borrowings....................................................23
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION........................................................24
Suitability of Investors..................................................24
RELATIONSHIP OF THE PARTNERSHIP, THE GENERAL PARTNER AND AFFILIATES.........24
PROPOSED ACTIVITIES.........................................................25
General...................................................................25
Partnership Objectives....................................................28
Areas of Interest.........................................................28
Transfer of Properties....................................................28
Record Title to Partnership Properties....................................29
Marketing of Reserves.....................................................29
Conduct of Operations.....................................................29
APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS.....................................................30
PARTICIPATION IN COSTS AND REVENUES.........................................30
COMPENSATION................................................................32
Supervision of Operations.................................................32
Purchase of Equipment and Provision of Services...........................33
Prior Programs............................................................33
MANAGEMENT..................................................................35
The General Partner.......................................................35
Officers, Directors and Key Employees.....................................35
Prior Employee Programs...................................................38
Ownership of Common Stock.................................................40
Interest of Management in Certain Transactions............................41
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.......................................................41
Acquisition of Properties and Drilling Operations.........................42
Participation in UNIT's Drilling or Income Programs.......................43
Transfer of Properties....................................................43
Partnership Assets........................................................44
Transactions with the General Partner or Affiliates.......................44
Right of Presentment Price Determination..................................45
Receipt of Compensation Regardless of Profitability.......................45
Legal Counsel.............................................................45
FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY....................................................45
General...................................................................45
vi
Liability and Indemnification.............................................46
PRIOR ACTIVITIES............................................................47
Prior Employee Programs...................................................49
Results of the Prior Oil and Gas Programs.................................50
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS...........................................60
Summary of Conclusions....................................................60
General Tax Effects of Partnership Structure..............................63
Ownership of Partnership Properties.......................................64
Intangible Drilling and Development Costs Deductions......................65
Depletion Deductions......................................................66
Depreciation Deductions...................................................66
Interest Deductions.......................................................67
Transaction Fees..........................................................67
Basis and At Risk Limitations.............................................68
Passive Loss Limitations..................................................68
Alternative Minimum Tax...................................................69
Gain or Loss on Sale of Property or Units.................................69
Partnership Distributions.................................................70
Partnership Allocations...................................................70
Profit Motive.............................................................70
Administrative Matters....................................................71
Accounting Methods and Periods............................................72
State and Local Taxes.....................................................72
Individual Tax Advice Should Be Sought....................................72
COMPETITION, MARKETS AND REGULATION.........................................73
Marketing of Production...................................................73
Regulation of Partnership Operations......................................74
Natural Gas Price Regulation..............................................74
Oil Price Regulation......................................................78
State Regulation of Oil and Gas Production................................78
Legislative and Regulatory Production and Pricing Proposals...............78
Production and Environmental Regulation...................................79
SUMMARY OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT................................80
Partnership Distributions.................................................80
Deposit and Use of Funds..................................................80
Power and Authority.......................................................81
Rollup or Consolidation of the Partnership................................81
Limited Liability.........................................................82
Records, Reports and Returns..............................................83
Transferability of Interests..............................................83
Amendments................................................................85
Voting Rights.............................................................85
Exculpation and Indemnification of the General Partner....................86
Termination...............................................................86
Insurance.................................................................87
COUNSEL.....................................................................87
GLOSSARY....................................................................87
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS........................................................91
EXHIBIT A - AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
EXHIBIT B - LEGAL OPINION
vii
SUMMARY OF PROGRAM
This summary does not purport to be a complete description of the terms and
consequences of an investment in the Partnership and is qualified in its
entirety by the more detailed information appearing throughout this Private
Offering Memorandum (this "Memorandum"). For definitions of certain terms used
in this Memorandum, see "GLOSSARY".
Terms of the Offering
Limited Partnership Interests. Unit 2002 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership, a proposed Oklahoma limited partnership (the "Partnership"), hereby
offers 600 preformation units of limited partnership interest ("Units") in the
Partnership. The offer is made only to certain employees of Unit Corporation
("UNIT") and its subsidiaries and directors of UNIT (see "TERMS OF THE OFFERING
- -- Subscription Rights"). Unless the context otherwise requires, all references
in this Memorandum to UNIT shall include all or any of its subsidiaries. Unit
Petroleum Company ("UPC" or the "General Partner"), a wholly owned subsidiary of
UNIT, will serve as General Partner of the Partnership.
To invest in the Units, the Limited Partner Subscription Agreement and
Suitability Statement (the "Subscription Agreement") (see Attachment I to
Exhibit A hereto) must be executed and forwarded to the offices of the General
Partner at its address listed on the cover of this Memorandum. The Subscription
Agreement must be received by the General Partner not later than 5:00 P.M.
Central Standard Time on {Closing Date} (extendable by the General Partner for
up to 30 days). Subscription Agreements may be delivered to the office of the
General Partner. No payment is required upon delivery of the Subscription
Agreement. Payment for the Units will be made either (i) in four equal
Installments, the first of such Installments being due on March 15, 2002 and the
remaining three of such Installments being due on June 15, 2002, September 15,
2002 and December 15, 2002, respectively, or (ii) through equal deductions from
2002 salary commencing immediately after formation of the Partnership.
The purchase price of each Unit is $1,000, and the minimum permissible
purchase is two Units ($2,000) for each subscriber. Additional Assessments of
up to $100 per Unit may be required (see "ADDITIONAL FINANCING -- Additional
Assessments"). Maximum purchases by employees (other than directors) will be
for an amount equal to one-half of their base salaries for calendar year 2002.
Each member of the Board of Directors of UNIT may subscribe for up to 200 Units
($200,000). The Partnership must sell at least 50 Units ($50,000) before the
Partnership will be formed. No Units will be offered for sale after the
Effective Date (see "GLOSSARY") except upon compliance with the provisions of
Article XIII of the Agreement. The General Partner may, at its option, purchase
Units as a Limited Partner, including any amount that may be necessary to meet
the minimum number of Units required for formation of the Partnership. The
Partnership will terminate on December 31, 2032, unless it is terminated earlier
pursuant to the provisions of the Agreement or by operation of law. See "TERMS
OF THE OFFERING -- Limited Partnership Interests"; "TERMS OF THE OFFERING --
Subscription Rights"; and "SUMMARY OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT --
Termination."
Units will be offered only to those qualified employees of UNIT or any of
its subsidiaries at the date of formation of the Partnership whose annual base
salaries for 2002 have been set at $22,680 or more and Directors of UNIT who
meet certain financial requirements which will enable them to bear the economic
risks of an investment in the Partnership and who can demonstrate that they have
sufficient
1
investment experience and expertise to evaluate the risks and merits of such an
investment. The offering will be made privately by the officers and directors
of UPC or UNIT, except that in states which require participation by a
registered broker-dealer in the offer and sale of securities, the Units will be
offered through such broker-dealer as may be selected by the General Partner.
Any participating broker-dealer may be reimbursed for actual out-of-pocket
expenses. Such reimbursements will be borne by the General Partner.
Subscription Rights. Only salaried employees of UNIT or any of its
subsidiaries who are exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and whose annual
base salaries for 2002 have been set at $22,680 or more and directors of UNIT
are eligible to subscribe for Units. Employees may not purchase Units for an
amount in excess of one-half of their base salaries for calendar year 2002.
Directors' subscriptions may not be for more than 200 Units ($200,000). Only
employees and directors who are U.S. citizens are eligible to participate in the
offering. In addition, employees and directors must be able to bear the
economic risks of an investment in the Partnership and must have sufficient
investment experience and expertise to evaluate the risks and merits of such an
investment. See "TERMS OF THE OFFERING -- Subscription Rights."
Right of Presentment. After December 31, 2003 and annually thereafter, the
Limited Partners will have the right to present their Units to the General
Partner for purchase. The General Partner will not be obligated to purchase
more than 20% of the then outstanding Units in any one calendar year. The
purchase price to be paid for the Units will be determined by a specific
valuation formula. See "TERMS OF THE OFFERING -- Right of Presentment" for a
description of the valuation formula and a discussion of the manner in which the
right of presentment may be exercised by the Limited Partners.
Risk Factors
An investment in the Partnership has many risks. The "RISK FACTORS"
section of this Memorandum contains a detailed discussion of the most important
risks, organized into Investment Risks (the risks related to the Partnership's
investment in oil and gas properties and drilling activities, to an investment
in the Partnership and to the provisions of the Agreement); Tax Risks (the risks
arising from the tax laws as they apply to the Partnership and its investment in
oil and gas properties and drilling activities); and Operational Risks (the
risks involved in conducting oil and gas operations). The following are certain
of the risks which are more fully described under "RISK FACTORS". Each
prospective investor should review the "RISK FACTORS" section carefully before
deciding to subscribe for Units.
Investment Risks:
. Future oil and natural gas prices are unpredictable. If oil and
natural gas prices go down, the Partnership's distributions, if any,
to the Limited Partners will be adversely affected.
. The General Partner is authorized under the Agreement to cause, in its
sole discretion, the sale or transfer of the Partnership's assets to,
or the merger or consolidation of the Partnership with, another
partnership, corporation or other business entity. Such action could
have a material impact on the nature of the investment of all Limited
Partners.
. Except for certain transfers to the General Partner and other
restricted transfers, the Agreement prohibits a Limited Partner from
transferring Units. Thus, except for the limited right of the Limited
Partners after December 31, 2003 to present their Units to the
2
General Partner for purchase, Limited Partners will not be able to
liquidate their investments.
. The Partnership could be formed with as little as $50,000 in Capital
Contributions (excluding the Capital Contributions of the General
Partner). As the total amount of Capital Contributions to the
Partnership will determine the number and diversification of
Partnership Properties, the ability of the Partnership to pursue its
investment objectives may be restricted in the event that the
Partnership receives only the minimum amount of Capital Contributions.
. The drilling and completion operations to be undertaken by the
Partnership for the development of oil and natural gas reserves
involve the possibility of a total loss of an investment in the
Partnership.
. The General Partner will have the exclusive management and control of
all aspects of the business of the Partnership. The Limited Partners
will have no opportunity to participate in the management and control
of any aspect of the Partnership's activities. Accordingly, the
Limited Partners will be entirely dependent upon the management skills
and expertise of the General Partner.
. Conflicts of interest exist and additional conflicts of interest may
arise between the General Partner and the Limited Partners, and there
are no pre-determined procedures for resolving any such conflicts.
Accordingly the General Partner could cause the Partnership to take
actions to the benefit of the General Partner but not to the benefit
of the Limited Partners.
. Certain provisions in the Agreement modify what would otherwise be the
applicable Oklahoma law as to the fiduciary standards for a general
partner in a limited partnership. The fiduciary standards in the
Agreement could be less advantageous to the Limited Partners and more
advantageous to the General Partner than corresponding fiduciary
standards otherwise applicable under Oklahoma law. The purchase of
Units may be deemed as consent to the fiduciary standards set forth in
the Agreement.
. There can be no assurances that the Partnership will have adequate
funds to provide cash distributions to the Limited Partners. The
amount and timing of any such distributions will be within the
complete discretion of the General Partner.
. The amount of any cash distributions which Limited Partners may
receive from the Partnership could be insufficient to pay the tax
liability incurred by such Limited Partners with respect to income or
gain allocated to such Limited Partners by the Partnership.
Tax Risks:
. Tax laws and regulations applicable to partnership investments may
change at any time and these changes may be applicable retroactively.
. Certain allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction of the
Partnership among the Partners may be challenged by the Internal
Revenue Service (the "Service"). A
3
successful challenge would likely result in a Limited Partner having
to report additional taxable income or being denied a deduction.
. Investment as a Limited Partner may be less advisable for a person who
does not have substantial current taxable income from passive trade or
business activities in which the Limited Partner does not materially
participate.
. Federal income tax payable by a Limited Partner by reason of his or
her allocated share of Partnership income for any year may exceed the
Partnership distributions to a Limited Partner for the year.
Operational Risks:
. The search for oil and gas is highly speculative and the drilling
activities conducted by the Partnership may result in a well that may
be dry or productive wells that do not produce sufficient oil and gas
to produce a profit or result in a return of the Limited Partners'
investment.
. Certain hazards may be encountered in drilling wells which could lead
to substantial liabilities to third parties or governmental entities.
In addition, governmental regulations or new laws relating to
environmental matters could increase Partnership costs, delay or
prevent drilling a well, require the Partnership to cease operations
in certain areas or expose the Partnership to significant liabilities
for violations of such laws and regulations.
Additional Financing
Additional Assessments. After the Aggregate Subscription received from the
Limited Partners has been fully expended or committed and the General Partner's
Minimum Capital Contribution has been fully expended, the General Partner may
make one or more calls for Additional Assessments from the Limited Partners if
additional funds are required to pay the Limited Partners' share of Drilling
Costs, Special Production and Marketing Costs or Leasehold Acquisition Costs.
The maximum amount of total Additional Assessments which may be called for by
the General Partner is $100 per Unit. See "ADDITIONAL FINANCING -- Additional
Assessments".
Partnership Borrowings. After the General Partner's Minimum Capital
Contribution has been expended, the General Partner may cause the Partnership to
borrow funds required to pay Drilling Costs, Special Production and Marketing
Costs or Leasehold Acquisition Costs of Productive properties. Additionally,
the General Partner may, but is not required to, advance funds to the
Partnership to pay such costs. See "ADDITIONAL FINANCING -- Partnership
Borrowings".
Proposed Activities
General. The Partnership is being formed for the purposes of acquiring
producing oil and gas properties and conducting oil and gas drilling and
development operations. The Partnership will, with certain limited exceptions,
participate on a proportionate basis with UPC in each producing oil and gas
lease acquired and in each oil and gas well commenced by UPC for its own account
or by UNIT during the period from January 1, 2002, if the Partnership is formed
prior to such date or from the date of the formation of the Partnership if
subsequent to January 1, 2002, until December 31, 2002, and will, with
4
certain limited exceptions, serve as a co-general partner with UNIT in any
drilling or income programs which may be formed by the General Partner or UNIT
in 2002. See "PROPOSED ACTIVITIES".
Partnership Objectives. The Partnership is being formed to provide
eligible employees and directors the opportunity to participate in the oil and
gas exploration and producing property acquisition activities of UNIT during
2002. UNIT hopes that participation in the Partnership will provide the
participants with greater proprietary interests in UNIT's operations and the
potential for realizing a more direct benefit in the event these operations
prove to be profitable. The Partnership has been structured to achieve the
objective of providing the Limited Partners with essentially the same economic
returns that UNIT realizes from the wells drilled or acquired during 2002.
Application of Proceeds
The offering proceeds will be used to pay the Leasehold Acquisition Costs
incurred by the Partnership to acquire those producing oil and gas leases in
which the Partnership participates and the Leasehold Acquisition Costs,
exploration, drilling and development costs incurred by the Partnership pursuant
to drilling activities in which the Partnership participates. The General
Partner estimates (based on historical operating experience) that such costs may
be expended as shown below based on the assumption of a maximum number of
subscriptions in the first column and a minimum number of subscriptions in the
second column:
$600,000 $50,000
Program Program
------------ ------------
Leasehold Acquisition Costs
of Properties to Be Drilled................ $30,000 $2,500
Drilling Costs of Exploratory
Wells(1)................................... 30,000 2,500
Drilling Costs of Development
Wells(1)................................... 420,000 35,000
Leasehold Acquisition Costs of
Productive Properties...................... 120,000 10,000
Reimbursement of General
Partner's Overhead Costs(2)................ -- --
------------ ------------
Total....................................... $600,000 $50,000
_______________
(1) See "GLOSSARY."
(2) The Agreement provides that the General Partner shall be reimbursed by the
Partnership for that portion of its general and administrative overhead expense
attributable to its conduct of Partnership business and affairs but such
reimbursement will be made only out of Partnership Revenue. See "COMPENSATION."
5
Participation in Costs and Revenues
Partnership costs, expenses and revenues will be allocated among the
Partners in the following percentages:
General Limited
COSTS AND EXPENSES Partner Partners
-------- --------
Organizational and offering costs of the
Partnership and any drilling or income
programs in which the Partnership
participates as a co-general partner....... 100% 0%
All other Partnership costs and expenses
Prior to time Limited Partner Capital
Contributions are entirely expended...... 1% 99%
After expenditure of Limited Partner
Capital Contributions and until
expenditure of General Partner's
Minimum Capital Contribution............. 100% 0%
General Limited
After expenditure of General Partner's Partner's Partners'
Minimum Capital Contribution............. Percentage(1) Percentage(1)
General Limited
Partner's Partners'
REVENUES...................................... Percentage(1) Percentage(1)
_______________
1) See "GLOSSARY."
Compensation
The General Partner will not receive any management fees in connection with
the operation of the Partnership. The Partnership will reimburse the General
Partner for that portion of its general and administrative overhead expense
attributable to its conduct of Partnership business and affairs. See
"COMPENSATION."
Federal Income Tax Considerations; Opinion of Counsel
The General Partner has received an opinion from its tax counsel, Conner &
Winters, P.C. ("Conner & Winters"), concerning all material federal income tax
issues applicable to an investment in the Partnership. To be fully understood,
the complete discussion of these matters set forth in the full tax opinion in
Exhibit B should be read by each prospective investor. Based upon current laws,
regulations, interpretations, and court decisions, Conner & Winters has rendered
its opinion that (i) the material federal income tax benefits in the aggregate
from an investment in the Partnership will be realized; (ii) the Partnership
will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and not as a
corporation and not as an association taxable as a corporation; (iii) to the
extent the Partnership's wells are timely drilled and its drilling costs are
timely paid, then subject to the limitations on deductions discussed in
6
such opinion, the Partners will be entitled to claim as deductions their pro
rata shares of the Partnership's intangible drilling and development costs
("IDC") paid in 2002; (iv) for most Limited Partners, the Partnership's
operations will be considered a passive activity within the meaning of Section
469 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and losses
generated therefrom will be limited by the passive activity provisions of the
Code; (v) to the extent provided herein, the Partners' distributive shares of
Partnership tax items will be determined and allocated substantially in
accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement; and (vi) the Partnership
will not be required to register with the Service as a tax shelter.
Due to the lack of authority regarding, or the essentially factual nature
of certain issues, Conner & Winters expresses no opinion on the following: (i)
the impact of an investment in the Partnership on an investor's alternative
minimum tax liability; (ii) whether, under Code Section 183, the losses of the
Partnership will be treated as derived from "activities not engaged in for
profit," and therefore nondeductible from other gross income (due to the
inherently factual nature of a Partner's interest and motive in investing in the
Partnership); (iii) whether any of the Partnership's properties will be
considered "proven" for purposes of depletion deductions; (iv) whether any
interest incurred by a Partner with respect to any borrowings incurred to
purchase Units will be deductible or subject to limitations on deductibility;
and (v) whether the Partnership will be treated as the tax owner of Partnership
Properties acquired by the General Partner as nominee for the Partnership.
THIS MEMORANDUM CONTAINS AN EXPLANATION OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT TERMS AND
PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP WHICH IS ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT
A. THE SUMMARY OF THE AGREEMENT CONTAINED IN THIS MEMORANDUM IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY SUCH REFERENCE AND ACCORDINGLY THE AGREEMENT SHOULD BE CAREFULLY
REVIEWED AND CONSIDERED.
RISK FACTORS
Prospective purchasers of Units should carefully study the information
contained in this Memorandum and should make their own evaluations of the
probability for the discovery of oil and natural gas through exploration.
INVESTMENT RISKS
Financial Risks of Drilling Operations
The Partnership will participate with the General Partner (including, with
certain limited exceptions, other drilling programs sponsored by it, or UNIT)
and, in some cases, other parties ("joint interest parties") in connection with
drilling operations conducted on properties in which the Partnership has an
interest. It is not anticipated that all such drilling operations will be
conducted under turnkey drilling contracts and, thus, all of the parties
participating in the drilling operations on a particular property, including the
Partnership, may be fully liable for their proportionate share of all costs of
such operations even if the actual costs significantly exceed the original cost
estimates. Further, if any joint interest party defaults in its obligation to
pay its share of the costs, the other joint interest parties may be required to
fund the deficiency until, if ever, it can be collected from the defaulting
party. As a result of forced pooling or similar proceedings (see "COMPETITION,
MARKETS AND REGULATION"), the Partnership may acquire larger fractional
interests in Partnership Properties than originally anticipated and, thus, be
required to bear a greater share of the costs of operations. As a result
7
of the foregoing, the Partnership could become liable for amounts significantly
in excess of the amounts originally anticipated to be expended in connection
with the operations and, in such event, would have only limited means for
providing needed additional funds (see "ADDITIONAL FINANCING"). Also, if a well
is operated by a company which does not or cannot pay the costs and expenses of
drilling or operating a Partnership Well, the Partnership's interest in such
well may become subject to liens and claims of creditors who supplied services
or materials in connection with such operations even though the Partnership may
have previously paid its share of such costs and expenses to the operator. If
the operator is unable or unwilling to pay the amount due, the Partnership might
have to pay its share of the amounts owing to such creditors in order to
preserve its interest in the well which would mean that it would, in effect, be
paying for certain of such costs and expenses twice.
Dependence Upon General Partner
The Limited Partners will acquire interests in the Partnership, not in the
General Partner or UNIT. They will not participate in either increases or
decreases in the General Partner's or UNIT's net worth or the value of its
common stock. Nevertheless, because the General Partner is primarily
responsible for the proper conduct of the Partnership's business and affairs and
is obligated to provide certain funds that will be required in connection with
its operations, a significant financial reversal for the General Partner or UNIT
could have an adverse effect on the Partnership and the Limited Partners'
interests therein.
Under the Partnership Agreement, UPC is designated as the General Partner
of the Partnership and is given the exclusive authority to manage and operate
the Partnership's business. See "SUMMARY OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT -
- - Power and Authority". Accordingly, Limited Partners must rely solely on the
General Partner to make all decisions on behalf of the Partnership, as the
Limited Partners will have no role in the management of the business of the
Partnership.
The Partnership's success will depend, in part, upon the management
provided by the General Partner, the ability of the General Partner to select
and acquire oil and gas properties on which Partnership Wells capable of
producing oil and natural gas in commercial quantities may be drilled, to fund
the acquisition of revenue producing properties, and to market oil and natural
gas produced from Partnership Wells.
Conflicts of Interest
UNIT and its subsidiaries have engaged in oil and gas exploration and
development and in the acquisition of producing properties for their own account
and as the sponsors of drilling and income programs formed with third party
investors. It is anticipated that UNIT and its subsidiaries will continue to
engage in such activities. However, with certain exceptions, it is likely that
the Partnership will participate as a working interest owner in all producing
oil and gas leases acquired and in all oil and gas wells commenced by the
General Partner or UNIT for its own account during the period from January 1,
2002, if the Partnership is formed prior to such date, or from the date of the
formation of the Partnership, if subsequent to January 1, 2002, through December
31, 2002 and, with certain limited exceptions, will be a co-general partner of
any drilling or income programs, or both, formed by the General Partner or UNIT
in 2002. The General Partner will determine which prospects will be acquired or
drilled. With respect to prospects to be drilled, certain of the wells which
are drilled for the separate account of the Partnership and the General Partner
may be drilled on prospects on which initial drilling operations were conducted
by UNIT or the General Partner prior to the formation of the Partnership.
Further, certain of the Partnership Wells will be drilled on prospects on which
the General Partner and possibly future
8
employee programs may conduct additional drilling operations in years subsequent
to 2002. Except with respect to its participation as a co-general partner of
any drilling or income program sponsored by the General Partner or UNIT, the
Partnership will have an interest only in those wells begun in 2002 and will
have no rights in production from wells commenced in years other than 2002.
Likewise, if additional interests are acquired in wells participated in by the
Partnership after 2002, the Partnership will generally not be entitled to
participate in the acquisition of such additional interests. See "CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST -- Acquisition of Properties and Drilling Operations."
The Partnership may enter into contracts for the drilling of some or all of
the Partnership Wells with affiliates of the General Partner. Likewise the
Partnership may sell or market some or all of its natural gas production to an
affiliate of the General Partner. These contracts may not necessarily be
negotiated on an arm's - length basis. The General Partner is subject to a
conflict of interest in selecting an affiliate of the General Partner to drill
the Partnership Wells and/or market the natural gas therefrom. The compensation
under these contracts will be determined at the time of entering into each such
contract, and the costs to be paid thereunder or the sale price to be received
will be one which is competitive with the costs charged or the prices paid by
unaffiliated parties in the same geographic region. The General Partner will
make the determination of what are competitive rates or prices in the area. No
provision has been made for an independent review of the fairness and
reasonableness of such compensation. See "CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS --
Transactions with the General Partner or Affiliates".
Prohibition on Transferability; Lack of Liquidity
Except for certain transfers (i) to the General Partner, (ii) to
or for the benefit of the transferor Limited Partner or members of his
or her immediate family sharing the same residence, and (iii) by
reason of death or operation of law, a Limited Partner may not
transfer or assign Units. The General Partner has agreed, however,
that it will, if requested at any time after December 31, 2003, buy
Units for prices determined either by an independent petroleum
engineering firm or the General Partner pursuant to a formula
described under "TERMS OF THE OFFERING -- Right of Presentment." This
obligation of the General Partner to purchase Units when requested is
limited and does not assure the liquidity of a Limited Partner's
investment, and the price received may be less than if the Limited
Partner continued to hold his or her Units. In addition, similar
commitments have been made and may hereafter be made to investors in
other oil and gas drilling, income and employee programs sponsored by
the General Partner or UNIT. There can be no assurance that the
General Partner will have the financial resources to honor its
repurchase commitments. See "TERMS OF THE OFFERING -- Right of
Presentment."
Delay of Cash Distributions
For income tax purposes, a Limited Partner must report his or her
distributive (allocated) share of the income, gains, losses and
deductions of the Partnership whether or not cash distributions are
made. No cash distributions are expected to be made earlier than the
first quarter of 2003. In addition, to the extent that the
Partnership uses its revenues to repay borrowings or to finance its
activities (see "ADDITIONAL FINANCING"), the funds available for cash
distributions by the Partnership will be reduced or may be
unavailable. It is possible that the amount of tax payable by a
Limited Partner on his or her distributive share of the income of a
the Partnership will exceed his or her cash distributions from the
Partnership. See "FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS."
9
If and the date any distributions commence and their subsequent timing or
amount cannot be accurately predicted. The decision as to whether or not the
Partnership will make a cash distribution at any particular time will be made
solely by the General Partner.
Limitations on Voting and Other Rights of Limited Partners
The Agreement, as permitted under the Oklahoma Revised Uniform Limited
Partnership Act (the "Act"), eliminates or limits the rights of the Limited
Partners to take certain actions, such as:
. withdrawing from the Partnership,
. transferring Units without restrictions, or
. consenting to or voting upon certain matters such as:
(i) admitting a new General Partner,
(ii) admitting Substituted Limited Partners, and
(iii) dissolving the Partnership.
Furthermore, the Agreement imposes restrictions on the exercise of voting rights
granted to Limited Partners. See "SUMMARY OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
- -- Voting Rights." Without the provisions to the contrary which are contained
in the Agreement, the Act provides that certain actions can be taken only with
the consent of all Limited Partners. Those provisions of the Agreement which
provide for or require the vote of the Limited Partners, generally permit the
approval of a proposal by the vote of Limited Partners holding a majority of the
outstanding Units. See "SUMMARY OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT -- Voting
Rights." Thus, Limited Partners who do not agree with or do not wish to be
subject to the proposed action may nevertheless become subject to the action if
the required majority approval is obtained. Notwithstanding the rights
granted to Limited Partners under the Agreement and the Act, the General Partner
retains substantial discretion as to the operation of the Partnership.
Rollup or Consolidation of Partnership
Under the terms of the Agreement, at any time two years or more after the
Partnership has completed substantially all of its property acquisition,
drilling and development operations, the General Partner is authorized to cause
the Partnership to transfer its assets to, or to merge or consolidate with,
another partnership or a corporation or other entity for the purpose of
combining the oil and gas properties and other assets of the Partnership with
those of other partnerships formed for investment or participation by the
employees, directors and/or consultants of UNIT or any of its subsidiaries.
Such transfer or combination may be effected without the vote, approval or
consent of the Limited Partners. In such event, the Limited Partners will
receive interests in the transferee or resulting entity which will mean that
they will most likely participate in the results of a larger number of
properties but will have proportionately smaller allocable interests therein.
Any such transaction is required to be effected in a manner which UNIT and the
General Partner believe is fair and equitable to the Limited Partners but there
can be no assurance that such transaction will in fact be in the best interests
of the Limited Partners. Limited Partners have no dissenters' or appraisal
rights under the terms of the Agreement or the Act. Such a transaction would
result in the termination and dissolution of the Partnership. While
10
there can be no assurance that the Partnership will participate in such a
transaction, the General Partner currently anticipates that the Partnership
will, at the appropriate time, be involved in such a transaction. See "TERMS OF
OFFERING", and "SUMMARY OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT."
Partnership Borrowings
The General Partner has the authority to cause the Partnership to borrow
funds to pay certain costs of the Partnership. While the use of financing to
preserve the Partnership's equity in oil and gas properties will be intended to
increase the Partnership's profits, such financing could have the effect of
increasing the Partnership's losses if the Partnership is unsuccessful. In
addition, the Partnership may have to mortgage its oil and gas properties and
other assets in order to obtain additional financing. If the Partnership
defaults on such indebtedness, the lender may foreclose and the Partnership
could lose its investment in such oil and gas properties and other assets. See
"ADDITIONAL FINANCING -- Partnership Borrowings."
Limited Liability
Under the Act a Limited Partner's liability for the obligations of the
Partnership is limited to such Limited Partner's Capital Contribution and such
Limited Partner's share of Partnership assets. In addition, if a Limited
Partner receives a return of any part of his or her Capital Contribution, such
Limited Partner is generally liable to the Partnership for a period of one year
thereafter (or six years in the event such return is in violation of the
Agreement) for the amount of the returned contribution. A Limited Partner will
not otherwise be liable for the obligations of the Partnership unless, in
addition to the exercise of his or her rights and powers as a Limited Partner,
such Limited Partner participates in the control of the business of the
Partnership.
The Agreement provides that by a vote of a majority in interest, the
Limited Partners may effect certain changes in the Partnership such as
termination and dissolution of the Partnership and amendment of the Agreement.
The exercise of any of these and certain other rights is conditioned upon
receipt of an opinion by Conner & Winters for the Limited Partners or an order
or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to the effect that the exercise
of such rights will not result in the loss of the limited liability of the
Limited Partners or cause the Partnership to be classified as an association
taxable as a corporation (see "SUMMARY OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT --
Amendments" and "SUMMARY OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT -- Termination").
As a result of certain judicial opinions it is not clear that these rights will
ever be available to the Limited Partners. Nevertheless, in spite of the
receipt of any such opinion or judicial order, it is still possible that the
exercise of any such rights by the Limited Partners may result in the loss of
the Limited Partners' limited liability. The Partnership will be governed
by the Act. The Act expressly permits limited partners to vote on certain
specified partnership matters without being deemed to be participating in the
control of the Partnership's business and, thus, should result in greater
certainty and more easily obtainable opinions of Conner & Winters regarding the
exercise of most of the Limited Partners' rights.
If the Partnership is dissolved and its business is not to be continued,
the Partnership will be wound up. In connection with the winding up of the
Partnership, all of its properties may be sold and the proceeds thereof credited
to the accounts of the Partners. Properties not sold will, upon termination of
the Partnership, be distributed to the Partners. The distribution of
Partnership Properties to the Limited Partners would result in their having
unlimited liability with respect to such properties. See "SUMMARY OF THE
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT -- Limited Liability."
11
Partnership Acting as Co-General Partner
It is currently anticipated that the Partnership will serve as a co-general
partner in any drilling or income programs formed by the General Partner or UNIT
during 2002. See "PROPOSED ACTIVITIES." Accordingly, the Partnership generally
will be liable for the obligation and recourse liabilities of any such drilling
or income program formed. While a Limited Partner's liability for such claims
will be limited to such Limited Partners Capital Contribution and share of
Partnership assets, such claims if satisfied from the Partnership's assets could
adversely affect the operations of the Partnership.
Past-Due Installments; Acceleration; Additional Assessments
Installments and Additional Assessments (see "ADDITIONAL FINANCING") are
legally binding obligations and past-due amounts will bear interest at the rate
set forth in the Agreement; provided, however, that if the General Partner
determines that the total Aggregate Subscription is not required to fund the
Partnership's business and operations, then the General Partner may, at its sole
option, elect to release the Limited Partners from their obligation to pay one
or more Installments and amend any relevant Partnership documents accordingly.
It is currently anticipated that the total Aggregate Subscription will be
required to fund the Partnership's business and operations. In the event an
Installment is not paid when due and the General Partner has not released the
Limited Partners from their obligation to pay such Installment, then the General
Partner may, at its sole option, purchase all Units of the director or employee
who fails to pay such Installment, at a price equal to the amount of the prior
Installments paid by such person. The General Partner may also bring legal
proceedings to collect any unpaid Installments not waived by it or Additional
Assessments. In addition, as indicated under "TERMS OF THE OFFERING -- Payment
for Units; Delinquent Installment," if an employee's employment with or position
as a director of the General Partner, UNIT or any affiliate thereof is
terminated other than by reason of Normal Retirement (see "GLOSSARY"), death or
disability prior to the time the full amount of the subscription price for his
or her Units has been paid, all unpaid Installments not waived by the General
Partner as described above will become due and payable upon such termination.
Partnership Funds
Except for Capital Contributions, Partnership funds are expected to be
commingled with funds of the General Partner or UNIT. Thus, Partnership funds
could become subject to the claims of creditors of the General Partner or UNIT.
The General Partner believes that its assets and net worth are such that the
risk of loss to the Partnership by virtue of such fact is minimal but there can
be no assurance that the Partnership will not suffer losses of its funds to
creditors of the General Partner or UNIT.
Compliance With Federal and State Securities Laws
This offering has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, in reliance upon exemptive provisions of said act. Further, these
interests are being sold pursuant to exemptions from registration in the various
states in which they are being offered and may be subject to additional
restrictions in such jurisdictions on transfer. There is no assurance that the
offering presently qualifies or will continue to qualify under such exemptive
provisions due to, among other things, the adequacy of disclosure and the manner
of distribution of the offering, the existence of similar offerings conducted by
the General Partner or UNIT or its affiliates in the past or in the future, a
failure or delay in providing
12
notices or other required filings, the conduct of other oil and gas activities
by the General Partner or UNIT and its affiliates or the change of any
securities laws or regulations.
If and to the extent suits for rescission are brought and successfully
concluded for failure to register this offering or other offerings under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or state securities acts, or for acts or
omissions constituting certain prohibited practices under any of said acts, both
the capital and assets of the General Partner and the Partnership could be
adversely affected, thus jeopardizing the ability of the Partnership to operate
successfully. Further, the time and capital of the General Partner could be
expended in defending an action by investors or by state or federal authorities
even where the Partnership and the General Partner are ultimately exonerated.
Title To Properties
The Partnership Agreement empowers the General Partner, UNIT or any of
their affiliates, to hold title to the Partnership Properties for the benefit of
the Partnership. As such it is possible that the Partnership Properties could
be subject to the claims of creditors of the General Partner. The General
Partner is of the opinion that the likelihood of the occurrence of such claims
is remote. However, the Partnership Property could be subject to claims and
litigation in the event that the General Partner failed to pay its debts or
became subject to the claims of creditors.
Use of Partnership Funds to Exculpate and Indemnify the General Partner
The Agreement contains certain provisions which are intended to limit the
liability of the General Partner and its affiliates for certain acts or
omissions within the scope of the authority conferred upon them by the
Agreement. In addition, under the Agreement, the General Partner will be
indemnified by the Partnership against losses, judgments, liabilities, expenses
and amounts paid in settlement sustained by it in connection with the
Partnership so long as the losses, judgments, liabilities, expenses or amounts
were not the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the
General Partner. See "SUMMARY OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT --
Exculpation and Indemnification of the General Partner."
The Partnership Agreement May Limit the Fiduciary Obligation of the General
Partner to the Partnership and the Limited Partners
The Agreement contains certain provisions which modify what would otherwise
be the applicable Oklahoma law relating to the fiduciary standards of the
General Partner to the Limited Partners. The fiduciary standards in the
Agreement could be less advantageous to the Limited Partners and more
advantageous to the General Partner than the corresponding fiduciary standards
otherwise applicable under Oklahoma law (although there are very few legal
precedents clarifying exactly what fiduciary standards would otherwise be
applicable under Oklahoma law). The purchase of Units may be deemed as consent
to the fiduciary standards set forth in the Agreement. See "FIDUCIARY
RESPONSIBILITY." As a result of these provisions in the Agreement, the Limited
Partners may find it more difficult to hold the General Partner responsible for
acting in the best interest of the Partnership and the Limited Partners than if
the fiduciary standards of the otherwise applicable Oklahoma law governed the
situation.
13
TAX STATUS AND TAX RISKS
It is possible that the tax treatment currently available with respect to
oil and gas exploration and production will be modified or eliminated on a
retroactive or prospective basis by legislative, judicial, or administrative
actions. The limited tax benefits associated with oil and gas exploration do
not eliminate the inherent attendant economic risks. See "Federal Income Tax
Considerations."
Partnership Classification
Conner & Winters has rendered its opinion that the Partnership will be
classified for federal income tax purposes as a partnership and not as a
corporation, an association taxable as a corporation or as a "publicly traded
partnership." Such opinion is not binding on the Service or the courts. If the
Partnership were classified as a corporation, association taxable as a
corporation or publicly traded partnership, any income, gain, loss, deduction,
or credit of the Partnership would remain at the entity level, and not flow
through to the Partners, the income of the Partnership would be subject to
corporate tax rates at the entity level and distributions to the Partners could
be considered dividend distributions. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations--
General Tax Effects of Partnership Structure."
Limited Partner Interests
An investment as a Limited Partner may not be advisable for a person who
does not anticipate having substantial current taxable income from passive trade
or business activities (not counting dividend or interest income). Such a
person cannot utilize any passive losses generated by the Partnership until and
unless he or she has realized "passive income". Partnership income, losses,
gains, and deductions allocable to most Limited Partners will
be subject to the "passive activity" rules.
Tax Liabilities in Excess of Cash Distributions
Federal income tax payable by a Partner by reason of his or her
distributive share of Partnership taxable income for any year may exceed the
cash distributed to such Partner by the Partnership. A Partner must include in
his or her own income tax return for a taxable year his or her share of the
items of the Partnership's income, gain, profit, loss, and deductions for the
year, to the extent required under the Code as then in effect, whether or not
cash proceeds are actually distributed to the Partner. For example, income from
the Partnership's sale of gas production will be taxable to Partners as
ordinary income subject to depletion and other deductions whether or not the
proceeds from such sale are actually distributed (for example, where Partnership
income is used to repay Partnership indebtedness).
Items Not Covered by the Tax Opinion
Due to the lack of authority regarding, or the essentially factual nature
of certain issues, Conner & Winters has expressed no opinion as to the
following: (i) the impact of an investment in the Partnership on an investor's
alternative minimum tax liability; (ii) whether, under Code Section 183, the
losses of the Partnership will be treated as derived from "activities not
engaged in for profit," and therefore nondeductible from other gross income (due
to the inherently factual nature of a Partner's interest and motive in investing
in the Partnership); (iii) whether any of the Partnership's properties will be
considered "proven" for purposes of depletion deductions; (iv) whether any
interest incurred by a Partner with respect to any borrowings incurred to
purchase Units will be deductible or subject to limitations on deductibility;
and (v) whether the Partnership will be treated as the tax owner of Partnership
Properties acquired by the General Partner as nominee for the Partnership.
14
The determination of various of the above-referenced issues is dependent on
facts not currently available. Therefore, Conner & Winters is unable to render
an opinion at this time with respect to such issues. Also, the unknown facts
with respect to the various issues referred to above will vary from Partner to
Partner and will result in different tax consequences and burdens for individual
Partners.
Prospective investors should recognize that an opinion of Conner & Winters
merely represents Conner & Winter's best legal judgment under existing statutes,
judicial decisions, and administrative regulations and interpretations. There
can be no assurance that some of the deductions claimed by the Partnership in
reliance upon an opinion of Conner & Winters will not be challenged successfully
by the Service.
OPERATIONAL RISKS
Risks Inherent in Oil and Gas Operations
The Partnership will be participating with the General Partner in acquiring
producing oil and gas leases and in the drilling of those oil and gas wells
commenced by the General Partner from the later of January 1, 2002 or the time
the Partnership is formed through December 31, 2002 and, with certain limited
exceptions, serving as a co-general partner of any oil and gas drilling or
income programs, or both, formed by the General Partner or UNIT during 2002.
