Approach Resources (NASDAQ: AREX) reported Q3 EPS of ($0.22), $0.02 better than the analyst estimate of ($0.24). Revenue for the quarter came in at $23.7 million versus the consensus estimate of $24.8 million.

Approach Resources also announced an agreement to substantially reduce the Company’s long-term debt through exchange transactions anchored by a proven oil and gas industry operator and investor (the “Transactions”). The Transactions were unanimously approved by the Company’s board of directors.

The Transactions would:

• Reduce the Company’s long-term debt by up to $230.3 million;
• Generate up to $70 million in future interest savings and enhance the Company’s liquidity;
• Provide the Company flexibility to increase its capital budget out of operating cash flow and return the Company to production growth in anticipation of a continued commodity price recovery;
• Increase the Company’s financing and strategic flexibility by removing certain restrictive covenants from the existing Senior Notes indenture;
• Capture a 23% premium to the Company’s November 2, 2016 closing price of $2.70; and
• Align the Company with an investor in an integrated oilfield service business.

The Company has entered into an Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with Wilks Brothers, LLC and SDW Investments, LLC (together, “Wilks”), entities beneficially owned by the Wilks Family Office and collectively the largest holder of the Company’s 7.00% Senior Notes due 2021 (“Senior Notes”), to exchange $130,552,000 principal amount of Senior Notes, for 39,165,600 new shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), representing an exchange ratio of 300 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Senior Notes (the “Initial Exchange Ratio,” and such exchange, the “Initial Exchange”). The Initial Exchange Ratio implies a valuation of $3.33 per share and represents a 23% premium to the closing price of the Common Stock on November 2, 2016. Accrued, unpaid interest on the Senior Notes held by Wilks will be paid in cash at the closing of the Initial Exchange. Immediately following the close of the Initial Exchange, Wilks will hold approximately 48.6% of the outstanding Common Stock of Approach.

Wilks Brothers, LLC is the investment arm of the Wilks Family Office, based in Cisco, Texas. The company has made and holds significant public and private market investments across multiple sectors including real estate, energy lifecycle and E&P. In 2002, the family founded FracTech, a hydraulic fracturing and oil field services firm, and grew the firm into the largest independent pressure pumping provider in North America before selling its stake in 2011.

J. Ross Craft, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated: “The substantial decline in commodity prices over the last two years has put enormous pressure on the cash flows of small-cap upstream oil and gas businesses like ours and has resulted in a significant increase in leverage across the sector. In a focused effort to evaluate stockholder value-enhancing options and to reduce risks faced by the Company in a low commodity price environment, we have explored various alternatives for many months. The Transactions are transformative for Approach, and, if fully completed, will reduce the Company’s long-term debt by $230.3 million, and save the Company $16.1 million in annual interest payments and up to $70 million in interest payments over the life of the Senior Notes. In addition the Transactions, if completed, will reduce our leverage to bring us closer in line with new OCC-revised leverage guidelines for E&P companies.

“We believe that the Transactions are critical to unlocking stockholder value in the Company, restoring access to outside capital and positioning the Company to resume growth and take advantage of a potential recovery in commodity prices. In addition, we are excited to align ourselves with a strategic investor that has the depth of knowledge and experience in the oil field services industry of the Wilks Family Office. We look forward to working with the Wilks on developing ways to enhance our access to competitive offerings of completion, drilling and other services in anticipation of tightness in oil field services during an improving commodity price environment that will drive growth in both of our businesses.”

Matt Wilks and Morgan D. Neff, Portfolio Managers in the Wilks Family Office, stated: “For over 20 years, the Wilks have demonstrated a commitment to working collaboratively in their investments to the benefit of all related parties. We are extremely excited about the opportunity to partner with the stockholders and management of Approach. With excellent assets, management and a transformed balance sheet, we are confident in the opportunities for growth and value expansion for Approach.”

Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, Wilks, as holders of the majority in principal amount of Senior Notes, has consented to amendments to eliminate most of the restrictive covenants and certain events of default in the indenture governing the Senior Notes, which amendments will become effective upon the closing of the Initial Exchange.

The Company also has agreed, subject to completion of the Initial Exchange and stockholder approval of an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation increasing its authorized capital stock, to offer to exchange its remaining $99,768,000 principal amount of outstanding Senior Notes for Common Stock on similar economic terms to the Initial Exchange (the “Follow-On Exchange Offer”). The Follow-On Exchange Offer will be at the Initial Exchange Ratio or a lesser ratio as determined by the Company, which in any event may not be less than a ratio per $1,000 principal amount of Senior Notes equal to $953.62 divided by the 30-day VWAP at the time of launch of the Follow-On Exchange Offer (the “Follow-On Exchange Ratio”).