All drilling to establish productive oil and natural gas properties is
inherently speculative. The techniques presently available to identify the
existence and location of pools of oil and natural gas are indirect, and,
therefore, a considerable amount of personal judgment is involved in the
selection of any prospect for drilling. The economics of oil and natural gas
drilling and production are affected or may be affected in the future by a
number of factors which are beyond the control of the General Partner,
including (i) the general demand in the economy for energy fuels, (ii) the
worldwide supply of oil and natural gas, (iii) the price of, as well as
governmental policies with respect to, oil imports, (iv) potential competition
from competing alternative fuels, (v) governmental regulation of prices for oil
and natural gas production, gathering and transportation, (vi) state regulations
affecting allowable rates of production, well spacing and other factors, and
(vii) availability of drilling rigs, casing and other necessary goods and
services. See "COMPETITION, MARKETS AND REGULATION." The revenues, if any,
generated from Partnership operations will be highly dependent upon the future
prices and demand for oil and natural gas. The factors enumerated above affect,
and will continue to affect, oil and natural gas prices. Recently, prices for
oil and natural gas have fluctuated over a wide range.
Operating and Environmental Hazards
Operating hazards such as fires, explosions, blowouts, unusual formations,
formations with abnormal pressures and other unforeseen conditions are sometimes
encountered in drilling wells. On occasion, substantial liabilities to third
parties or governmental entities may be incurred, the payment of which could
reduce the funds available for exploration and development or result in loss of
Partnership Properties. The Partnership will attempt to maintain customary
insurance coverage, but the Partnership may be subject to liability for
pollution and other damages or may lose substantial portions of its properties
due to hazards against which it cannot insure or against which it may elect not
to insure due to unreasonably high or prohibitive premium costs or for other
reasons. The activities of the Partnership may expose it to potential liability
for pollution or other damages under laws and regulations relating to
environmental matters (see "Government Regulation and Environmental Risks"
below).
15
Competition
The oil and gas industry is highly competitive. The Partnership will be
involved in intense competition for the acquisition of quality undeveloped
leases and producing oil and gas properties. There can be no assurance that a
sufficient number of suitable oil and gas properties will be available for
acquisition or development by the Partnership. The Partnership will be
competing with numerous major and independent companies which possess financial
resources and staffs larger than those available to it. The Partnership,
therefore, may be unable in certain instances to acquire desirable leases or
supplies or may encounter delays in commencing or completing Partnership
operations.
Markets for Oil and Natural Gas Production
Historically (prior to the early 1980s), world oil prices were established
and maintained largely as a result of the actions of members of OPEC to limit,
and maintain a base price for, their oil production. Until recently, however,
members of OPEC were unable to agree to and maintain price and production
controls, which resulted in significant downward pressure on oil prices.
Commencing in early 2001, OPEC members were able to reach agreement on oil
production levels which has contributed to the recent rise in oil prices.
Although future levels of production by the members of OPEC or the degree to
which oil prices will be affected thereby cannot be predicted, it is possible
that prices for oil produced in the future will be higher or lower than those
currently available. There can be no assurance that the oil that the
Partnership produces can be marketed on favorable price and other contractual
terms. See "COMPETITION, MARKETS AND REGULATION -- Marketing of Production."
The natural gas market is also currently unsettled due to a number of
factors. In the past, production from natural gas wells in some geographic
areas of the United States has been curtailed for considerable periods of time
due to a lack of market demand. Over the past several years demand for natural
gas has increased greatly limiting the number of wells being shut in for lack of
demand. It is possible, however, that Partnership Wells may in the future be
shut-in or that natural gas will be sold on terms less favorable than might
otherwise be obtained should demand for gas lessen in the future. Competition
for available markets has been vigorous and there remains great uncertainty
about prices that purchasers will pay. In recent years, significant court
decisions and regulatory changes have affected the natural gas markets. As a
result of such court decisions, regulatory changes and unsettled market
conditions, natural gas regulations may be modified in the future and may be
subject to further judicial review or invalidation. The combination of these
factors, among others, makes it particularly difficult to estimate accurately
future prices of natural gas, and any assumptions concerning future prices may
prove incorrect. Natural gas surpluses could result in the Partnership's
inability to market natural gas profitably, causing Partnership Wells to curtail
production and/or receive lower prices for its natural gas, situations which
would adversely affect the Partnership's ability to make cash distributions
to its participants. See "COMPETITION, MARKETS AND REGULATION."
In the event that the Partnership discovers or acquires natural gas
reserves, there may be delays in commencing or continuing production due to the
need for gathering and pipeline facilities, contract negotiation with the
available market, pipeline capacities, seasonal takes by the gas purchaser or a
surplus of available gas reserves in a particular area.
16
Government Regulation and Environmental Risks
The oil and gas business is subject to pervasive government regulation
under which, among other things, rates of production from producing properties
may be fixed and the prices for gas produced from such producing properties may
be impacted. It is possible that these regulations pertaining to rates of
production could become more pervasive and stringent in the future. The
activities of the Partnership may expose it to potential liability under laws
and regulations relating to environmental matters which could adversely
affect the Partnership. Compliance with these laws and regulations may increase
Partnership costs, delay or prevent the drilling of wells, delay or prevent the
acquisition of otherwise desirable producing oil and gas properties, require the
Partnership to cease operations in certain areas, and cause delays in the
production of oil and gas. See "COMPETITION, MARKETING AND REGULATION."
Leasehold Defects
In certain instances, the Partnership may not be able to obtain a title
opinion or report with respect to a producing property that is acquired.
Consequently, the Partnership's title to any such property may be uncertain.
Furthermore, even if certain technical defects do appear in title opinions or
reports with respect to a particular property, the General Partner, in its sole
discretion, may determine that it is in the best interest of the Partnership to
acquire such property without taking any curative action.
TERMS OF THE OFFERING
General
. 600 Maximum Units; 50 Minimum Units
. $1,000 Units; Minimum subscription: $2,000
. Minimum Partnership: $50,000 in subscriptions
. Maximum Partnership: $600,000 in subscriptions
Limited Partnership Interests
The Partnership hereby offers to certain employees (described under
"Subscription Rights" below) and directors of UNIT and its subsidiaries an
aggregate of 600 Units. The purchase price of each Unit is $1,000, and the
minimum permissible purchase by any eligible subscriber is two Units ($2,000).
See "Subscription Rights" below for the maximum number of Units that may be
acquired by subscribers.
The Partnership will be formed as an Oklahoma limited partnership upon the
closing of the offering of Units made by this Memorandum. The General Partner
will be Unit Petroleum Company (the "General Partner", or "UPC"), an Oklahoma
corporation. Partnership operations will be conducted from the General
Partner's offices, the address of which is 1000 Kensington Tower I, 7130 South
Lewis Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136, telephone (918) 493-7700.
The offering of Units will be closed on January 25, 2002 unless extended
by the General Partner for up to 30 days, and all Units subscribed will be
issued on the Effective Date. The offering may be
17
withdrawn by the General Partner at any time prior to such date if it believes
it to be in the best interests of the eligible employees and Directors or the
General Partner not to proceed with the offering.
If at least 50 Units ($50,000) are not subscribed prior to the termination
of the offering, the Partnership will not commence business. The General
Partner may, on its own accord, purchase Units and, in such capacity, will enjoy
the same rights and obligations as other Limited Partners, except the General
Partner will have unlimited liability. The General Partner may, in its
discretion, purchase Units sufficient to reach the minimum Aggregate
Subscription ($50,000). Because the General Partner or its affiliates might
benefit from the successful completion of this offering (see "PARTICIPATION IN
COSTS, AND REVENUES" and "COMPENSATION"), investors should not expect that
sales of the minimum Aggregate Subscription indicate that such sales have been
made to investors that have no financial or other interest in the offering or
that have otherwise exercised independent investment discretion. Further, the
sale of the minimum Aggregate Subscription is not designed as a protection to
investors to indicate that their interest is shared by other unaffiliated
investors and no investor should place any reliance on the sale of the minimum
Aggregate Subscription as an indication of the merits of this offering. Units
acquired by the General Partner will be for investment purposes only without a
present intent for resale and there is no limit on the number of Units that may
be acquired by it.
Subscription Rights
Units are offered only to persons who are salaried employees of UNIT or its
subsidiaries at the date of formation of the Partnership and who are exempt
under the Fair Labor Standards Act and whose annual base salaries for 2001
(excluding bonuses) have been set at $22,680 or more and to Directors of UNIT.
Only employees and Directors who are U.S. citizens are eligible to participate
in the offering. In addition, employees and Directors must be able to bear the
economic risks of an investment in the Partnership and must have sufficient
investment experience and expertise to evaluate the risks and merits of such an
investment. See "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION -- Suitability of Investors."
Eligible employees and Directors are restricted as to the number of Units
they may purchase in the offering. The maximum number of Units which can be
acquired by any employee is that number of whole Units which can be purchased
with an amount which does not exceed one-half of the employee's base salary for
2002. Each Director of UNIT may subscribe for a maximum of 200 Units (maximum
investment of $200,000). At December 12, 2001 there were approximately 232
Directors and employees eligible to purchase Units.
Eligible employees and Directors may acquire Units through a corporation or
other entity in which all of the beneficial interests are owned by them or
permitted assignees (see "SUMMARY OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT --
Transferability of Interests"); provided that such employees or Directors will
be jointly and severally liable with such entity for payment of the Capital
Subscription.
If all eligible employees and Directors subscribed for the maximum number
of Units, the Units would be oversubscribed. In that event, Units would be
allocated among the respective subscribers in the proportion that each
subscription amount bears to total subscriptions obtained.
No employee is obligated to purchase Units in order to remain in the employ
of UNIT, and the purchase of Units by any employee will not obligate UNIT to
continue the employment of such employee. Units may be subscribed for by the
spouse or a trust for the minor children of eligible employees and Directors.
18
Payment for Units; Delinquent Installment
The Capital Subscriptions of the Limited Partners will be payable either
(i) in four equal Installments, the first of such Installments being due on
March 15, 2002 and the remaining three of such Installments being due on June
15, 2002, September 15, 2002 and December 15, 2002, respectively, or (ii) by
employees so electing in the space provided on the Subscription Agreement,
through equal deductions from 2002 salary paid to the employee by the General
Partner, UNIT or its subsidiaries commencing immediately after formation of the
Partnership. If an employee or Director who has subscribed for Units (either
directly or through a corporation or other entity) ceases to be employed by or
serve as a Director of the General Partner, UNIT or any of its subsidiaries for
any reason other than death, disability or Normal Retirement prior to the time
the full amount of all Installments not waived by the General Partner as
described below are due, then the due date for any such unpaid Installments
shall be accelerated so that the full amount of his or her unpaid Capital
Subscription will be due and payable on the effective date of such termination.
Each Installment will be a legally binding obligation of the Limited
Partner and any past due amounts will bear interest at an annual rate equal to
two percentage points in excess of the prime rate of interest of Bank of
Oklahoma, N.A., Tulsa, Oklahoma; provided, however, that if the General Partner
determines that the total Aggregate Subscription is not required to fund the
Partnership's business and operations, then the General Partner may, at its sole
option, elect to release the Limited Partners from their obligation to pay one
or more Installments. If the General Partner elects to waive the payment of an
Installment, it will notify all Limited Partners promptly in writing of its
decision and will, to the extent required, amend the certificate of limited
partnership and any other relevant Partnership documents accordingly. It is
currently anticipated that the total Aggregate Subscription will be required,
however, to fund the Partnership's business and operations.
In the event a Limited Partner fails to pay any Installment when due and
the General Partner has not released the Limited Partners from their obligation
to pay such Installment, then the General Partner, at its sole option and
discretion, may elect to purchase the Units of such defaulting Limited Partner
at a price equal to the total amount of the Capital Contributions actually paid
into the Partnership by such defaulting Limited Partner, less the amount of any
Partnership distributions that may have been received by him or her. Such
option may be exercised by the General Partner by written notice to the
Limited Partner at any time after the date that the unpaid Installment was due
and will be deemed exercised when the amount of the purchase price is first
tendered to the defaulting Limited Partner. The General Partner may, in its
discretion, accept payments of delinquent Installments not waived by it but will
not be required to do so.
In the event that the General Partner elects to purchase the Units of a
defaulting Limited Partner, it must pay into the Partnership the amount of the
delinquent Installment (excluding any interest that may have accrued thereon)
and pay each additional Installment, if any, payable with respect to such Units
as it becomes due. By virtue of such purchase, the General Partner will be
allocated all Partnership Revenues, be charged with all Partnership costs and
expenses attributable to such Units and will enjoy the same rights and
obligations as other Limited Partners, except the General Partner will have
unlimited liability.
19
Right of Presentment
After December 31, 2003, and annually thereafter, Limited Partners will
have the right to present their Units to the General Partner for purchase. The
General Partner will not be obligated to purchase more than 20% of the then
outstanding Units in any one calendar year. The purchase price to be paid for
the Units of any Limited Partner presenting them for purchase will be based on
the net asset value of the Partnership which shall be equal to:
(1) The value of the proved reserves attributable to the Partnership
Properties, determined as set forth below; plus
(2) The estimated salvage value of tangible equipment installed on
Partnership Wells less the costs of plugging and abandoning the wells,
both discounted at the rate utilized to determine the value of the
Partnership's reserves as set forth below; plus
(3) The lower of cost or fair market value of all Partnership Properties
to which proved reserves have not been attributed but which have not
been condemned, as determined by an independent petroleum engineering
firm or the General Partner, as the case may be; plus
(4) Cash on hand; plus
(5) Prepaid expenses and accounts receivable (less a reasonable reserve
for doubtful accounts); plus
(6) The estimated market value of all other Partnership assets not
included in (1) through (5) above, determined by the General Partner;
MINUS
(7) An amount equal to all debts, obligations and other liabilities of the
Partnership.
The price to be paid for each Limited Partner's interest of the net asset value
will be his or her proportionate share of such net asset value less 75% of the
amount of any distributions received by him or her which are attributable to the
sales of the Partnership production since the date as of which the Partnership's
proved reserves are estimated.
The value of the proved reserves attributable to Partnership Properties
will be determined as follows:
(i) First, the future net revenues from the production and sale of the
proved reserves will be estimated as of the end of the calendar year
in which presentment is made based on an independent engineering
firm's report and its determinations of the prices to be used as well
as the escalations, if any, of such prices and cost or, if no report
was made, as determined by the General Partner;
(ii) Next, the future net revenues from the production and sale of proved
reserves as determined above will be discounted at an annual rate
which is one percentage point higher than the prime rate of interest
being charged by the Bank of Oklahoma, N.A., Tulsa, Oklahoma, or any
successor bank, as of the date such reserves are estimated; and
20
(iii) Finally, the total discounted value of the future net revenues from
the production and sale of proved reserves will be reduced by an
additional 25% to take into account the risks and uncertainties
associated with the production and sale of the reserves and other
unforeseen uncertainties.
A Limited Partner who elects to have his or her Units purchased by the
General Partner should be aware that estimates of future net recoverable
reserves of oil and gas and estimates of future net revenues to be received
therefrom are based on a great many factors, some of which, particularly future
prices of production, are usually variable and uncertain and are always
determined by predictions of future events. Accordingly, it is common for the
actual production and revenues received to vary from earlier estimates.
Estimates made in the first few years of production from a property will be
based on relatively little production history and will not be as reliable as
later estimates based on longer production history. As a result of all the
foregoing, reserve estimates and estimates of future net revenues from
production may vary from year to year.
This right of presentment may be exercised by written notice from a Limited
Partner to the General Partner. The sale will be effective as of the close of
business on the last day of the calendar year in which such notice is given or,
at the General Partner's election, at 7:00 A.M. on the following day. Within
120 days after the end of the calendar year, the General Partner will furnish
each Limited Partner who gave such notice during the calendar year a statement
showing the cash purchase price which would be paid for the Limited Partner's
interest as of December 31 of the preceding year, which statement will include a
summary of estimated reserves and future net revenues and sufficient material to
reveal how the purchase price was determined. The Limited Partner must, within
30 days after receipt of such statement, reaffirm his or her election to sell to
the General Partner.
As noted above, the General Partner will not be obligated to purchase in
any one calendar year more than 20% of the Units in the Partnership then
outstanding. Moreover, the General Partner will not be obligated to purchase
any Units pursuant to such right if such purchase, when added to the total of
all other sales, exchanges, transfers or assignments of Units within the
preceding 12 months, would result in the Partnership being considered to have
terminated within the meaning of Section 708 of the Code or would cause the
Partnership to lose its status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
If more than the number of Units which may be purchased are tendered in any one
year, the Limited Partners from whom the Units are to be purchased will be
determined by lot. Any Units presented but not purchased with respect to one
year will have priority for such purchase the following year.
The General Partner does not intend to establish a cash reserve to fund its
obligation to purchase Units, but will use funds provided by its operations or
borrowed funds (if available), using its assets (including such Units purchased
or to be purchased from Limited Partners) as collateral to fund such
obligations. However, there is no assurance that the General Partner will have
sufficient financial resources to discharge its obligations.
Rollup or Consolidation of Partnership
The Agreement provides that two years or more after the Partnership has
completed substantially all of its property acquisition, drilling and
development operations, the General Partner may, without the vote, consent or
approval of the Limited Partners, cause all or substantially all of the oil and
gas properties and other assets of the Partnership to be sold, assigned or
transferred to, or the Partnership merged or consolidated with, another
partnership or a corporation, trust or other entity for the purpose of combining
the assets of two or more of the oil and gas partnerships formed for
investment or
21
participation by employees, directors and/or consultants of UNIT or any of its
subsidiaries; provided, however, that the valuation of the oil and gas
properties and other assets of all such participating partnerships for purposes
of such transfer or combination shall be made on a consistent basis and in a
manner which the General Partner and UNIT believe is fair and equitable to the
Limited Partners. As a consequence of any such transfer or combination, the
Partnership shall be dissolved and terminated and the Limited Partners shall
receive partnership interests, stock or other equity interests in the transferee
or resulting entity. Any such action will cause the Limited Partners'
attributable interest in the Partnership Properties to be diluted but it will
also provide them with attributable interests in the properties and other assets
of the other partnerships participating in the consolidation. It also may
reduce somewhat the amount of their attributable shares of the direct and
indirect costs of administering the Partnership. See "RISK FACTORS --Investment
Risks - Roll-Up or Consolidation of Partnership."
ADDITIONAL FINANCING
The General Partner will use its best efforts, consistent with Partnership
objectives, to acquire Productive properties and complete the Partnership's
drilling and development operations before the Aggregate Subscription has been
fully expended or committed. However, funds in addition to the Aggregate
Subscription may be required to pay costs and expenses which are chargeable to
the Limited Partners. In those instances described below, the General Partner
may call for Additional Assessments or may apply Partnership Revenue allocable
to the Limited Partners in payment and satisfaction of such costs or the
General Partner may, but shall not be required to, fund the deficiency with
Partnership borrowings to be repaid with Partnership Revenue.
Additional Assessments
When the Aggregate Subscription has been fully expended or committed, the
General Partner may make one or more calls for any portion or all of the maximum
Additional Assessments of $100 per Unit. However, no Additional Assessments may
be required before the General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution has been
fully expended. Such assessments may be used to pay the Limited Partners' share
of the Drilling Costs, Special Production and Marketing Costs or Leasehold
Acquisition Costs of Productive properties which are chargeable to the Limited
Partners. The amount of the Additional Assessment so called shall be due and
payable on or before such date as the General Partner may set in such call,
which in no event will be earlier than thirty (30) days after the date of
mailing of the call. The notice of the call for Additional Assessments will
specify the amount of the assessment being required, the intended use of such
funds, the date on which the contributions are payable and describe the
consequences of nonpayment. Although the Limited Partners who do not respond
will participate in production, if any, obtained from operations conducted
with the proceeds from the aggregate Additional Assessments paid into the
Partnership, the amount of the unpaid Additional Assessment shall bear interest
at the annual rate equal to two (2) percentage points in excess of the prime
rate of interest of Bank of Oklahoma, N.A., Tulsa, Oklahoma, or successor bank,
as announced and in effect from time to time, until paid. The Partnership will
have a lien on the defaulting Limited Partner's interest in the Partnership and
the General Partner may retain Partnership Revenue otherwise available for
distribution to the defaulting Limited Partner until an amount equal to the
unpaid Additional Assessment and interest is received. Furthermore, the
General Partner may satisfy such lien by proceeding with legal action to enforce
the lien and the defaulting Limited Partner shall pay all expenses of
collection, including interest, court costs and a reasonable attorney's fee.
22
Prior Programs
In the prior employee programs conducted by UNIT or the General Partner in
each of the years 1984 through 2001, Additional Assessments could be called for
as provided herein. At September 30, 2001, there had been no calls for
Additional Assessments in such programs. There can be no assurance, however,
that Additional Assessments will not be required to pay Partnership costs.
Partnership Borrowings
At any time after the General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution has
been fully expended, the General Partner may cause the Partnership to borrow
funds for the purpose of paying Drilling Costs, Special Production and Marketing
Costs or Leasehold Acquisition Costs of Productive properties, which borrowings
may be secured by interests in the Partnership Properties and will be repaid,
including interest accruing thereon, out of Partnership Revenue. The General
Partner may, but is not required to, advance funds to the Partnership for the
same purposes for which Partnership borrowings are authorized. With respect to
any such advances, the General Partner will receive interest in an amount equal
to the lesser of the interest which would be charged to the Partnership by
unrelated banks on comparable loans for the same purpose or the General
Partner's interest cost with respect to such loan, where it borrows the same.
No financing charges will be levied by the General Partner in connection with
any such loan. If Partnership borrowings secured by interests in the
Partnership Wells and repayable out of Partnership Revenue cannot be arranged on
a basis which, in the opinion of the General Partner, is fair and reasonable,
and the entire sum required to pay such costs is not available from Partnership
Revenue, the General Partner may dispose of some or all of the Partnership
Properties upon which such operations were to be conducted by sale, farm-out or
abandonment.
If the Partnership requires funds to conduct Partnership operations during
the period between any of the Installments due from the Limited Partners, then,
notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner shall advance funds to the
Partnership in an amount equal to the funds then required to conduct such
operations but in no event more than the total amount of the Aggregate
Subscription remaining unpaid. With respect to any such advances, the General
Partner shall receive no interest thereon and no financing charges will be
levied by the General Partner in connection therewith. The General Partner
shall be repaid out of the Installments thereafter paid into the capital of the
Partnership when due.
The Partnership may attempt to finance any expenses in excess of the
Partners' Capital Subscriptions by the foregoing means and any other means which
the General Partner deems in the best interests of the Partnership, but the
Partnership's inability to meet such costs could result in the deferral of
drilling operations or in the inability to participate in future drilling or in
non-consent penalties pursuant to which co-owners of particular working
interests recover several times the amount which would have been funded by the
Partnership in accordance with its ownership interest before the Partnership
would participate in revenues.
The use of Partnership Revenue allocable to the Limited Partners to pay
Partnership costs and expenses and to repay any Partnership borrowings will mean
that such revenue will not be available for distribution to the Limited
Partners. Nonetheless, the Limited Partners may incur income tax liability by
virtue of that revenue and, thus, may not receive distributions from the
Partnership in amounts necessary to pay such income tax. However, the use of
such revenue to pay Partnership costs and expenses may generate additional
deductions for the Limited Partners.
23
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Units will be offered privately only to select persons who can demonstrate
to the General Partner that they have both the economic means and investment
expertise to qualify as suitable investors. The Units will be offered and sold
by the officers and directors of UPC or UNIT.
Suitability of Investors
Subscriptions should be made only by appropriate persons who can reasonably
benefit from an investment in the Partnership. In this regard, a subscription
will generally be accepted only from a person who can represent that such person
has (or in the case of a husband and wife, acting as joint tenants, tenants in
common or tenants in the entirety, that they have) a net worth, including home,
furnishings and automobiles, of at least five times the amount of his or her
Capital Subscription, and estimates that such person will have during the
current year adjusted gross income in an amount which will enable him or her to
bear the economic risks of his or her investment in the Partnership. Such
person must also demonstrate that he or she has sufficient investment experience
and expertise to evaluate the risks and merits of an investment in the
Partnership.
Participation in the Partnership is intended only for those persons willing
to assume the risk of a speculative, illiquid, long-term investment.
Entitlement to and maintenance of the exemptions from registration provided by
Sections 3(b) and/or 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, require the
imposition of certain limitations on the persons to whom offers may be made, and
from whom subscriptions may be accepted. Therefore, this offering is limited to
persons who, by virtue of investment acumen or financial resources, satisfy the
General Partner that they meet suitability standards consistent with the
maintenance and preservation of the exemptions provided by Sections 3(b) and/or
4(2) and by the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, as well as those contained herein and in the Subscription Agreement.
Persons offering interests shall sufficiently inquire of a prospective
investor to be reasonably assured that such investor meets such acceptable
standards. Suitability standards may also be imposed by the regulatory
authorities of the various states in which interests may be offered.
RELATIONSHIP OF THE PARTNERSHIP,
THE GENERAL PARTNER AND AFFILIATES
The following diagram depicts the primary relationships among the
Partnership, the General Partner and certain of its affiliates.
24
UNIT CORPORATION
----------------
|
|-----------------------------------------|
| |
|--------------------------| |-------------------------|
| Unit Petroleum Company | | Unit Drilling Company |
|--------------------------| |-------------------------|
|
| General Partner
| ---------------
|
|--------------------------|
| Unit 2002 Employee Oil |
| & Gas Limited Partnership|
|--------------------------|
|
| Limited Partners
| ----------------
|
|--------------------------|
| Eligible Employees |
| and Directors |
|--------------------------|
PROPOSED ACTIVITIES
General
The Partnership will, with certain limited exceptions, participate in all
of UNIT's or UPC's oil and gas activities commenced during 2002. The
Partnership will acquire 2 1/2% of essentially all of UNIT's interest in such
activities. The activities will include (i) participating as a joint working
interest owner with UNIT or UPC in any producing leases acquired and in any
wells commenced by UNIT or UPC other than as a general partner in a drilling or
income program during 2002 and (ii) serving as a co-general partner in any
drilling or income programs, or both, formed by the General Partner or UNIT
during 2002.
Acquisition of Properties and Drilling Operations. The Partnership will
participate, to the extent of 2 1/2% of UPC or UNIT's final interest in each
well, as a fractional working interest holder in any producing leases acquired
and in any drilling operations conducted by UPC or UNIT for its own account
which are acquired or commenced, respectively, from January 1, 2002, or the time
of the formation of the Partnership if subsequent to January 1, 2002, until
December 31, 2002, except for wells, if any:
(i) drilled outside the 48 contiguous United States;
(ii) drilled as part of secondary or tertiary recovery operations
which were in existence prior to formation of the
Partnership;
(iii) drilled by third parties under farm-out or similar arrangements with
UNIT or the General Partner or whereby UNIT or the General Partner
may be entitled to an overriding royalty, reversionary or other
similar interest in the production from such wells but is not
obligated to pay any of the Drilling Costs thereof;
25
(iv) acquired by UNIT or the General Partner through the acquisition by
UNIT or the General Partner of, or merger of UNIT or the General
Partner with, other companies (However, this exception may, at the
discretion of Unit or the General Partner, be waived); or
(v) with respect to which the General Partner does not believe that the
potential economic return therefrom justifies the costs of
participation by the Partnership.
Instances referred to in (v) could occur when UNIT or one of its subsidiaries
agrees to participate in the ownership of a prospect for its own account in
order to obtain the contract to drill the well thereon. There may be situations
where the potential economic return of the well alone would not be sufficient to
warrant participation by UNIT but when considered in light of the revenues
expected to be realized as a result of the drilling contract, such participation
is desirable from UNIT's standpoint. However, in such a situation, the
Partnership would not be entitled to any of the revenues generated by the
drilling contract so its participation in the well would not be desirable.
For these purposes, the drilling of a well will be deemed to have commenced
on the "spud date," i.e., the date that the drilling rig is set up and actual
drilling operations are commenced. Any clearing or other site preparation
operations will not be considered part of the drilling operations for these
purposes.
Participation in Drilling or Income Programs. Except for certain limited
exceptions it is anticipated that the Partnership will participate with UPC or
UNIT as a co-general partner of any drilling or income programs, or both, formed
by UPC or UNIT and its affiliates during 2002. The Partnership will be charged
with 2 1/2% of the total costs and expenses charged to the general partners and
allocated 2 1/2% of the revenues allocable to the general partners in any such
program and UPC or UNIT will be charged with the remaining 97 1/2% of the
general partners' share of costs and expenses and allocated the remaining 97
1/2% of the general partners' share of program revenues.
UNIT or its affiliates formed drilling programs for outside investors from
1979 through 1984. In 1987, the Unit 1986 Energy Income Limited Partnership
(the "1986 Energy Program") was formed primarily to acquire interests in
producing oil and gas properties. See "PRIOR ACTIVITIES". All of the programs
were formed as limited partnerships and interests in all of the programs other
than the Unit 1979 Oil and Gas Program and the 1986 Energy Program were offered
in registered public offerings. The 1979 Program and 1986 Energy Program
were offered privately to a limited number of sophisticated investors.
No drilling or income programs for third party investors were formed in
2001. Although it does not currently contemplate doing so, UNIT may form such
drilling or income programs during 2002. If such a program is formed, there
would be only one or two such programs and they probably would be privately
offered. The precise revenue and cost sharing format of any such programs has
not been determined.
The cost and revenue sharing provisions of virtually all drilling programs
offered to third parties generally require the limited partners or investors to
bear a somewhat higher percentage of the program's drilling and development
costs than the percentage of program revenues to which they are entitled.
Likewise, the general partners will normally receive a higher percentage of
revenues than the percentage of drilling and development costs which they are
required to pay. The difference in these percentages is often referred to as
the general partners' "promote". Any drilling program which UNIT or UPC may
form in 2002 for outside investors would likely have some amount of "promote"
for the general partner(s).
26
Any income program may use the same or a similar format as that used for
the 1986 Partnership. In the 1986 Partnership, virtually all partnership costs
and expenses other than property acquisition costs are allocated to the partners
in the same percentages that partnership revenue is being shared at the time
such expenses are incurred, with property acquisition costs and certain other
expenses being charged 85% to the accounts of the limited partners and 15% to
the accounts of the general partners. Partnership revenue in the 1986
Partnership is allocated 85% to the limited partners' accounts and 15% to the
general partners' accounts until program payout (as defined in the agreement
of limited partnership for the 1986 Partnership). After program payout, the
percentages of partnership revenue allocable to the respective accounts of the
partners depend upon the length of the period during which program payout occurs
and range from 60% to the limited partners' accounts and 40% to the general
partners' accounts to 85% to the limited partners' accounts and 15% to the
general partners' accounts.
As co-general partners of any drilling or income programs that may be
formed by UNIT and/or UPC during 2002 and participated in by the Partnership,
UNIT and/or UPC and the Partnership will share the costs, expenses and revenues
allocable to the general partners on a proportionate basis, 97 1/2% for the
account of UNIT and/or UPC and 2 1/2% for the account of the Partnership. The
Partnership will not receive any portion of any management fees payable to the
general partners nor any fees or payments for supervisory services which UNIT
or UPC may render to such programs as operator of program wells or other fees
and payments which UNIT or UPC may be entitled to receive from such programs for
services rendered to them or goods, materials, equipment or other property sold
to them.
Extent and Nature of Operations. Although the General Partner maintains a
general inventory of prospects, it cannot predict with certainty on which of
those prospects wells will be started during 2002 nor can it predict what
producing properties, if any, will be acquired by it during 2002. Further,
since the General Partner anticipates that the Partnership will acquire a small
interest (either directly or through any drilling or income programs of which it
or UNIT serves as a general partner) in approximately 125 to 150 wells (however,
the exact number of wells may vary greatly depending on the actual activity
undertaken), it would be impractical to describe in any detail all of the
properties in which the Partnership can be expected to acquire some interest.
The Partnership's drilling and development operations are expected to
include both Exploratory Wells and comparatively lower-risk Development Wells.
Exploratory Wells include both the high-risk "wildcat" wells which are located
in areas substantially removed from existing production and "controlled"
Exploratory Wells which are located in areas where production has been
established and where objective horizons have produced from similar geological
features in the vicinity. Based on UNIT's historical profile of its drilling
operations, it is presently anticipated that the portion of the Aggregate
Subscription expended for Partnership drilling operations (see "APPLICATION OF
PROCEEDS") will be spent approximately 7% on Exploratory Wells and 93% on
Development Wells. However, these percentages may vary significantly.
Certain of the Partnership's Development Wells may be drilled on prospects
on which initial drilling operations were conducted by the General Partner or
UNIT prior to the formation of the Partnership. Further, certain of the
Partnership Wells will be drilled on prospects on which the General Partner,
UNIT or possibly future employee programs may conduct additional drilling
operations in years subsequent to 2002. In either instance, the Partnership
will have an interest only in those wells begun in 2002 and will have no rights
in production from wells commenced in years other than 2002 even though
such other wells may be located on prospects or spacing units on which
Partnership Wells have been drilled. Furthermore, it is possible that in years
subsequent to 2002, UNIT, UPC or possibly future
27
employee programs will acquire additional interests in wells participated in by
the Partnership. In such event the Partnership will generally not be entitled
to share in the acquisition of such additional interests. With respect to the
acquisition of producing properties, UNIT will endeavor to diversify its
investments by acquiring properties located in differing geographic locations
and by balancing its investments between properties having high rates of
production in early years and properties with more consistent production over a
longer term. See "CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS -- Acquisition of Properties and
Drilling Operations."
Partnership Objectives
The Partnership is being formed to provide eligible employees and directors
the opportunity to participate in the oil and gas exploration and producing
property acquisition activities of UNIT during 2002. UNIT hopes that
participation in the Partnership will provide the participants with greater
proprietary interests in its operations and the potential for realizing a more
direct benefit in the event these operations prove to be profitable. The
Partnership has been structured to achieve the objective of providing the
Limited Partners with essentially the same economic returns that UNIT realizes
from the wells drilled or acquired during 2002.
Areas of Interest
The Agreement authorizes the Partnership to engage in oil and gas
exploration, drilling and development operations and to acquire producing oil
and gas properties anywhere in the United States, but the areas presently under
consideration are located in the states of Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Kansas,
Arkansas, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. It is possible that the
Partnership may drill in inland waterways, riverbeds, bayous or marshes but no
drilling in the open seas will be attempted. Plans to conduct drilling and
development operations or to acquire producing properties in certain of these
states may be abandoned if attractive prospects cannot be obtained upon
satisfactory terms or if the Partnership is not fully subscribed.
Transfer of Properties
In the case of wells drilled or producing properties acquired by the
Partnership and UPC or UNIT for their own accounts and not through another
drilling or income program, the Partnership will acquire from UPC or UNIT a
portion of the fractional undivided working interest in the properties or
portions thereof comprising the spacing unit on which a proposed Partnership
Well is to be drilled or on which a producing Partnership Well is located, and
UPC or UNIT will retain for its own account all or a portion of the remainder of
such working interest. Such working interests will be sold to the Partnership
for an amount equal to the Leasehold Acquisition Costs attributable to the
interest being acquired. Neither UNIT nor its affiliates will retain any
overrides or other burdens on the working interests conveyed to the Partnership,
and the respective working interests of UPC or UNIT and the Partnership in a
property will bear their proportionate shares of costs and revenues.
The Partnership's direct interest in a property will only encompass the
area included within the spacing unit on which a Partnership Well is to be
drilled or on which a producing Partnership Well is located, and, in the case of
a Partnership Well to be drilled, it will acquire that interest only when the
drilling of the well is ready to commence. If the size of a spacing unit is
ever reduced, or any subsequent well in which the Partnership has no interest is
drilled thereon, the Partnership will have no interest in any additional wells
drilled on properties which were part of the original spacing unit unless such
additional wells are commenced during 2002. If additional interests in
Partnership Wells are
28
acquired in years subsequent to 2002 the Partnership will generally not be
entitled to participate or share in the acquisition of such additional
interests. In addition, if the Partnership Well drilled on a spacing unit is
dry or abandoned, the Partnership will not have an interest in any subsequent or
additional well drilled on the spacing unit unless it is commenced during 2002.
The Partnership will never own any significant amounts of undeveloped properties
or have an occasion to sell or farm out any undeveloped Partnership Properties.
Transfers of properties to any drilling or income programs of which the
Partnership serves as a general partner will be governed by the provisions of
the agreement of limited partnership in effect with respect thereto. If any
such program is to be offered publicly, those provisions will have to be
consistent with the provisions contained in the Guidelines for the Registration
of Oil and Gas Programs adopted by the North American Securities Administrators
Association, Inc.
Record Title to Partnership Properties
Record title to the Partnership Properties will be held by the General
Partner. However, the General Partner will hold the Partnership Properties as a
nominee for the Partnership under a form of nominee agreement to be entered into
between the General Partner and the Partnership. Under the form of nominee
agreement, the General Partner will disclaim any beneficial interest in the
Partnership Properties held as nominee for the Partnership.
Marketing of Reserves
The General Partner has the authority to market the oil and gas production
of the Partnership. In this connection, it may execute on behalf of the
Partnership division orders, contracts for the marketing or sale of oil, gas or
other hydrocarbons or other marketing agreements. Sales of the oil and gas
production of the Partnership will be to independent third parties or to the
General Partner or its affiliates (see "CONFLICTS OF INTEREST").
Conduct of Operations
The General Partner will have full, exclusive and complete discretion and
control over the management, business and affairs of the Partnership and will
make all decisions affecting the Partnership Properties. To the extent that
Partnership funds are reasonably available, the General Partner will cause the
Partnership to (1) test and investigate the Partnership Properties by
appropriate geological and geophysical means, (2) conduct drilling and
development operations on such Partnership Properties as it deems appropriate in
view of such testing and investigation, (3) attempt completion of wells so
drilled if in its opinion conditions warrant the attempt and (4) properly
equip and complete productive Partnership Wells. The General Partner will also
cause the Partnership's productive wells to be operated in accordance with sound
and economical oil and gas recovery practices.
The General Partner will operate certain drilling and productive wells on
behalf of the Partnership in accordance with the terms of the Agreement (see
"COMPENSATION"). In those cases, execution of separate operating agreements
will not be necessary unless third party owners are involved, e.g., fractional
undivided interest Partnership Properties and Partnership Properties that are
pooled or unitized with other properties owned by third parties. In such cases,
and in all cases where Partnership Properties are operated by third parties, the
General Partner will, where appropriate, make or cause to be made and enter into
operating agreements, pooling agreements, unitization agreements, etc., in the
form
29
in general use in the area where the affected property is located. The General
Partner is also authorized to execute production sales contracts on behalf of
the Partnership.
APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS
The Aggregate Subscription will be used to pay costs and expenses incurred
in the operations of the Partnership which are chargeable to the Limited
Partners. The organizational costs of the Partnership and the offering costs of
the Units will be paid by the General Partner.
If all 600 Units offered hereby are sold, the proceeds to the Partnership
would be $600,000. If the minimum 50 Units are sold, the proceeds to the
Partnership would be $50,000. The General Partner estimates that the gross
proceeds will be expended as follows:
$600,000 $50,000
Program Program
---------------- ----------------
Percent Amount Percent Amount
------- ------- ------- -------
Leasehold Acquisition Costs
of Properties to Be Drilled...... 5% $ 30,000 5% $ 2,500
Drilling Costs of Exploratory
Wells............................ 5% 30,000 5% 2,500
Drilling Costs of Develop-
ment Wells....................... 70% 420,000 70% 35,000
Leasehold Acquisition Costs
of Productive Properties......... 20% 120,000 20% 10,000
Total.................... 100% $600,000 100% $50,000
The foregoing allocation between Drilling Costs and Leasehold Acquisition
Costs is solely an estimate and the actual percentages may vary materially from
this estimate. Funds otherwise available for drilling Exploratory Wells will be
reduced to the extent that such funds are used in conducting development
operations in which the Partnership participates.
Until Capital Contributions are invested in the Partnership's operations,
they will be temporarily deposited, with or without interest, in one or more
bank accounts of the Partnership or invested in short-term United States
government securities, money market funds, bank certificates of deposit or
commercial paper rated as "A1" or "P1" as the General Partner deems advisable.
Partnership funds other than Capital Contributions may be commingled with the
funds of the General Partner or UNIT.
PARTICIPATION IN COSTS AND REVENUES
All costs of organizing the Partnership and offering Units therein will be
paid by the General Partner. All costs incurred in the offering and syndication
of any drilling or income program formed by UPC or UNIT and its affiliates
during 2002 in which the Partnership participates as a co-general partner will
also be paid by the General Partner. All other Partnership costs and expenses
will be charged 99% to the Limited Partners and 1% to the General Partner until
such time as the Aggregate Subscription has been fully expended. Thereafter and
until the General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution has been fully
expended, all of such costs and expenses will be charged to the General Partner.
After the General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution has been fully
expended, such costs and expenses will be
30
charged to the respective accounts of the General Partner and the Limited
Partners on the basis of their respective Percentages (see "GLOSSARY").
All Partnership Revenues will be allocated between the General Partner and
the Limited Partners on the basis of their respective Percentages.
The General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution will be determined as of
December 31, 2002 and will be an amount equal to:
(a) all costs and expenses previously charged to the General Partner as of that
date, plus
(b) the General Partner's good faith estimate of the additional amounts that it
will have to contribute in order to fund the Leasehold Acquisition Costs
and Drilling Costs expected to be incurred by the Partnership after that
date.
The respective Percentages of the General Partner and the Limited Partners will
then be determined as of December 31, 2002 based on the relative contributions
of the Partners previously made and expected to be made in the future during the
remainder of the Partnership's property acquisition and drilling phases. See
"GLOSSARY -- General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution", "General Partner's
Percentage" and " Limited Partners' Percentage." If the General Partner's
estimate of future Leasehold Acquisition Costs and Drilling Costs proves to be
lower than the actual amount of such costs and expenses, the excess amounts will
be charged to the Partners on the basis of their respective Percentages and the
Limited Partners' share will be paid out of their share of Partnership Revenues,
Additional Assessments required of them or the proceeds of Partnership
borrowings. See "ADDITIONAL FINANCING." If the General Partner's estimate of
such costs and expenses proves to be higher than the actual costs and expenses,
the General Partner will continue to bear Partnership costs and expenses that
would otherwise have been chargeable to the Limited Partners until the total
Partnership costs and expenses charged to it (including, without limitation,
offering and organizational costs, Operating Expenses, general and
administrative overhead costs and reimbursements and Special Production and
Marketing Costs as well as Leasehold Acquisition Costs and Drilling Costs) since
the formation of the Partnership equals the General Partner's Minimum Capital
Contribution. In addition to actual contributions of cash or properties, any
Partner will be deemed to have contributed amounts of Partnership Revenues
allocated to it which are used to pay its share of Partnership costs and
expenses.
The following table presents a summary of the allocation of Partnership
costs, expenses and revenues between the General Partner and the Limited
Partners:
General Limited
Partner Partners
------- --------
COSTS AND EXPENSES
. Organizational and offering
costs of the Partnership and any
drilling or income programs in
which the Partnership participates
as a co-general partner................. 100% 0%
31
General Limited
Partner Partners
------- --------
. All other Partnership Costs and
Expenses:
. Prior to time Limited Partner
Capital Contributions are
entirely expended.................... 1% 99%
. After expenditure of Limited
Partner Capital Contributions
and until expenditure of
General Partner's Minimum
Capital Contribution................. 100% 0%
. After expenditure of General General Limited
Partner's Minimum Capital Partner's Partners'
Contribution......................... Percentage Percentage
REVENUES General Limited
Partner's Partners'
Percentage Percentage
COMPENSATION
Supervision of Operations
It is anticipated that the General Partner will operate most, if not all,
Partnership Properties during the drilling of Partnership Wells and most, if not
all, productive Partnership Wells. For the General Partner's services performed
as operator, the Partnership will compensate the General Partner its pro rata
portion of the compensation due to the General Partner under the operating
agreements, if any, in effect with respect to such wells or, if none is in
effect for such wells, at rates no higher than those normally charged in the
same or a comparable geographic area by non-affiliated persons or companies
dealing at arm's length.
That portion of the General Partner's general and administrative overhead
expense that is attributable to its conduct of the actual and necessary
business, affairs and operations of the Partnership will be reimbursed by the
Partnership out of Partnership Revenue. The General Partner's general and
administrative overhead expenses are determined in accordance with industry
practices. The costs and expenses to be allocated include all customary and
routine legal, accounting, geological, engineering, travel, office rent,
telephone, secretarial, salaries, data processing, word processing and other
incidental reasonable expenses necessary to the conduct of the Partnership's
business and generated by the General Partner or allocated to it by UNIT, but
will not include filing fees, commissions, professional fees, printing costs and
other expenses incurred in forming the Partnership or offering interests
therein. The amount of such costs and expenses to be reimbursed with respect to
any particular period will be determined by allocating to the Partnership that
portion of the General Partner's total general and administrative overhead
expense incurred during such period which is equal to the ratio of the
Partnership's total expenditures compared to the total expenditures by the
General Partner for its own account. The portion of such general and
administrative overhead expense reimbursement which is charged to the Limited
Partners may not exceed an amount equal to 3% of the Aggregate Subscription
during the first 12 months of the Partnership's operations, and in each
succeeding twelve-month period, the lesser of (a) 2% of the Aggregate
Subscription and (b) 10% of the total Partnership Revenue realized
32
in such twelve-month period. Administrative expenses incurred directly by the
Partnership, or incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership and
reimbursable to the General Partner, such as legal, accounting, auditing,
reporting, engineering, mailing and other such fees, costs and expenses are not
considered a part of the general and administrative expense reimbursed to the
General Partner and the amounts thereof will not be subject to the limitations
described in the preceding sentence.
Purchase of Equipment and Provision of Services
UNIT, through its subsidiary Unit Drilling Company, will probably perform
significant drilling services for the Partnership. In addition, UNIT owns a 40%
interest in Superior Pipeline Company, L.L.C., an Oklahoma limited liability
company, which may build or own an interest in certain gathering systems through
which a portion of the Partnership's gas production is transported.
These persons are in the business of supplying such equipment and services
to non-affiliated parties in the industry and any such equipment and such
services will be acquired or provided at prices or rates no higher than those
normally charged in the same or comparable geographic area by non-affiliated
persons or companies dealing at arms' length. Production purchased by any
affiliate of UNIT will be for prices which are not less than the highest posted
price (in the case of crude oil) or prevailing price (in the case of natural
gas) in the same field or area.
UNIT or one of its affiliates may provide other goods or services to the
Partnership in which event the compensation received therefore will be subject
to the same restrictions and conditions described above and under "CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST" below.
Prior Programs
UNIT was formed in 1986 in connection with a major reorganization and
recapitalization whereby UNIT acquired all of the assets and liabilities of all
of the limited partnerships formed by UNIT's predecessor, Unit Drilling and
Exploration Company ("UDEC"), during the period of 1980 through 1983 in exchange
for shares of UNIT's common stock and UDEC was merged with a wholly owned
subsidiary of UNIT whereby UDEC was the surviving corporation and thereby became
a wholly owned subsidiary of UNIT. UNIT has conducted one oil and gas
program since the date of its formation, the 1986 Energy Program. The 1986
Energy Program was formed on June 12, 1987 with total subscriptions of one
million dollars. The Unit 1986 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership is a
co-general partner with Unit Petroleum Company of the 1986 Energy Program.
Direct compensation charged to or paid by the partnerships and earned by the
General Partners for their services in connection with these programs through
September 30, 2001, is set forth below.
Compensation
for
Supervision Reimbursement
and of General
Operation of Administrative
Productive and Fees
and Overhead Received as
Management Drilling Expense a Drilling
Program Fee(1) Wells(2)(3) (2)(3)(4) Contractor(2)
- ------- ------- ----------- ----------- -------------
1979............... 150,000 2,589,182 2,437,750 1,835,762
1980............... 200,000 261,456 1,345,158 1,810,310
1981............... 1,250,000 329,695 1,892,568 4,047,260
1981-II............ 450,000 158,406 1,607,706 1,629,201
1982-A............. 634,200 521,910 1,688,024 4,110,107
33
Compensation
for
Supervision Reimbursement
and of General
Operation of Administrative
Productive and Fees
and Overhead Received as
Management Drilling Expense a Drilling
Program Fee(1) Wells(2)(3) (2)(3)(4) Contractor(2)
- ------- ------- ----------- ----------- -------------
1982-B............. 316,650 331,594 1,224,023 4,945,437
1983-A............. 50,600 151,289 698,597 695,255
1984............... - 273,929 861,718 829,503
1984 Employee(*)... - 3,924 5,000 13,452
1985 Employee(*)... - 10,316 - 54,892
1986 Energy
Income Fund(**) ... - 288,586 1,022,687 64,945
1986 Employee(*)... - 23,505 - 59,446
1987 Employee(*)... - 50,688 - 97,079
1988 Employee(*)... - 93,854 - 112,861
1989 Employee(*)... - 54,536 - 165,436
1990 Employee(*)... - 28,884 - 144,722
1991 Employee...... - 506,410 - 144,993
1992 Employee...... - 138,171 - 14,934
1993 Employee...... - 74,296 - 68,504
Consolidated
Program(*)......... - 149,229 - -
1994 Employee...... - 102,509 - 41,403
1995 Employee...... - 61,406 - 35,903
1996 Employee...... - 68,889 - 112,911
1997 Employee...... - 57,738 - 170,173
1998 Employee...... - 41,093 - 161,094
1999 Employee...... - 63,223 - 186,408
2000 Employee...... - 21,317 - 601,080
2001 Employee...... - 1,407 - 194,929
_______________
(*) Effective December 31, 1993, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger,
this employee partnership was merged with and into the Unit Consolidated
Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership (the "Consolidated Program"), with the
latter being the surviving limited partnership. See Prior Activities.
(**) Formed primarily for purposes of acquiring producing oil and gas
properties.
(1) Paid to both UDEC and a prior Key Employee Exploration Fund as general
partners. No management fee was payable to UDEC or any of its affiliates by any
of the 1984 - 2001 Employee Programs and no management fee is payable by the
Partnership to UNIT or any of its affiliates.
(2) Paid only to UDEC.
(3) In the case of compensation for supervision and operation of
productive wells and reimbursement of UNIT's general and administrative overhead
expense, the general partners generally were charged with and paid a percentage
of such amounts equal to the percentage of partnership revenues being allocated
to them.
(4) Although the partnership agreement for each of the 1985 - 2001
Employee Programs provides that the General Partner is entitled to reimbursement
for the general administrative and overhead expenses attributable to each of
such programs, the General Partner has to date elected not to
34
seek such reimbursement. However, there can be no assurance that the General
Partner will continue to forego such reimbursement in the future.
(5) Includes a special allocation of gross revenues totaling $500,000.
MANAGEMENT
The General Partner
UNIT was formed in 1986 in connection with a major reorganization and
recapitalization whereby UNIT acquired all of the assets and liabilities of all
of the limited partnerships formed by UNIT's predecessor, UDEC, during the
period of 1980 through 1983 in exchange for shares of UNIT's common stock and
UDEC was merged with a wholly owned subsidiary of UNIT whereby UDEC was the
surviving corporation and thereby became a wholly owned subsidiary of UNIT. UPC
was incorporated in the State of Oklahoma on February 9, 1984 as Sunshine
Development Corporation ("SDC"). On October 8, 1985 pursuant to the terms of a
Stock Purchase Agreement," UDEC purchased all of the issued and outstanding
stock of SDC whereby SDC became a wholly owned subsidiary of UDEC. On February
1, 1988, pursuant to the terms of an "Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation", SDC was renamed Unit Petroleum Company.
UPC's as well as UNIT's, principal office is at 1000 Kensington Tower I,
7130 South Lewis Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136 and its telephone number is (918)
493-7700. UNIT through its various subsidiaries is engaged in the onshore
contract drilling of oil and gas wells and in the exploration for and production
of oil and gas. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this
Memorandum to UNIT include its predecessor as well as all or any of its
subsidiaries.
Officers, Directors and Key Employees
The Partnership will have no directors or officers. The directors of the
General Partner are elected annually and serve until their successors are
elected and qualified. Directors of UNIT are elected at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders for a staggered term of three years each, or until their successors
are duly elected and qualified. The executive officers of the General Partner
are elected by and serve at the pleasure of its Board of Directors. The names,
ages and respective positions of the directors and executive officers of UNIT
are as follows:
Name Age Position
---- --- --------
King P. Kirchner 74 Chairman of the Board and
Director
John G. Nikkel 66 President, Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Operating
Officer and Director
O. Earle Lamborn 66 Senior Vice President,
Drilling and Director
35
Philip M. Keeley 60 Senior Vice President,
Exploration and Production
Larry D. Pinkston 47 Vice President, Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer
Mark E. Schell 44 Secretary and General Counsel
William B. Morgan 57 Director
Don Cook 76 Director
John S. Zink 73 Director
John H. Williams 83 Director
J. Michael Adcock 52 Director
The names, ages and respective positions of the directors and
executive officers of UPC are as follows:
Name Age Position
---- --- --------
King P. Kirchner 74 Chairman of the Board
John G. Nikkel 66 President and Director
Philip M. Keeley 60 Vice President and Director
Mark E. Schell 44 Secretary, General Counsel
and Director
Larry Pinkston 47 Treasurer
Mr. Kirchner, a co-founder of UNIT, has been the Chairman of the Board and
a director since 1963. He served as the Company's President until November
1983 and as its Chief Executive Officer until June 30, 2001. Mr. Kirchner is a
Registered Professional Engineer within the State of Oklahoma, having received
degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and in
Petroleum Engineering, with honors, from the University of Oklahoma. Following
graduation, he was employed by Lufkin Manufacturing as a development engineer
for hydraulic pumping units. Prior to co-founding Unit he served in the US Army
during the Korean War and after that as vice-president engineering and
operations for Woolaroc Oil Company.
Mr. Nikkel joined UNIT in 1983 as its President and a director. On July 1,
2001 Mr. Nikkel was elected to the additional office of Chief Executive Officer
on July 1, 2001. From 1976 until January 1982 when he co-founded Nike
Exploration Company, Mr. Nikkel was an officer and director of Cotton Petroleum
36
Corporation, serving as the President of Cotton from 1979 until his departure.
Prior to joining Cotton, Mr. Nikkel was employed by Amoco Production Company for
18 years, last serving as Division Geologist for Amoco's Denver Division. Mr.
Nikkel presently serves as President and a director of Nike Exploration Company.
Mr. Nikkel received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Mathematics from
Texas Christian University.
Mr. Lamborn has been actively involved in the oil field for over 50 years,
joining UNIT's predecessor in 1952 prior to its becoming a publicly-held
corporation. He was elected Vice President, Drilling in 1973 and to his current
position as Senior Vice President, Drilling and director in 1979.
Mr. Keeley joined UNIT in November 1983 as Senior Vice President,
Exploration and Production. Prior to that time, Mr. Keeley co-founded (with Mr.
Nikkel) Nike Exploration Company in January 1982 and, until November 2001,
served as Executive Vice President and a director of that company. From 1977
until 1982, Mr. Keeley was employed by Cotton Petroleum Corporation, serving
first as Manager of Land and from 1979 as Vice President and a director. Before
joining Cotton, Mr. Keeley was employed for four years by Apexco, Inc. as
Manager of Land and prior thereto he was employed by Texaco, Inc. for nine
years. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Petroleum Land Management from
the University of Oklahoma.
Mr. Pinkston joined UNIT in December 1981. He had served as Corporate
Budget Director and Assistant Controller prior to being appointed Controller in
February 1985. He has been Treasurer since December 1986 and was elected to the
position of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in May 1989. He holds a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from East Central University of
Oklahoma and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. Schell joined UNIT in January 1987, as its Secretary and General
Counsel. From 1979 until joining UNIT, Mr. Schell was Counsel, Vice President
and a member of the Board of Directors of C&S Exploration, Inc. He received a
Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Arizona State University
and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Tulsa Law School. He is a
member of the Oklahoma and American Bar Association as well as being a member of
the American Corporate Counsel Association and the American Society of Corporate
Secretaries.
Mr. Morgan was elected a director of UNIT in February 1988. Mr. Morgan has
been Executive Vice President and General Counsel of St. John Health System,
Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma, since March 1, 1995 and, since October 1, 1996, the
President of its principal for profit subsidiary Utica Services, Inc. Before
that, he was a Partner in the law firm of Doerner, Saunders, Daniel & Anderson,
Tulsa, Oklahoma, for over 20 years.
Mr. Cook has served as a director of UNIT since UNIT's inception. He is a
Certified Public Accountant and was a partner in the accounting firm of Finley &
Cook, Shawnee, Oklahoma, from 1950 until 1987, when he retired.
Mr. Zink was elected a director of UNIT in May 1982. For over 5 years, he
has been a principal in several privately held companies engaged in the
businesses of designing and manufacturing equipment used in the petroleum
industry, construction and heating and air conditioning services and
installation. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering
from Oklahoma State University. He is also a director of Matrix Service
Company, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
37
Mr. Williams was elected a director of UNIT in December 1988. Prior to
retiring on December 31, 1978, he was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of The Williams Companies, Inc. where he continues to serve as an
honorary director. Mr. Williams also serves as a director of Apco Argentina,
Inc., Westwood Corporation, and Willbros Group, Inc. In addition, Mr. Williams
also serves as a director of the Gilcrease and Philbrook Museums and is a
Trustee for the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust.
Mr. Adcock was elected a director of UNIT in December 1997. He is an
attorney and currently manages a private trust that deals in real estate, oil
and gas properties and commercial banking as well as other equity investments.
He is Chairman of the Board of Arvest Bank, Shawnee and Mid-America Heathcare,
Inc.. Between 1997 through September, 1998 he was the Chairman of the Board of
Ameribank and President and Chief Executive Officer of American National Bank
and Trust Company of Shawnee, Oklahoma, and Chairman of AmeriTrust Corporation,
Tulsa, Oklahoma. Prior to holding these positions, he was engaged in the
private practice of law and served as General Counsel for Ameribank Corporation.
Prior Employee Programs
Since 1984, UNIT has formed limited partnerships for investment by certain
of its key employees and directors that participate with UNIT in its exploration
and production operations. The name, month of formation and amount of limited
partner capital subscriptions of each of these limited partnerships (the
"Employee Programs") are set forth below.
Limited
Partners'
Capital
Name Formed Subscriptions
---- ------ -------------
Unit 1984 Employee Oil and Gas Program April 1984 $348,000
Unit 1985 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership January 1985 $378,000
Unit 1986 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership January 1986 $307,000
Unit 1987 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership March 1987 $209,000
Unit 1988 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership April 29, 1988 $177,000
Unit 1989 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership December 30, 1988 $157,000
Unit 1990 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership January 19, 1990 $253,000
Unit 1991 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership January 7, 1991 $263,000
Unit 1992 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership January 23, 1992 $240,000
Unit 1993 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership January 21, 1993 $245,000
Unit 1994 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership January 19, 1994 $284,000
38
Limited
Partners'
Capital
Name Formed Subscriptions
---- ------ -------------
Unit 1995 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership March 7, 1995 $454,000
Unit 1996 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership February 5, 1996 $437,000
Unit 1997 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership February 4, 1997 $413,000
Unit 1998 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership February 19, 1998 $471,000
Unit 1999 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership February 22, 1999 $188,000
Unit 2000 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership February 22, 2000 $199,000
Unit 2001 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership February 9, 2001 $370,000
One-half of the capital subscriptions from all limited partners were
required to be paid in the 1984 Employee Program, three-fourths of the capital
subscriptions from all limited partners were required to be paid in the 1985
Employee Program and the 1986 Employee Program. All of the capital
subscriptions from all limited partners, including those shown below, were
required to be paid in the 1987 through 1999 Employee Programs. The capital
subscriptions of the following limited partners to the 1999, 2000 and 2001
Employee Programs were as shown below:
Amount of Capital
Subscripation
Position with -------------
Subscriber UNIT 1999 2000 2001
---------- ---- ---- ---- ----
King P. Kirchner Chairman of the Board $20,000 (1) $0 (1) $25,000
and Chief Executive
Officer
John G. Nikkel President, Chief $94,264 (2) $114,264 (2) $151,400 (2)
Operating Officer
and Director
Philip M. Keeley Senior Vice President, $31,736 (2) $33,736 (2) $43,600 (2)
Exploration and
Production
_______________
(1) Mr. Kirchner invested $20,000 indirectly in each of the 1999 Employee
Program and $25,000 in the 2001 Employee Programs, through the King P. Kirchner
Revocable Trust as permitted by the limited partnership agreement of those
Employee Programs.
(2) Messrs. Nikkel and Keeley have invested in the 1999, 2000 and 2001
Employee Programs both directly and through Nike Exploration Company which is
owned 71.4% by Mr. Nikkel and 28.6% by Mr. Keeley. The amounts invested
directly and indirectly through Nike Exploration Company in the 1999, 2000 and
2001 Employee Programs by Messrs. Nikkel and Keeley are set forth below:
39
Nike
Employee Mr. Nikkel Mr. Keeley Exploration
Program Directly Directly Company
------- -------- -------- -------
1999 $40,000 $10,000 $76,000
2000 $60,000 $12,000 $76,000
2001 $80,000 $15,000 $100,000
Ownership of Common Stock
UNIT's Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange as reported on
the Composite Tape. On December 11, 2001, there were 36,005,367 shares
outstanding.
As of December 11, 2001, the directors and officers of UNIT owned of record
or beneficially owned shares of UNIT Common Stock as follows:
Amount of
Beneficial % of
Name Ownership (1) Outstanding(1)
- ---- ------------- -----------
King P. Kirchner............. 898,628 (2) 2.5
John Williams................ 4,500 (3) *
Don Cook..................... 27,618 (3) *
Philip M. Keeley............. 132,734 (2)(4) *
Earle Lamborn................ 265,113 (2)(4) *
John G. Nikkel............... 410,501 (2)(4) 1.1
Larry D. Pinkston............ 57,075 (2)(4) *
Mark E. Schell............... 33,711 (2)(4) *
John S. Zink................. 68,000 (3) *
William B. Morgan............ 17,100 (3) *
J. Michael Adcock............ 599,791 (3)(5) 1.6
All Officers and Directors
as a Group............... 2,514,771 6.9
_______________
*Less than 1%
(1) The number of shares includes the shares presently issued and
outstanding plus the number of shares which any owner has the right to acquire
within 60 days after December 11, 2001, pursuant to the exercise of currently
exercisable stock options. For purposes of calculating the percent of the shares
outstanding held by each owner, the total number of shares excludes the shares
which all other persons have the right to acquire within 60 days after December
11, 2001 pursuant to the exercise of currently exercisable stock options.
(2) Includes shares of common stock held under UNIT's 401(k) thrift plan
as of December 10, 2001 for the account of: Earle Lamborn, 13,139; John G.
Nikkel, 30,842; Philip M. Keeley, 11,152; Larry D. Pinkston, 483; and Mark E.
Schell, 29,172.
40
(3) Includes unexercised stock options granted under UNIT's non-Employee
Directors' Stock Option Plan to each of the following, all of which are
currently exercisable at the discretion of the holder: J. Michael Adcock,
12,000; Don Cook, 22,000; William B. Morgan, 11,000; John H. Williams, 3,500;
John S. Zink, 27,000; and all non-Employee Directors as a group, 75,500.
(4) Includes unexercised stock options granted under UNIT's Amended and
Restated Stock Option Plan to each of the following, all of which are currently
exercisable at the discretion of the holder: John G. Nikkel 103,000; Philip M.
Keeley, 32,500; Earle Lamborn, 38,500; Larry D. Pinkston, 16,200; and Mark E.
Schell, 16,200.
(5) Of the shares shown, Mr. J. Michael Adcock is deemed to be the
beneficial owner of 587,791 shares by virtue of his position as one of three
trustees of the Don Bodard 1995 Revocable Trust.
Interest of Management in Certain Transactions
Reference is made to "COMPENSATION" for a discussion of the compensation
for supervision and operation of productive wells and the reimbursement of
overhead expenses attributable to the Partnership's operations to which UNIT is
entitled under the terms of the Partnership Agreement.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
There will be situations in which the individual interests of the General
Partner and the Limited Partners will conflict. Although the General Partner is
obligated to deal fairly and in good faith with the Limited Partners and conduct
Partnership operations using the standards of a prudent operator in the oil and
gas industry, such conflicts may not in every instance be resolved to the
maximum advantage of the Limited Partners. Certain circumstances which will
or may involve potential conflicts of interest are as follows:
. The General Partner currently manages and in the future will sponsor
and manage oil and natural gas drilling programs similar to the
Partnership.
. The General Partner will decide which prospects the Partnership will
acquire.
. The General Partner will act as operator for Partnership Wells and
will, through its affiliates, furnish drilling and/or marketing
services with respect to Partnership Wells, the terms of which have
not been negotiated by non-affiliated persons.
. The General Partner is a general partner of numerous other
partnerships, and owes duties of good faith dealing to such other
partnerships.
. The General Partner and its affiliates engage in drilling, operating
and producing activities for other partnerships.
41
Acquisition of Properties and Drilling Operations
With certain limited exceptions it is anticipated that the Partnership will
participate in each producing property, if any, acquired by the General Partner
and in the drilling of each of the wells, if any, commenced by the General
Partner for its own account during the period commencing January 1, 2002, or
from the formation of the Partnership if subsequent to January 1, 2002, through
December 31, 2002 except for wells:
(i) drilled outside the 48 contiguous United States;
(ii) drilled as part of secondary or tertiary recovery operations which
were in existence prior to formation of the Partnership;
(iii) drilled by third parties under farm-out or similar arrangements with
UNIT or the General Partner or whereby UNIT or the General Partner
may be entitled to an overriding royalty, reversionary or other
similar interest in the production from such wells but is not
obligated to pay any of the Drilling Costs thereof;
(iv) acquired by UNIT or the General Partner through the acquisition by
UNIT or the General Partner of, or merger of UNIT or the General
Partner with, other companies; or
(v) with respect to which the General Partner does not believe that the
potential economic return therefrom justifies the costs and
participation by the Partnership.
As a result, the Partnership may have an interest in wells located on prospects
on which producing wells have been drilled by UNIT or the General Partner in
prior years. Likewise, it is possible that the Partnership will participate in
the drilling of initial wells on prospects on which some or all of the
development or offset wells will be drilled in years subsequent to 2002. In the
latter case, the Partnership would have no right to participate in the drilling
of such development or offset wells.
Sometimes UNIT will agree to participate in drilling operations on a
prospect which it may not believe are fully warranted from an economic
standpoint if it believes that such participation is necessary for, or will
significantly increase its chances of, obtaining a contract to drill the well
with one of its drilling rigs and the revenues from the contract make the
economics of the entire arrangement desirable from UNIT's standpoint. In such
an instance, the Partnership would not be entitled to any of the drilling
contract revenues so the General Partner will not cause the Partnership to
participate in such a well. However, an analysis of the economic potential of
any proposed well is a very inexact science and wells which have a very high
potential commonly prove to be dry or only marginally profitable and
occasionally a well with apparently very little promise may prove to be very
profitable. Thus, there can be no assurance that the General Partner will
always make the most profitable decision from the Partnership's standpoint in
determining in which of such potential wells the Partnership should or should
not participate.
Because the Partnership will acquire an interest only in those properties
comprising the spacing unit on which each Partnership Well is located, it will
not be entitled to participate in other wells drilled by the General Partner,
UNIT or any of its affiliates in the same prospect area unless the drilling of
those wells commences during the period from January 1, 2002, or from the
formation of the Partnership if subsequent to January 1, 2002, through December
31, 2002. If the size of a spacing unit in which the Partnership has an
interest is reduced, the Partnership will have no interest in any additional
well drilled
42
on the property comprising the original spacing unit unless it is commenced
during the period from January 1, 2002, or from the formation of the Partnership
if subsequent to January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002. Likewise the
Partnership would have no interest in any increased density wells drilled on the
original spacing unit unless such wells were drilled during 2002. In addition,
if additional interests are acquired in wells participated in by the Partnership
after 2002, the Partnership will generally not be entitled to participate in the
acquisition of such additional interests. Management believes that the apparent
conflicts of interest arising from these situations are mitigated by the fact
that the Partnership is expected to participate in all of UNIT's drilling
operations (with the exceptions noted above) conducted during the period. Thus,
there is little opportunity for the General Partner to selectively choose
Partnership drilling locations for the purpose of proving up other properties of
UNIT or its affiliates in which the Partnership has no interest. Further, the
Partnership will benefit in many instances by its participation in the drilling
of wells located on prospects previously proved up by drilling operations
conducted by UNIT prior to formation of the Partnership.
Participation in UNIT's Drilling or Income Programs
If UNIT forms any drilling or income programs in 2002, it is anticipated
that the Partnership will serve as a co-general partner with UNIT in any such
drilling or income programs, or both. As the other co-general partner of any
such drilling or income program, UNIT would have exclusive management and
control over the business, operations and affairs of the drilling or income
program. Conflicts of interest may arise between the limited partners and the
general partners of such drilling or income program and it is possible that
UNIT may elect to resolve those conflicts in favor of the limited partners.
Further, if any such drilling or income program is offered publicly, the program
agreement will be required to contain a number of provisions concerning the
conduct of program operations and handling conflicts of interests required by
the Guidelines for the Registration of Oil and Gas Programs adopted by the North
American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. Such provisions may
significantly reduce the flexibility of UNIT in managing such programs or may
affect the profitability of the program operations or the transactions between
the general partners and the program.
Transfer of Properties
The General Partner or its affiliates are authorized to transfer interests
in oil and gas properties to the Partnership, in which case the General Partner
or its affiliate will receive an amount equal to the Leasehold Acquisition Costs
attributable to the interests being acquired by the Partnership in the spacing
unit on which the Partnership Well is located or is to be drilled. The amount
of the Leasehold Acquisition Costs attributable to the fractional undivided
interest in a property transferred to the Partnership by the General Partner or
any affiliate shall not be reduced or offset by the amount of any gain or profit
the General Partner or its affiliate might have realized by any prior sale or
transfer of a fractional undivided interest in the property to an unaffiliated
third party for a price in excess of the portion of the Leasehold Acquisition
Costs of the property that is attributable to the transferred interest. The
Partnership will not be reimbursed for or refunded any Leasehold Acquisition
Costs if the size of a spacing unit on which a Partnership Well is located or
drilled is reduced even though the Partnership will have no interest in any
subsequent wells drilled on the area encompassed by the original spacing unit
unless they are commenced during 2002.
A sale, transfer or conveyance to the Partnership of less than all of the
ownership of the General Partner or its affiliates in any interest or property
is prohibited unless:
43
43
(1) the interest retained by the General Partner or its affiliates is a
proportionate working interest;
(2) the obligations of the Partnership with respect to the properties will
be substantially the same proportionately as those of the General
Partner or its affiliates at the time it acquired the properties; and
(3) the Partnership's interest in revenues will not be less than the
proportionate interest therein of the General Partner or its
affiliates when it acquired the properties.
With respect to the General Partner or its affiliates' remaining interest, it
may retain such interest for its own account or it may sell, transfer, farm-out
or otherwise convey all or a portion of such remaining interest to non-
affiliated industry members, which may occur either before or after the transfer
of the interests in the same properties to the Partnership. The General Partner
or its affiliates may realize a profit on the interests or may be carried to
some extent with respect to its cost obligations in connection with any drilling
on such properties and any such profit or interests will be strictly for the
account of the General Partner or its affiliates and the Partnership will have
no claim with respect thereto. The General Partner or its affiliates may not
retain any overrides or other burdens on the property conveyed to the
Partnership (other than overriding royalty interests granted to geologists and
other persons employed or retained by the General Partner or its affiliates) and
may not enter into any farm-out arrangements with respect to its retained
interest except to non-affiliated third parties or other programs managed by the
General Partner or its affiliates.
Partnership Assets
The General Partner will not take any action with respect to assets or
property of the Partnership which does not benefit primarily the Partnership as
a whole. The General Partner will not utilize the funds of the Partnership as
compensating balances for the benefit of the General Partner or its affiliates.
All benefits from marketing arrangements or other relationships affecting
property of the Partnership will be fairly and equitably apportioned according
to the respective interests of the Partnership and the General Partner.
The Partnership Agreement provides that when the Partnership is terminated,
there will be an accounting with respect to its assets, liabilities and
accounts. The Partnership's physical property and its oil and gas properties
may be sold for cash. Except in the case of an election by the General Partner
to terminate the Partnership before the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date,
Partnership Properties may be sold to the General Partner or any of its
affiliates for their fair market value as determined in good faith by the
General Partner.
Transactions with the General Partner or Affiliates
UNIT provides through its subsidiary Unit Drilling Company contract
drilling services in the ordinary course of its business. UNIT also owns a 40%
interest in Superior Pipeline Company, L.L.C. which is engaged in the business
of buying and building gas gathering systems. It is anticipated that the
Partnership will obtain services, equipment and supplies from one or both of
such persons. In addition, UNIT may supply other goods or services to the
Partnership. The terms of any contracts or agreements between the Partnership
and UNIT or any affiliate will be no less favorable to the Partnership than
those of comparable contracts or agreements entered into, and will be at prices
not in excess of (or in the case
44
of purchases of production, less than) those charged in the same geographical
area, by non-affiliated persons or companies dealing at arm's length.
For its services as a drilling contractor, Unit Drilling Company will
charge the Partnership on either a daywork (a specified per day rate for each
day a drilling rig is on the drill site), a footage (a specified rate per foot
drilled) or a turnkey (specified amount for drilling the well) basis. The rate
charged by Unit Drilling Company for such services will be the same as those
offered to unaffiliated third parties in the same or similar geographic areas.
Right of Presentment Price Determination
Under the terms of the Partnership Agreement, a Limited Partner can,
subject to certain conditions, require the General Partner to purchase his or
her Units at a price determined by the application of a stated formula to the
estimated future net revenues attributable to the Partnership's estimated proved
reserves. See "TERMS OF THE OFFERING -- Right of Presentment." It is
anticipated that if an independent engineering firm makes an evaluation of the
proved reserves of the Partnership, the result of that evaluation will be
used in determining the price to be paid to a Limited Partner exercising his or
her right of presentment. However, if no such independent evaluation is made,
the right of presentment purchase price will be determined by using the proved
reserves and future net revenue estimates of the technical staff of the General
Partner.
Receipt of Compensation Regardless of Profitability
The General Partner is entitled to receive its fees and other compensation
and reimbursements from the Partnership regardless of whether the Partnership
operates at a profit or loss. See "PARTICIPATION IN COSTS AND REVENUES" and
"COMPENSATION." Such fees, compensation and reimbursements will decrease the
Limited Partners' share of any profits generated by operations of the
Partnership or increase losses if such operations should prove unprofitable.
Legal Counsel
Conner & Winters serves as special legal counsel for the General Partner.
Such firm has performed legal services for the General Partner and UNIT and is
expected to render legal services to the Partnership. Although such firm has
indicated its intention to withdraw from representation of the Partnership if
conflicts of interest do in fact arise, there can be no assurance that
representation of both the General Partner or UNIT and the Partnership by such
firm will not be disadvantageous to the Partnership.
FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY
General
Under Oklahoma law, the General Partner will have a fiduciary duty to the
Limited Partners and consequently must exercise good faith, fairness and loyalty
in the handling of the Partnership's affairs. The General Partner must provide
Limited Partners (or their representatives) with timely and full information
concerning matters affecting the business of the Partnership. Each Limited
Partner may inspect the Partnership's books and records upon reasonable prior
notice. The nature of the fiduciary duties of general partners is an evolving
area of law and prospective investors who have questions concerning the duties
of the General Partner should consult with their counsel.
45
Regardless of the fiduciary obligations of the General Partner, the General
Partner, UNIT or its affiliates, subject to any restrictions or requirements set
forth in the Agreement, may:
. engage independently of the Partnership in all aspects of the oil and
gas business, either for their own accounts or for the accounts of
others;
. sell interests in oil and gas properties held by them to, purchase oil
and gas production from, and engage in other transactions with, the
Partnership;
. serve as general partner of other oil and gas drilling or income
partnerships, including those which may be in competition with the
Partnership; and
. engage in other activities that may involve conflicts of interest.
See "CONFLICTS OF INTEREST." Thus, unlike the strict duty of a fiduciary who
must act solely in the best interests of his or her beneficiary, the Agreement
permits the General Partner to consider, among other things, the interests of
other partnerships sponsored by the General Partner, UNIT or its affiliates in
resolving investment and other conflicts of interest. The foregoing provisions
permit the General Partner to conduct its own operations and to act as the
general partner of more than one similar partnership or investment program and
for the Partnership to benefit from its experience resulting therefrom, but
relieves the General Partner of the strict fiduciary duty of a general partner
acting as such for only one investment program at a time. These provisions are
primarily intended to reconcile the applicable duties under Oklahoma law with
the fact that the General Partner will manage and administer its own oil and
gas operations and a number of other oil and gas investment programs with which
possible conflicts of interests may arise and resolve such conflicts in a manner
consistent with the expectation of the investors in all such programs, the
General Partner's fiduciary duties and customary business practices and statutes
applicable thereto.
Liability and Indemnification
The Agreement provides that the General Partner will perform its duties in
an efficient and businesslike manner with due caution and in accordance with
established practices of the oil and gas industry. The Agreement further
provides that the General Partner and its affiliates will not be liable to the
Partnership or the Partners, and will be indemnified by the Partnership, for any
expense (including attorney fees), loss or damage incurred by reason of any act
or omission performed or omitted in good faith in a manner reasonably
believed by the General Partner or its affiliates to be within the scope of
authority and in the best interest of the Partnership or the Partners unless the
General Partner or its affiliates is guilty of gross negligence or willful
misconduct. While not totally certain under Oklahoma law, absent specific
provisions in the partnership agreement to the contrary, a general partner of a
limited partnership may be liable to its limited partners if it fails to conduct
the partnership affairs with the same amount of care which ordinarily
prudent persons would use in similar circumstances. Consequently, the Agreement
may be viewed as requiring a lesser standard of duty and care than what Oklahoma
law might otherwise require of the General Partner.
Any claim against the Partnership for indemnification must be satisfied
only out of Partnership assets including insurance proceeds, if any, and none of
the Limited Partners will have personal liability therefore.
46
The Limited Partners may have more limited rights of action than they would
have absent the liability and indemnification provisions above. Moreover,
indemnification enforced by the General Partner under such provisions will
reduce the assets of the Partnership. It should be noted, however, that it is
the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") that any
attempt to limit the liability of a general partner or to indemnify a general
partner under the federal securities laws is contrary to public policy and,
therefore, unenforceable. The General Partner has been advised of the position
of the Commission.
Generally, the Limited Partners' remedy for the General Partner's breach of
a fiduciary duty will be to bring a legal action against the General Partner to
recover any damages, generally measured by the benefits earned by the General
Partner as a result of the fiduciary breach. Additionally, Limited Partners may
also be able to obtain other forms of relief, including injunctive relief. The
Act provides that a limited partner may bring an action in the name of a limited
partnership (a partnership derivative action) to recover a judgment in its favor
if general partners with authority to do so have refused to bring the action or
if an effort to cause such general partners to bring the action is not likely to
succeed.
PRIOR ACTIVITIES
UNIT has been engaged in oil and gas exploration and development
operations since late 1974 and has conducted oil and gas drilling
programs using the limited partnership format since 1979. The following table
depicts the drilling results achieved as of September 30, 2001 by UNIT during
each year since 1975. Because of the unpredictability of oil and gas
exploration in general, such results should not be considered indicative of the
results that may be achieved by the Partnership.