Assuming 100% participation in the Follow-On Exchange Offer, and assuming the Follow-On Exchange Ratio is equal to the Initial Exchange Ratio, existing (non-Wilks) stockholders would hold approximately 37.5% of the outstanding Common Stock, Wilks would hold approximately 35.5% of the outstanding Common Stock, and other holders of the Senior Notes would hold approximately 27% of the outstanding Common Stock, in each case immediately following closing of the Follow-On Exchange Offer.

In connection with the Exchange Agreement, the Company also will enter into a Stockholders Agreement with Wilks (the “Stockholders Agreement”). Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, the Company will cause three Wilks’ designees to be appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company, expanding the Board from five members to eight. Wilks has agreed to vote its shares in proportion with the non-Wilks stockholders on typical annual meeting matters (including the election of directors). The proportionate voting restrictions will be removed when the Company’s equity market capitalization reaches a designated value of between approximately $800 million and $1.1 billion, depending on the results of the Follow-On Exchange Offer, or when the Stockholders Agreement expires in five years. In addition, if Wilks owns less than 40% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of Approach at December 31, 2017, then one of the Wilks designees will resign. If Wilks owns 40% or more of the outstanding Common Stock of Approach at December 31, 2017, then one of the directors other than the Wilks designees will resign. The Board of Directors will be reduced from eight members to seven members in connection with such resignation. The Stockholders Agreement also contains certain restrictions on Wilks ability to acquire additional shares of Common Stock in excess of the amount they hold immediately following the Initial Exchange or to take certain other actions regarding the Common Stock.

The Company expects to close the Initial Exchange and launch the Follow-On Exchange Offer in the first quarter of 2017. The Initial Exchange is subject to certain customary closing conditions, including approval by the Company’s stockholders of the Initial Exchange, but is not conditioned on approval by the Company’s stockholders of the amendment to the certificate of incorporation necessary to permit the Follow-On Exchange Offer or any minimum participation in the Follow-On Exchange Offer. The Follow-On Exchange Offer is subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders of an amendment to the certificate of incorporation to increase its authorized capital stock.

The following table shows the pro forma impact each step of the Transactions would have on our outstanding long-term debt (dollars in thousands) as of September 30, 2016:

(1) The table assumes an exchange of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of all remaining Senior Notes for shares of Common Stock.

The following table shows the pro forma impact each step of the Transactions would have on our leverage ratio as of September 30, 2016:

(1) Leverage ratio is a non-GAAP number that we calculate as a ratio of total debt (principal amount) to LTM EBITDAX. See “Leverage Ratio” below for our definitions and reconciliations of leverage ratio to EBITDAX and net loss.

The following table shows the pro forma impact each step of the Transactions would have on the ownership of our Common Stock (in thousands) as of September 30, 2016:

(1) Assumes Follow-On Exchange Ratio equals Initial Exchange Ratio.

The Company intends to call a special meeting of stockholders to approve certain aspects of the Transactions, including the Initial Exchange and changes to the Company’s certificate of incorporation for the Follow-On Exchange Offer, and will file a proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the special meeting of stockholders.

Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial and Other Measures

This release contains certain financial measures that are non-GAAP measures. We have provided reconciliations below of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and on the Non-GAAP Financial Information page in the Financial Reporting subsection of the Investor Relations section of our website at www.approachresources.com.

Leverage Ratio

Leverage ratio is calculated by dividing total debt (principal amount) by EBITDAX for the trailing 12 months. We use the leverage ratio as a measurement of our overall financial leverage, which impacts our ability to incur more debt. However, this ratio has limitations. This ratio can vary from year-to-year for the Company and can vary among companies based on what is or is not included in the ratio on a company’s financial statements. This ratio is provided in addition to, and not as an alternative for, and should be read in conjunction with, the information contained in our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP (including the notes), included in our SEC filings and posted on our website.

We define EBITDAX as net loss, plus (1) exploration expense, (2) depletion, depreciation and amortization expense, (3) share-based compensation expense, (4) unrealized loss (gain) on commodity derivatives, (5) gain on debt extinguishment, (6) write-off of debt issuance costs, (7) interest expense, net, and (8) income tax benefit. EBITDAX is not a measure of net income or cash flow as determined by GAAP. The amounts included in the calculation of EBITDAX were computed in accordance with GAAP. EBITDAX is presented herein and reconciled to the GAAP measure of net loss because of its wide acceptance by the investment community as a financial indicator of a company's ability to internally fund development and exploration activities.

The table below provides a reconciliation of EBITDAX to net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2015, March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016, and September 30, 2016, and 12 months ended September 30, 2016 (in thousands).

Conference Call Information and Summary Presentation

In connection with this release and the Company’s third quarter 2016 earnings release, the Company will host a conference call on Thursday, November 3, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) to discuss the Transactions and third quarter 2016 financial and operational results. Those wishing to listen to the conference call, may do so by visiting the Events page under the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, www.approachresources.com, or by phone:

In addition, a third quarter 2016 summary presentation will be available on the Company’s website.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Approach Resources (AREX) click here.