Gross Wells(2) Net Wells(3)
Year Ended -------------- ------------
July 31(1) Total Oil Gas Dry Total Oil Gas Dry
- ---------- ----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1975 Exploratory.... 2 0 2 0 .01 0 .01 0
Development....... 4 0 2 2 .07 0 .03 .04
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
6 0 4 2 .08 0 .04 .04
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1976 Exploratory.... 1 0 0 1 .01 0 0 .01
Development....... 8 0 6 2 .29 0 .28 .01
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
9 0 6 3 .30 0 .28 .02
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1977 Exploratory.... 9 0 3 6 1.50 0 .45 1.05
Development....... 16 0 9 7 2.00 0 .70 1.30
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
25 0 12 13 3.50 0 1.15 2.35
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1978 Exploratory.... 8 1 1 6 1.17 .34 .15 .68
Development....... 26 0 13 13 2.64 0 .76 1.88
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
34 1 14 19 3.81 .34 .91 2.56
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1979 Exploratory.... 10 0 5 5 1.40 0 .76 .64
Development....... 16 1 8 7 1.99 .06 .95 .98
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
26 1 13 12 3.39 .06 1.71 1.62
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1980 Exploratory.... 1 0 1 0 1.28 0 .23 1.05
Development....... 10 0 8 2 3.13 0 .85 2.28
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
11 0 9 2 4.41 0 1.08 3.33
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
47
Gross Wells(2) Net Wells(3)
Year Ended -------------- ------------
December 31(1) Total Oil Gas Dry Total Oil Gas Dry
- -------------- ----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1981 Exploratory.... 14 1 4 9 1.12 .02 .16 .94
Development....... 66 18 29 19 7.38 2.96 1.77 2.65
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 80 19 33 28 8.50 2.98 1.93 3.59
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1982 Exploratory.... 40 5 9 26 3.39 .60 .32 2.47
Development....... 100 22 51 27 11.70 4.70 2.71 4.29
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 140 27 60 53 15.09 5.30 3.03 6.76
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1983 Exploratory.... 6 2 0 4 1.31 .72 0 .59
Development....... 72 18 26 28 8.01 3.45 1.17 3.39
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 78 20 26 32 9.32 4.17 1.17 3.98
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1984 Exploratory.... 2 1 1 0 .52 .49 .03 0
Development....... 50 15 22 13 6.81 3.42 2.74 .65
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 52 16 23 13 7.33 3.91 2.77 .65
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1985 Exploratory.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Development....... 38 11 16 11 8.32 2.89 2.39 3.04
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 38 11 16 11 8.32 2.89 2.39 3.04
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1986 Exploratory.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Development....... 21 4 6 11 3.85 .81 1.01 2.03
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 21 4 6 11 3.85 .81 1.01 2.03
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1987 Exploratory.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Development....... 46 23 10 13 11.91 7.95 1.76 2.34
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 46 23 10 13 11.91 7.95 1.76 2.34
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1988 Exploratory.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Development....... 39 20 10 9 22.56 14.77 4.05 3.74
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 39 20 10 9 22.56 14.77 4.05 3.74
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1989 Exploratory.... 3 0 1 2 1.97 0 .47 1.50
Development....... 40 12 15 13 18.83 8.81 4.13 5.89
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 43 12 16 15 20.80 8.81 4.60 7.39
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1990 Exploratory.... 5 0 2 3 1.22 0 .12 1.10
Development....... 35 11 14 10 16.53 8.38 3.52 4.63
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 40 11 16 13 17.75 8.38 3.64 5.73
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1991 Exploratory.... 4 0 0 4 .82 0 0 .82
Development....... 28 10 9 9 15.88 8.61 3.91 3.36
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 32 10 9 13 16.70 8.61 3.91 4.18
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1992 Exploratory.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Development....... 18 1 11 6 5.81 1.00 3.33 1.48
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 18 1 11 6 5.81 1.00 3.33 1.48
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1993 Exploratory.... 1 0 0 1 .10 0 0 .10
Development....... 16 9 6 1 12.48 8.98 3.32 .18
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 17 9 6 2 12.58 8.98 3.32 .28
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1994 Exploratory.... 3 0 1 2 1.71 0 .95 .76
Development....... 57 5 40 12 25.79 4.75 14.14 6.90
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 60 5 41 14 27.50 4.75 15.09 7.66
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
48
Gross Wells(2) Net Wells(3)
Year Ended -------------- ------------
December 31(1) Total Oil Gas Dry Total Oil Gas Dry
- -------------- ----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1995 Exploratory.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Development....... 45 15 24 6 14.94 4.67 8.04 2.23
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 45 15 24 6 14.94 4.67 8.04 2.23
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1996 Exploratory.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Development....... 70 10 51 9 32.09 7.61 20.09 4.39
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 70 10 51 9 32.09 7.61 20.09 4.39
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1997 Exploratory.... 2 0 0 2 2.00 0 0 2.00
Development....... 80 8 58 14 35.94 4.35 23.29 8.30
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 82 8 58 16 37.94 4.35 23.29 10.30
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1998 Exploratory.... 2 0 1 1 .63 0 .375 .26
Development....... 76 3 52 21 30.17 .31 18.750 11.11
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 78 3 53 22 30.80 .31 19.125 11.37
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1999 Exploratory.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Development....... 51 1 42 8 21.80 .40 17.40 4.0
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 51 1 42 8 21.80 .40 17.40 4.0
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
2000 Exploratory.... 2 0 2 0 1.72 0 1.72 0
Development....... 98 7 73 18 38.37 1.45 28.55 8.37
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 100 7 75 18 40.09 1.45 30.27 8.37
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Period of January 1,
2001 to
September 30, 2001
Exploratory....... 2 0 1 1 1.47 0 .50 .97
Development....... 90 1 71 18 35.13 .79 23.23 11.11
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total.......... 92 1 72 19 36.60 .79 23.73 12.08
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
_______________
(1) Except as indicated, the figures used in this table relate to wells
drilled and completed during each of the 12 month periods ended July 31 or
December 31, as the case may be. Oil wells and gas wells shown include both
producing wells and wells capable of production.
(2) "Gross Wells" refers to the total number of wells in which there was
participation by UNIT.
(3) "Net Wells" refers to the aggregate leasehold working interest of UNIT
in such wells. For example, a 50% leasehold working interest in a well drilled
represents 1.0 Gross Well, but a .50 Net Well.
Prior Employee Programs
During the period of 1979 to 1983, persons who were designated key
employees of UNIT by its board of directors participated in the Unit Key
Employee Exploration Funds (the "Funds"). These Funds were formed as general
partnerships for the purpose of participating in 10% of all of the exploration
and development operations conducted by UNIT during a specified period. Except
for the Fund formed in 1983, each of the prior Funds served as one of the
general partners in at least one of the prior drilling programs sponsored by
UNIT and was allocated 10% of the expenses and revenues
49
allocable to the general partners as a group. In each of these Funds the costs
charged to it in connection with its operations were financed with the proceeds
of bank borrowings and out of the Funds' share of revenues.
The 1983 Fund served as the sole capital limited partner in the Unit 1983-A
Oil and Gas Program and as such made no contribution to the capital of that
program and shared in 10% of the costs and revenues otherwise allocable to the
General Partner after the distributions to the General Partner from the program
equaled the amount of its contributions thereto plus UNIT's interest costs with
respect to the unrecovered amount of its contributions.
Because of the differences in structure, format and plan of operations
between the prior Funds and the Partnership and because of the uncertainties
which are inherent in oil and gas operations generally, the results achieved by
the prior Funds should not be considered indicative of the results the
Partnership may achieve.
For each year from 1984 through 2001, a separate Employee Program was
formed as an Oklahoma limited partnership with UNIT or UPC as its sole general
partner (UPC now serves as the sole general partner of each of these Employee
Programs) and with eligible employees and directors of UNIT and its subsidiaries
who subscribed for units therein as the limited partners. Each Employee Program
participated on a proportionate basis (to the extent of 10% of the General
Partner's interest in each case except for the 1986 and 1987 Employee Programs,
in which case the percentage participation was 15% and the 1992 - 2001 Employee
Programs, in which case the percentage was 5% and the 2001 Employee Program in
which case the percentage was 2 1/2%) in all of UNIT's oil and gas exploration
and development operations conducted during the calendar year for which the
program was formed beginning with its date of formation if it was formed after
January 1. Although the terms and provisions of these Employee Programs are
virtually identical to those of the Partnership, because of the unpredictability
of oil and gas exploration and development in general, the results for the
Employee Programs shown below should not be considered indicative of the results
that may be achieved by the Partnership.
The Funds and the Employee Programs have participated in either 10% or 5%
(15% in the case of the 1986 and 1987 Employee Programs and 2 1/2% in the case
of the 2001 Employee Program) of virtually all of UNIT's or the General
Partner's exploration and development operations conducted since the latter half
of 1979. Thus, the drilling results of these partnerships would be
proportionate to those drilling results of UNIT for the periods beginning after
the fiscal year ended July 31, 1979 shown above.
Results of the Prior Oil and Gas Programs
In each of the General Partner's prior oil and gas programs other than the
Unit 1983-A Oil and Gas Program and the Unit 1984 Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership, one of the prior Funds also served as a general partner. The 1983
Fund served as the sole capital limited partner of the Unit 1983-A Oil and Gas
Program and the 1984 Employee Program serves as a general partner of the Unit
1984 Oil and Gas Limited Partnership. The Unit 1979 Oil and Gas Program was the
first limited partnership drilling program of which UNIT was a sponsor. The
revenue sharing terms of the 1979 Program are generally 70% to the limited
partners and 30% to the general partners until 150% program payout at which time
the revenues are to be shared 55% to the limited partners and 45% to the general
partners. The revenue sharing terms of the Unit 1980 Oil and Gas Program were
generally 60% to the limited partners and 40% to the general partners. The
revenue sharing terms of the Unit 1981 Oil and Gas Program were generally 70% to
the limited partners and 30% to the general partners until program payout and
50% to
50
the limited partners and 50% to the general partners thereafter. The revenue
sharing terms of the Unit 1981-II Oil and Gas Program, the Unit 1982-A Oil and
Gas Program and the Unit 1982-B Oil and Gas Program (60% to the limited partners
and 40% to the general partners) were substantially the same as those of the
Unit 1983-A Oil and Gas Program and the Unit 1984 Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership (65% to the limited partners and 35% to the general partner) except
that the general partners' cost percentage and the general partners' revenue
share in each of those prior programs could not be less than 25%. The
following tables depict the drilling results at September 30, 2001, and the
economic results at September 30, 2001 of prior oil and gas programs and the
1984 - 2001 Employee Programs. On September 12, 1986, in connection with a
major restructuring and recapitalization, UNIT acquired all of the assets
and liabilities of the programs formed during 1980 through 1983 and these
programs have now been dissolved. Effective December 31, 1993, pursuant to an
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 28, 1993, all of the assets
and all of the liabilities of the 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990
Employee Programs were merged with and consolidated into a new Employee Program
called the Unit Consolidated Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership, an
Oklahoma Limited Partnership which was formed November 30, 1993 (the
"Consolidated Program"). The Consolidated Program holds no assets other than
those acquired in the merger with the 1984 through 1990 Employee Programs.
The Unit 1979 Oil and Gas Program continues in existence as do the 1991, 1992,
1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 Employee Programs.
Certain of these programs have not completed all of their drilling and
development operations. Moreover, because of the unpredictability of oil and
gas exploration and development in general, the results shown below should not
be considered indicative of the results that may be achieved by the Partnership.
DRILLING RESULTS
As of September 30, 2001
Gross Wells Net Wells
--------------- ------------
Programs Total Oil Gas Dry Total Oil Gas Dry
- -------- ----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1979 Exploratory
Wells.... 6 0 2 4 2.43 0.00 0.65 1.78
Development
Wells.... 21 16 1 4 17.28 14.14 0.03 3.11
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 27 16 3 8 19.71 14.14 0.68 4.89
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1980(1) Exploratory
Wells.... 15 2 5 8 5.65 0.50 2.14 3.01
Development
Wells.... 32 5 15 12 12.77 1.17 5.75 5.85
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 47 7 20 20 18.42 1.67 7.89 8.86
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1981(1) Exploratory
Wells.... 11 1 4 6 4.61 0.33 0.88 3.40
Development
Wells.... 67 14 34 19 21.77 5.03 6.61 10.13
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 78 15 38 25 26.38 5.36 7.49 13.53
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1981-II(1) Exploratory
Wells.... 13 1 5 7 5.21 0.25 1.12 3.84
Development
Wells.... 45 3 29 13 9.07 0.69 4.78 3.60
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 58 4 34 20 14.28 0.94 5.90 7.44
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1982-A(1) Exploratory
Wells.... 11 3 1 7 3.55 0.78 0.00 2.77
Development
Wells.... 69 23 22 24 25.22 13.09 3.59 8.54
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 80 26 23 31 28.77 13.87 3.59 11.31
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1982-B(1) Exploratory
Wells.... 4 1 1 2 2.28 0.80 0.08 1.40
Development
Wells.... 41 16 9 16 18.60 9.47 1.01 8.12
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 45 17 10 18 20.88 10.27 1.09 9.52
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
51
Gross Wells Net Wells
--------------- ------------
Programs Total Oil Gas Dry Total Oil Gas Dry
- -------- ----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1983-A(1) Exploratory
Wells.... 1 1 0 0 1.00 1.00 0.00 0.00
Development
Wells.... 26 14 10 2 6.60 4.39 1.27 0.94
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 27 15 10 2 7.60 5.39 1.27 0.94
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1984 Exploratory
Wells.... 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Development
Wells.... 21 1 10 10 5.89 .38 3.08 2.43
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 21 1 10 10 5.89 .38 3.08 2.43
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
_______________
(1) On September 12, 1986, Unit acquired all of the assets and liabilities
of this Program and the Program has been dissolved.
52
EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS
-----------------
As of September 30, 2001
Gross Wells Net Wells
--------------- ------------
Programs Total Oil Gas Dry Total Oil Gas Dry
- -------- ----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1984(1) Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Development
Wells.... 25 4 12 9 .14 .02 .06 .06
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 25 4 12 9 .14 .02 .06 .06
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1985(1) Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Development
Wells.... 30 8 10 12 .38 .12 .08 .18
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 30 8 10 12 .38 .12 .08 .18
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1986(1) Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Development
Wells.... 18 6 8 4 .48 .12 .30 .06
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 18 6 8 4 .48 .12 .30 .06
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1987(1) Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Development
Wells.... 21 12 5 4 1.17 .74 .25 .18
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 21 12 5 4 1.17 .74 .25 .18
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1988(1) Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Development
Wells.... 29 15 9 5 1.55 1.03 .28 .24
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 29 15 9 5 1.55 1.03 .28 .24
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1989(1) Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Development
Wells.... 32 7 14 11 1.48 .59 .36 .53
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 32 7 14 11 1.48 .59 .36 .53
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1990(1) Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 5 0 2 3 .122 0.00 .01 .11
Development
Wells.... 34 11 14 9 1.65 .83 .35 .46
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total 39 11 16 12 1.78 .83 .36 .57
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1991 Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 4 0 0 4 .08 0.00 0.00 .08
Development
Wells.... 28 10 9 9 1.59 .86 .39 .34
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 32 10 9 13 1.67 .86 .39 .42
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1992 Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Development
Wells.... 18 1 11 6 .29 .05 .17 .07
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 18 1 11 6 .29 .05 .17 .07
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1993 Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Development
Wells.... 16 9 6 1 .63 .45 .17 .01
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 16 9 6 1 .63 .45 .17 .01
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1994 Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 3 0 1 2 .09 0.00 .05 .04
Development
Wells.... 57 5 40 12 1.29 .24 .70 .35
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 60 5 41 14 1.38 .24 .75 .39
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1995 Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Development
Wells.... 45 15 24 6 .74 .23 .40 .11
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 45 15 24 6 .74 .23 .40 .11
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1996 Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Development
Wells.... 53 7 38 8 1.24 .27 .76 .21
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 53 7 38 8 1.24 .27 .76 .21
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
53
Gross Wells Net Wells
--------------- ------------
Programs Total Oil Gas Dry Total Oil Gas Dry
- -------- ----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1997 Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 2 0 0 2 .10 0.00 0.00 .10
Development
Wells.... 80 8 58 14 1.80 .22 1.16 .42
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 82 8 58 16 1.90 .22 1.16 .52
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1998 Exploratory
Empl. Wells 2 0 1 1 .03 0.00 .02 .01
Development
Wells.... 76 3 52 21 1.51 .02 .94 .56
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 78 3 53 22 1.54 .02 .96 .57
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
1999 Exploratory
Empl. Wells 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Development
Wells.... 51 1 42 8 1.09 .02 .87 .20
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 51 1 42 8 1.09 .02 .87 .20
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
2000 Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 2 0 2 0 .09 0.00 .09 0.00
Development
Wells.... 98 7 73 18 1.92 .07 1.43 .42
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 100 7 75 18 2.01 .07 1.52 .42
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
2001 Exploratory
Empl. Wells.... 2 0 1 1 .04 0.00 .01 .02
Development
Wells.... 90 1 71 18 .88 .02 .59 .28
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total...... 92 1 72 19 .92 .02 .60 .30
----- --- --- --- ----- ----- ----- -----
_______________
(1) Effective December 31, 1993 this Program was merged with and
into the Consolidated Program.
54
GENERAL PARTNERS' PAYOUT TABLE(1)
As of September 30, 2001
Total Revenues
Before
Total Deducting
Total Revenues Operating Costs
Expenditures Before for 3 Months
Including Deducting Ended
Operating Operating September 30,
Program Costs(2) Costs 2001
- ------- -------- ----- ----
1979......................... $11,236,726 $10,593,870 $40,720
1980......................... 4,043,599 4,044,424 -
1981......................... 8,325,594 6,338,173 -
1981-II...................... 6,642,875 3,995,616 -
1982-A....................... 9,190,842 6,782,893 -
1982-B....................... 4,213,710 3,126,326 -
1983-A....................... 2,277,514 1,312,531 -
1984......................... 2,950,593 2,057,599 20,049
1984 Employee(*)............. 1,542 1,745 -
1985 Employee(*)............. 2,820 1,808 -
1986 Energy Income Fund(**).. 1,723,049 1,689,858 14,007
1986 Employee(*)............. 4,403 6,813 -
1987 Employee(*)............. 624,354 815,358 -
1988 Employee(*)............. 1,196,564 1,588,132 -
1989 Employee(*)............. 1,424,525 1,171,961 -
1990 Employee(*)............. 653,563 525,572 -
1991 Employee................ 3,067,321 2,804,091 48,692
1992 Employee................ 337,418 369,083 6,685
1993 Employee................ 714,054 681,918 8,934
Consolidated Program......... 26,134 13,989 352
1994 Employee................ 2,167,707 1,691,314 36,079
1995 Employee................ 792,118 548,625 10,948
1996 Employee................ 1,618,379 803,029 14,007
1997 Employee................ 2,201,345 1,034,483 29,423
1998 Employee................ 1,994,080 887,172 43,154
1999 Employee................ 1,297,447 1,065,278 70,727
2000 Employee................ 2,876,082 1,354,454 141,176
2001 Employee................ 418,105 155,989 32,179
_______________
(*) Effective December 31, 1993, this program was merged with and
into the Consolidated Program.
(**) Formed primarily for purposes of acquiring producing oil and gas
properties.
55
LIMITED PARTNERS' PAYOUT TABLE(1)
As of September 30, 2001
Total Revenues
Before
Total Deducting
Total Revenues Operating Costs
Expenditures Before for 3 Months
Including Deducting Ended
Operating Operating September 30,
Program Costs(2) Costs 2001
- ------- -------- ----- ----
1979........................ $18,974,727 $18,529,680 $49,769
1980........................ 17,688,367 6,949,008 -
1981........................ 37,073,946 15,768,826 -
1981-II..................... 18,638,600 7,028,946 -
1982-A...................... 24,866,078 12,708,949 -
1982-B...................... 12,069,566 5,367,312 -
1983-A...................... 3,770,856 1,922,177 -
1984........................ 3,938,163 2,152,201 20,049
1984 Employee(*)............ 120,942 171,540 -
1985 Employee(*)............ 277,901 178,984 -
1986 Energy Income
Fund(**).................... 3,507,329 3,655,170 21,011
1986 Employee(*)............ 435,858 676,972 -
1987 Employee(*)............ 341,846 469,830 -
1988 Employee(*)............ 333,898 446,044 -
1989 Employee(*)............ 179,593 175,331 -
1990 Employee(*)............ 300,852 188,848 -
1991 Employee............... 814,147 747,613 12,944
1992 Employee............... 860,330 953,159 17,191
1993 Employee............... 678,047 631,653 8,246
Consolidated Program........ 572,900 1,385,800 34,823
1994 Employee............... 876,555 692,925 14,689
1995 Employee............... 1,254,859 863,492 17,124
1996 Employee............... 1,000,757 494,020 8,585
1997 Employee............... 948,837 465,803 13,221
1998 Employee............... 1,042,167 450,268 22,207
1999 Employee............... 445,042 318,200 21,126
2000 Employee............... 432,929 184,822 19,251
2001 Employee............... 278,737 103,992 21,452
_______________
(*) Effective December 31, 1993, this program was merged with and
into the Consolidated Program.
(**) Formed primarily for purposes of acquiring producing oil and gas
properties.
56
GENERAL PARTNERS' NET CASH TABLE(1)
As of September 30, 2001
Total
Revenues Total
Less Revenues
Operating Distributed
Total Total Costs for for 3
Expenditures Revenues 3 Months Months
Less Less Ended Total Ended
Operating Operating Sept. 30, Revenues Sept. 30,
Program Costs(2) Costs 2001 Distributed 2001
- ------- -------- ----- ---- ----------- ----
1979............. $5,510,369 $4,867,513 $ 3,064 $3,943,739 $21,900
1980............. 2,628,978 2,629,803 - 2,635,751 -
1981............. 6,546,160 4,558,739 - 5,368,272 -
1981-II.......... 4,817,145 2,169,886 - 2,609,000 -
1982-A........... 6,297,972 3,890,023 - 3,755,000 -
1982-B........... 2,565,504 1,478,120 - 1,158,000 -
1983-A........... 1,380,331 415,348 - 819,000 -
1984............. 1,472,124 579,129 4,052 917,299 19,825
1984 Employee(*). 874 1,077 - 1,000 -
1985 Employee(*). 2,300 1,288 - 1,035 -
1986 Energy
Income Fund(**).. 331,395 298,204 (2,424) 466,265 8,825
1986 Employee(*). 2,698 5,108 - 4,486 -
1987 Employee(*). 357,368 548,372 - 465,800 -
1988 Employee(*). 770,272 1,161,840 - 942,800 -
1989 Employee(*). 1,010,133 752,569 - 607,900 -
1990 Employee(*). 466,272 338,281 - 266,600 -
1991 Employee.... 1,896,174 1,632,945 27,855 1,506,410 56,350
1992 Employee.... 199,633 231,299 3,744 216,045 9,800
1993 Employee.... 542,928 510,792 5,165 453,095 9,785
Consolidated
Program.......... 20,584 8,438 221 8,297 550
1994 Employee.... 1,658,386 1,181,994 22,248 997,425 38,850
1995 Employee.... 654,608 411,115 6,018 322,995 11,925
1996 Employee.... 1,430,737 615,387 8,357 419,455 18,350
1997 Employee.... 1,988,539 821,676 18,456 612,040 40,400
1998 Employee.... 1,796,851 689,942 29,792 512,250 55,050
1999 Employee.... 1,130,015 897,845 55,633 583,650 92,525
2000 Employee.... 2,678,039 1,156,411 110,852 398,300 185,800
2001 Employee.... 405,842 143,725 30,751 - -
_______________
(*) Effective December 31, 1993, this program was merged with and into the
Consolidated Program.
(**) Formed primarily for purposes of acquiring producing oil and gas
properties.
57
LIMITED PARTNERS' NET CASH TABLE(1)
As of September 30, 2001
Total
Revenues
Less Total
Operating Revenues
Costs for Distributed
Total Total 3 Months for 3
Expenditures Revenues Ended Months
Less Less Sept. Total Ended
Capital Operating Operating 30, Revenues Sept. 30,
Program Contributed Costs(2) Costs 2001 Distributed 2001
- ------- ----------- -------- ----- ---- ----------- ----
1979.... $3,000,000 $10,635,066 $10,190,018 $3,707 $6,191,121 $32,160 (5)
1980.... 12,000,000 (3) 14,469,265 3,729,906 - 760,000 -
1981.... 29,255,000 (4) 32,700,741 11,395,621 - 5,335,065 -
1981-II. 15,000,000 16,603,760 4,994,106 - 1,710,001 -
1982-A.. 21,140,000 21,591,442 9,434,313 - 6,342,000 -
1982-B.. 10,555,000 9,935,850 3,233,596 - 2,828,740 -
1983-A.. 2,530,000 2,993,705 1,145,026 - 227,700 -
1984.... 1,875,000 3,012,905 1,226,944 8,422 844,241 25,830 (6)
1984
Employee(*) 174,000 86,664 137,262 - 125,280 -
1985
Employee(*) 283,500 227,670 128,753 - 182,644 -
1986 Energy
Income
Fund(**). 1,000,000 1,841,209 1,989,050 (3,644) 1,870,800 11,800 (7)
1986
Employee(*) 229,750 267,008 508,122 - 460,007 -
1987
Employee(*) 209,000 207,060 335,044 - 324,845 -
1988
Employee(*) 177,000 214,712 326,858 - 281,630 -
1989
Employee(*) 157,000 157,306 153,044 - 147,737 -
1990
Employee(*) 253,000 254,483 142,479 - 180,895 -
1991
Employee. 263,000 502,638 436,104 7,383 406,335 17,095 (8)
1992
Employee. 240,000 505,330 598,159 9,599 582,248 26,400 (9)
1993
Employee. 245,000 519,939 473,545 4,758 439,530 9,065 (10)
Consolidated - 46,743 859,643 21,561 876,146 43,516 (11)
1994
Employee. 284,000 667,986 484,356 9,015 397,884 18,460 (12)
1995
Employee. 454,000 999,728 608,361 9,383 524,854 21,338 (13)
1996
Employee. 437,000 892,707 385,970 5,105 361,835 12,236 (14)
1997
Employee. 413,000 852,450 369,415 8,266 308,924 21,889 (15)
1998
Employee. 471,000 947,016 355,117 15,285 330,624 34,383 (16)
1999
Employee. 141,000 393,692 266,850 16,582 229,172 31,208 (17)
2000
Employee. 199,000 404,839 156,732 15,088 116,415 29,253 (18)
2001
Employee. 370,000 270,561 95,816 20,500 - -
_______________
(*) Effective December 31, 1993, this program was merged with and into
the Consolidated Program.
(**) Formed primarily for purposes of acquiring producing oil and gas
properties.
(1) Amounts reflect the accrual method of accounting.
(2) Does not include expenditures of $237,600, $920,453, $2,252,900,
$1,480,248, $2,079,268, $985,371 and $241,076 which were obtained from bank
borrowings and used to pay the limited partners' share of sales commissions of
$237,600, $722,453, $1,940,400, $1,183,248, $1,656,468, $827,046 and $190,476
and organization costs of $--0--, $198,000, $312,500, $297,000,
58
$422,800, $158,325 and $50,600 for the 1979, 1980, 1981, 1981-II, 1982-A, 1982-
B and 1983-A Programs, respectively.
(3) Includes original subscriptions of limited partners totaling
$10,000,000 and additional assessments totaling $2,000,000.
(4) Includes original subscriptions of limited partners totaling
$25,000,000 and additional assessments totaling $4,255,000.
(5) In November 2001 the 1979 Program made a distribution of
$$7,680.00 to that program's limited partners.
(6) In November 2001 the 1984 Program made a distribution of
$22,050.00 to that program's limited partners.
(7) In November 2001 the 1986 Program made a distribution of
$7,200.00 to that program's limited partners.
(8) In November 2001 the 1991 Employee Program made a distribution of
$8,942.00 to that program's limited partners.
(9) In November 2001 the 1992 Employee Program made a distribution of
$13,440.00 to that program's limited partners.
(10) In November 2001 the 1993 Employee Program made a distribution of
$5,635.00 to that program's limited partners.
(11) In November 2001 the Consolidated Program made a distribution of
$23,094.00 to that program's limited partners.
(12) In November 2001 the 1994 Employee Program made a distribution of
$11,928.00 to that program's limited partners.
(13) In November 2001 the 1995 Employee Program made a distribution of
$13,620.00 to that program's limited partners.
(14) In November 2001 the 1996 Employee Program made a distribution of
$6,118.00 to that program's limited partners.
(15) In November 2001 the 1997 Employee Program made a distribution of
$11,151.00 to that program's limited partners.
(16) In November 2001 the 1998 Employee Program made a distribution of
$17,427.00 to that program's limited partners.
(17) In November 2001 the 1999 Employee Program made a distribution of
$19,364.00 to that program's limited partners.
59
(18) In November 2001 the 2000 Employee Program made a distribution of
$17,313.00 to that program's limited partners.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The full tax opinion of Conner & Winters is attached to this Memorandum as
Exhibit B. All prospective investors should review Exhibit B in its entirety
before investing in the Partnership. All references in this "Federal Income Tax
Considerations" section to the opinion of Conner & Winters are to the tax
opinion set forth in Exhibit B.
The following is a summary of the opinions of Conner & Winters which
represent Conner & Winter's opinions on all material federal income tax
consequences to the Partnership and to the Limited Partners. There may be
aspects of a particular investor's tax situation which are not addressed in the
following discussion or in Exhibit B. Additionally, the resolution of certain
tax issues depends upon future facts and circumstances not known to Conner &
Winters as of the date of this Memorandum; thus, no assurance as to the final
resolution of such issues should be drawn from the following discussion.
The following statements are based upon the provisions of the Code,
existing and proposed regulations promulgated under the Code ("Regulations"),
current administrative rulings, and court decisions. It is possible that
legislative or administrative changes or future court decisions may
significantly modify the statements and opinions expressed herein. Such
changes could be retroactive with respect to the transactions occurring prior to
the date of such changes.
Moreover, uncertainty exists concerning some of the federal income tax
aspects of the transactions being undertaken by the Partnership. Some of
the tax positions being taken by the Partnership may be challenged by the
Service and any such challenge could be successful. Thus, there can be no
assurance that all of the anticipated tax benefits of an investment in the
Partnership will be realized.
Conner & Winter's opinion is based upon the transactions described in this
Memorandum (the "Transaction") and upon facts as they have been represented to
Conner & Winters or determined by it as of the date of the opinion. Any
alteration of the facts may adversely affect the opinions rendered. It is
possible, however, that a variation of such facts could result in some of the
tax benefits will be being eliminated or deferred to future years.
Because of the factual nature of the inquiry, and in certain cases the
lack of clear authority in the law, it is not possible to reach a judgment as to
the outcome on the merits (either favorable or unfavorable) of certain material
federal income tax issues as described more fully herein.
Summary of Conclusions
Opinions expressed: The following is a summary of the specific opinions
expressed by Conner & Winters with respect to Federal Income Tax Considerations
discussed herein.
TO BE FULLY UNDERSTOOD, THE COMPLETE DISCUSSION OF THESE MATTERS SET FORTH
IN THE FULL TAX OPINION IN EXHIBIT B SHOULD BE READ BY EACH PROSPECTIVE LIMITED
PARTNER.
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1. The material federal income tax benefits in the aggregate from an
investment in the Partnership will be realized.
2. The Partnership will be treated as a partnership for federal income
tax purposes and not as a corporation, an association taxable as a corporation
or a "publicly traded partnership". See "Partnership Status";" "Federal
Taxation of Partnerships".
3. To the extent the Partnership's wells are timely drilled and its
drilling costs are timely paid, the Partners will be entitled to their pro
rata shares of the Partnership's IDC paid in 2002. See "Intangible Drilling and
Development Costs Deductions".
4. Most Limited Partners' Units will be considered as ownership
interests in a passive activity within the meaning of Code Section 469 and
losses generated therefrom will be limited by the passive activity provisions of
the Code. See "Passive Loss and Credit Limitations".
5. To the extent provided herein, the Partners' distributive shares of
Partnership tax items will be determined and allocated substantially in
accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement. See "Partnership
Allocations".
6. The Partnership will not be required to register with the Service as
a tax shelter. See "Registration as a Tax Shelter".
No opinion expressed: Due to the lack of authority regarding, or the
essentially factual nature of, the issue, Conner & Winters expresses no opinion
as to:
1. The impact of an investment in the Partnership on an investor's
alternative minimum tax liability, due to the factual nature of the issue.
(See "Alternative Minimum Tax");
2. Whether, under Code Section 183, the losses of the Partnership will
be treated as derived from "activities not engaged in for profit"," and
therefore nondeductible from other gross income, due to the inherently factual
nature of a Partner's interest and motive in engaging in the Transaction. (See
"Profit Motive");
3. Whether each Partner will be entitled to percentage depletion since
such a determination is dependent upon the status of the Partner as an
independent producer and on the Partner's other oil and gas production; due to
the inherently factual nature of such a determination, Conner & Winters is
unable to render an opinion as to the availability of percentage depletion (See
"Depletion Deductions");
4. Whether any interest incurred by a Partner with respect to any
borrowings to acquire a Unit will be deductible or subject to limitations on
deductibility, due to the factual nature of the issue; and
5. Whether the Partnership will be treated as the tax owner of
Partnership Properties acquired by the General Partner as nominee for the
Partnership.
General Information: Certain matters contained herein are not considered
to address a material tax consequence and are for general information, including
the matters contained in sections dealing with gain or loss on the sale of Units
or of Property, Partnership distributions, tax audits, penalties, and state,
local, and self-employment tax. See "General Tax Effects of Partnership
Structure", "Gain or Loss
61
on Sale of Properties or Units", "Partnership Distributions", "Administrative
Matters", "Accounting Methods and Periods", and "State and Local
Tax".
Facts and Representations: The opinions of Conner & Winters are also
based upon the facts described in this Memorandum and upon certain
representations made to it by the General Partner, including the following:
1. The Partnership Agreement to be entered into by and among the General
Partner and Limited Partners and any amendments thereto will be duly executed
and will be made available to any Limited Partner upon written request. The
Partnership Agreement will be duly recorded in all places required under the
Oklahoma Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the "Act") for the due
formation of the Partnership and for the continuation thereof in accordance with
the terms of the Partnership Agreement. The Partnership will at all times be
operated in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement, the
Memorandum, and the Act.
2. No election will be made by the Partnership, Limited Partners, or
General Partner to be excluded from the application of the provisions of
Subchapter K of the Code.
3. The Partnership will own operating mineral interests, as defined in
the Code and in the Regulations, and none of the Partnership's revenues will be
from non-working interests.
4. The General Partner will cause the Partnership to properly elect to
deduct currently all IDC.
5. The Partnership will have a December 31 taxable year and will report
its income on the accrual basis.
6. All Partnership wells will be spudded by not later than December 31,
2002. The entire amount to be paid under any drilling and operating agreements
entered into by the Partnership will be attributable to IDC.
7. Such drilling and operating agreements will be duly executed and will
govern the operation of the Partnership's wells.
8. Based upon the General Partner's review of its experience with its
previous oil and gas partnerships for the past several years and upon the
intended operations of the Partnership, the General Partner believes that the
sum of (i) the aggregate deductions, including depletion deductions, and (ii)
350 percent of the aggregate tax credits from the Partnership will not, as of
the close of any of the first five years ending after the date on which Units
are offered for sale, exceed two times the aggregate cash invested by the
Partners in the Partnership as of such dates. In that regard, the General
Partner has reviewed the economics of its similar oil and gas partnerships for
the past several years, and has represented that it has determined that none of
those partnerships has resulted in a "tax shelter ratio", as such term is
defined in the Code and Regulations, greater than two to one. Further, the
General Partner has represented that the deductions that are or will be
represented as potentially allowable to an investor will not result in the
Partnership having a tax shelter ratio, as such term is defined in the code and
Regulations, greater than two to one and believes that no person could
reasonably infer from representations made, or to be made, in connection with
the offering of Units that such sums as of such dates will exceed two times the
Partners' cash investments as of such dates.
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9. The General Partner believes that at least 90% of the gross income of
the Partnership will constitute income derived from the exploration,
development, production, and/or marketing of oil and gas. The General Partner
does not believe that any market will ever exist for the sale of Units and the
General Partner will not make a market for the Units. Further, the Units will
not be traded on an established securities
market.
10. The Partnership and each Partner will have the objective of carrying
on the business of the Partnership for profit and dividing the gain therefrom.
11. The General Partner will, as nominee for the Partnership, acquire and
hold title to Partnership Properties on behalf of the
Partnership; the General Partner will enter into an agency agreement before the
General Partner acquires any such oil and gas properties on behalf of the
Partnership; the agency agreement will reflect that the General Partner's
acquisition of Partnership properties is on behalf of the Partnership; and the
General Partner will execute assignments of all oil and gas interests acquired
by it on behalf of the Partnership to the Partnership.
The opinions of Conner & Winters are also subject to all the assumptions,
qualifications, and limitations set forth in the following discussion and in the
opinion, including the assumptions that each of the Partners has full power,
authority, and legal right to enter into and perform the terms of the
Partnership Agreement and to take any and all actions thereunder in connection
with the transactions contemplated thereby.
Each prospective investor should be aware that, unlike a ruling from the
Service, an opinion of Conner & Winters represents only Conner & Winter's best
judgment. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE SERVICE WILL NOT SUCCESSFULLY
ASSERT POSITIONS WHICH ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE OPINIONS OF CONNER & WINTERS
SET FORTH IN THIS DISCUSSION AND EXHIBIT B OR IN THE TAX REPORTING POSITIONS
TAKEN BY THE PARTNERS OR THE PARTNERSHIP. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SHOULD
CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISOR TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF THE TAX ISSUES
DISCUSSED HEREIN AND IN EXHIBIT B ON HIS OR HER INDIVIDUAL TAX SITUATION.
General Tax Effects of Partnership Structure
The Partnership will be formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the
Partnership Agreement and the laws of the State of Oklahoma. No tax ruling will
be sought from the Service as to the status of the Partnership as a
partnership for federal income tax purposes. The applicability of the federal
income tax consequences described herein depends on the treatment of the
Partnership as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and not as a
corporation and not as an association taxable as a corporation. Any tax
benefits anticipated from an investment in the Partnership would be adversely
affected or eliminated if the Partnership is were treated as a corporation for
federal income tax purposes.
Conner & Winters is of the opinion that, at the time of its formation, the
Partnership will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
The opinion is based on the provisions of the Partnership Agreement and
applicable state law and representations made by the General Partner. The
opinion of Conner & Winters is not binding on the Service and is based on
existing law, which is to a great extent the result of administrative and
judicial interpretation. In addition, no assurance can be given that the
Partnership will not lose partnership status as a result of changes in either
the manner in which it is operated or the facts other facts upon which the
opinion of Conner & Winters is based.
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Under the Code, a partnership is not a taxable entity and, accordingly,
incurs no federal income tax liability. Rather, a partnership is a "pass-
through" entity which is required to file an information return with the
Service. In general, the character of a partner's share of each item of income,
gain, loss, deduction, and credit is determined at the partnership level. Each
partner is allocated a distributive share of such items in accordance with the
partnership agreement and is required to take such items into account in
determining the partner's income. Each partner includes such amounts in
determining his or her income for any taxable year of the partnership ending
within or with the taxable year of the partner, without regard to whether the
partner has received or will receive any cash distributions from the
partnership.
Ownership of Partnership Properties
The General Partner has indicated that it, as nominee for the Partnership
(the "Nominee"), will acquire and hold title to Partnership Properties on behalf
of the Partnership. The Nominee and the Partnership will enter into an agency
agreement before the Nominee acquires any oil and gas properties on behalf of
the Partnership. That agency agreement will reflect that the Nominee's
acquisition of Partnership Properties is on behalf of the Partnership. The
Nominee will execute assignments to all oil and gas interest acquired by the
Nominee on behalf of the Partnership to the Partnership. For various cost and
procedural reasons, these assignments will not be recorded in the real estate
records in the counties in which the Partnership Properties are located. That
is, while the Partnership will be the owner of the Partnership Properties, there
will be no public record of that ownership. It is possible that the
Service could assert that the Nominee should be treated for federal income tax
urposes as the owner of the Partnership Properties, notwithstanding the
assignment of those Partnership Properties to the Partnership. If the Service
were to argue successfully that the Nominee should be treated as the tax owner
of the Partnership Properties, there would be significant adverse federal income
tax consequences to the Limited Partners, such as the unavailability of
depletion deductions in respect of income from Partnership Properties. The
Service is concerned that taxpayers not be able to shift the tax consequences of
transactions between parties based on the parties' declaration that one party is
the agent of another; the Service generally requires that taxpayers respect the
form of their transactions and ownership of property. Based on this concern,
the Service may challenge the Partnership's treatment of Partnership Properties,
and tax attributes thereof, which are held of record by the Nominee.
In Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Bollinger, 485 U.S. 340 (1988),
the United States Supreme Court reviewed a principal-agent relationship and held
for the taxpayer in concluding that the principal should be treated as the tax
owner of property held in the name of the agent. In that case the Supreme Court
noted that "It seems to us that the genuineness of the agency relationship is
adequately assured, and tax-avoiding manipulation adequately avoided, when the
fact that the corporation is acting as agent for its shareholders with respect
to a particular asset is set forth in a written agreement at the time the asset
is acquired, the corporation functions as agent and not principal with respect
to the asset for all purposes, and the corporation is held out as the agent and
not principal in all dealings with third parties relating to the asset." While
the Partnership and the Nominee will have in place an agreement defining their
relationship before any Partnership Properties are acquired by the Nominee and
the Nominee will function as agent with respect to those Partnership Properties
on behalf of the Partnership, the Nominee will not hold itself out to all third
parties as the agent of the Partnership in dealings relating to the Partnership
Properties. Unlike the relationship between the principal and the agent in
Bollinger, the Nominee will, however, assign title to Partnership Properties to
the Partnership, but will not record those assignments. Accordingly, the facts
related to the relationship between the Nominee and the Partnership are not the
same as the facts in Bollinger and it is not clear that the failure of the
Nominee to
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hold itself out to third parties as the agent of the Partnership in dealings
relating to Partnership Properties should result in the treatment of the Nominee
as the tax owner of the Partnership Properties. For the foregoing reasons,
Conner & Winters have not expressed an opinion on this issue, but Conner &
Winters believe that substantial arguments may be made that the Partnership
should be treated as the tax owner of Partnership Properties acquired by the
Nominee on the Partnership's behalf. If the Partnership were not treated as the
tax owner of Partnership Properties, then the following discussions which relate
to the Partners' deduction of tax items which are derived from Partnership
Properties, such as IDC, depletion and depreciation, would not be applicable.
Intangible Drilling and Development Costs Deductions
Congress granted to the Secretary of the Treasury the authority to
prescribe regulations that would allow taxpayers the option of deducting, rather
than capitalizing, IDC. The Secretary's rules state that, in general, the
option to deduct IDC applies only to expenditures for drilling and development
items that do not have a salvage value.
The Memorandum provides that 75% of the Partners' capital contributions
will be utilized for IDC, which is deductible in the year of investment. The
deduction by most Limited Partners generally will be available only to offset
passive income. Based on a 75% deduction, a one Unit ($1,000) investor in a 35%
marginal Federal tax bracket would reduce taxes payable by $262. The investor
could also realize additional tax savings on Oklahoma state income taxes in the
state in which such investor resides.
Classification of Costs. In general, IDC consists of those costs which in
and of themselves have no salvage value. In previous partnerships intangible
drilling costs have ranged from 72% to 27% of the investors' contributions.
While the planned activities of the Partnership are similar in nature to those
of prior partnerships, the amount of expenditures classified as IDC could
be greater than or less than for prior partnerships. In addition, a
partnership's classification of a cost as IDC is not binding on the Service,
which might reclassify an item labeled as IDC as a cost which must be
capitalized. To the extent not deductible, such amounts will be included in the
Partnership's basis in a mineral property and in the Partners' tax basies
in their interests in the Partnership.
Timing of Deductions. Although the Partnership will elect to deduct IDC,
each investor has an option of deducting IDC, or capitalizing all or a part of
the IDC and amortizing it on a straight-line basis over a sixty-month period,
beginning with the taxable month in which the expenditure is made. In addition
to the effect of this change on regular taxable income, the two methods have
different treatment under the Alternative Minimum Tax ("AMT") (see "Alternative
Minimum Tax").
Although the General Partner will attempt to satisfy each requirement of
the Service and judicial authority for deductibility of IDC in 2002 for the
Partnership, no assurance can be given that the Service will not successfully
contend that the IDC of a well which is not completed until 2003 for the
Partnership are not deductible in whole or in part until 2003. Furthermore, no
assurance can be given that the Service will not challenge the current deduction
of IDC because of the prepayment being made to a related party. If the Service
were successful with such a challenge, the Partners' deductions for IDC would be
deferred to later years.
Recapture of IDC. IDC previously deducted that is allocable to a property
(directly or through the ownership of an interest in a partnership) and which
would have been included in the adjusted basis of the property is recaptured as
ordinary income to the extent of ny gain realized upon the disposition of the
property. Treasury regulations provide that recapture is determined at the
partner level (subject to
65
certain anti-abuse provisions). Where only a portion of recapture property is
disposed of, any IDC related to the entire property is recaptured to the extent
of the gain realized on the portion of the property sold. In the case of the
disposition of an undivided interest in a property (as opposed to the
disposition of a portion of the property), a proportionate part of the IDC with
respect to the property is treated as allocable to the transferred undivided
interest to the extent of any realized gain.
Depletion Deductions
The owner of an economic interest in an oil and gas property is entitled
to claim the greater of percentage depletion or cost depletion with respect
to oil and gas properties which qualify for such depletion methods. In the case
of partnerships, the depletion allowance must be computed separately
by each partner and not by the partnership. For properties placed in service
after 1986, depletion deductions, to the extent they reduce basis in an oil and
gas property, are subject to ecapture under Code section 1254.
Cost depletion for any year is determined by multiplying the number of
units (e.g., barrels of oil or Mcf of gas) sold during the year by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the cost or other basis of the mineral interest and
the denominator of which is total reserves available at the beginning of the
period. In no event can the cost depletion exceed the adjusted basis of the
property to which it relates.
Percentage depletion is a statutory allowance pursuant to which a
deduction currently equal to 15% of the taxpayer's gross income from each
property is allowed in any taxable year, not to xceed 100% of the
taxpayer's taxable income from the property (computed without the allowance for
depletion) with the aggregate deduction limited to 65% of the taxpayer's
taxable income for the year (computed without regard to percentage depletion and
net operating loss and capital loss carrybacks). The percentage depletion
deduction rate will vary with the price of oil, but the rate will not be less
than 15%. A percentage depletion deduction that is disallowed in a year due
to the 65% of taxable income limitation may be carried forward and allowed as a
deduction for the following a subsequent year, subject to the 65% limitation in
that subsequent year. Percentage depletion deductions reduce the taxpayer's
adjusted basis in the property. However, unlike cost depletion, percentage
depletion deductions are not limited to the adjusted basis of the property; the
percentage depletion amount continues to be allowable as a deduction after the
adjusted basis has been reduced to zero.
The availability of depletion, whether cost or percentage, will be
determined separately by each Partner. Each Partner must separately keep
records of his share of the adjusted basis in an oil or gas property, adjust
such share of the adjusted basis for any depletion taken on such property, and
use such adjusted basis each year in the computation of his cost depletion or in
the computation of his gain or loss on the disposition of such property. These
requirements may place an administrative burden on a Partner.
Depreciation Deductions
The Partnership will claim depreciation, cost recovery, and amortization
deductions with respect to its basis in Partnership Property as permitted by
the Code. For most tangible personal property placed in service after December
31, 1986, the "modified accelerated cost recovery system" ("MACRS") must be used
in calculating the cost recovery deductions. Thus, the cost of lease
equipment and well equipment, such as casing, tubing, tanks, and pumping units,
and the cost of oil or gas pipelines cannot be deducted currently but must be
capitalized and recovered under MACRS. The cost recovery deduction for most
equipment used in domestic oil and gas exploration and production and for most
of
66
the tangible personal property used in natural gas gathering systems is
calculated using the 200% declining balance method switching to the straight-
line method, a seven-year recovery period, and a half-year convention. If an
accelerated depreciation method is used, a portion of the depreciation will be a
preference item for AMT purposes.
Interest Deductions
In the Transaction, the Limited Partners will acquire their interests by
remitting cash in the amount of $1,000 per Unit to the Partnership. Some
Limited Partners may choose to borrow the funds necessary to acquire a Unit and
may incur interest expense in connection with those loans. Conner & Winters is
unable to express an opinion with respect to the deductibility of any interest
paid or incurred on such a loan because the deductibility of such interest is
dependent upon facts unique to each Limited Partner.
Transaction Fees
The Partnership may classify a portion of the fees or expense
reimbursements to be paid to third parties and to the General Partner as
expenses which are deductible as organizational expenses or otherwise. There is
no assurance that the Service will allow the deductibility of such expenses and
Conner & Winters expresses no opinion with respect to the allocation of such
fees or reimbursements to deductible and nondeductible items.
Generally, expenditures made in connection with the creation of, and with
sales of interests in, a partnership will fit within one of several
categories.
A partnership may elect to amortize and deduct its organizational expenses
ratably over a period of not less than 60 months commencing with the month the
partnership begins business. Examples of organizational expenses are legal fees
for services incident to the organization of the partnership, such as
negotiation and preparation of a partnership agreement, accounting fees for
services incident to the organization of the partnership, and filing fees.
No deduction is allowable for "syndication expenses," examples of which
include brokerage fees, registration fees, legal fees of the underwriter or
placement agent and the issuer (general partners or the partnership) for
securities advice and for advice pertaining to the adequacy of tax disclosures
in the Memorandum offering or private placement memorandum for securities law
purposes, printing costs, and other selling or promotional material. These
costs must be capitalized. Payments for services performed in connection with
the acquisition of capital assets must be amortized over the useful life of
such assets.
No deduction is allowable with respect to "start-up expenditures,"
although such expenditures may be capitalized and amortized over a period of not
less than 60 months.
The Partnership intends to make overhead reimbursement payments to the
General Partner, as described in greater detail in the Memorandum. To be
deductible, payments to a general partner must be for services rendered by the
partner other than in his capacity as partner or for compensation determined
without regard to partnership income. Payments which are not deductible because
they fail to meet this test may be treated as special allocations of income to
the recipient partner and thereby decrease the net loss, or increase the net
income among all partners. If the Service were to successfully challenge the
General Partner's allocations, a Partner's taxable income could be
increased, thereby resulting in increased taxes and in liability for interest
and penalties.
67
Basis and At Risk Limitations
A Partner's share of Partnership losses will be allowed only to the extent
of the aggregate amount with respect to which the taxpayer is "at risk"
for such activity at the close of the taxable year. Any such loss disallowed by
the "at risk" limitation shall be treated as a deduction allocable to the
activity in the first succeeding taxable year.
The Code provides that a taxpayer must recognize taxable income to the
extent that his or her "at risk" amount is reduced below zero. This recaptured
income is limited to the sum of the loss deductions previously allowed to the
taxpayer, less any amounts previously recaptured. A taxpayer may be allowed a
deduction for the recaptured amounts included in his taxable income if and when
he increases his amount "at risk" in a subsequent taxable year.
The Limited Partners will purchase Units by tendering cash to the
Partnership. To the extent the cash contributed constitutes the "personal
funds" of the Partners, the Partners should be considered at risk with respect
to those amounts. If the cash contributed constitutes "personal funds," in the
opinion of Conner & Winters, neither the at risk rules nor the adjusted basis
rules will limit the deductibility of losses generated from
the Partnership and allocated to a Limited Partner, to the extent of such
Limited Partner's cash contributions. In no event, however, may a Partner
utilize his distributive share of partnership loss where such share exceeds the
Partner's tax basis in the Partnership.
Passive Loss Limitations
Introduction. The deductibility of losses generated from passive
activities will be limited for certain taxpayers. The passive activity loss
limitations apply to individuals, estates, trusts, and personal service
corporations as well as, to a lesser extent, closely held C corporations.
The definition of a "passive activity" generally encompasses all rental
activities as well as all activities with respect to which the taxpayer does not
"materially participate." Notwithstanding this general rule, however, the term
"passive activity" does not include "any working interest in any oil or gas
property which the taxpayer holds directly or through an entity which does not
limit the liability of the taxpayer with respect to such interest." A
taxpayer will be considered as materially participating in a venture only if the
taxpayer is involved in the operations of the activity on a "regular,
continuous, and substantial" basis. In addition, no limited partnership
interest will be treated as an interest with respect to which a taxpayer
materially participates.
A passive activity loss ("PAL") of a taxpayer is the amount by which the
such taxpayer's aggregate osses from all passive activities for the
taxable year exceed the his or her aggregate income from all passive activities
for such year.
Individuals and personal service corporations will be entitled to deduct
PALs only to the extent of their passive income whereas closely held C
corporations (other than personal service corporations) can offset PALs against
both passive and net active income, but not against portfolio (dividends,
interest, etc.) income. In calculating passive income and loss, however, all
activities of the taxpayer are aggregated. PALs disallowed as a result of the
above rules will be suspended and can be carried forward indefinitely to offset
future passive (or passive and active, in the case of a closely held C
corporation) income.
68
Upon the disposition of an entire interest in a passive activity in a
fully taxable transaction not involving a related party, any passive loss
that was suspended by the provisions of the passive activity rules is deductible
from either passive or non-passive income.
Limited Partner Interests. Most Limited Partners' distributive shares of
the Partnership's losses will be treated as PALs, the availability of which will
be limited in each case to the individual Partners's passive income. If a
Limited Partner does not have sufficient passive income to utilize the PALs, the
disallowed PALs will be suspended and may be carried forward to be deducted
against passive income arising in future years. Further, upon the disposition
of the interest to an unrelated party in a fully taxable transaction, such
suspended losses will be available, as described above.
Limited Partners should generally be entitled to offset their distributive
shares of passive income from the Partnership with deductions from other passive
activities, but not portfolio income.
Alternative Minimum Tax
Tax benefits associated with oil and gas exploration activities similar to
that of the Partnership had for several years been subject to the AMT.
Specifically, prior to January 1, 1993, IDC was an AMT preference item to the
extent that "excess IDC" exceeded 65% of a taxpayer's net income from oil and
gas properties for the year. Excess IDC was the amount by which the taxpayer's
IDC deduction exceeded the deduction that would have been allowed if the IDC had
been capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over ten years.
Percentage depletion, to the extent it exceeded a property's basis, was also an
AMT preference item.
For independent producers in taxable years beginning after 1992, the
Energy Policy Act of 1992 repealed the treatment of percentage depletion as a
preference item for AMT purposes and reduced the AMT on expensing of IDC by 30%.
Gain or Loss on Sale of Property or Units
In the event some or all of the property of the Partnership is sold, or
upon sale of a Unit, a Limited Partner will recognize realize gain to the extent
the amount realized exceeds his or her basis in the Partnership. In
such case, there may be recapture of IDCs and depletion which is treated as
additional ordinary income for tax purposes. If the gain realized exceeds the
amount of the recaptured income, the investor will recognize capital gains for
the balance.
It is possible that a Limited Partner will be required to recognize
ordinary income pursuant to the recapture rules in excess of the taxable income
on the disposition transaction or in a situation where the disposition
transaction resulted in a taxable loss. To balance the excess income, the
Limited Partner would recognize a capital loss for the difference between the
gain and the income. Depending on a Limited Partner's particular tax situation,
some or all of this loss might be deferred to future years, resulting in a
greater tax liability in the year in which the sale was made and a reduced
future tax liability.
Any partner who sells or exchanges interests in a partnership must
generally notify the partnership in writing within 30 days of such
transaction in accordance with Regulations and must attach a statement to
his tax return reflecting certain facts regarding the sale or exchange. The
notice must include names, addresses, and taxpayer identification numbers
(if known) of the transferor and transferee and the date of the exchange. The
partnership also is required to provide copies to the
69
transferor and the transferee of the information it is required to provide to
the Service in connection with such a transfer.
A Limited Partner who is required to notify the Partnership of a transfer
of his or her Partnership interest and who fails to do so, may be fined $50 for
each failure, limited to $100,000 provided there is no intentional disregard of
the filing requirement. Similarly, the Partnership may be fined for failure to
report the transfer. The partnership's penalty is $50 for each failure, limited
to $250,000 provided there is no intentional disregard of
the filing requirement.
The tax consequences to an assignee purchaser of a Unit from a Partner are
not described herein. Any assignor of a Unit should advise his assignee to
consult his own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of such assignment.
Partnership Distributions
Under the Code, any increase in a partner's share of partnership
liabilities, or any increase in such partner's individual liabilities by reason
of an assumption by him or her of partnership liabilities is considered to be a
contribution of money by the partner to the partnership. Similarly,
any decrease in a partner's share of partnership liabilities or any decrease in
such partner's individual liabilities by reason of the partnership's
assumption of such individual liabilities will be considered as a distribution
of money to the partner by the partnership.
The A Partners's adjusted basis in his or her Units will
initially consist of the cash he or she contributes to the Partnership. Their
His or her bases will be increased by his or her share of Partnership income and
decreased by his or her share of Partnership losses and distributions. To the
extent that actual or constructive distributions are in excess of a Partner's
adjusted basis in his or her Partnership interest (after adjustment for
contributions and his or her share of income and losses of the Partnership),
that excess will generally be treated as gain from the sale of a capital asset.
In addition, gain could be recognized to a distributee partner upon the
disproportionate distribution to a partner of unrealized receivables or
substantially appreciated inventory. The Partnership Agreement prohibits
distributions to a Limited Partner to the extent such distribution would create
or increase a deficit in a Limited Partner's Capital Account.
Partnership Allocations
The Partners' distributive shares of partnership income, gain, loss, and
deduction should be determined and allocated substantially in accordance with
the terms of the Partnership Agreement.
The Service could contend that the allocations contained in the
Partnership Agreement do not have substantial economic effect or are not in
accordance with the Partners' interests in the Partnership and may seek to
reallocate these items in a manner that will increase the income or gain or
decrease the deductions allocable to a Partner.
Profit Motive
The existence of economic, non-tax motives for entering into the
Transaction is essential if the Partners are to obtain the tax benefits
associated with an investment in the Partnership.
70
Where an activity entered into by an individual is not engaged in for
profit, the individual's deductions with respect to that activity are
limited to those not dependent upon the nature of the activity (e.g., interest
and taxes); any remaining deductions are limited to gross income from the
activity for the year. Should it be determined that a Partner's activities
motives with respect to the Transaction are "not for profit," the Service could
disallow all or a portion of the deductions generated by the Partnership's
activities and allocated to such Partner.
The Code generally provides for a presumption that an activity is entered
into for profit where gross income from the activity exceeds the deductions
attributable to such activity for three or more of the five consecutive taxable
years ending with the taxable year in question. At the taxpayer's election,
such presumption can relate to three or more of the taxable years in the 5-year
period beginning with the taxable year in which the taxpayer first engages in
the activity.
Due to the inherently factual nature of a Partner's intent and motive in
engaging in the Transaction, Conner & Winters does not express an opinion as to
the ultimate resolution of this issue in the event of a challenge by the
Service. Partners must, however, seek to make a profit from their activities
with respect to the Transaction beyond any tax benefits derived from those
activities or risk losing those tax benefits.
Administrative Matters
Returns and Audits. While no federal income tax is required to be paid by
an organization classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, a
partnership must file federal income tax information returns, which are subject
to audit by the Service. Any such audit may lead to adjustments, in which
event the Limited Partners may be required to file amended personal federal
income tax returns. Any such audit may also lead to an audit of a Limited
Partner's individual tax return and adjustments to items unrelated to an
investment in Units.
For purposes of reporting, audit, and assessment of additional federal
income tax, the tax treatment of "partnership items" is determined at the
partnership level. Partnership items will include those items that the
Regulations provide are more appropriately determined at the partnership level
than the partner level. The Service generally cannot initiate deficiency
proceedings against an individual partner with respect to partnership
items without first conducting an administrative proceeding at the partnership
level as to the correctness of the partnership's treatment of the item. An
individual partner may not file suit for a credit or a refund arising out of a
Partnership item without first filing a request for an administrative proceeding
by the Service at the partnership level. Individual partners are entitled to
notice of such administrative proceedings and decisions therein,
except in the case of partners with less than 1% profits interest in a
partnership having more than 100 partners. If a group of partners having
an aggregate profits interest of 5% or more in such a partnership so
requests, however, the Service also must mail notice to a partner appointed by
that group to receive notice. All partners, whether or not entitled to notice,
are entitled to participate in the administrative proceedings at the partnership
level, although the Partnership Agreement provides for waiver of certain of
these rights by the Limited Partners. All Partners, including those not
entitled to notice, may be bound by a settlement reached by the Partnership's
representative, the "tax matters partner", which will be Unit Petroleum Company.
If a proposed tax deficiency is contested in any court by any Partner or by the
General Partner, all Partners may be deemed parties to such litigation and bound
by the result reached therein.
Consistency Requirements. A partner must generally treat partnership
items on his or her federal income tax returns consistently with the treatment
of such items on the partnership information
71
return unless he or she files a statement with the Service identifying the
inconsistency or otherwise satisfies the requirements for waiver of the
consistency requirement. Failure to satisfy this requirement will result in an
adjustment to conform the partner's treatment of the item with the treatment of
the item on the partnership return. Intentional or negligent disregard of the
consistency requirement may subject a partner to substantial penalties.
Compliance Provisions. Taxpayers are subject to several penalties and
other provisions that encourage compliance with the federal income tax laws,
including an accuracy-related penalty in an amount equal to 20% of the portion
of an underpayment of tax caused by negligence, intentional disregard of rules
or regulations or any "substantial understatement" of income tax. A
"substantial understatement" of tax is an understatement of income tax that
exceeds the greater of (a) 10% of the tax required to be shown on the return
(the correct tax), or (b) $5,000 ($10,000 in the case of a corporation other
than an S corporation or personal holding corporation).
Except in the case of understatements attributable to "tax shelter" items,
an item of understatement may not give rise to the penalty if (a) there is
or was "substantial authority" for the taxpayer's treatment of the item or (b)
all facts relevant to the tax treatment of the item are disclosed on the return
or on a statement attached to the return, and there is a reasonable basis for
the tax treatment of such item by the taxpayer. In the case of partnerships,
the disclosure is to be made on the return of the partnership. Under the
applicable Regulations, however, an individual partner may make adequate
disclosure with respect to partnership items if certain conditions are met.
In the case of understatements attributable to "tax shelter" items, the
substantial understatement penalty may be avoided only if the taxpayer
establishes that, in addition to having substantial authority for his or her
position, he or she reasonably believed the treatment claimed was more likely
than not the proper treatment of the item. A "tax shelter" item is one that
arises from a partnership (or other form of investment) the principal purpose of
which is the avoidance or evasion of federal income tax.
Based on the definition of a "tax shelter" in the Regulations, performance
of previous partnerships, and the planned activities of the Partnership, the
General Partner does not believe that the Partnership will qualify as a "tax
shelter" under the Code, and will not register it as such.
Accounting Methods and Periods
The Partnership will use the accrual method of accounting and will select
the calendar year as its taxable year.
State and Local Taxes
The opinions expressed herein are limited to issues of federal income tax
law and do not address issues of state or local law. Prospective investors are
urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the impact of state and local laws
on an investment in the Partnership.
Individual Tax Advice Should Be Sought
The foregoing is only a summary of the material tax considerations that
may affect an investor's decision regarding the purchase of Units. The tax
considerations attendant to an investment in a Partnership are complex and vary
with individual circumstances. Each prospective investor should review such tax
consequences with his tax advisor.
72
COMPETITION, MARKETS AND REGULATION
The oil and gas industry is highly competitive in all its phases. The
Partnership will encounter strong competition from both major independent oil
companies and individuals, many of which possess substantial financial
resources, in acquiring economically desirable prospects and equipment and labor
to operate and maintain Partnership Properties. There are likewise numerous
companies and individuals engaged in the organization and conduct of oil and gas
drilling programs and there is a high degree of competition among such companies
and individuals in the offering of their programs.
Marketing of Production
The availability of a ready market for any oil and gas produced from
Partnership Wells will depend upon numerous factors beyond the control of the
Partnership, including the extent of domestic production and importation of oil
and gas, the proximity of Partnership Wells to gas pipelines and the capacity of
such gas pipelines, the marketing of other competitive fuels, fluctuation in
demand, governmental regulation of roduction, refining and transportation,
general national and worldwide economic conditions, and the pricing, use and
allocation of oil and gas and their substitute fuels.
The demand for gas decreased significantly in the 1980s due to economic
conditions, conservation and other factors. As a result of such reduced demand
and other factors, including the Power Plant and Industrial Fuel Use Act
(the "Fuel Use Act") which related to the use of oil and gas in the United
States in certain fuel burning installations, many pipeline companies began
purchasing gas on terms which were not as favorable to sellers as terms
governing purchases of gas prior thereto. Spot market gas prices declined
generally during that period. While the Fuel Use Act has been repealed and the
markets for gas have improved significantly recently, there can be no assurance
that such improvement will continue. As a result, it is possible that there may
be significant delays in selling any gas from Partnership Properties.
In the event the Partnership acquires an interest in a gas well or
completes a productive gas well, or a well that produces both oil and gas, the
well may be shut in for a substantial period of time for lack of a market if the
well is in an area distant from existing gas pipelines. The well may remain
shut in until such time as a gas pipeline, with available capacity, is extended
to such an area or until such time as sufficient wells are drilled to establish
adequate reserves which would justify the construction of a gas pipeline,
processing facilities, if necessary, and a transmission system.
The worldwide supply of oil has been largely dependent upon rates of
production of foreign reserves. Although in recent years the demand for oil has
slightly increased in this country, imports of foreign oil continue to increase.
Consequently, historically the prices for domestic oil production have generally
remained low. Future domestic oil prices will depend largely upon the actions
of foreign producers with respect to rates of production and it is virtually
impossible to predict what actions those producers will take in the future.
Prices may also be affected by political and other factors
relating to the Middle East. As a result, it is possible that prices for oil,
if any, produced from a Partnership Well will be lower than those currently
available or projected at the time the interest therein is acquired. In view of
the many uncertainties affecting the supply and demand for crude oil and natural
gas, and the change in the makeup of the Congress of the United States and the
resulting potential for a different focus for the United States energy policy,
the General Partner is unable to predict what future gas and oil prices will be.
73
Regulation of Partnership Operations
Production of any oil and gas found by the Partnership will be affected by
state and federal regulations. All states in which the Partnership intends to
conduct activities have statutory provisions regulating the production and sale
of oil and gas. Such statutes, and the regulations promulgated in connection
therewith, generally are intended to prevent waste of oil and gas and to protect
correlative rights and the opportunities to produce oil and gas as between
owners of a common reservoir. Certain state regulatory authorities also
regulate the amount of oil and gas produced by assigning allowable rates of
production to each well or proration unit. Pertinent state and federal statutes
and regulations also extend to the prevention and clean-up of pollution.
These laws and regulations are subject to change and no predictions can be made
as to what changes may be made or the effect of such changes on the
Partnership's operations.
Under the laws and administrative regulations of the State of Oklahoma
regarding forced pooling, owners of oil and gas leases or unleased mineral
interests may be required to elect to participate in the drilling of a well with
other fractional undivided interest owners within an established spacing unit or
to sell or farm out their interest therein. The terms of any such
sale or farm-out are generally those determined by the Oklahoma Corporation
Commission to be equal to the most favorable terms then available in the area in
arm's length transactions although there can be no assurance that this will
be the case. In addition, if properties become the subject of a forced pooling
order, drilling operations may have to be undertaken at a time or with other
parties which the General Partner feels may not be in the best interest of the
Partnership. In such event, the Partnership may have to farm out or assign its
interest in such properties. In addition, if a property which might otherwise
be acquired by the Partnership becomes subject to such an order, it may become
unavailable to the Partnership. Finally, as a result of forced pooling
proceedings involving a Partnership Property, the Partnership may acquire
larger than anticipated interest in such property, thereby increasing its share
of the costs of operations to be conducted.
Natural Gas Price Regulation
Partnership Revenues are likely to be dependent on the sale and
transportation of natural gas that may be subject to regulation by the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"). Historically the sale of natural gas
has been regulated by the FERC under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 ("NGA") and/or
the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 ("NGPA"). Under the NGPA, natural gas is
divided into numerous, complex categories based on, among other things, when,
where and how deep the gas well was drilled and whether the gas was committed to
interstate or intrastate commerce on the day before the date of enactment of the
statute. These categories determine whether the natural gas remains subject to
non-price regulation under the NGA and/or to maximum price restrictions under
the NGPA. In addition to setting ceiling prices for natural gas, FERC approval
is required for both the commencement and abandonment of sales of certain
categories of gas in interstate commerce for resale and for the transportation
of natural gas in interstate commerce. FERC has general investigatory and other
powers, including limited authority to set aside or modify terms of
gas purchase contracts subject to its jurisdiction. Price and non-price
regulation of natural gas produced from most wells drilled after 1978 has
terminated. That gas may be sold without prior regulatory approval and at
whatever price the market will bear.
On July 26, 1989, the Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act of 1989 became
effective. Consequently, due to this statutory deregulation and FERC's
issuance of Order No. 547 discussed below,
74
as of January 7, 1993 the price of virtually all gas produced by producers not
affiliated with interstate pipelines has been deregulated by FERC.
Market determined prices for deregulated categories of natural gas
fluctuate in response to market pressures which currently favor purchasers and
disfavor producers. As a result of the deregulation of a greater proportion of
the domestic United States gas market and an increased availability of natural
gas transportation, a competitive trading market for gas has developed. For
several reasons the supply of gas has exceeded demand. The General Partner
cannot reliably predict at this time whether such supply/demand imbalance will
improve or worsen from a producer's viewpoint.
During the past several years, FERC has adopted several regulations
designed to create a more competitive, less regulated market for natural gas.
These regulations have materially affected the market for natural gas.
FERC's initial major initiative was adoption of its "open-access
transportation program," through Order No.s 436 and 500. Regulation of Natural
Gas Pipelines After Partial Wellhead Decontrol, Order No. 436, 50 Fed. Reg.
42,408 (October 18, 1985), vacated and remanded, Associated Gas Distributors v.
FERC, 824 F.2d 981 (D.C. Cir. 1987), cert. denied, 485 U.S. 1006 (1988),
readopted on an interim basis, Order No. 500, 52 Fed. Reg. 30,344 (Aug. 14,
1987), remanded, American Gas Association v. FERC, 888 F.2d 136 (D.C. Cir.
1989), readopted, Order No. 500-H, 54 Fed. Reg. 52,344 (Dec. 21, 1989), reh'g
granted in part and denied in part, Order No. 500-I, 55 Red. Reg. 6605 (Feb.
26, 1990), aff'd in part and remanded in part, American Gas Association
v. FERC, 912 F.2d 1496 (D.C. Cir. 1990), cert. denied, 111 S. Ct. 957
(1991). Order 436 implemented three key requirements: (1) jurisdictional
pipelines were required to permit their firm sales customers to convert
their firm sales entitlements to a volumetrically equivalent amount of
firm transportation service over a five-year period; (2) jurisdictional
pipelines were required to offer their open-access transportation services
without discrimination or preference; and (3) jurisdictional pipelines
were required to design maximum rates to ration capacity during peak
periods and to maximize throughput for firm service during off-peak
periods and for interruptible service during all periods. The
availability of transportation under Order 500 greatly expanded the free
trading market for natural gas, including the establishment of an active and
viable spot market.
Subsequently, in Order 636 the FERC focused on whether the resulting
regulatory structure provided all gas sellers with the same regulatory
opportunity to compete for gas purchasers. It decided that the form of
bundled pipeline services (gas sales and transportation) was unduly
discriminatory and anticompetitive. Pipeline Service Obligations and
Revisions to Regulations Governing Self-Implementing Transportation; and
Regulation of Natural Gas Pipelines After Wellhead Decontrol, Order No. 636, 57
Fed. Reg. 13,267 (Apr. 16, 1992), III FERC Stats. & Regs. Preambles
Paragraph 30,939, at 30,406; Regulations of Natural Gas Pipelines After Partial
Wellhead Decontrol, and Order Denying Rehearing in Part, Granting Rehearing in
Part, and Clarifying Order No. 636, Order No. 636-A, 57 Fed. Reg.
36,128 (Aug. 12, 1992), III FERC Stats. & Regs. Preambles Paragraph
30,950; Regulation of Natural Gas Pipelines After Partial Wellhead
Decontrol; Regulation of Natural Gas Pipelines After Partial Wellhead
Decontrol; Order Denying Rehearing and Clarifying Order Nos. 636 and 636-
A, Order No. 636-B, 57 Fed. Reg. 57,911 (Dec. 8, 1992).
Among other things, Order 636 required each interstate pipeline
company to "unbundle" its traditional wholesale services and create and make
available on an open and nondiscriminatory basis numerous constituent services
(such as gathering services, storage services, firm and interruptible
transportation services, and stand-by sales services) and to adopt a new rate
making methodology
75
(Straight Fixed Variable) to determine appropriate rates for those services. To
the extent the pipeline company or its sales affiliate makes gas sales as a
merchant in the future, it will do so in direct competition with all other
sellers pursuant to private contracts; however, pipeline companies have or will
become "transporters only." Order 636 also allows pipeline companies to act as
agents for their customers in arranging the transportation of gas purchased from
any supplier, including the pipeline itself, and to charge a negotiated fee for
such agency services. The FERC required each pipeline company to develop the
specific terms of service in individual proceedings and to submit for approval
by FERC a compliance filing which set forth the pipeline company's new, detailed
procedures.
In response to a Court remand, on February 27, 1997 FERC issued its final
rule further revising Order 636. Pipeline Service Obligations and Revisions to
Regulations Governing Self-Implementing Transportation Under Part 284 and
Regulation of National Pipelines After Partial Wellhead Decontrol, 62 Fed. Reg.
10204 (Mar. 6, 1997). It modified its regulation by (i) changing the selection
of a twenty-year matching term for the right of first refusal and instead
adopting a five-year matching term and (ii) reversing the requirement that
pipelines allocate 10% of GSR costs to interruptible customers and requiring
that pipelines propose the percentage that interruptible customers will bear
based on the individual circumstances present on each pipeline. Most of the
individual pipeline restructurings arising from Order 636 have been completed.
In essence, the goal of Order 636 is to make a pipeline's position as gas
merchant indistinguishable from that of a non-pipeline supplier. It,
therefore, pushes the point of sale of gas by pipelines upstream, perhaps all
the way to the wellhead. Order 636 also requires pipelines to give firm
transportation customers flexibility with respect to receipt and delivery
points (except that a firm shipper's choice of delivery point cannot be
downstream of the existing primary delivery point) and to allow "no-notice"
service (which means that gas is available not only simultaneously but also
without prior nomination, with the only limitation being the customer's daily
contract demand) if the pipeline offered no-notice city-gate sales service on
May 18, 1992. Thus, this separation of pipelines' sales and transportation
allows non-pipeline sellers to acquire firm downstream transportation rights
and thus to offer buyers what is effectively a bundled city-gate sales service
and it permits each customer to assemble a package of services that serves its
individual requirements. But it also makes more difficult the coordination of
gas supply and transportation.
The results of these changes could increase the marketability of natural
gas and place the burden of obtaining supplies of natural gas for local
distribution systems directly on distributors who would no longer be able to
rely on the aggregation of supplies by the interstate pipelines. Such
distributors may return to longer term contracts with suppliers who can assure a
secure supply of natural gas. A return to longer term contracts and the
attendant decrease in gas available for the spot market could improve gas
prices. The primary beneficiaries of these changes should be gas marketers and
the producers who are able to demonstrate the availability of an assured long-
term supply of natural gas to local distribution purchasers and to large end
users. However, due to the still evolutionary nature of Order 636 and
its implementation, it is not possible at this time to project the impact Order
636 will have on the Partnership's ability to sell gas directly into gas markets
previously served by the gas pipelines.
As a corollary to Order 636, FERC issued Order 547, which is a blanket
certificate of public convenience and necessity pursuant to Section 7 of the NGA
that authorizes any person who is not an interstate pipeline or an affiliate
thereof to make sales for resale at negotiated rates in interstate commerce of
any category of gas that is subject to the Commission's NGA jurisdiction.
(There are certain requirements which must be met before an affiliated marketer
of an interstate pipeline can avail itself of this certification.) Regulations
Governing Blanket Marketer Sales Certificates, Order No. 547,
76
57 Fed. Reg. 57,952 (Dec. 8, 1992) (to be codified at 18 C.F.R. Sections
284.401 - .402). The blanket certificates were effective January 7, 1993, and
do not require any further application by a person. The goal of Order 457, in
conjunction with Orders 636, 636-A and 636-B, is to provide all merchants of
natural gas a "level playing field" so that gas merchants who are not interstate
pipelines are on an equal footing with interstate pipeline merchants who are
afforded blanket sales certificates pursuant to Order 636.
The FERC has also begun to allow individual companies to depart from cost-
of-service regulation and set market-based rates if they can show they lack
significant market power or have mitigated market power. See, e.g., Richmond
Gas Storage Systems, 59 FERC Paragraph 61,316 (1992); El Paso Natural Gas
Company, 54 FERC Paragraph 61,316, reh'g granted and denied in part, 56 FERC
Paragraph 61,290 (1990); Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp., 53 FERC
Paragraph 61,446, reh'g granted and denied in part, 57 FERC Paragraph 61,345
(1991). Since the FERC has stated that "[w]here companies have market power,
market-based rates are not appropriate," in order to "enhance productive
efficiency in non-competitive markets," the FERC issued a rule allowing
pipelines (and electric utilities) "to propose incentive rate mechanisms as
alternatives to traditional cost-of-service regulations." Incentive Ratemaking
for Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines, Oil Pipelines, and Electric Utilities;
Policy Statement on Incentive Regulation, 57 Fed. Reg. 55,231 (Nov. 24, 1992).
The FERC has established five specific regulatory standards for implementing
specific incentive mechanisms: they should (1) be prospective, (2) be voluntary,
(3) be understandable, (4) result in quantifiable benefits to consumers
including an upper limit on the risk to consumers that the incentive rates
would be higher than rates they would have paid under traditional regulation,
and (5) demonstrate how they maintain or enhance incentives to improve
the quality of service.
Other regulatory actions have included elimination of minimum take and
minimum bill provisions of pipeline sales tariffs (Order 380) and authorization
of automatic abandonment authority upon expiration or termination of the
underlying contracts (Order 490). FERC has also provided several forms of
"blanket" certificates authorizing sales of gas with pregranted abandonment.
In addition, in Order 451, FERC established an alternative maximum
lawful price for certain NGPA Section 104 and 106 gas produced from wells
drilled prior to 1975 (so-called "old gas") which otherwise would be subject to
lower ceiling prices. FERC provided, however, that the higher price could be
collected only where the parties amended the contract or pursuant to complicated
"good faith negotiation" rules which permit purchasers facing
requests for increased prices to seek reduction of certain higher prices
and authorize abandonment of both the higher cost and lower cost supplies if
agreement cannot be reached. After the Fifth Circuit vacated Order 451 as an
invalid exercise of FERC's authority, the United States Supreme Court
reversed that decision and upheld the entirety of Order 451.
The issuance of Order 636 and its future interpretation, as well
as the future interpretation and application by FERC of all of the above rules
and its broad authority, or of the state and local regulations by the relevant
agencies, could affect the terms and availability of transportation services
for transportation of natural gas to customers and the prices at which gas can
be sold on behalf of the Partnership. For instance, as a result of Order 636,
many interstate pipeline companies have divested their gathering systems, either
to unregulated affiliates or to third persons, a practice which could result in
separate, and higher, rates for gathering a producer's natural gas.
In proceedings during mid and late 1994 allowing various interstate natural gas
companies' spindowns or spinoffs of gathering facilities, the FERC held that,
except in limited circumstances of abuse, it generally lacks jurisdiction over
a pipeline's gathering affiliates, which neither transport natural gas in
interstate commerce nor sell gas in interstate
77
commerce for resale. However, pipelines spinning down gathering systems have to
include two Order No. 497 standards of conduct in their tariffs:
nondiscriminatory access to transportation for all sources of supply and no
tying of pipeline transportation service to any service by the pipeline's
gathering affiliate. In addition, if unable to reach a mutually acceptable
gathering contract with a present user of the gathering facilities, the FERC
required that the pipeline must offer a two-year "default contract" to existing
users of the gathering facilities. However, on appeal, while the United States
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld the FERC's allowing the
spinning down of gathering facilities to a non-regulated affiliate, in Conoco
Inc. v. FERC, 90 F.3d 536, 552-53 (D.C. Cir. 1996) the D.C. Circuit remanded
the FERC's default contract mechanism. On February 18, 1997 the United States
Supreme Court denied a petition to review the D. C. Circuit's decision. As a
result of FERC's action, some states have enacted or are considering statutory
and/or regulatory provisions to regulate gathering systems. Consequently, the
General Partner cannot reliably predict at this time how regulation will
ultimately impact Partnership Revenue.
Oil Price Regulation
With respect to oil pipeline rates subject to the FERC's jurisdiction
under the Interstate Commerce Act, in October 1993 the FERC issued Order 561 to
implement the requirements of Title XVIII of the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
Order 561 established an indexing system, effective January 1, 1995, under which
many oil pipelines are able to readily change their rates to track changes in
the Producer Price Index for Finished Goods (PPI-FG), minus one percent. This
index established ceiling levels for rates. Order 561 also permits cost-of-
service proceedings to establish just and reasonable rates. The Order does not
alter the right of a pipeline to seek FERC authorization to charge market rates.
However, until the FERC makes the finding that the pipeline does not exercise
significant market power, the pipeline's rates cannot exceed the applicable
index ceiling level or a level justified by the pipeline's cost of service.
State Regulation of Oil and Gas Production
Most states in which the Partnership may conduct oil and gas activities
regulate the production and sale of oil and natural gas. Those states generally
impose requirements or restrictions for obtaining drilling permits, the method
of developing new fields, the spacing and operation of wells and the prevention
of waste of oil and gas resources. In addition, most states regulate the
rate of production and may establish maximum daily production allowable from
both oil and gas wells on a market demand or conservation basis. Until recently
there has been no limit on allowable daily production on the basis of market
demand, although at some locations production continues to be regulated for
conservation or market purposes. In 1992 Oklahoma and Texas imposed additional
limitations on gas production to more closely track market demand. The General
Partner cannot predict whether any state regulatory agency may issue additional
allowable reductions which may adversely affect the Partnership's ability to
produce its gas reserves.
Legislative and Regulatory Production and Pricing Proposals
A number of legislative and regulatory proposals continually are advanced
which, if put into effect, could have an impact on the petroleum industry. The
various proposals involve, among other things, an oil import fee, restructuring
how oil pipeline rates are determined and implemented reducing production
allowables, providing purchasers with "market-out" options in existing and
future gas purchase contracts, eliminating or limiting the operation of take-or-
pay clauses, eliminating or limiting the operation of "indefinite price
escalator clauses" (e.g., pricing provisions which allow prices
78
to escalate by means of reference to prices being paid by other purchasers of
natural gas or prices for competing fuels), and state regulation of gathering
systems. Proposals concerning these and other matters have been and will be
made by members of the President's office, Congress, regulatory agencies and
special interest groups. The General Partner cannot predict what legislation
or regulatory changes, if any, may result from such proposals or any effect
therefrom on the Partnership.
The effect of these regulations could be to decrease allowable
production on Partnership Properties and thereby to decrease Partnership
Revenues. However, by decreasing the amount of natural gas available in the
market, such regulations could also have the effect of increasing prices of
natural gas, although there can be no assurance that any such increase will
occur. There can also be no assurance that the proposed regulations
described above will be adopted or that they will be adopted upon the
terms set forth above. Additionally, such proposals, if adopted, are likely to
be challenged in the courts and there can be no assurance as to the outcome of
any such challenge.
Production and Environmental Regulation
Certain states in which the Partnership may drill and own productive
properties control production from wells through regulations establishing
the spacing of wells, limiting the number of days in a given month
during which a well can produce and otherwise limiting the rate of
allowable production.
In addition, the federal government and various state governments have
adopted laws and regulations regarding protection of the environment. These
laws and regulations may require the acquisition of a permit before or after
drilling commences, impose requirements that increase the cost of operations,
prohibit drilling activities on certain lands lying within wilderness areas
or other environmentally sensitive areas and impose substantial liabilities for
pollution resulting from drilling operations, particularly operations in
offshore waters or on submerged lands.
A past, present, or future release or threatened release of a hazardous
substance into the air, water, or ground by the Partnership or as a result of
disposal practices may subject the Partnership to liability under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended
("CERCLA"), the Resource Conservation Recovery Act ("RCRA"), the Clean Water
Act, and/or similar state laws, and any regulations promulgated
pursuant thereto. Under CERCLA and similar laws, the Partnership may be fully
liable for the cleanup costs of a release of hazardous substances even though
it contributed to only part of the release. While liability under CERCLA and
similar laws may be limited under certain circumstances, typically the limits
are so high that the maximum liability would likely have a significant
adverse effect on the Partnership. In certain circumstances, the Partnership
may have liability for releases of hazardous substances by previous owners of
Partnership Properties. Additionally, the discharge or substantial threat of a
discharge of oil by the Partnership into United States waters or onto an
adjoining shoreline may subject the Partnership to liability under the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 and similar state laws. While liability under the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 is limited under certain circumstances, the maximum
liability under those limits would still likely have a significant adverse
effect on the Partnership. The Partnership's operations generally will be
covered by the insurance carried by the General Partner or UNIT, if any.
However, there can be no assurance that such insurance coverage will always be
in force or that, if in force, it will adequately cover any losses or liability
the Partnership may incur.
Violation of environmental legislation and regulations may result
in the imposition of fines or civil or criminal penalties and, in certain
circumstances, the entry of an order for the removal,
79
remediation and abatement of the conditions, or suspension of the activities,
giving rise to the violation. The General Partner believes that the Partnership
will comply with all orders and regulations applicable to its operations.
However, in view of the many uncertainties with respect to the current controls,
including their duration and possible modification, the General Partner cannot
predict the overall effect of such controls on such operations. Similarly, the
General Partner cannot predict what future environmental laws may be enacted or
regulations may be promulgated and what, if any, impact they would have on
operations or Partnership Revenue.
SUMMARY OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
The business and affairs of the Partnership and the respective rights and
obligations of the Partners will be governed by the Agreement. The following is
a summary of certain pertinent provisions of the Agreement which have not been
as fully discussed elsewhere in this Memorandum but does not purport to be a
complete description of all relevant terms and provisions of the Agreement and
is qualified in its entirety by express reference to the Agreement. Each
prospective subscriber should carefully review the entire Agreement.
Partnership Distributions
The General Partner will make quarterly determinations of the
Partnership's cash position. If it determines that excess cash is available for
distribution, it will be distributed to the Partners in the same proportions
that Partnership Revenue has been allocated to them after giving effect to
previous distributions and to portions of such revenues theretofore used or
expected to be thereafter used to pay costs incurred in conducting Partnership
operations or to repay Partnership borrowings. It is expected that no cash
distributions will be made earlier than the first quarter of 2003.
Distributions of cash determined by the General Partner to be available
therefore will be made to the Limited Partners quarterly and to the General
Partner at any time. All Partnership funds distributed to the Limited Partners
shall be distributed to the persons who were record holders of Units on the
day on which the distribution is made. Thus, regardless of when an assignment
of Units is made, any distribution with respect to the Units which are assigned
will be made entirely to the assignee without regard to the period of time prior
to the date of such assignment that the assignee holds the Units.
The Partnership will terminate automatically on December 31, 2032 unless
prior thereto the General Partner or Limited Partners holding a majority of the
outstanding Units elect to terminate the Partnership as of an earlier date.
Upon termination of the Partnership, the debts, liabilities and obligations of
the Partnership will be paid and the Partnership's oil and gas properties
and any tangible equipment, materials or other personal property may be sold for
cash. The cash received will be used to make certain adjusting payments to
the Partners (see "SUMMARY OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT --Termination").
Any remaining cash and properties will then be distributed to the Partners in
proportion to and to the extent of any remaining balances in the Partners'
capital accounts and then in undivided percentage interests to the Partners in
the same proportions that Partnership Revenues are being shared at the time of
such termination (see "SUMMARY OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT --
Termination").
Deposit and Use of Funds
Until required in the conduct of the Partnership's business, Partnership
funds, including, but not limited to, the Capital Contributions, Partnership
Revenue and proceeds of borrowings by the Partnership, will be deposited, with
or without interest, in one or more bank accounts of the Partnership
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in a bank or banks to be selected by the General Partner or invested in short-
term United States government securities, money market funds, bank certificates
of deposit or commercial paper rated as "A1" or "P1" as the General Partner, in
its sole discretion, deems advisable. Any interest or other income generated by
such deposits or investments will be for the Partnership's account. Except for
Capital Contributions, Partnership funds from any of the various sources
mentioned above may be commingled with funds of the General Partner and may be
used, expended and distributed as authorized by the terms and provisions of the
Agreement. The General Partner will be entitled to prompt reimbursement of
expenses it incurs on behalf of the Partnership.
Power and Authority
In managing the business and affairs of the Partnership, the General
Partner is authorized to take such action as it considers appropriate and in the
best interests of the Partnership (see Section 10.1 of the Agreement). The
General Partner is authorized to engage legal counsel and otherwise to act with
respect to Service audits, assessments and administrative and judicial
proceedings as it deems in the best interests of the Partnership and pursuant to
the provisions of the Code.
The General Partner is granted a broad power of attorney authorizing it to
execute certain documents required in connection with the organization,
qualification, continuance, modification and termination of the Partnership on
behalf of the Limited Partners (see Sections 1.5 and 1.6 of the Agreement).
Certain actions, such as an assignment for the benefit of its creditors or a
sale of substantially all of the Partnership Properties, except in connection
with the termination, roll-up or consolidation of the Partnership, cannot be
taken by the General Partner without the consent of a majority in interest of
the Limited Partners and the receipt of an opinion of Conner & Winters as
described under "Assignments by the General Partner" below (see Sections
10.15 and 12.1 of the Agreement).
The Agreement provides that the General Partner will either conduct the
Partnership's drilling and production operations and operate each Partnership
Well or arrange for a third party operator to conduct such operations.
The General Partner will, on behalf of the Partnership, enter into an
appropriate operating agreement with the other owners of properties to be
developed by the Partnership authorizing either the General Partner or a third
party operator to conduct such operations. The Partnership Agreement further
provides that the Partnership will take such action in connection with
operations pursuant to such operating agreements as the General Partner, in its
sole discretion, deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Partnership,
and the decision of the General Partner with respect thereto will be binding
upon the Partnership.
Rollup or Consolidation of the Partnership
Two years or more after the Partnership has completed substantially all of
its property acquisition, drilling and development operations, the General
Partner may, without the vote, consent or approval of the Limited Partners,
cause all or substantially all of the oil and gas properties and other assets of
the Partnership to be sold, assigned or transferred to, or the Partnership
merged or consolidated with, another partnership or a corporation, trust or
other entity for the purpose of combining the assets of two or more of the oil
and gas partnerships formed for investment or participation by employees,
directors and/or consultants of UNIT or any of its subsidiaries; provided,
however, that the valuation of the oil and gas properties and other assets of
all such participating partnerships for purposes of such transfer or combination
shall be made on a consistent basis and in a manner which the
General Partner and UNIT believe is fair and equitable to the Limited Partners.
As a consequence of any such transfer or
81
combination, the Partnership will be dissolved and terminated and the Limited
Partners shall receive partnership interests, stock or other equity interests in
the transferee or resulting entity. See "RISK FACTORS -- Investment Risks -
Roll-Up or Consolidation of the Partnership."
Limited Liability
Under the Act, a limited partner is not generally liable for partnership
obligations unless he or she takes part in the control of the business. The
Agreement provides that the Limited Partners cannot bind or commit the
Partnership or take part in the control of its business or management of its
affairs, and that the Limited Partners will not be personally liable for any
debts or losses of the Partnership. However, the amounts contributed to the
Partnership by the Limited Partners and the Limited Partners' interests in
Partnership assets, including amounts of undistributed Partnership Revenue
allocable to the Limited Partners, will be subject to the claims of creditors of
the Partnership. A Limited Partner (or his or her estate) will be obligated to
contribute cash to the Partnership, even if the Limited Partner is unable to do
so because of death, disability or any other reason, for:
(1) any unpaid contribution which the Limited Partner agreed to make
to the Partnership; and
(2) any return, in whole or in part, of the Limited Partner's
contribution to the extent necessary to discharge Partnership liabilities
to all creditors who extended credit or whose claims arose before such
return.
Liability of a Limited Partner is limited by the Act to one year for any
return of his or her contribution not in violation of the Partnership Agreement
or such Act and six years on any return of his or her contribution in violation
of the Partnership Agreement or such Act. A partner is deemed to have received
a return of his or her contribution to the extent that a distribution to him or
her reduces his or her share of the fair value of the net assets of the
Partnership below the value of his or her contribution which has not been
distributed to him or her. How this provision applies to a partnership whose
primary assets are producing oil and gas properties or other depleting assets is
not entirely clear. The Agreement provides that for the purposes of this
provision, the value of a Limited Partner's contribution which has not been
distributed to him or her at any point in time will be the Limited Partner's
Percentage of the stated capital of the Partnership allocated to the Limited
Partners as reflected in its financial statements as of such point in time.
Maintenance of limited liability of the Limited Partners in other
jurisdictions in which the Partnership may operate may require compliance with
certain legal requirements of those jurisdictions. In such jurisdictions, the
General Partner shall cause the Partnership to operate in such a manner as it,
on the advice of responsible Conner & Winters, deems appropriate to avoid
unlimited liability for the Limited Partners (see Sections 1.5, 12.1
and 12.2 of the Agreement). After the termination of the Partnership, any
distribution of Partnership Properties to the Limited Partners would result in
their having unlimited liability with respect to such properties.
Although the Partnership will, with certain limited exceptions, serve as a
co-general partner of any drilling or income programs formed by UNIT or UPC in
2002 (see "PROPOSED ACTIVITIES"), the general liability of the Partnership will
not flow through to the Limited Partners.
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Records, Reports and Returns
The General Partner will maintain adequate books, records, accounts
and files for the Partnership and keep the Limited Partners informed by means
of written interim reports rendered within 60 days after each quarter of
the Partnership's fiscal year. The reports will set forth the source and
disposition of Partnership Revenues during the quarter.
Engineering reports on the Partnership Properties will be prepared by the
General Partner for each year for which the General Partner prepares such a
report in connection with its own activities. Such report will include an
estimate of the total oil and gas proven reserves of the Partnership, the dollar
value thereof and the value of the Limited Partners' interest in such reserve
value. The report shall also contain an estimate of the life of the Partnership
Properties and the present worth of the reserves. Each Limited Partner will
receive a summary statement of such report which will reflect the value of the
Limited Partners' interest in such reserves.
The General Partner will timely file the Partnership's income tax
returns and by March 15 of each year or as soon thereafter as
practicable, furnish each person who was a Limited Partner during the prior year
all available information necessary for inclusion in his or her federal
income tax return. (See Section 8.1 of the Agreement).
Transferability of Interests
Restrictions. A Limited Partner may not transfer or assign Units except
for certain transfers:
. to the General Partner;
. to or for the benefit of himself or herself, his or her spouse,
or other members of the transferor Limited Partner's immediate
family sharing the same residence;
. to any corporation or other entity whose beneficial owners are all
Limited Partners or permitted assignees;
. by the General Partner to any person who at the time of such transfer
is an employee of the General Partner, UNIT or its subsidiaries;
and
. by reason of death or operation of law.
Further, no sale or exchange of any Units may be made if the sale of such
interest would, in the opinion of Conner & Winters for the Partnership, result
in a termination of the Partnership for purposes of Section 708 of the
Code, violate any applicable securities laws or cause the Partnership to be
treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax
purposes; provided, however, that this condition may be waived by the General
Partner, in its sole discretion. Moreover, in no event shall all or any portion
of a Limited Partner's Units be assigned to a minor or an incompetent, except by
will, intestate succession, in trust, or pursuant to the Uniform
Gifts to Minors Act.
As the offer and sale of the Units are not being registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, they may be sold, transferred, assigned or
otherwise disposed of by a Limited Partner only if, in the opinion of Conner &
Winters for the Partnership, such transfer or assignment would not violate, or
cause the offering of the Units to be violative of, such act or applicable state
securities laws, including
83
investor suitability standards thereunder. Because of the structure and
anticipated operation of the Partnership, Rule 144 under the Securities Act of
1933 will not be available to Limited Partners in connection with any such
sales.
Assignees. An assignee of a Limited Partner does not automatically become
a Substituted Limited Partner, but has the right to receive the same share of
Partnership Revenue and distributions thereof to which the assignor Limited
Partner would have been entitled. A Limited Partner who assigns his or her
Partnership interest ceases to be a Limited Partner, except that until a
Substituted Limited Partner is admitted in his or her place, the assignor
retains the statutory rights of an assignor of a Limited Partner's interest
under the partnership laws of the State of Oklahoma. The assignee of a
Partnership interest who does not become a Substituted Limited Partner and
desires to make a further assignment of such interest is subject to all of the
restrictions on transferability of Partnership interests described herein and in
the Partnership Agreement.
In the event of the death, incapacity or bankruptcy of a Limited
Partner, his or her legal representatives will have all the rights of a Limited
Partner only for the purpose of settling or liquidating his or her estate and
such power as the decedent, incompetent or bankrupt Limited Partner possessed to
assign all or any part of his or her interest in the Partnership and to join
with such assignee in satisfying conditions precedent to such assignee's
becoming a Substituted Limited Partner.
A purported sale, assignment or transfer of a Limited Partner's interest
will be recognized by the Partnership when it has received written notice
of such sale or assignment in form satisfactory to the General Partner, signed
by both parties, containing the purchaser's or assignee's acceptance of the
terms of the Agreement and a representation by the parties that the sale or
assignment was lawful. Such sale or assignment will be recognized as of the
date of such notice, except that if such date is more than 30 days prior to the
time of filing, such sale or assignment will be recognized as of the time the
notice was filed with the Partnership. Distributions of Partnership Revenue
will be made only to those persons who were record owners of Units on the
day any such distribution is made (see "RISK FACTORS -- Tax Related Risks -
Disproportionate Tax Liability upon Transfer").
Substituted Limited Partners. No Limited Partner has the right to
substitute an assignee as a Limited Partner in his or her place. The General
Partner, however, has the right in its sole discretion to permit such assignee
to become a Substituted Limited Partner and any such permission by the General
Partner is binding and conclusive without the consent or approval of any Limited
Partner. Any Substituted Limited Partner must, as a condition to receiving
any interest of the Limited Partner, agree in writing to be bound by the terms
and conditions of the Partnership Agreement, pay or agree to pay the costs and
expenses incurred by the Partnership in taking the actions necessary in
connection with his or her substitution as a Limited Partner and satisfy the
other conditions specified in Article XIII of the Partnership Agreement.
Assignments by the General Partner. The General Partner may not sell,
assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of its interest in the Partnership except
with the prior consent of a majority in interest of the Limited Partners,
provided that no such consent is required if the sale, assignment or transfer is
pursuant to a bona fide merger, other corporate reorganization or complete
liquidation, sale of substantially all of the General Partner's assets
(provided the purchasers agree to assume the duties and obligations of the
General Partner) or any sale or transfer to UNIT or any affiliate of UNIT. Any
consent of the Limited Partners will not be effective without an opinion of
Conner & Winters to the Partnership or an order or judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction to the effect that the exercise of such right will not
be deemed to evidence that the Limited Partners are taking part in the
management of the Partnership's business and affairs and will not result in a
loss of any Limited Partner's limited
84
liability or cause the Partnership to be classified as an association taxable as
a corporation for federal income tax purposes (see Section 12.1 of the
Agreement). Any transferee of the General Partner's interest may become a
substitute General Partner by assuming and agreeing to perform all of the duties
and obligations of a General Partner under the Agreement. In such event, the
transferring General Partner, upon making a proper accounting to the substitute
General Partner, will be relieved of any further duties or obligations with
respect to any future Partnership operations.
Amendments
The Agreement may be amended upon the approval by a majority in interest
of the Limited Partners, except that amendments changing the Partners'
participation in costs and revenues, increasing or decreasing the General
Partner's compensation or otherwise materially and adversely affecting the
interests of either the Limited Partners or the General Partner must be approved
by all Limited Partners if their interests would be adversely affected
thereby or by the General Partner if its interest would be adversely affected
thereby. The Limited Partners have no right to propose amendments to the
Agreement.
Voting Rights
Under the Agreement, the Limited Partners will have very limited rights to
vote on any Partnership matters. Except for certain special amendments referred
to under "Amendments" above, matters submitted to the Limited Partners for
determination will be determined by the affirmative vote of Limited Partners
holding a majority of the outstanding Units. Units held by the General Partner
may be voted by it.
Generally, Limited Partners owning more than 50% of the outstanding Units
of the Partnership may, without the necessity of concurrence by the General
Partner, vote to:
. Approve the execution or delivery of any assignment for the benefit
of the Partnership's creditors;
. Approve the sale or disposal of all or substantially all of the
Partnership's assets, except pursuant to (i) a rollup or
consolidation of the Partnership (see "Rollup or Consolidation of the
Partnership" above) or (ii) termination (see "Termination" below);
. Approve the General Partner's sale, assignment, transfer or disposal
of its interest in the Partnership, unless such sale, assignment or
transfer is pursuant to (i) a merger or other corporate
reorganization, or liquidation or sale of substantially all of its
assets, and the purchaser agrees to assume the duties and obligations
of the General Partner, or (ii) any sale to UNIT or its affiliates;
. Terminate and dissolve the Partnership; or
. Approve any amendments to the Agreement which may be proposed by the
General Partner;
85
provided, however, any approvals, consents or elections of the Limited Partners
will not become effective unless prior to the exercise thereof the General
Partner is furnished with an opinion of Conner & Winters for the Partnership, or
an order or judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction, that the exercise
of such rights:
. Will not be deemed to evidence that the Limited Partners are taking
part in the control or management of the Partnership's business
affairs;
. Will not result in the loss of any Limited Partner's limited
liability under the Act; and
. Will not result in the Partnership being classified as an association
taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
Exculpation and Indemnification of the General Partner
Pursuant to the Agreement, neither the General Partner or any affiliate
thereof will have any liability to the Partnership or to any Partners therein
for any loss suffered by the Partnership or such Partner that arises out of any
action or inaction of the General Partner or any affiliate thereof if the
General Partner or affiliate hereof in good faith determined that such course of
conduct was in the best interest of the Partnership, the General Partner or
affiliate was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Partnership,
such liability or loss was not the result of gross negligence or willful
misconduct by the General Partner or affiliates thereof, and payments arising
from such indemnification or agreement to hold harmless are receivable only out
of the tangible net assets of the Partnership.
Termination
The Partnership will terminate automatically on December 31, 2032. In
addition, upon the dissolution (other than pursuant to a merger, or other
corporate reorganization or sale), bankruptcy, legal disability or withdrawal
of the General Partner, the Partnership shall immediately be dissolved and
terminated. The Act provides, however, that the Limited Partners may elect to
reform and reconstitute themselves as a limited partnership within 90 days after
such dissolution under the provisions in the Partnership Agreement or under any
other terms. The Partnership may terminate sooner if a majority in interest of
the Limited Partners or the General Partner elects to dissolve and terminate the
Partnership as of an earlier date. Such right to accelerate termination of the
Partnership by the Limited Partners will not be available unless prior to any
exercise thereof the Limited Partners proposing such termination obtain and
furnish to the General Partner an opinion, order or judgment in the form
referred to above under "Transferability of Interests - Assignments by the
General Partner." The withdrawal, expulsion, dissolution, death, legal
disability, bankruptcy or insolvency of any Limited Partner will not effect a
dissolution or termination of the Partnership. In the event of an election to
terminate the Partnership prior to expiration of its stated terms, 90 days'
prior written notice must be given to all Partners specifying the termination
date which must be the last day of a calendar month following such 90 day period
unless an earlier date is approved by Limited Partners holding a majority of the
outstanding Units.
When the Partnership is terminated, there will be an accounting with
respect to its assets, liabilities and accounts. The Partnership's physical
property and its oil and gas properties may be sold for cash. Except in the
case of an election by the General Partner to terminate the Partnership before
the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, Partnership Properties may be sold
to the General Partner or any of its affiliates for their fair market value
as determined in good faith by the General Partner.
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Upon termination, all of the Partnership's debts, liabilities and
obligations, including expenses incurred in connection with the termination and
the sale or distribution of Partnership assets, will be paid. All Partnership
borrowings will be paid in full. When the specified payments have all been
made, the remaining cash and properties of the Partnership, if any, will be
distributed to the Partners as set forth under "Partnership Distributions" above
(see Section 16.4 of the Agreement). Such distribution will result in the
Limited Partners' having unlimited liability with respect to any Partnership
Properties distributed to them.
Insurance
The General Partner will use its best efforts to obtain such insurance as
it deems prudent to serve as protection against liability for loss and damage.
Such insurance may include, but is not limited to, public liability, automotive
liability, workers' compensation and employer's liability insurance and blowout
and control of well insurance.
COUNSEL
Conner & Winters, P.C., 3700 First Place Tower, Tulsa, Oklahoma, has acted
as special counsel to the General Partner in connection with certain aspects of
this offering. Conner & Winters has assisted in the preparation of the
Agreement and this Memorandum. In connection with the preparation of this
Memorandum, Conner & Winters has relied entirely upon information submitted to
it by the General Partner. Certain of this information has been verified by
Conner & Winters in the course of its representation, but no systematic effort
has been made to verify all of the material information contained herein, and
much of such information is not subject to independent verification. In
addition, Conner & Winters has made no
independent investigation of the financial information concerning the General
Partner. Further, while passing on certain legal matters, Conner & Winters has
not passed on the investment merits nor is it qualified to do so. Because
substantial portions of the information contained in this Memorandum have not
been independently verified, each investor must make whatever independent
inquiries the investor or his or her advisors deem necessary or desirable to
verify or confirm the statements made herein.
GLOSSARY
As used herein and in the Agreement, the following terms and phrases will
have the meanings indicated.
(a) "Additional Assessments" are amounts required to be contributed by
the Limited Partners to the Partnership upon a call therefore by the General
Partner in the manner described under "ADDITIONAL FINANCING -- Additional
Assessments."
(b) An "affiliate" of another person is (1) any person directly or
indirectly owning, controlling or holding with power to vote 10% or more of the
outstanding voting securities of such other person; (2) any person 10% or more
of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned,
controlled, or held with power to vote, by such other person; (3) any person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with
such other person; (4) any officer, director, trustee or partner of such other
person; and (5) if such other person is an officer, director, trustee or
partner, any company for which such person acts in any such capacity.
87
(c) The "Aggregate Subscription" is the sum of the Capital Subscriptions
of all Limited Partners.
(d) "Agreement" and "Partnership Agreement" refers to the Agreement of
Limited Partnership attached as Exhibit A to this Private Offering Memorandum.
(e) The "Capital Contribution" of a Limited Partner is the amount of the
Capital Subscription actually paid in by him or her, or by any predecessor in
interest, to the capital of the Partnership including any payments made by
deductions from salary. The "Capital Contribution" of the General Partner
includes the amounts contributed to the Partnership or paid by the General
Partner or by any Limited Partner whose Units are purchased by the General
Partner pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Agreement because of a default by such
Limited Partner in the payment of an Installment or pursuant to Article XV of
the Agreement, including payments made by deductions from the salary of such
Limited Partner.
(f) The "Capital Subscription" of a Limited Partner or his or her
assignee (including the General Partner where Units are transferred pursuant to
Section 4.2 of the Agreement) is the amount specified in the Subscription
Agreement executed by such Limited Partner for payment by him or her to the
capital of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement,
reduced by the amounts thereof from which the Limited Partners have been
released by the General Partner of their obligation to pay.
(g) A "Development Well" means a well intended to be drilled within the
proved areas of a known oil or gas reservoir to the depth of a stratigraphic
horizon known to be productive.
(h) "Director" refers to the duly elected directors of UNIT as well as
all honorary directors and consultants to the Board of Directors of UNIT.
(i) "Drilling Costs" are those costs incurred in drilling, testing,
completing and equipping a well to the point that it proves to be dry and is
abandoned or is ready to commence commercial production of oil or gas therefrom.
(j) "Effective Date" refers to the date on which the certificate
evidencing formation of the Partnership is filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Oklahoma as required by the Act (54 Okla. Stat. 1991,
Section 309).
(k) An "Exploratory Well" means a well drilled to find production in an
unproven area, to find a new reservoir in a field previously found to be
productive or to extend greatly the limits of a known reservoir.
(l) A "farm-out" is an agreement whereby the owner of an oil and gas
property agrees to assign such property, usually retaining some interest therein
such as an overriding royalty, a production payment, a net profits interest or
a carried working interest, subject in most cases, however, to the drilling of
one or more wells or other performance by the prospective assignee as a
condition of the assignment.
(m) The "General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution" is that amount
equal to the total of (i) all Partnership costs and expenses charged to its
account from the time of the formation of the Partnership through December 31,
2002, plus (ii) the General Partner's estimate of the total Leasehold
88
Acquisition Costs and Drilling Costs expected to be incurred by the Partnership
subsequent to December 31, 2002, if any, minus (iii) the amount, if any, of the
unexpended Aggregate Subscription at December 31, 2002.
(n) The "General Partner's Percentage" is that percentage determined by
dividing the amount of the General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution by the
total of (i) the General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution plus (ii) the
Aggregate Subscription.
(o) "Installments" refer to the periodic payments of the Capital
Subscription, which are payable either (i) in four equal installments due on
March 15, 2002, June 15, 2002, September 15, 2002 and December 15, 2002,
respectively, or (ii) if an employee so elects, through equal deductions from
2001 salary commencing immediately after formation of the Partnership.
(p) "Leasehold Acquisition Costs" with respect to properties, if any,
acquired by the Partnership from non-affiliated parties mean the actual costs to
the Partnership of and in acquiring the properties, and, with respect to
properties acquired by the Partnership from the General Partner, UNIT or its
affiliates are, without duplication, the sum of:
(1) the prices paid by the General Partner, UNIT or its affiliates in
acquiring an oil and gas property, including purchase option fees
and charges, bonuses and penalties, if any;
(2) title insurance or examination costs, broker's commissions, filing
fees, recording costs, transfer taxes, if any, and like charges
incurred in connection with the acquisition of such property;
(3) a pro rata portion of the actual, necessary and reasonable expenses
of the General Partner, UNIT or its affiliates for seismic and
geophysical services;
(4) rentals, shut-in royalties and ad valorem taxes paid by the General
Partner, UNIT or its affiliates with respect to such property to the
date of its transfer to the Partnership;
(5) interest and points actually incurred on funds used by the General
Partner, UNIT or its affiliates to acquire or maintain such property;
and
(6) such portion of the General Partner's, UNIT or its affiliates'
reasonable, necessary and actual expenses for geological,
engineering, drafting, accounting, legal and other like services
allocated to the acquisition, operations and maintenance of the
property in accordance with generally accepted industry practices,
except for expenses in connection with the past drilling of wells
which are not producers of sufficient quantities of oil or gas to
make commercially reasonable their continued operations, and provided
that the costs and expenses enumerated in (4), (5) and (6) above with
respect to any particular property shall have been incurred not more
than thirty-six (36) months prior to the acquisition of such property
by the Partnership.
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In the event a fractional undivided interest in a property is sold or
transferred by the General Partner, UNIT or any affiliate to an unaffiliated
third party for an amount in excess of that portion of the original cost of the
property attributable to the transferred interest, the amount of such excess
shall not reduce or be offset against the amount of the Leasehold Acquisition
Costs attributable to any interest in the same property which is transferred to
the Partnership.
(q) "Limited Partners" are those persons who acquire Units in the
Partnership upon its formation and those transferees of Units who are accepted
as Substituted Limited Partners. The General Partner may also be a Limited
Partner if it subscribes for Units or if it subsequently acquires Units by (i)
the exercise by a Limited Partner of his or her right of presentment; (ii) a
purchase by the General Partner of the Units of a Limited Partner who defaults
in the payment of an Installment; or (iii) any other assignment or transfer.
(r) The "Limited Partners' Percentage" is that percentage determined by
dividing the amount of the Aggregate Subscription by the total of (i) the
General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution plus (ii) the Aggregate
Subscription.
(s) "Normal Retirement" means retirement under the terms of a pension or
similar retirement plan adopted by the General Partner, UNIT or any subsidiary
with whom a Limited Partner is employed as in effect at the time of retirement.
(t) "Oil and gas properties" are oil and gas leasehold working interests,
fee interests, mineral interests, royalty interests, overriding royalty
interests, production payments, options or rights to lease or acquire such
interests, geophysical exploration permits and any tangible or intangible
properties or other rights incident thereto, whether real, personal or mixed.
(u) "Operating Expenses" are expenditures made and costs incurred in
producing and marketing oil or gas from completed wells, including, in addition
to labor, fuel, repairs, hauling, material, supplies, utility charges and other
costs incident to or necessary for the maintenance or operation of such wells
or the marketing of production therefrom, ad valorem, severance and other such
taxes (other than windfall profit taxes), insurance and casualty loss expense
and compensation to well operators or others for services rendered in conducting
such operations.
(v) The General Partner and the Limited Partners are sometimes
collectively referred to as the "Partners."
(w) "Partnership Agreement" and "Agreement" refer to the Agreement of
Limited Partnership attached as Exhibit A to this Private Offering Memorandum.
(x) The "Partnership Properties" are oil and gas properties or interests
therein acquired by the Partnership or properties acquired by any partnership or
joint venture in which the Partnership is a partner or joint venturer, whether
acquired by purchase, option exercise or otherwise.
(y) "Partnership Revenue" refers to the Partnership's gross revenues from
all sources, including interest income, proceeds from sales of production, the
Partnership's share of revenues from partnerships or joint ventures of which it
is a member, sales or other dispositions of Partnership Properties or other
Partnership assets, provided that contributions to Partnership capital by the
Partners and the proceeds of any Partnership borrowings are specifically
excluded and dry-hole and bottom-hole
90
contributions shall be treated as reductions of the costs giving rise to the
right to receive such contributions.
(z) "Partnership Wells" are any and all of the oil and gas wells in which
the Partnership has an interest, either directly or indirectly through any other
partnership or joint venture.
(aa) "Productive properties" are oil and gas properties that have been
tested by drilling and determined to be capable of producing oil or gas in
commercial quantities.
(bb) A "spacing unit" is a drilling and spacing, production or similar
unit established by any regulatory body with jurisdiction, or in the absence of
such a regulatory body or action thereby, the acreage attributable to wells
drilled under the normal spacing pattern in such area or if no such spacing unit
is designated, in keeping with generally accepted industry practices, or the
largest of such units in the event of multiple objective formations.
(cc) "Special Production and Marketing Costs" are costs and expenses that
are not normally and customarily incurred in connection with drilling, producing
and marketing operations, including without limitation, costs incurred in
constructing compressor plants, gasoline plants, gas gathering systems, natural
gas processing plants, pipeline systems and salt water disposal systems and
costs incurred in installing pressure maintenance and secondary or tertiary
production projects.
(dd) "Subscription Agreement" refers to the form of Limited Partner
Subscription Agreement and Suitability Statement attached as Attachment I to
the Partnership Agreement.
(ee) A "Substituted Limited Partner" is a transferee, donee, heir, legatee
or other recipient of all or any portion of a Limited Partner's interest in the
Partnership with respect to whom all conditions and consents required to become
a Substituted Limited Partner under Article XIII of the Partnership Agreement
have been satisfied and given.
(ff) A "Unit" is a preformation unit of limited partnership interest of a
Limited Partner in the Partnership representing a Capital Subscription of One
Thousand Dollars ($1,000).
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
On January 1, 1988 all of the oil and natural gas properties previously
owned by Unit Drilling and Exploration Company ("UDEC") and UNIT were
transferred into Sunshine Development Company through a contribution of capital.
Included in the transfer were all interests previously owned by UDEC in
numerous General and Limited Partnerships sponsored by UDEC. Effective February
1, 1988, Sunshine Development Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of UDEC,
pursuant to an "Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation" was
renamed Unit Petroleum Company and became a wholly owned subsidiary of UNIT.
Unit Petroleum Company functions as the operating entity for all oil and
natural gas exploration and production activities including operating any
partnerships for UNIT.
The consolidated balance sheet of Unit Petroleum Company at
October 31, 2001 is unaudited and includes all adjustments which UNIT considers
necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of Unit Petroleum
Company at October 31, 2001.
91
Unit Petroleum Company and Subsidiary
Consolidated Balance Sheet
(In Thousands)
October 31,
2001
(Unaudited)
Assets
------
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 465
Trade accounts receivable 7,194
Materials and supplies, at lower of cost or market 3,565
Other 223
--------
Total current assets 11,447
--------
Property and Equipment:
Oil and natural gas properties,
on the full cost method 395,822
Other 477
--------
396,299
--------
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion,
amortization and impairment 193,650
--------
Net property and equipment 202,649
--------
Other Assets 60
--------
Total Assets $214,156
========
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
------------------------------------
Current Liabilities:
Current portion of natural gas purchaser
prepayments $ 437
Accounts payable 7,805
Accounts payable to parent 46,661
Contract advances 608
Accrued liabilities 1,237
--------
Total current liabilities 56,748
--------
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock, $1.00 par value, 500 shares
authorized and outstanding 1
Capital in excess of par value 31,543
Accumulated other comprehensive income 159
Retained earnings 125,705
--------
Total shareholders' Equity 157,408
--------
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $214,156
========
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EXHIBIT A
UNIT 2002 EMPLOYEE OIL AND GAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
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INDEX
ARTICLE I Formation of Limited Partnership............................... 3
ARTICLE II Definitions................................................... 4
ARTICLE III Purposes and Powers of the Partnership....................... 8
ARTICLE IV Partner Capital Contributions................................. 10
ARTICLE V Deposit and Use of Capital Contributions and
Other Partnership Funds........................................ 12
ARTICLE VI Sharing of Costs, Capital Accounts and Allocation of
Charges and Income............................................ 13
ARTICLE VII Fiscal Year, Accountings and Reports......................... 18
ARTICLE VIII Tax Returns and Elections................................... 19
ARTICLE IX Distributions................................................. 19
ARTICLE X Rights, Duties and Obligations of the General Partner.......... 20
ARTICLE XI Compensation and Reimbursements............................... 25
ARTICLE XII Rights and Obligations of Limited Partners................... 26
ARTICLE XIII Transferability of Limited Partner's Interest............... 27
ARTICLE XIV Assignments by the General Partner........................... 29
ARTICLE XV Limited Partners' Right of Presentment........................ 30
ARTICLE XVI Termination and Dissolution of Partnership................... 32
ARTICLE XVII Notices..................................................... 34
ARTICLE XVIII Amendments................................................. 34
ARTICLE XIX General Provisions........................................... 34
ATTACHMENT I Limited Partner Subscription Agreement
and Suitability Statement I-1
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UNIT 2002 EMPLOYEE OIL AND GAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
THIS AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into by and among Unit Petroleum Company, an Oklahoma corporation,
hereinafter referred to as the "General Partner" or "UPC" (which term shall
include any successors or assigns of UPC), and each of those persons who have
executed a counterpart of the Limited Partner Subscription Agreement and
Suitability Statement attached as Attachment I to this Agreement that have been
accepted by the General Partner, said persons being hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Limited Partners".
WITNESSETH THAT:
ARTICLE I
Formation of Limited Partnership
1.1 The parties to this Agreement hereby form a Limited Partnership (the
"Partnership") pursuant to the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act of the
State of Oklahoma (the "Act"). The terms and provisions hereof will be
construed and interpreted in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Act
and if any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement should be deemed
inconsistent with those terms and provisions of the Act which under the Act may
not be altered by agreement of the parties, the Act will be controlling, but
otherwise this Agreement will be controlling.
1.2 The Partnership will be conducted under the name of "Unit 2002 Employee
Oil and Gas Limited Partnership" in Oklahoma, and under such name or variations
of such name as the General Partner deems appropriate to comply with the laws of
the other jurisdictions in which the Partnership does business.
1.3 The principal office of the Partnership will be 1000 Kensington Tower
I, 7130 South Lewis Avenue, P.O. Box 702500, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136, or at such
other location as may from time to time be designated by the General Partner,
and the Partnership's agent for service of process shall be Unit Corporation
("UNIT", which term shall include all or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates
unless the context otherwise requires) at the same address.
1.4 The Partnership will be effective on the date on which the certificate
evidencing formation of the Partnership is filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Oklahoma. Its business and operations will not be commenced prior
to such date. The Partnership will continue in existence until December 31,
2032, unless sooner terminated pursuant to any provisions of this Agreement.
1.5 The parties hereto will execute such certificates and other documents,
and the General Partner will file, record and publish such certificates and
documents, as may be necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements
for the formation and operation of a
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limited partnership under the Act and as the General Partner, upon advice of
counsel, deems necessary or appropriate to comply with requirements of
applicable laws governing the formation and operations of a limited partnership
(or a partnership in which special partners have a limited liability) in all
other jurisdictions where the Partnership desires to conduct business,
including, but not limited to, filings under the Fictitious Name Act, Assumed
Name Act or similar law in effect in the counties, parishes and other
governmental jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts business. The
General Partner shall not be required to deliver or mail a copy of the
certificate of limited partnership or any amendments thereto filed pursuant to
the Act to the Limited Partners.
1.6 Each Limited Partner by his or her execution of a counterpart of the
Subscription Agreement irrevocably constitutes and appoints the General Partner
such Limited Partner's true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power and
authority in such Limited Partner's name, place and stead, to execute, sign,
acknowledge, swear to, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public
offices (i) all certificates or other instruments (including, without
limitation, counterparts of this Agreement) and amendments thereto which the
General Partner deems appropriate to qualify or continue the Partnership as a
limited partnership (or a partnership in which special partners have limited
liability) in the jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts business; (ii)
all instruments and amendments thereto which the General Partner deems
appropriate to reflect any change or modification of this Agreement, the
admission of additional or substitute Partners in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, the release or waiver of the Limited Partners from the
obligation to pay in one or more of the installments of their Capital
Subscriptions pursuant to Section 4.2 below and the termination of the
Partnership and the cancellation of the certificate of limited partnership;
(iii) all conveyances and other instruments which the General Partner deems
appropriate to evidence and reflect any sales or transfers, including sales or
transfers upon or in connection with the dissolution and termination of the
Partnership; and (iv) all consents to transfers of Partnership interests, to the
admission of substitute or additional Partners or to the withdrawal or reduction
of any Partner's invested capital, to the extent that such actions are
authorized by the terms of this Agreement. The Power of Attorney granted herein
is irrevocable and is a power coupled with an interest and will survive the
death, disability, dissolution, bankruptcy, insolvency or incapacity of a
Limited Partner.
ARTICLE II
Definitions
2.1 Whenever used in this Agreement the following terms will have the
meanings described below:
(a) The "Additional Assessments" of the Limited Partners are those
amounts, if any, which they are required to pay into the capital of the
Partnership pursuant to Section 5.3 of this Agreement.
(b) An "affiliate" of another person is (1) any person directly or
indirectly owning, controlling or holding with power to vote 10% or more of
the outstanding voting securities of such other person; (2) any person 10%
or more of whose outstanding voting
A-4
securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled, or held with power
to vote, by such other person; (3) any person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such other person;
(4) any officer, director, trustee or partner of such other person; and (5)
if such other person is an officer, director, trustee or partner, any
company for which such person acts in any such capacity.
(c) The "Aggregate Subscription" is the sum of the Capital
Subscriptions of all Limited Partners.
(d) The "Capital Contribution" of a Limited Partner is the amount of
the Capital Subscription actually paid in by him or her, or by any
predecessor in interest, to the capital of the Partnership, including any
payments made by deductions from salary. The "Capital Contribution" of the
General Partner includes the amounts contributed to the Partnership or paid
by the General Partner or by any Limited Partner whose Units are purchased
by the General Partner including purchases pursuant to Section 4.2 of this
Agreement because of a default by such Limited Partner in the payment of a
subscription installment or pursuant to Article XV of this Agreement,
including payments made by deductions from the salary of such Limited
Partner.
(e) The "Capital Subscription" of a Limited Partner or his or her
assignee (including the General Partner where Units are transferred
pursuant to Section 4.2 of this Agreement) is the amount specified in the
Subscription Agreement executed by such Limited Partner for payment by him
or her to the capital of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement, reduced by the amount thereof from which the Limited
Partner has been released by the General Partner of his or her obligation
to pay pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof.
(f) "Drilling Costs" are those costs incurred in drilling, testing,
completing and equipping a Partnership Well to the point that it proves to
be dry and is abandoned or is ready to commence commercial production of
oil or gas therefrom.
(g) "Effective Date" refers to the date on which the certificate
evidencing formation of the Partnership is filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Oklahoma as required by the Act (54 Okla. Stat. 1991,
Section 309).
(h) A "farm-out" is an agreement whereby the owner of an oil and gas
property agrees to assign such property, usually retaining some interest
therein such as an overriding royalty, a production payment, a net profits
interest or a carried working interest, subject in most cases, however, to
the drilling of one or more wells or other performance by the prospective
assignee as a condition of the assignment.
(i) The "General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution" is that
amount equal to the total of (i) all Partnership costs and expenses charged
to its account from the time of the formation of the Partnership through
December 31, 2002, plus (ii) the General Partner's estimate of the total
Leasehold Acquisition Costs and Drilling Costs expected
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to be incurred by the Partnership subsequent to December 31, 2002, minus
(iii) the amount, if any, of the unexpended Aggregate Subscription at
December 31, 2002.
(j) The "General Partner's Percentage" is that percentage determined
by dividing the amount of the General Partner's Minimum Capital
Contribution by the total of (i) the General Partner's Minimum Capital
Contribution plus (ii) the Aggregate Subscription.
(k) "Leasehold Acquisition Costs" with respect to properties, if any,
acquired by the Partnership from non-affiliated parties mean the actual
costs to the Partnership of and in acquiring the properties, and, with
respect to properties acquired by the Partnership from the General Partner,
UNIT or its affiliates, are, without duplication, the sum of: (1) the
prices paid by the General Partner, UNIT or its affiliates in acquiring an
oil and gas property, including purchase option fees and charges, bonuses
and penalties, if any; (2) title insurance or examination costs, broker's
commissions, filing fees, recording costs, transfer taxes, if any, and like
charges incurred in connection with the acquisition of such property; (3) a
pro rata portion of the actual, necessary and reasonable expenses of the
General Partner, UNIT or its affiliates for seismic and geophysical
services; (4) rentals, shut-in royalties and ad valorem taxes paid by the
General Partner, UNIT or its affiliates with respect to such property to
the date of its transfer to the Partnership; (5) interest and points
actually incurred on funds used by the General Partner, UNIT or its
affiliates to acquire or maintain such property; and (6) such portion of
the General Partner's, UNIT's or its affiliates' reasonable, necessary and
actual expenses for geological, engineering, drafting, accounting, legal
and other like services allocated to the acquisition, operations and
maintenance of the property in accordance with generally accepted industry
practices, except for expenses in connection with the past drilling of
wells which are not producers of sufficient quantities of oil or gas to
make commercially reasonable their continued operations, and provided that
the costs and expenses enumerated in (4), (5) and (6) above with respect to
any particular property shall have been incurred not more than thirty-six
(36) months prior to the acquisition of such property by the Partnership.
In the event a fractional undivided interest in a property is sold or
transferred by the General Partner, UNIT or any affiliate to an
unaffiliated third party for an amount in excess of that portion of the
original cost of the property attributable to the transferred interest, the
amount of such excess shall not reduce or be offset against the amount of
the Leasehold Acquisition Costs attributable to any interest in the same
property which is transferred to the Partnership.
(l) "Limited Partners" are those persons who acquire Units in the
Partnership upon its formation and those transferees of Units who are
accepted as Substituted Limited Partners. The General Partner may also be
a Limited Partner if it subscribes for Units or if it subsequently acquires
Units by (i) the exercise by a Limited Partner of his or her right of
presentment; (ii) a purchase by the General Partner of the Units of a
Limited Partner who defaults in the payment of any subscription
installment; or (iii) any other assignment or transfer.
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(m) The "Limited Partners' Percentage" is that percentage determined
by dividing the amount of the Aggregate Subscription by the total of (i)
the General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution plus (ii) the Aggregate
Subscription.
(n) "Normal Retirement" means retirement under the provision of a
pension or similar retirement plan adopted by the General Partner, UNIT or
any subsidiary with whom a Limited Partner is employed as in effect at the
time of the employee's retirement.
(o) "Oil and gas properties" are oil and gas leasehold working
interests, fee interests, mineral interests, royalty interests, overriding
royalty interests, production payments, options or rights to lease or
acquire such interests, geophysical exploration permits and any tangible or
intangible properties or other rights incident thereto, whether real,
personal or mixed.
(p) "Operating Expenses" are expenditures made and costs incurred in
producing and marketing oil or gas from completed wells, including, in
addition to labor, fuel, repairs, hauling, material, supplies, utility
charges and other costs incident to or necessary for the maintenance or
operation of such wells or the marketing of production therefrom, ad
valorem, severance and other such taxes (other than windfall profit taxes),
insurance and casualty loss expense and compensation to well operators or
others for services rendered in conducting such operations.
(q) The General Partner and the Limited Partners are sometimes
collectively referred to as the "Partners".
(r) The "Partnership Properties" are oil and gas properties or
interests therein acquired by the Partnership or properties acquired by any
partnership or joint venture in which the Partnership is a partner or joint
venturer, whether acquired by purchase, option exercise or otherwise.
(s) "Partnership Revenue" refers to the Partnership's gross revenues
from all sources, including interest income, proceeds from sales of
production, the Partnership's share of revenues from partnerships or joint
ventures of which it is a member, sales or other dispositions of
Partnership Properties or other Partnership assets, provided that
contributions to Partnership capital by the Partners and the proceeds of
any Partnership borrowings are specifically excluded and dry-hole and
bottom-hole contributions shall be treated as reductions of the costs
giving rise to the right to receive such contributions.
(t) "Partnership Wells" are any and all of the oil and gas wells in
which the Partnership has an interest, either directly or indirectly
through any other partnership or joint venture.
(u) "Productive properties" are oil and gas properties that have been
tested by drilling and determined to be capable of producing oil or gas in
commercial quantities.
A-7
(v) "Special Production and Marketing Costs" are costs and expenses
that are not normally and customarily incurred in connection with drilling,
producing and marketing operations, including without limitation, costs
incurred in constructing compressor plants, gasoline plants, gas gathering
systems, natural gas processing plants, pipeline systems and salt water
disposal systems and costs incurred in installing pressure maintenance and
secondary or tertiary production projects.
(w) "Subscription Agreement" refers to the form of Limited Partner
Subscription Agreement and Suitability Statement attached as Attachment I
to this Agreement.
(x) A "Substituted Limited Partner" is a transferee, donee, heir,
legatee or other recipient of all or any portion of a Limited Partner's
interest in the Partnership with respect to whom all conditions and
consents required to become a Substituted Limited Partner under Article
XIII have been satisfied and given.
(y) A "Unit" is a preformation unit of limited partnership interest
of a Limited Partner in the Partnership representing a Capital Subscription
of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000).
ARTICLE III
Purposes and Powers of the Partnership
3.1 The purposes of the Partnership will be to acquire productive oil and
gas properties and to explore for, produce, treat, transport and market oil, gas
or both, or products derived therefrom, anywhere in the United States. It is
contemplated that all or most of the Partnership's operations will be conducted
as part of the operations of the General Partner and its affiliates, but the
Partnership may engage in operations on its own or in conjunction with
unaffiliated third parties. In accomplishing such purposes the Partnership may:
(a) acquire oil and gas properties, either alone or in conjunction
with other parties;
(b) conduct geological and geophysical investigations, including,
without limitation, seismic exploration, core drilling and other means and
methods of exploration;
(c) drill, equip, complete, rework, reequip, recomplete, plug back,
deepen, plug and abandon Partnership Wells as the General Partner deems
advisable;
(d) acquire and dispose of tangible lease and well equipment for use
or used in connection with Partnership Wells;
(e) employ or retain such personnel and obtain such legal,
accounting, geological, geophysical, engineering and other professional
services and advice as the
A-8
General Partner may deem advisable in the course of the Partnership's
operations under this Agreement;
(f) either pay or elect not to pay delay rentals or shut-in royalties
on Partnership Properties as appropriate in the judgment of the General
Partner, it being understood that the General Partner will not be liable
for failure to make correct or timely payments of delay rentals or shut-in
royalties if such failure was due to any reason other than gross negligence
or lack of good faith;
(g) make or give dry-hole or bottom-hole or other contributions of
oil and gas properties, money or both, to encourage drilling by others in
the vicinity of or on Partnership Properties;
(h) negotiate for and accept dry-hole, bottom-hole or other
contributions of oil and gas properties, cash or both, as consideration for
the drilling of a Partnership Well, with oil and gas properties so
acquired, if any, to become Partnership Properties;
(i) pay all ad valorem taxes levied or assessed against the
Partnership Properties, all taxes upon or measured by the production of oil
or gas or other hydrocarbons therefrom, and all other taxes (other than
income taxes) directly relating to operations conducted under this
Agreement;
(j) enter into and operate pursuant to operating agreements with
respect to Partnership Properties naming either the General Partner, any of
its affiliates or a third party as operator, or enter into partnership
agreements with third parties whereby the Partnership may be either a
general or a limited partner (including any partnerships formed or
sponsored by the General Partner or in which the General Partner may also
be a partner), which operating or partnership agreements shall contain such
terms, provisions and conditions as the General Partner deems appropriate;
(k) execute all documents or instruments of any kind which the
General Partner deems appropriate for carrying out the purposes of the
Partnership, including, without limitation, unitization agreements,
gasoline plant contracts, recycling agreements and agreements relating to
pressure maintenance and secondary or tertiary production projects;
(l) purchase and establish inventories of equipment and material
required or expected to be required in connection with its operations;
(m) contract or enter into agreements with unaffiliated third
parties, the General Partner or its affiliates for the performance of
services and the purchase and sale of material, equipment, supplies and
property, both real and personal, provided, however, that any such
contracts or agreements with the General Partner or any of its affiliates
shall, except as otherwise provided herein, provide for prices, fees,
rates, charges or other compensation which are not greater than those
available from, being paid to or charged
A-9
by unaffiliated third parties dealing at arm's length in the same or a
similar geographic area for the same or comparable services, material,
equipment, supplies or property;
(n) conduct operations either alone or as a joint venturer, co-
tenant, partner or in any other manner of participation with third persons
and to enter into agreements and contracts setting forth the terms and
provisions of such participation;
(o) borrow money from banks and other lending institutions for
Partnership purposes and pledge Partnership Properties (including
production therefrom) for the repayment of such loans, it being understood
that no bank or other lending institution to which the General Partner
makes application for a loan will be required to inquire as to the purposes
for which such loan is sought, and as between the Partnership and such bank
or lending institution it will be conclusively presumed that the proceeds
of such loan are to be and will be used for purposes authorized under the
terms of this Agreement;
(p) hold Partnership Properties in its own name or in the name of the
General Partner, UNIT or any affiliate or any other party as nominee for
the Partnership;
(q) sell, relinquish, release, farm-out, abandon or otherwise dispose
of Partnership Properties, including undeveloped, productive and condemned
properties;
(r) produce, treat, transport and market oil and gas and execute
division orders, contracts for the marketing or sale of oil, gas or other
hydrocarbons and other marketing agreements;
(s) purchase, sell or pledge payments out of production from
Partnership Properties; and
(t) perform any and all other acts or activities customary or
incident to exploration for or development, production and marketing of oil
and gas.
ARTICLE IV
Partner Capital Contributions
4.1 The General Partner will have the unrestricted right to admit such
parties as Limited Partners as it deems advisable. By their execution of the
Subscription Agreement, the Limited Partners severally agree, subject to the
acceptance of their subscription by the General Partner, to be bound by the
terms hereof as Limited Partners.
4.2 The Capital Subscriptions of the Limited Partners will be payable
either (i) in four equal installments on March 15, 2002, June 15, 2002,
September 15, 2002, and December 15, 2002, respectively, or (ii) by employees so
electing, through equal deductions from 2002 salary paid to the employee by the
General Partner, UNIT or its subsidiaries commencing immediately after the
Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if in the judgment of the
General Partner, the entire amount of the Aggregate Subscription is not required
for purposes of
A-10
conducting the business, operations and affairs of the Partnership, the General
Partner may, at its sole option, elect to release the Limited Partners from the
obligation to pay in one or more of the installments of their Capital
Subscriptions. If Units are acquired by a corporation or other entity, the
beneficial owners of the interests therein shall be jointly and severally liable
for the payment of the Capital Subscription. If an employee or director who has
subscribed for Units (either directly or through a corporation or other entity)
ceases to be employed by or a director of the General Partner, UNIT or any of
its subsidiaries for any reason other than death, disability or Normal
Retirement prior to the time the full amount of his or her Capital Subscription
is paid, then the due date for any unpaid amount shall be accelerated so that
the full amount of his or her unpaid Capital Subscription shall be due and
payable on the effective date of such termination. The Capital Subscriptions
shall be legally binding obligations of the Limited Partners and any past due
amounts shall bear interest at the annual rate equal to two (2) percentage
points in excess of the prime rate of interest of Bank of Oklahoma, N.A., Tulsa,
Oklahoma, or successor bank, as announced and in effect from time to time, until
paid. Further, in the event a Limited Partner fails to pay any installment when
due, the General Partner, at its sole option and discretion, may elect to
purchase the Units of such defaulting Limited Partner at a price equal to the
total amount of the Capital Contributions actually paid into the Partnership by
such defaulting Limited Partner, less the amount of any Partnership
distributions that may have been received by him or her. Such option may be
exercised by the General Partner by written notice to the Limited Partner at any
time after the date that the unpaid installment was due and shall be deemed
exercised when the amount of the purchase price is first tendered to the
defaulting Limited Partner. The General Partner may, in its discretion, accept
payments of delinquent installments but shall not be required to do so. In the
event that the General Partner elects to purchase the Units of a defaulting
Limited Partner, it shall pay into the Partnership the amount of the delinquent
installment (excluding any interest that may have accrued thereon) and shall pay
each additional installment, if any, payable with respect to such Units as it
becomes due. By virtue of such purchase, the General Partner shall be allocated
all Partnership Revenues and be charged with all Partnership costs and expenses
attributable to such Units otherwise allocable or chargeable to the defaulting
Limited Partner to the extent provided in Section 13.9.
4.3 If the Partnership requires funds to conduct Partnership operations
during the period between any of the installments due as set forth in Section
4.2 above, then, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.4 below, the
General Partner shall advance funds to the Partnership in an amount equal to the
funds then required to conduct such operations but in no event more than the
total amount of the Aggregate Subscription remaining unpaid. With respect to
any such advances, the General Partner shall receive no interest thereon and no
financing charges will be levied by the General Partner in connection therewith.
The General Partner shall be repaid out of the Capital Subscription installments
thereafter paid into the capital of the Partnership when due.
4.4 Additional Assessments required by the General Partner pursuant to
Section 5.3 of this Agreement will be payable in cash on such date as the
General Partner may set in its written notice, but in no event will such
assessments be due earlier than thirty (30) days after the date of mailing of
the notice. Notice of the General Partner's call for Additional Assessments
shall specify the amount required, the manner in which the additional funds will
be expended, the date on which such amounts are payable, and the consequences of
non-payment. The
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General Partner will not be required to accept late payments of such amounts,
but it may in its discretion do so.
4.5 The General Partner will contribute to the capital of the Partnership
amounts equal to the total of all costs paid by the Partnership that are charged
to the General Partner's account as such costs are incurred.
ARTICLE V
Deposit and Use of Capital Contributions and
Other Partnership Funds
5.1 Until required in the conduct of the Partnership's business,
Partnership funds, including, but not limited to, Capital Contributions,
Partnership Revenue and proceeds of borrowings by the Partnership, will be
deposited, with or without interest, in one or more bank accounts of the
Partnership in a bank or banks selected by the General Partner or invested in
short-term United States government securities, money market funds, bank
certificates of deposit or commercial paper rated as "A1" or "P1" as the General
Partner, in its sole discretion, deems advisable. Any interest or other income
generated by such deposits or investments will be for the Partnership's account.
Except for Capital Contributions, Partnership funds from any of the various
sources mentioned above may be commingled with other Partnership funds and with
the funds of the General Partner and may be withdrawn, expended and distributed
as authorized by the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
5.2 The Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners will be expended for
costs incurred by the Partnership that, in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, are properly chargeable to the Limited Partners' accounts.
5.3 After the General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution has been fully
expended, if the Aggregate Subscription has all been fully expended or committed
and additional funds are required in order to pay Drilling Costs, Special
Production and Marketing Costs or Leasehold Acquisition Costs of productive
properties which are chargeable to the Limited Partners, the General Partner
may, but shall not be required to, make one or more calls for Additional
Assessments from Limited Partners pursuant to Section 4.4; provided, however,
that the aggregate amount of Additional Assessments called of the Limited
Partners may not exceed $100 per Unit. The Limited Partners who do not respond
will participate in production, if any, obtained from the aggregate Additional
Assessments paid into the Partnership. However, the amount of the unpaid
Additional Assessment shall bear interest at the annual rate equal to two (2)
percentage points in excess of the prime rate of interest of Bank of Oklahoma,
N.A., Tulsa, Oklahoma, or successor bank, as announced and in effect from time
to time, until paid. The Partnership will have a lien on the defaulting Limited
Partner's interest in the Partnership and the General Partner may apply
Partnership Revenue otherwise available for distribution to the defaulting
Limited Partner until an amount equal to the unpaid Additional Assessment and
interest is received. Furthermore, the General Partner may satisfy such lien by
proceeding with legal action to enforce the lien and the defaulting Limited
Partner shall pay all expenses of collection, including interest, court costs
and a reasonable attorney's fee.
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5.4 After the General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution has been fully
expended, the General Partner may cause the Partnership to borrow funds for the
purpose of paying Drilling Costs, Special Production and Marketing Costs or
Leasehold Acquisition Costs of productive properties, which borrowings may be
secured by interests in the Partnership Properties and will be repaid, including
interest accruing thereon, out of Partnership Revenue allocable to the accounts
of the Partners on whose behalf the proceeds of such borrowings are expended.
The General Partner may, but is not required to, advance funds to the
Partnership for the same purposes for which Partnership borrowings are
authorized by this Section 5.4. With respect to any such advances, the General
Partner shall receive interest in an amount equal to the lesser of the interest
which would be charged to the Partnership by unrelated banks on comparable loans
for the same purpose or the General Partner's interest cost with respect to such
loan, where it borrows the same. No financing charges will be levied by the
General Partner in connection with any such loan. If Partnership borrowings
secured by interests in the Partnership Properties and repayable out of
Partnership Revenue cannot be arranged on a basis which, in the opinion of the
General Partner, is fair and reasonable, and the entire sum required to pay
costs of the type referred to above is not available from Partnership Revenue,
the Partnership may elect not to drill or participate in the drilling of a well
or the General Partner may dispose of the Partnership Properties upon which such
operations were to be conducted by sale (subject to any other applicable
provisions of this Agreement), farm-out or abandonment.
5.5 The General Partner may utilize Partnership Revenue allocable to the
respective accounts of the Partners to pay any Partnership costs and expenses
properly chargeable to the accounts of such Partners.
5.6 With respect to any Partnership activity and subject to the
restrictions set forth in Sections 5.3 and 5.4 above, it shall be in the sole
discretion of the General Partner whether to call for Additional Assessments,
arrange for borrowings on behalf of the Partners, utilize Partnership Revenue or
sell (subject to any other applicable provisions of this Agreement), farm-out or
abandon Partnership Properties.
5.7 The Partnership Properties and production therefrom may be pledged,
mortgaged or otherwise encumbered as security for borrowings by the Partnership
authorized by Section 5.4 above, provided that the holder of indebtedness
arising by virtue of such borrowings may not have or acquire, at any time as a
result of making any such loans, any direct or indirect interest in the profits,
capital or property of the Partnership other than as a secured creditor.
ARTICLE VI
Sharing of Costs, Capital Accounts and
Allocation of Charges and Income
6.1 All costs of organizing the Partnership and offering Units therein will
be paid by the General Partner. All costs incurred in the offering and
syndication of any drilling or income program formed by UPC or UNIT and its
affiliates during 2002 in which the Partnership participates as a co-general
partner will also be paid by the General Partner.
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6.2 All other Partnership costs and expenses will be charged 99% to the
accounts of the Limited Partners and 1% to the account of the General Partner
until such time as the Aggregate Subscription has been fully expended.
Thereafter and until the General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution has been
fully expended, all of such costs and expenses will be charged to the General
Partner. After the General Partner's Minimum Capital Contribution has been
fully expended, such costs and expenses will be charged to the respective
accounts of the General Partner and the Limited Partners on the basis of their
respective Percentages.
6.3 All Partnership Revenues will be allocated between the General Partner
and the Limited Partners on the basis of their respective Percentages.
6.4 Partnership costs, expenses and Revenues which are charged and
allocated to the Limited Partners shall be charged and allocated to their
respective accounts in the proportion the Units of each Limited Partner bear to
the total number of outstanding Units.
6.5 Capital accounts shall be established and maintained for each Partner
in accordance with tax accounting principles and with valid regulations issued
by the U.S. Treasury Department under subsection 704(b) (the "704 Regulations")
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). To the extent
that tax accounting principles and the 704 Regulations may conflict, the latter
shall control. In connection with the establishment and maintenance of such
capital accounts, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) Each Partner's capital account shall be (i) increased by the
amount of money contributed by him or her to the Partnership, the fair
market value of property contributed by him or her to the Partnership (net
of liabilities securing such contributed property that the Partnership is
considered to assume or take subject to under section 752 of the Code) and
allocations to him or her of Partnership income and gain (except to the
extent such income or gain has previously been reflected in his or her
capital account by adjustments thereto) and (ii) decreased by the amount of
money distributed to him or her by the Partnership, the fair market value
of property distributed to him or her by the Partnership (net of
liabilities securing such distributed property that such Partner is
considered to assume or take subject to under section 752 of the Code) and
allocations to him or her of Partnership loss, deduction (except to the
extent such loss or deduction has previously been reflected in his or her
capital account by adjustments thereto) and expenditures described in
section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code.
(b) In the event Partnership Property is distributed to a Partner,
then, before the capital account of such Partner is adjusted as required by
subsection (a) of this Section 6.5, the capital accounts of the Partners
shall be adjusted to reflect the manner in which the unrealized income,
gain, loss and deduction inherent in such property (that has not been
reflected in such capital accounts previously) would be allocated among the
Partners if there were a taxable disposition of such property for its fair
market value on the date of distribution.
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(c) If, pursuant to this Agreement, Partnership Property is reflected
on the books of the Partnership at a book value that differs from the
adjusted tax basis of such property, then the Partners' capital accounts
shall be adjusted in accordance with the 704 Regulations for allocations to
the Partners of depreciation, depletion, amortization, and gain or loss, as
computed for book purposes, with respect to such property.
(d) The Partners' capital accounts shall be adjusted for depletion
and gain or loss with respect to the Partnership's oil or gas properties in
whichever of the following manners the General Partner determines is in the
best interests of the Partners:
(i) the Partners' capital accounts shall be reduced by a
simulated depletion allowance computed on each oil or gas property
using either the cost depletion method or the percentage depletion
method (without regard to the limitations under the Code which could
apply to less than all Partners); provided, however, that the choice
between the cost depletion method and the simulated depletion method
shall be made on a property-by-property basis in the first taxable
year of the Partnership for which such choice is relevant for an oil
or gas property, and such choice shall be binding for all Partnership
taxable years during which such oil or gas property is held by the
Partnership. Such reductions for depletion shall not exceed the
aggregate adjusted basis allocated to the Partners with respect to
such oil or gas property. Such reductions for depletion shall be
allocated among the Partners' capital accounts in the same proportions
as the adjusted basis in the particular property is allocated to each
Partner. Upon the taxable disposition of an oil or gas property by
the Partnership, the Partnership's simulated gain or loss shall be
determined by subtracting its simulated adjusted basis (aggregate
adjusted tax basis of the Partners less simulated depletion
allowances) in such property from the amount realized on such
disposition and the Partners' capital accounts shall be increased or
reduced, as the case may be, by the amount of the simulated gain or
loss on such disposition in proportion to the Partners' allocable
shares of the total amount realized on such disposition, or
(ii) the Partnership shall reduce the capital account of each
Partner in an amount equal to such Partner's depletion allowance with
respect to each oil or gas property of the Partnership (for the
Partner's taxable year that ends within the Partnership's taxable
year), but such reductions for depletion shall not exceed the adjusted
basis allocated to such Partner with respect to such property. Upon
the taxable disposition of an oil or gas property by the Partnership,
the capital account of each Partner shall be reduced or increased, as
the case may be, by the amount of the difference between such
Partner's allocable share of the total amount realized on such
disposition and such Partner's remaining adjusted tax basis in such
property.
(e) For purposes of determining the capital account balance of any
Partner as of the end of any Partnership taxable year for purposes of
Subsection 6.6(f) hereof, such Partner's capital account shall be reduced
by:
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(i) adjustments that, as of the end of such year, reasonably are
expected to be made to such Partner's capital account pursuant to
paragraph (b)(2)(iv)(k) of the 704 Regulations for depletion
allowances with respect to oil and gas properties of the Partnership,
(ii) allocations of loss and deduction that, as of the end of
such year, reasonably are expected to be made to such Partner pursuant
to Code section 704(e)(2), Code section 706(d), and paragraph
(b)(2)(ii) of section 1.751-1 of regulations promulgated under the
Code, and
(iii) distributions that, as of the end of such year, reasonably
are expected to be made to such Partner to the extent they exceed
offsetting increases to such Partner's capital account that reasonably
are expected to occur during (or prior to) the Partnership taxable
years in which such distributions reasonably are expected to be made.
6.6 With respect to the various allocations of Partnership income, gain,
loss, deduction and credit for federal income tax purposes, it is hereby agreed
as follows:
(a) To the extent permitted by law, all charges, deductions and
losses shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes in the same
manner as the costs in respect of which such charges, deductions and losses
are charged to the respective accounts of the Partners. The Partners
bearing the costs shall be entitled to the deductions (including, without
limitation, cost recovery allowances, depreciation and cost depletion) and
credits that are attributable to such costs.
(b) The Partnership shall allocate to each Partner his or her portion
of the adjusted basis in each depletable Partnership Property as required
by Section 613A(c)(7)(D) of the Code based upon the interest of said
Partner in the capital of the Partnership as of the time of the acquisition
of such Partnership Property. To the extent permitted by the Code, such
allocation shall be based upon said Partner's interest (i) in the
Partnership capital used to acquire the property, or (ii) in the adjusted
basis of the property if it is contributed to the Partnership. If such
allocation of basis is not permitted under the Code, then basis will be
allocated in the permissible manner which the General Partner deems will
most closely achieve the result intended above.
(c) Partnership Revenue shall be allocated for federal income tax
purposes in the same manner as it is allocated to the respective accounts
of the Partners pursuant to Sections 6.3 and 6.4 above.
(d) Depreciation or cost recovery allowance recapture and recapture
of intangible drilling and development costs, if any, due as a result of
sales or dispositions of assets shall be allocated in the same proportion
that the depreciation, cost recovery allowances or intangible drilling and
development costs being recaptured were allocated.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated herein,
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(i) there shall be allocated first to other Limited Partners and
then to the General Partner any item of loss, deduction, credit or
allowance that, but for this Subsection 6.6(e), would have been
allocated to any Limited Partner that is not obligated to restore any
deficit balance in such Limited Partner's capital account and would
have thereupon caused or increased a deficit balance in such Limited
Partner's capital account as of the end of the Partnership's taxable
year to which such allocation related (after taking into consideration
the numbered items specified in Subsection 6.5(e) hereof);
(ii) any Limited Partner that is not obligated to restore any
deficit balance in such Limited Partner's capital account who
unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or distribution
specified in Subsection 6.5(e) hereof shall be allocated items of
income and gain in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate such
deficit balance as quickly as possible; and
(iii) in the event any allocations of loss, deduction, credit or
allowance are made to a Limited Partner or the General Partner
pursuant to clause (i) of this Subsection 6.6(e), then such Limited
Partner and/or the General Partner shall be subsequently allocated all
items of income and gain pro rata as they were allocated the item(s)
of loss, deduction, credit or allowance under such clause (i) until
the aggregate amount of such allocations of income and gain is equal
to the aggregate amount of any such allocations of loss, deduction,
credit or allowance allocated to such Partner(s) pursuant to clause
(i) of this Subsection 6.6(e).
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if, under
any provision of this Agreement, the capital account of any Partner is
adjusted to reflect the difference between the basis to the Partnership of
Partnership Property and such property's fair market value, then all items
of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such property shall be
allocated among the Partners so as to take account of the variation between
the basis of such property and its fair market value at the time of the
adjustment to such Partner's capital account in accordance with the
requirements of subsection 704(c) of the Code, or in the same manner as
provided under subsection 704(c) of the Code.
6.7 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary that may be expressed or
implied in this Agreement, the interest of the General Partner in each material
item of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction or credit shall be equal to at
least one percent of each such item at all times during the existence of the
Partnership. In determining the General Partner's interest in such items, Units
owned by the General Partner shall not be taken into account.
6.8 Except as provided in subsections (a) through (d) of this Section 6.8,
in the case of a change in a Partner's interest in the Partnership during a
taxable year of the Partnership, all Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction
or credit allocable to the Partners shall be allocated to the persons who were
Partners during the period to which such item is attributable in accordance
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with the Partners' interests in the Partnership during such period regardless of
when such item is paid or received by the Partnership.
(a) With respect to certain "allocable cash basis items" (as such
term is defined in the Code) of Partnership Revenue, gain, loss, deduction
or credit, if, during any taxable year of the Partnership there is change
in any Partner's interest in the Partnership, then, except to the extent
provided in regulations prescribed under Section 706 of the Code, each
Partner's allocable share of any "allocable cash basis item" shall be
determined by (i) assigning the appropriate portion of each such item to
each day in the period to which it is attributable, and (ii) allocating the
portion assigned to any such day among the Partners in proportion to their
interests in the Partnership at the close of such day.
(b) If, by adhering to the method of allocation described in the
immediately preceding subsection of this Section 6.8, a portion of any
"allocable cash basis item" is attributable to any period before the
beginning of the Partnership taxable year in which such item is received or
paid, such portion shall be (i) assigned to the first day of the taxable
year in which it is received or paid, and (ii) allocated among the persons
who were Partners in the Partnership during the period to which such
portion is attributable in accordance with their interests in the
Partnership during such period.
(c) If any portion of any "allocable cash basis item" paid or
received by the Partnership in a taxable year is attributable to a period
after the close of that taxable year, such portion shall be (i) assigned to
the last day of the taxable year in which it is paid or received, and (ii)
allocated among the persons who are Partners in proportion to their
interests in the Partnership at the close of such day.
(d) If any deduction is allocated to a person with respect to an
"allocable cash basis item" attributable to a period before the beginning
of the Partnership taxable year and such person is not a Partner of the
Partnership on the first day of the Partnership taxable year, such
deduction shall be capitalized by the Partnership and treated in the manner
provided for in Section 755 of the Code.
ARTICLE VII
Fiscal Year, Accountings and Reports
7.1 Unless the Code requires otherwise, the fiscal year of the Partnership
will be the calendar year and the books of the Partnership will be kept in
accordance with usual and customary accounting practices on the accrual method.
7.2 Within sixty (60) days after the end of each quarter of each
Partnership fiscal year, each person who was a Limited Partner during such
period will be furnished a report setting forth the source and disposition of
Partnership funds during the quarter.
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7.3 Not later than the end of the fiscal year in which all Partnership
Wells are drilled and completed, and sufficient production history has been
obtained on Partnership Wells to evaluate properly the reserves attributable
thereto, the General Partner will make an evaluation of Partnership Properties
as of the last day of such fiscal year. The report shall include an estimate of
the total oil and gas proven reserves of the Partnership and the dollar value
thereof and the value of the Limited Partner's interest in such reserve value.
It shall also contain an estimate of the present worth of the reserves. Each
Limited Partner will receive a summary statement of such report reflecting the
Limited Partners' interest in such reserve value.
ARTICLE VIII
Tax Returns and Elections
8.1 Unless the Code requires otherwise, the General Partner will cause the
Partnership to elect the calendar year as its taxable year and will timely file
all Partnership income tax returns required to be filed by the jurisdictions in
which the Partnership conducts business or derives income. By March 15 of each
year or as soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner will furnish all
available information necessary for inclusion in the income tax returns of each
person who was a Limited Partner during the prior fiscal year. The General
Partner shall be the "Tax Matters Partner" for the Partnership pursuant to the
provisions of Section 6231 of the Code subject to the provisions of Section
10.22 below.
8.2 The Partnership will elect to deduct intangible drilling and
development costs currently as an expense for income tax purposes and will elect
to use the available depreciation method which, in the General Partner's
judgment, is in the best interest of the Partners.
8.3 The General Partner shall have the right in its sole discretion at any
time to make or not to make such other elections as are authorized or permitted
by any law or regulation for income tax purposes (including any election under
Section 754 of the Code).
ARTICLE IX
Distributions
9.1 The Partnership's available cash will be distributed to the Limited
Partners and the General Partner in the same proportions that Partnership
Revenue has been allocated to them after giving effect to previous distributions
and to portions of such revenue theretofore used or retained to pay costs
incurred or expected to be incurred in conducting Partnership operations or to
repay borrowings theretofore or expected to be thereafter obtained by the
Partnership. Within forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar
quarter, the General Partner will determine the amount of cash available for
distribution to the Limited Partners and will distribute such amount, if any, as
promptly thereafter as reasonably possible. Distributions of cash to the
General Partner may be at any time the General Partner determines there is cash
available therefor. The General Partner's determination of the cash available
for distribution will be conclusive and binding upon all Partners. All
Partnership funds distributed to the Limited Partners shall be distributed to
the persons who were record holders of Units on the day on which the
distribution is made.
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ARTICLE X
Rights, Duties and Obligations of the General Partner
10.1 Subject to the limitations of this Agreement, the General Partner will
have full, exclusive and complete discretion in the management and control of
the business of the Partnership and will make all decisions affecting its
business and affairs or the Partnership Properties. The General Partner will
have, subject to the provisions of this Article X, full power and authority to
take any action described in Article III above and execute and deliver in the
name of and on behalf of the Partnership such documents or instruments as the
General Partner deems appropriate for the conduct of Partnership business. No
person, firm or corporation dealing with the Partnership will be required to
inquire into the authority of the General Partner to take any action or make any
decision.
10.2 The General Partner will perform the duties imposed upon it under this
Agreement in an efficient and businesslike manner with due caution and in
accordance with established practices of the oil and gas industry, but the
General Partner shall not be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or
otherwise to the Partnership or any of the Partners for, and the Partnership
shall indemnify, defend against and save harmless the General Partner, from any
expense (including attorneys' fees), loss or damage incurred by reason of any
act or omission performed or omitted in good faith on behalf of the Partnership
or the Partners, and in a manner reasonably believed by the General Partner to
be within the scope of the authority granted by this Agreement and in the best
interests of the Partnership or the Partners, provided that the General Partner
is not guilty of gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such
acts or omissions, and further provided that the satisfaction of any
indemnification and any saving harmless shall be from and limited to Partnership
assets including insurance proceeds, if any, and no Partner shall have any
personal liability on account thereof. For purposes of this Section 10.2 only,
the term General Partner includes the General Partner, affiliates of the General
Partner and any officer, director or employee of the General Partner or any of
its affiliates such that all of such parties are covered by the indemnities
provided herein.
10.3 The General Partner will utilize its organization and employees and
will hire outside consultants for the Partnership as necessary in order to
provide experienced, qualified and competent personnel to conduct the
Partnership's business. With certain limited exceptions it is the intent of the
Partners that the Partnership participate as a co-general partner of any oil and
gas drilling or income programs, or both, formed by the General Partner or UNIT
for third party investors during 2002 and to participate on a proportionate
working interest basis in each producing oil and gas lease acquired and in the
drilling of each oil and gas well commenced by the General Partner or UNIT for
its own account during the period from the later of January 1, 2002 or the
Effective Date through December 31, 2002 (except for wells, if any, (i) drilled
outside of the 48 contiguous United States; (ii) drilled as part of secondary or
tertiary recovery operations which were in existence prior to the formation of
the Partnership; (iii) drilled by third parties under farm-out or similar
arrangements with the General Partner or UNIT or whereby the General Partner or
UNIT may be entitled to an overriding royalty, reversionary or other similar
interest in the production from such wells but is not obligated to pay any of
the Drilling Costs
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thereof; (iv) acquired by UNIT or the General Partner through the acquisition by
UNIT or the General Partner of, or merger of UNIT or the General Partner with,
other companies; or (v) with respect to which the General Partner does not
believe that the potential economic return therefrom justifies the costs of
participation by the Partnership).
10.4 The General Partner, UNIT or any affiliate thereof will transfer to
the Partnership interests in oil and gas properties comprising the spacing unit
on which a Partnership Well is located or is to be drilled for the separate
account of the Partnership, provided that no broker's commissions or fees of a
similar nature will be paid in connection with any such transfer and the
consideration paid by the Partnership will be equal to the Leasehold Acquisition
Costs of the property so transferred. If the size of a spacing unit on which a
Partnership Well is located is ever reduced or increased well density is
permitted thereon, the Partnership will not be entitled to any reimbursement or
recoupment of any portion of the Leasehold Acquisition Costs paid with respect
thereto notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10.7 below.
10.5 With respect to certain transactions involving Partnership Properties,
it is hereby agreed as follows:
(a) A sale, transfer or conveyance by the General Partner or any
affiliate of less than its entire interest in such property is prohibited
unless (i) the interest retained by the General Partner or its affiliate is
a proportionate working interest, (ii) the respective obligations of the
General Partner or its affiliate and the Partnership are substantially the
same proportionately as those of the General Partner or its affiliate at
the time it acquired the property and (iii) the Partnership's interest in
revenues will not be less than the proportionate interest therein of the
General Partner or its affiliate when it acquired the property. The
General Partner or its affiliate may retain the remaining interest for its
own account or it may sell, transfer, farm-out or otherwise convey all or a
portion of such remaining interest to non-affiliated industry members. In
connection with any such sale, transfer, farm-out or other conveyance of
such interest to non-affiliated industry members, which may occur either
before or after the transfer of the interests in the same properties to the
Partnership, the General Partner or its affiliate may realize a profit on
the interests or may be carried to some extent with respect to its cost
obligations in connection with any drilling on such properties and any such
profit or interest will be strictly for the account of the General Partner
and the Partnership will have no claim with respect thereto.
(b) The General Partner or its affiliates may not retain any
overrides or other burdens on property conveyed to the Partnership (other
than overriding royalty interests granted to geologists and other persons
employed or retained by the General Partner or its affiliates).
10.6 The General Partner will cause the Partnership Properties to be
acquired in accordance with the customs of the oil and gas industry in the area.
The Partnership will be required to do only such title work with respect to its
oil and gas properties as the General Partner in its sole judgment deems
appropriate in light of the area, any applicable drilling or expiration dates
and any other material factors.
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10.7 Partnership Properties shall be transferred to the Partnership after
the decision to acquire a productive property or the commitment to drill a
Partnership Well thereon has been made. The Partnership shall acquire interests
in only those properties of the General Partner or UNIT which comprise the
spacing unit on which the Partnership Well is drilled or on which a producing
Partnership Well is located. If a spacing unit on which a Partnership Well is
drilled or located is ever reduced, or any subsequent well in which the
Partnership has no interest is drilled thereon, the Partnership will have no
interest in any such subsequent or additional wells drilled on properties which
were a part of the original spacing unit unless any such additional well is
commenced during 2002 or is drilled by a drilling or income program of which the
Partnership is a partner. Likewise if UNIT, UPC or any affiliate, including any
oil and gas partnership subsequently formed for investment or participation by
employees, directors and/or consultants of UNIT or any of its subsidiaries,
acquires additional interests in Partnership Wells after 2002 the Partnership
generally will not be entitled to participate in the acquisition of such
additional interests. In addition, if a Partnership Well drilled on a spacing
unit is dry or abandoned, the Partnership will not have an interest in any
subsequent or additional well drilled on the spacing unit unless it is commenced
during 2002 or is drilled by a drilling or income program of which the
Partnership is a partner.
10.8 The General Partner, UNIT or its affiliates will either conduct the
Partnership's drilling and production operations and operate each Partnership
Well or arrange for a third party operator to conduct such operations. The
General Partner will, on behalf of the Partnership, enter into appropriate
operating agreements with other owners of Partnership Wells authorizing the
General Partner, its affiliates or a third party operator to conduct such
operations. The Partnership will take such action in connection with operations
pursuant to said operating agreements as the General Partner, in its sole
discretion, deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Partnership, and
the decision of the General Partner with respect thereto will be binding upon
the Partnership.
10.9 The General Partner will cause the Partnership to plug and abandon its
dry holes and abandoned wells in accordance with rules and regulations of the
governmental regulatory body having jurisdiction.
10.10 The General Partner may pool or unitize Partnership Properties with
other oil and gas properties when such pooling or unitization is required by a
governmental regulatory body, when well spacing as determined by any such body
requires such pooling or unitization, or when, in the General Partner's opinion,
such pooling or unitization is in the best interests of the Partnership.
10.11 The General Partner will have authority to make and enter into
contracts for the sale of the Partnership's share of oil or gas production from
Partnership Wells, including contracts for the sale of such production to the
General Partner, UNIT or its affiliates; provided, however, that the production
purchased by the General Partner, UNIT or any of its affiliates will be for
prices which are not less than the highest posted price (in the case of crude
oil production) or prevailing price (in the case of natural gas production) in
the same field or area.
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10.12 The General Partner will use its best efforts to procure and maintain
for the Partnership, and at its expense, such insurance coverage with
responsible companies as may be reasonably available for such premium costs as
would not be considered to be unreasonably high or prohibitive with respect to
each item of coverage and as the General Partner considers necessary for the
protection of the Partnership and the Partners. The coverage will be in such
amounts and will cover such risks as the General Partner believes warranted by
the operations conducted hereunder. Such risks may include but will not
necessarily be limited to public liability and automobile liability, each
covering bodily injury, death and property damage, workmen's compensation and
employer's liability insurance and blowout and control of well insurance.
10.13 In order to conduct properly the business of the Partnership, and in
order to keep the Partners properly informed, the General Partner will:
(a) maintain adequate records and files identifying the Partnership
Properties and containing all pertinent information in regard thereto that
is obtained or developed pursuant to this Agreement;
(b) maintain a complete and accurate record of the acquisition and
disposition of each Partnership Property;
(c) maintain appropriate books and records reflecting the
Partnership's revenue and expense and each Partner's participation therein;
(d) maintain a capital account for each Partner with appropriate
records as necessary in order to reflect each Partner's interest in the
Partnership and furnish required tax information; and
(e) keep the Limited Partners informed by means of written reports on
the acquisition of Partnership Properties and the progress of the business
and operations of the Partnership, which reports will be rendered semi-
annually and at such more frequent intervals during the progress of
Partnership operations as the General Partner deems appropriate.
10.14 The General Partner, UNIT and the officers, directors, employees and
affiliates thereof may own, purchase or otherwise acquire and deal in oil and
gas properties, drill wells, conduct operations and otherwise engage in any
aspect of the oil and gas business, either for their own accounts or for the
accounts of others. Each Limited Partner hereby agrees that engaging in any
activity permitted by this Section 10.14 will not be considered a breach of any
duty that the General Partner, UNIT or the officers, directors, employees and
affiliates thereof may have to the Partnership or the Limited Partners, and that
the Partnership and the Limited Partners will not have any interest in any
properties acquired or profits which may be realized with respect to any such
activity.
10.15 Subject to Section 12.1, without the prior consent of Limited
Partners holding a majority of the outstanding Units, the General Partner will
not (i) make, execute or deliver any
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assignment for the benefit of the Partnership's creditors; or (ii) contract to
sell all or substantially all of the Partnership Properties (except as permitted
by Sections 10.23 and 16.4(b)).
10.16 In contracting for services to and insurance coverage for the
Partnership and its activities and operations, and in acquiring material,
equipment and personal property on behalf of the Partnership, the General
Partner will use its best efforts to obtain such services, insurance, material,
equipment and personal property at prices no less favorable than those normally
charged in the same or in comparable geographic areas by non-affiliated persons
or companies dealing at arm's length. No rebates, concessions or compensation
of a similar nature will be paid to the General Partner by the person or company
supplying such services, insurance, material, equipment and personal property.
10.17 The General Partner, UNIT or its affiliates are authorized to provide
equipment, materials and services to the Partnership in connection with the
conduct of its operations, provided, that the terms of any contracts between the
Partnership and the General Partner, UNIT or any affiliates, or the officers,
directors, employees and affiliates thereof must be no less favorable to the
Partnership than those of comparable contracts entered into, and will be at
prices not in excess of those charged in the same geographical area by non-
affiliated persons or companies dealing at arm's length. Any such contracts for
services must be in writing precisely describing the services to be rendered and
all compensation to be paid.
10.18 The General Partner may cause the Partnership to hold Partnership
Properties in the Partnership's name, or in the name of the General Partner,
UNIT, any affiliates thereof or some third party as nominee for the Partnership.
If record title to a Partnership Property is to be held permanently in the name
of a nominee, such nominee arrangement will be evidenced and documented by a
nominee agreement identifying the Partnership Properties so held and disclaiming
any beneficial interest therein by the nominee.
10.19 The General Partner will be generally liable for the debts and
obligations of the Partnership, provided that any claims against the Partnership
shall be satisfied first out of the assets of the Partnership and only
thereafter out of the separate assets of the General Partner.
10.20 The Partnership may not make any loans to the General Partner, UNIT
or any of its affiliates.
10.21 The General Partner will use its best efforts at all times to
maintain its net worth at a level that is sufficient to insure that the
Partnership will be classified for federal income tax purposes as a partnership,
rather than as an association taxable as a corporation, on account of the net
worth of the General Partner.
10.22 The Tax Matters Partner designated in Section 8.1 above is authorized
to engage legal counsel and accountants and to incur expense on behalf of the
Partnership in contesting, challenging and defending against any audits,
assessments and administrative or judicial proceedings conducted or participated
in by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the Partnership's operations
and affairs.
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10.23 At any time two years or more after the Partnership has completed
substantially all of its property acquisition, drilling and development
operations, the General Partner may, without the vote, consent or approval of
the Limited Partners, cause all or substantially all of the oil and gas
properties and other assets of the Partnership to be sold, assigned or
transferred to, or the Partnership merged or consolidated with, another
partnership or a corporation, trust or other entity for the purpose of combining
the assets of two or more of the oil and gas partnerships formed for investment
or participation by employees, directors and/or consultants of UNIT or any of
its subsidiaries; provided, however, that the valuation of the oil and gas
properties and other assets of all such participating partnerships for purposes
of such transfer or combination shall be made on a consistent basis and in a
manner which the General Partner and UNIT believe is fair and equitable to the
Limited Partners. As a consequence of any such transfer or combination, the
Partnership shall be dissolved and terminated pursuant to Article XVI hereof and
the Limited Partners shall receive partnership interests, stock or other equity
interests in the transferee or resulting entity.
ARTICLE XI
Compensation and Reimbursements
11.1 For the General Partner's services performed as operator of productive
Partnership Wells located on Partnership Properties and as operator during the
drilling of Partnership Wells, the Partnership will compensate the General
Partner at rates no higher than those normally charged in the same or a
comparable geographic area by non-affiliated persons or companies dealing at
arm's length. The General Partner will not receive compensation for such
services performed in connection with the operation of Partnership Wells
operated by third party operators, but such third party operators will be
compensated as provided in the operating agreements in effect with respect to
such wells and the Partnership will pay its proportionate share of such
compensation.
11.2 The General Partner will be reimbursed by the Partnership out of
Partnership Revenues for that portion of its general and administrative overhead
expense that is attributable to its conduct of the actual and necessary
business, affairs and operations of the Partnership. The General Partner's
general and administrative overhead expenses will be determined in accordance
with industry practices. The allocable costs and expenses will include all
customary and routine legal, accounting, geological, engineering, travel, office
rent, telephone, secretarial, salaries, data processing, word processing and
other incidental reasonable expenses necessary to the conduct of the
Partnership's business and generated by the General Partner or allocated to it
by UNIT, but will not include filing fees, commissions, professional fees,
printing costs and other expenses incurred in forming the Partnership or
offering interests therein. Also excluded will be any general and
administrative overhead expense of the General Partner or UNIT which may be
attributable to its services as an operator of Partnership Wells for which it
receives compensation pursuant to Section 11.1 above. The portion of the
General Partner's general and administrative overhead expense to be reimbursed
by the Partnership with respect to any particular period will be determined by
allocating to the Partnership that portion of the General Partner's total
general and administrative overhead expense incurred during such period which is
equal to the ratio of the Partnership's total expenditures compared to the total
expenditures by the
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General Partner for its own account. The portion of such general and
administrative overhead expense reimbursement which is charged to the Limited
Partners may not exceed an amount equal to 3% of the Aggregate Subscription
during the first 12 months of the Partnership's operations, and in each
succeeding twelve-month period, the lesser of (a) 2% of the Aggregate
Subscription and (b) 10% of the total Partnership Revenue realized in such
twelve-month period. Administrative expenses incurred directly by the
Partnership, or incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership and
reimbursable to the General Partner, such as legal, accounting, auditing,
reporting, engineering, mailing and other such fees, costs and expenses are not
to be deemed a part of the general and administrative expense of the General
Partner which is to be reimbursed pursuant to this Section 11.2 and the amounts
thereof will not be subject to the limitations described in the preceding
sentence.
ARTICLE XII
Rights and Obligations of Limited Partners
12.1 The Limited Partners, in their capacity as such, cannot transact any
business for the Partnership or take part in the control of its business or
management of its affairs. Limited Partners will have no power to execute any
agreements on behalf of, or otherwise bind or commit, the Partnership. They may
give consents and approvals as herein provided and exercise the rights and
powers granted to them in this Agreement, it being understood that the exercise
of such rights and powers will be deemed to be matters affecting the basic
structure of the Partnership and not the exercise of control over its business;
provided, however, that exercise of any of the rights and powers granted to the
Limited Partners in Sections 10.15, 12.3, 14.1, 16.1 and 18.1 will not be
authorized or effective unless prior to the exercise thereof the General Partner
is furnished an opinion of counsel for the Partnership or an order or judgment
of any court of competent jurisdiction to the effect that the exercise of such
rights or powers (i) will not be deemed to evidence that the Limited Partners
are taking part in the control of or management of the Partnership's business
and affairs, (ii) will not result in the loss of any Limited Partner's limited
liability and (iii) will not result in the Partnership being classified as an
association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
12.2 The Limited Partners will not be personally liable for any debts or
losses of the Partnership. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, no
Partner will be responsible for losses of any other Partners.
12.3 Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Limited Partner
will be entitled to the return of his contribution. Distributions of
Partnership assets pursuant to this Agreement may be considered and treated as
returns of contributions if so designated by law or, subject to Section 12.1, by
agreement of the General Partner and Limited Partners holding a majority of the
outstanding Units. The value of a Limited Partner's undistributed contribution
determined for the purposes of Section 39 of the Act at any point in time shall
be his or her percentage of the amount of the Partnership's stated capital
allocated to the Limited Partners as reflected in the financial statements of
the Partnership as of such point in time. No Partner will receive any interest
on his or her contributions and no Partner will have any priority over any other
Partner as to the return of contributions.
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ARTICLE XIII
Transferability of Limited Partner's Interest
13.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.3, no sale, exchange,
transfer or assignment of a Limited Partner's interest in the Partnership may be
made unless in the opinion of counsel for the Partnership,
(a) such sale, exchange, transfer or assignment, when added to the
total of all other sales, exchanges, transfers or assignments of interests
in the Partnership within the preceding 12 months, would not result in the
Partnership being considered to have terminated within the meaning of
Section 708 of the Code (provided, however, that this condition may be
waived by the General Partner in its discretion);
(b) such sale, exchange, transfer or assignment would not violate, or
cause the offering of the Units to be violative of, the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or any state securities or "blue sky" laws (including any
investor suitability standards) applicable to the Partnership or the
interest to be sold, exchanged, transferred or assigned; and
(c) such sale, exchange, transfer or assignment would not cause the
Partnership to lose its status as a partnership for federal income tax
purposes, and said opinion of counsel is delivered in writing to the
Partnership prior to the date of the sale, exchange, transfer or
assignment.
13.2 In no event shall all or any part of an interest in the Partnership be
assigned or transferred to a minor (except in trust or pursuant to the Uniform
Gifts to Minors Act) or an incompetent (except in trust), except by will or
intestate succession.
13.3 Except for transfers or assignments (in trust or otherwise) by a
Limited Partner of all or any part of his or her interest in the Partnership
(a) to the General Partner,
(b) to or for the benefit of himself or herself, his or her spouse,
or other members of his or her immediate family sharing the same household,
(c) to a corporation or other entity in which all of the beneficial
owners are Limited Partners or assigns permitted in (a) and (b) above, or
(d) by the General Partner to any person who at the time of such
transfer is an employee of the General Partner, UNIT or its subsidiaries,
no Limited Partner's Units or any portion thereof may be sold, assigned or
transferred except by reason of death or operation of law.
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13.4 If a Limited Partner dies, his or her executor, administrator or
trustee, or, if he or she is adjudicated incompetent, his or her committee,
guardian or conservator, or, if he or she becomes bankrupt, the trustee or
receiver of his or her estate, shall have all the rights of a Limited Partner
for the purpose of settling or managing his or her estate and such power as the
deceased, incapacitated or bankrupt Limited Partner possessed to assign all or
any part of his or her interest and to join with such assignee in satisfying
conditions precedent to such assignee's becoming a Substituted Limited Partner.
13.5 The Partnership shall not recognize for any purpose any purported
sale, assignment or transfer of all or any fraction of the interest of a Limited
Partner in the Partnership, unless the provisions of Section 13.1 shall have
been complied with and there shall have been filed with the Partnership a
written and dated notification of such sale, assignment or transfer in form
satisfactory to the General Partner, executed and acknowledged by both the
seller, assignor or transferor and the purchaser, assignee or transferee and
such notification (i) contains the acceptance by the purchaser, assignee or
transferee of all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and (ii)
represents that such sale, assignment or transfer was made in accordance with
all applicable laws and regulations. Any sale, assignment or transfer shall be
recognized by the Partnership as effective on the date of such notification if
the date of such notification is within thirty (30) days of the date on which
such notification is filed with the Partnership, and otherwise shall be
recognized as effective on the date such notification is filed with the
Partnership.
13.6 Any Limited Partner who shall assign all of his or her interest in the
Partnership shall cease to be a Limited Partner, except that, unless and until a
Substituted Limited Partner is admitted in his or her stead, such assigning
Limited Partner shall retain the statutory rights of the assignor of a Limited
Partner's interest under the Act.
13.7 A person who is the assignee of all or any fraction of the interest of
a Limited Partner, but does not become a Substituted Limited Partner and desires
to make a further assignment of such interest, shall be subject to all the
provisions of this Article XIII to the same extent and in the same manner as any
Limited Partner desiring to make an assignment of his or her interest.
13.8 No Limited Partner shall have the right to substitute a purchaser,
assignee, transferee, donee, heir, legatee, distributee or other recipient of
all or any portion of such Limited Partner's interest in the Partnership as a
Limited Partner in his or her place. Any such purchaser, assignee, transferee,
donee, legatee, distributee or other recipient of an interest in the Partnership
shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Substituted Limited Partner only with
the consent of the General Partner, which consent shall be granted or withheld
in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner and may be
arbitrarily withheld, and only by an amendment to this Agreement or the
certificate of limited partnership duly executed and recorded in the proper
records of each jurisdiction in which the Partnership owns mineral interests and
filed in the proper records of the State of Oklahoma. Any such consent by the
General Partner shall be binding and conclusive without the consent of any
Limited Partners and may be evidenced by the execution of the General Partner of
an amendment to this Agreement or the certificate of limited partnership,
evidencing the admission of such person as a Substituted Limited Partner.
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13.9 No person shall become a Substituted Limited Partner until such person
shall have:
(a) become a party to, and adopted all of the terms and conditions
of, this Agreement;
(b) if such person is a corporation, partnership or trust, provided
the General Partner with evidence satisfactory to counsel for the
Partnership of such person's authority to become a Limited Partner under
the terms and provisions of this Agreement; and
(c) paid or agreed to pay the costs and expenses incurred by the
Partnership in connection with such person's becoming a Limited Partner.
Provided, however, that for the purpose of allocating Partnership Revenue, costs
and expenses, a person shall be treated as having become, and as appearing in
the records of the Partnership as, a Substituted Limited Partner on such date as
the sale, assignment or transfer was recognized by the Partnership pursuant to
Section 13.5.
13.10 By his or her execution of his or her Subscription Agreement, each
Limited Partner represents and warrants to the General Partner and to the
Partnership that his or her acquisition of his or her interest in the
Partnership is made as principal for his or her own account for investment
purposes only and not with a view to the resale or distribution of such
interest. Each Limited Partner agrees that he or she will not sell, assign or
otherwise transfer his or her interest in the Partnership or any fraction
thereof unless such interest has been registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or such sale, assignment or transfer is exempt from such
registration and, in any event, he or she will not so sell, assign or otherwise
transfer his or her interest or any fraction thereof to any person who does not
similarly represent, warrant and agree.
ARTICLE XIV
Assignments by the General Partner
14.1 The General Partner may not sell, assign, transfer or otherwise
dispose of its interest in the Partnership except with the prior consent,
subject to Section 12.1, of Limited Partners holding a majority of the
outstanding Units; provided that a sale, assignment or transfer may be effective
without such consent if pursuant to a bona fide merger, any other corporate
reorganization or a complete liquidation, pursuant to a sale of all or
substantially all of the General Partner's assets (provided the purchasers of
such assets agree to assume the duties and obligations of the General Partner)
or a sale or transfer to UNIT or any affiliates of UNIT. If the Limited
Partners' consent to a proposed transfer is required, the General Partner will,
concurrently with the request for such consent, give the Limited Partners
written notice identifying the interest to be transferred, the date on which the
transfer is to be effective, the proposed transferee and the substitute General
Partner, if any.
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14.2 Sales, assignments and transfers of the interests in the Partnership
owned by the General Partner will be subject to, and the assignee will acquire
the assigned interest subject to, all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement.
14.3 If the Limited Partners' consent to a transfer of the General
Partner's interest in the Partnership is obtained as above provided, or is not
required, the transferee may become a substitute General Partner hereunder. The
substitute General Partner will assume and agree to perform all of the General
Partner's duties and obligations hereunder and the transferring General Partner
will, upon making a proper accounting to the substitute General Partner, be
relieved of any further duties or obligations hereunder with respect to
Partnership operations thereafter occurring.
ARTICLE XV
Limited Partners' Right of Presentment
15.1 After December 31, 2003, each Limited Partner will have the option,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Article XV, to require the
General Partner to purchase all (but not less than all) of his or her Units,
provided that the option may not be exercised after the date of any notice that
will effect a dissolution and termination of the Partnership pursuant to Article
XVI below. Any such exercise shall be effected by written notice thereof
delivered to the General Partner.
15.2 Sales of Limited Partners' Units pursuant to this Article XV will be
effective, and the purchase price for such interests will be determined, as of
the close of business on the last day of the calendar year in which the Limited
Partner's notice exercising his or her option is given, or, at the General
Partner's election, as of 7:00 o'clock A.M. on the following day.
15.3 The purchase price to be paid for the Units of any Limited Partner who
exercises the option granted in this Article XV will be determined in the
following manner. First, future gross revenues expected to be derived from the
production and sale of the proved reserves attributable to Partnership
Properties will be estimated, as of the end of the calendar year in which
presentment is made, by the independent engineering firm preparing a report on
the reserves of the Partnership, or if no such firm is preparing a report as of
the end of the calendar year in which the option is exercised, then by the
General Partner. Next, future net revenues will be calculated by deducting
anticipated expenses (including Operating Expenses and other costs that will be
incurred in producing and marketing such reserves and any gross production,
excise, or other taxes, other than federal income taxes, based on the oil and
gas production of the Partnership or sales thereof) from estimated future gross
revenues. The price to be used in calculating future gross revenues as well as
the estimates of price and cost escalations to be used in such calculations will
be those of such independent engineering firm or the General Partner, whichever
is making the determination. Then the present worth of the future net revenues
will be calculated by discounting the estimated future net revenues at that rate
per annum which is one (1) percentage point higher than the prime rate of
interest being charged by Bank of Oklahoma, N.A., Tulsa, Oklahoma, or any
successor bank, as such prime rate of interest is announced by said bank as of
the date such reserves are estimated. This amount will be reduced
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by an additional 25% to take into account the uncertainties attendant to the
production and sale of oil and gas reserves and other unforeseen contingencies.
Estimated salvage value of tangible equipment installed on the Partnership Wells
and costs of plugging and abandoning the productive Partnership Wells, both
discounted at the aforementioned rate from the expected date of abandonment,
will be considered, and Partnership Properties, if any, which do not have proved
reserves attributable to them but which have not been condemned will be valued
at the lower of cost or their then current market value as determined by the
aforementioned independent petroleum engineering firm or General Partner, as the
case may be. The Partnership's cash on hand, prepaid expenses, accounts
receivable (less a reasonable reserve for doubtful accounts) and the market
value of its other assets as determined by the General Partner will be added to
the value of the Partnership Properties thus determined, and the Partnership's
debts, obligations and other liabilities will be deducted, to arrive at the
Partnership's net asset value for purposes of this Section 15.3. The price to
be paid for the Limited Partner's interest will be his or her proportionate
share of such net asset value less 75% of the amount of any Partnership
distributions received by him or her which are attributable to sales of
Partnership production since the date as of which the Partnership's proved
reserves are estimated.
15.4 Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of any calendar
year in which a Limited Partner exercises his or her option to require purchase
of his or her Units as provided in this Article XV, the General Partner will
furnish to such Limited Partner a statement showing the price to be paid for his
or her Units and evidencing that such price has been determined in accordance
with the provisions of Section 15.3 above. The statement will show which
portion of the proposed purchase price is represented by the value of the proved
reserves and by each of the other classes of Partnership assets and liabilities
attributable to the account of the Limited Partner. The Limited Partner will
then have thirty (30) days to confirm, by further notice to the General Partner,
his or her intention to sell his or her Units to the General Partner. If the
Limited Partner timely confirms his or her intention to sell, the sale will be
consummated and the price paid in cash within ten (10) days after such
confirmation. The General Partner will not be obligated to purchase (i) any
Units pursuant to such right if such purchase, when added to the total of all
other sales, exchanges, transfers or assignments of the Units within the
preceding 12 months, would result in the Partnership being considered to have
terminated within the meaning of Section 708 of the Code or would cause the
Partnership to lose its status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes,
or (ii) in any one calendar year more than 20% of the Units in the Partnership
then outstanding. If less than all of the Units tendered are purchased, the
interests purchased will be selected by lot. The Limited Partners whose
tendered Units were rejected by reason of the foregoing limitation shall be
entitled to priority in the following year. Contemporaneously with the closing
of any such sale, the Limited Partner will execute such certificates or other
documents and perform such acts as the General Partner deems necessary to effect
the sale and transfer of the liquidating Limited Partner's Units to the General
Partner and to preserve the limited liability status of the Partnership under
the laws of the jurisdictions in which it is doing business.
15.5 As used in Sections 15.3 and 15.4 above, the term "proved reserves"
shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Regulation S-X adopted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
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ARTICLE XVI
Termination and Dissolution of Partnership
16.1 The Partnership will terminate automatically on December 31, 2032,
unless prior thereto, subject to Section 12.1 above, the General Partner or
Limited Partners holding a majority of the outstanding Units elect to terminate
the Partnership as of an earlier date. In the event of such earlier
termination, ninety (90) days' written notice will be given to all other
Partners. The termination date will be specified in such notice and must be the
last day of any calendar month following expiration of the ninety (90) day
period unless an earlier date is approved by Limited Partners holding a majority
of the outstanding Units.
16.2 Upon the dissolution (other than pursuant to a merger or other
corporate reorganization), bankruptcy, legal disability or withdrawal of the
General Partner (other than pursuant to Section 14.1 above), the Partnership
shall immediately be dissolved and terminated; provided, however, that nothing
in this Agreement shall impair, restrict or limit the rights and powers of the
Partners under the laws of the State of Oklahoma and any other jurisdiction in
which the Partnership is doing business to reform and reconstitute themselves as
a limited partnership within ninety (90) days following the dissolution of the
Partnership either under provisions identical to those set forth herein or under
any other provisions. The withdrawal, expulsion, dissolution, death, legal
disability, bankruptcy or insolvency of any Limited Partner will not effect a
dissolution or termination of the Partnership.
16.3 Upon termination of the Partnership by action of the Limited Partners
pursuant to Section 16.1 hereof or as a result of an event under Section 16.2
hereof, a party designated by the Limited Partners holding a majority of the
outstanding Units will act as Liquidating Trustee. In any other case, the
General Partner will act as Liquidating Trustee.
16.4 As soon as possible after December 31, 2032, or the date of the notice
of or event causing an earlier termination of the Partnership, the Liquidating
Trustee will begin to wind up the Partnership's business and affairs. In this
regard:
(a) The Liquidating Trustee will furnish or obtain an accounting with
respect to all Partnership accounts and the account of each Partner and
with respect to the Partnership's assets and liabilities and its operations
from the date of the last previous audit of the Partnership to the date of
such dissolution;
(b) The Liquidating Trustee may, in its discretion, sell any or all
productive and non-productive properties which, except in the case of an
election by the General Partner to terminate the Partnership prior to the
tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, may be sold to the General Partner
or any of its affiliates for their fair market value as determined in good
faith by the General Partner;
(c) The Liquidating Trustee shall:
(i) pay all of the Partnership's debts, liabilities and
obligations to its creditors, including the General Partner; and
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(ii) pay all expenses incurred in connection with the
termination, liquidation and dissolution of the Partnership and
distribution of its assets as herein provided;
(d) The Liquidating Trustee shall ascertain the fair market value by
appraisal or other reasonable means of all assets of the Partnership
remaining unsold, and each Partner's capital account shall be charged or
credited, as the case may be, as if such property had been sold at such
fair market value and the gain or loss realized thereby had been allocated
to and among the Partners in accordance with Article VI hereof; and
(e) On or as soon as practicable after the effective date of the
termination, all remaining cash and any other properties and assets of the
Partnership not sold pursuant to the preceding subsections of this Section
16.4 will be distributed to the Partners (i) in proportion to and to the
extent of any remaining balances in the Partners' capital accounts and then
(ii) in undivided interests to the Partners in the same proportions that
Partnership Revenues are being shared at the time of such termination,
provided, that:
(i) the various interests distributed to the respective Partners
will be distributed subject to such liens, encumbrances, restrictions,
contracts, operating agreements, obligations, commitments or
undertakings as existed with respect to such interests at the time
they were acquired by the Partnership or were subsequently created or
entered into by the Partnership;
(ii) if interests in the Partnership Wells that are not subject
to any operating agreement are to be distributed, the Partners will,
concurrently with the distribution, enter into standard form operating
agreements covering the subsequent operation of each such well which
will, if the termination is effected pursuant to Section 16.1 above,
be in a form satisfactory to the General Partner and will name the
General Partner or its designee as operator; and
(iii) no Partner shall be distributed an interest in any asset if
the distribution would result in a deficit balance or increase the
deficit balance in its capital account (after making the adjustments
referred to in this Section 16.4 relating to distributions in kind).
16.5 If the General Partner has a deficit balance in its capital account
following the distribution(s) provided for in Section 16.4(e) above, as
determined after taking into account all adjustments to its capital account for
the taxable year of the Partnership during which such distribution occurs, it
shall restore the amount of such deficit balance to the Partnership within
ninety (90) days and such amount shall be distributed to the other Partners in
accordance with their positive capital account balances.
16.6 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, upon the
dissolution and termination of the Partnership, the General Partner will
contribute to the Partnership the lesser of: (a) the deficit balance in its
capital account; or (b) the excess of 1.01 percent of the
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total Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners over the capital previously
contributed by the General Partner.
ARTICLE XVII
Notices
17.1 All notices, consents, requests, demands, offers, reports and other
communications required or permitted shall be deemed to be given or made when
personally delivered to the party entitled thereto, or when sent by United
States mail in a sealed envelope, with postage prepaid, addressed, if to the
General Partner, to 1000 Kensington Tower I, 7130 South Lewis Avenue, P. O. Box
702500, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136, and, if to a Limited Partner, to the address set
forth below such Limited Partner's signature on the counterpart of the
Subscription Agreement that he or she originally executed and delivered to the
General Partner. The General Partner may change its address by giving notice to
all Limited Partners. Limited Partners may change their address by giving
notice to the General Partner.
ARTICLE XVIII
Amendments
18.1 Limited Partners do not have the right to propose amendments to this
Agreement. The General Partner may propose an amendment or amendments to this
Agreement by mailing to the Limited Partners a notice describing the proposed
amendment and a form to be returned by the Limited Partners indicating whether
they oppose or approve of its adoption. Such notice will include the text of
the proposed amendment, which will have been approved in advance by counsel for
the Partnership. If, within sixty (60) days, or such shorter period as may be
designated by the General Partner, after any notice proposing an amendment or
amendments to this Agreement has been mailed, Limited Partners holding a
majority of the outstanding Units have properly executed and returned the form
indicating that they approve of and consent to adoption of the proposed
amendment, such amendment will become effective as of the date specified in such
notice, provided that no amendment which alters the allocations specified in
Article VI above, changes the compensation and reimbursement provisions set
forth in Article XI above or is otherwise materially adverse to the interests of
the Limited Partners will become effective unless approved by all Limited
Partners. If an amendment does become effective, all Partners will promptly
evidence such effectiveness by executing such certificates and other instruments
as the General Partner may deem necessary or appropriate under the laws of the
jurisdictions in which the Partnership is then doing business in order to
reflect the amendment.
ARTICLE XIX
General Provisions
19.1 This Agreement embodies the entire understanding and agreement between
the Partners concerning the Partnership, and supersedes any and all prior
negotiations, understandings or agreements in regard thereto.
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19.2 In those cases where this Agreement requires opinions to be expressed
by, or actions to be approved by, counsel for Limited Partners, such counsel
must be qualified and experienced in the fields of federal income taxation and
partnership and securities laws.
19.3 This Agreement and the Subscription Agreement may be executed in
multiple counterpart copies, each of which will be considered an original and
all of which constitute one and the same instrument.
19.4 This Agreement will be deemed to have been executed and delivered in
the State of Oklahoma and will be construed and interpreted according to the
laws of that State.
19.5 This Agreement and all of the terms and provisions hereof will be
binding upon and will inure to the benefit of the Partners and their respective
heirs, executors, administrators, trustees, successors and assigns.
EXECUTED in the name of and on behalf of the undersigned General Partner
this 29th day of January 2002 but effective as of the Effective Date.
"General Partner"
UNIT PETROLEUM COMPANY
Attest:
By______________________________ By_________________________________
Mark E. Schell, Secretary John G. Nikkel, President
(CORPORATE SEAL)
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LIMITED PARTNER SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT AND
SUITABILITY STATEMENT
(ALL INFORMATION WILL BE TREATED CONFIDENTIALLY)
Unit 2002 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership
c/o Unit Petroleum Company
1000 Kensington Center
7130 South Lewis Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136
RE: Unit 2002 Employee Oil and
Gas Limited Partnership
Gentlemen:
In connection with the subscription of the undersigned for units of limited
partnership interest ("Units") in the Unit 2002 Employee Oil and Gas Limited
Partnership (the "Partnership") which the undersigned tenders herewith to Unit
Petroleum Company (the "General Partner"), the undersigned is hereby furnishing
the Partnership and the General Partner the information set forth herein below
and makes the representations and warranties set forth below, to indicate
whether the undersigned is a suitable subscriber for Units in the Partnership.
As a condition precedent to investing in the Partnership, the undersigned hereby
represents, warrants, covenants and agrees as follows:
1. The undersigned acknowledges that he or she has received and reviewed
a copy of the Private Offering Memorandum (the "Offering Memorandum") dated
December 20, 2001 of the Unit 2002 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership,
relating to the offering of Units in the Partnership, and all Exhibits thereto,
including the Agreement of Limited Partnership (the "Agreement"), and
understands that the Units will be offered to others on the terms and in the
manner described in the Offering Memorandum. The undersigned hereby subscribes
for the number of Units set forth below pursuant to the terms of the Offering
Memorandum and tenders his or her Capital Subscription as required and agrees to
pay his or her Additional Assessments upon call or calls by the General Partner;
and the undersigned acknowledges that he or she shall have the right to withdraw
this subscription only up until the time the General Partner executes and
accepts the undersigned's subscription and that the General Partner may reject
any subscription for any reason without liability to it; and, further, the
undersigned agrees to comply with the terms of the Agreement and to execute any
and all further documents necessary in connection with his or her admission to
the Partnership.
2. The undersigned has reviewed and acknowledges execution of the Power
of Attorney set forth in the Agreement and elsewhere in this instrument.
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3. The undersigned is aware that no federal or state regulatory agency
has made any findings or determination as to the fairness for public or private
investment, nor any recommendation or endorsement, of the purchase of Units as
an investment.
4. The undersigned recognizes the speculative nature and risks of loss
associated with oil and gas investments and that he or she may suffer a complete
loss of his or her investment. The Units subscribed for hereby constitute an
investment which is suitable and consistent with his or her investment program
and that his or her financial situation enables him or her to bear the risks of
this investment. The undersigned represents that he or she has adequate means
of providing for his or her current needs and possible personal contingencies,
and that he or she has no need for liquidity of this investment.
5. The undersigned confirms that he or she understands, and has fully
considered for purposes of this investment, the RISK FACTORS set forth in the
Offering Memorandum and that (i) the Units are speculative investments which
involve a high degree of risk of loss by the undersigned of his or her
investment therein, (ii) there is a risk that the anticipated tax benefits under
the Agreement could be challenged by the Internal Revenue Service or could be
affected by changes in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the
regulations thereunder or administrative or judicial interpretations thereof
thereby depriving Limited Partners of anticipated tax benefits, (iii) the
General Partner and its affiliates will engage in transactions with the
Partnership which may result in a profit and, in the future, may be engaged in
businesses which are competitive with that of the Partnership, and the
undersigned agrees and consents to such activities, even though there are
conflicts of interest inherent therein, and (iv) there are substantial
restrictions on the transferability of, and there will be no public market for,
the Units and, accordingly, it may be difficult for him or her to liquidate his
or her investment in the Units in case of emergency, if possible at all.
6. The undersigned confirms that in making his or her decision to
purchase the Units subscribed for he or she has relied upon independent
investigations made by him or her (or by his or her own professional tax and
other advisors) and that he or she has been given the opportunity to examine all
documents and to ask questions of, and to receive answers from the General
Partner or any person(s) acting on its behalf concerning the terms and
conditions of the offering or any other matter set forth in the Offering
Memorandum, and to obtain any additional information, to the extent the General
Partner possesses such information or can acquire it without unreasonable effort
or expense, necessary to verify the accuracy of the information set forth in the
Offering Memorandum, and that no representations have been made to him or her
and no offering materials have been furnished to him or her concerning the
Units, the Partnership, its business or prospects or other matters, except as
set forth in the Offering Memorandum and the other materials described in the
Offering Memorandum.
7. The undersigned understands that the Units are being offered and sold
under an exemption from registration provided by Sections 3(b) and/or 4(2) of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and warrants and represents
that any Units subscribed for are being acquired by the undersigned solely for
his or her own account, for investment purposes only, and are not being
purchased with a view to or for the resale, distribution, subdivision or
fractionalization thereof; the undersigned has no agreement or other
arrangement, formal or
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informal, with any person to sell, transfer or pledge any part of any Units
subscribed for or which would guarantee the undersigned any rights to such
Units; the undersigned has no plans to enter into any such agreement or
arrangement, and, consequently, he or she must bear the economic risk of the
investment for an indefinite period of time because the Units cannot be resold
or otherwise transferred unless subsequently registered under the Act (which
neither the General Partner nor the Partnership is obligated to do), or an
exemption from such registration is available and, in any event, unless
transferred in compliance with the Agreement.
8. The undersigned further understands that the exemption under Rule 144
of the Act will not be generally available because of the conditions and
limitations of such rule; that, in the absence of the availability of such rule,
any disposition by him or her of any portion of his or her investment will
require compliance under the Act; and that the Partnership and the General
Partner are under no obligation to take any action in furtherance of making such
exemption available.
9. The undersigned is aware that the General Partner will have full and
complete control of Partnership operations and that he or she must depend on the
General Partner to manage the Partnership profitably; and that a Limited Partner
does not have the same rights as a stockholder in a corporation or the
protection which stockholders might have, since limited partners have limited
rights in determining policy.
10. The undersigned is aware that the General Partner will receive
compensation for its services irrespective of the economic success of the
Partnership.
11. The undersigned represents and warrants as follows (please mark and
complete all applicable categories):
(a) If an individual, the undersigned is the sole party in
interest, and the undersigned is at least 21 years of age and a bona fide
resident and domiciliary (not a temporary or transient resident) of the
state set forth opposite his or her signature hereto;
____ YES ____ NO
(b) If a partnership or corporation, the undersigned meets the
following: (1) the entity has not been formed for the purposes of making
this investment; (2) the entity was formed on ____________; and (3) the
entity has a history of investments similar to the type described in the
Offering Memorandum;
____ YES ____ NO
(c) The undersigned meets all suitability standards and
acknowledges being aware of all legend conditions applicable to his or
her state of residence as set forth herein;
____ YES ____ NO
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(d) (i) The undersigned has a net worth (including home,
furnishings and automobiles) of at least five times the amount of his or
her Capital Subscription, and anticipates that he or she will have
adjusted gross income during the current year in an amount which will
enable him or her to bear the economic risks of the investment in the
Partnership;
____ YES ____ NO
and
(ii) The undersigned is a salaried employee of Unit Corporation
("UNIT") or any of its subsidiaries at the date of formation of the
Partnership whose annual base salary for 2002 has been set at $22,680 or
more, or the undersigned is a director of UNIT;
____ YES ____ NO
and
(e) The undersigned _____ is or _____ is not a citizen of the
United States.
12. The undersigned represents and agrees that he or she has had
sufficient opportunity to make inquiries of the General Partner in order to
supplement information contained in the Offering Memorandum respecting the
offering, and that any information so requested has been made available to his
or her satisfaction, and he or she has had the opportunity to verify such
information. The undersigned further agrees and represents that he or she has
knowledge and experience in business and financial matters, and with respect to
investments generally, and in particular, investments generally comparable to
the offering, so as to enable him or her to utilize such information to evaluate
the risks of this investment and to make an informed investment decision. The
following is a brief description of the undersigned's experience in the
evaluation of other investments generally comparable to the offering:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
13. The undersigned is aware that the Partnership and the General Partner
have been and are relying upon the representations and warranties set forth in
this Limited Partner Subscription Agreement and Suitability Statement, in part,
in determining whether the offering meets the conditions specified in Rules of
the Securities and Exchange Commission and the exemption from registration
provided by Sections 3(b) and/or 4(2) of the Act.
14. All of the information which the undersigned has furnished the General
Partner herein or previously with respect to the undersigned's financial
position and business experience is correct and complete as of the date of this
Agreement, and, if there should be any material
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change in such information prior to the closing of the offering period of the
Units, the undersigned will immediately furnish such revised or corrected
information to the General Partner. The undersigned agrees that the foregoing
representations and warranties shall survive his or her admission to the
Partnership, as well as any acceptance or rejection of a subscription for the
Units.
If the subscription tendered hereby of the undersigned is accepted by the
General Partner, the undersigned hereby executes and swears to the Agreement of
Limited Partnership of Unit 2002 Employee Oil and Gas Limited Partnership as a
Limited Partner, thereby agreeing to all the terms thereof and duly appoints the
General Partner, with full power of substitution, his or her true and lawful
attorney to execute, file, swear to and record any Certificate of Limited
Partnership or amendments thereto or cancellation thereof and any other
instruments which may be required by law in any jurisdiction to permit
qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or for any other
purposes necessary to implement the Partnership's purposes.
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE OKLAHOMA SECURITIES ACT OR
OTHER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES ACTS. THE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR
INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED FOR VALUE IN THE ABSENCE OF AN
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION OF THEM UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
AND/OR THE OKLAHOMA SECURITIES ACT, OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE ACT, OR AN OPINION
OF COUNSEL TO UNIT 2002 EMPLOYEE OIL AND GAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP THAT SUCH
REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SUCH ACT.
The undersigned hereby subscribes for _____ Units (minimum subscription: 2
Units) at a price of $1,000 per Unit for a total Capital Subscription (as
defined in Article II of the Agreement) of $________________, which shall be due
and payable either:
(Check One)
_______ (a) in four equal installments on March 15, 2002, June 15, 2002,
September 15, 2002 and December 15, 2002, respectively; or
_______ (b) through equal deductions from 2002 salary of the undersigned
commencing immediately after the Effective Date (as defined in Article II of the
Agreement).
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RESIDENT
LIMITED PARTNER ADDRESS
_______________ ________ (If placing Units
in the name of spouse
________________________ _________________________ or trustee for minor
child or children,
________________________ _________________________ please provide name,
Signature address of such
spouse or trustee and
________________________ Mailing Address Social Security or Tax
Please Print Name if different: Identification Number)
TAX I.D. OR SOCIAL
SECURITY NO.
_________________________ ____________
Date: __________________ _________________________ __________________
ACCEPTED THIS _____ DAY OF __________________, 2002.
UNIT 2002 EMPLOYEE OIL AND GAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By ____________________________________
Authorized Officer of Unit
Petroleum Company, General Partner
Upon completion, an executed copy of this Limited Partner Subscription
Agreement and Suitability Statement should be returned to Unit 2002 Employee Oil
and Gas Limited Partnership, Attention Mark E. Schell, 1000 Kensington Tower I,
7130 South Lewis Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74136. The General Partner, after
acceptance, will return a copy of the accepted Subscription Agreement to the
Limited Partner.
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EXHIBIT 21
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT
State or Province Percentage
Subsidiary of Incorporation Owned
- ------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------
Unit Drilling Company Oklahoma 100%
Unit Petroleum Company Oklahoma 100%
Petroleum Supply Company Oklahoma 100%
Unit Energy Canada, Inc. Alberta 100%
EXHIBIT 23
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration
statements of Unit Corporation on Form S-8 (File No.'s 33-19652, 33-44103,
33-49724, 33-64323, 33-53542, 333-38166 and 333-39584) and Form S-3 (File
No. 333-83551) of our report dated February 20, 2002, on our audits of the
consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of Unit
Corporation as of December 31, 2000 and 2001, and for the years ended
December 31, 1999, 2000 and 2001, which report is included in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Tulsa, Oklahoma
March 7, 2002