UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark one)

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017

OR

For the transition period from             to             

Commission File Number: 001-12209

 

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

(817) 870-2601

 

Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if changed since last report: Not applicable

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  ☑    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

    Yes  ☑    No  ☐

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

 

 

 

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

    Yes  ☐    No  ☑

247,590,322 Common Shares were outstanding on April 21, 2017

 

 

 

 

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RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

Quarter Ended March 31, 2017

Unless the context otherwise indicates, all references in this report to “Range Resources,” “Range,” “we,” “us,” or “our” are to Range Resources Corporation and its directly and indirectly owned subsidiaries.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. Financial Statements

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

See accompanying notes.

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RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited, in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

SELECTED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

(1) SUMMARY OF ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF BUSINESS

Range Resources Corporation is a Fort Worth, Texas-based independent natural gas, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and oil company primarily engaged in the exploration, development and acquisition of natural gas and oil properties in the Appalachian and the North Louisiana regions of the United States. Our objective is to build stockholder value through consistent growth in reserves and production on a cost-efficient basis. Range is a Delaware corporation with our common stock listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RRC”.

(2) BASIS OF PRESENTATION

These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Range Resources Corporation 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 22, 2017. The results of operations for three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. These consolidated financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments necessary for fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless otherwise disclosed. These consolidated financial statements, including selected notes, have been prepared in accordance with the applicable rules of the SEC and do not include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete financial statements.

On September 16, 2016, we issued approximately 77.0 million shares of common stock in exchange for all outstanding shares of common stock of Memorial Resources Development Corp. (“Memorial”) using an exchange ratio of 0.375 of a share of Range common stock for each share of Memorial common stock. For additional information, see Note 4.

Inventory. As of March 31, 2017, we had $10.2 million of material and supplies inventory compared to $9.4 million at December 31, 2016. Material and supplies inventory consists of primarily tubular goods and equipment used in our operations and is stated at lower of specific cost of each inventory item or market. At March 31, 2017, we also had commodity inventory of $2.4 million compared to $8.3 million at December 31, 2016. Commodity inventory as of March 31, 2017 consists of natural gas and NGLs held in storage or as line fill in pipelines.

(3) NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014, an accounting standards update was issued that supersedes the existing revenue recognition requirements. This standard includes a five-step revenue recognition model to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Among other things, the standard also eliminates industry-specific revenue guidance, requires enhanced disclosures about revenue, provides guidance for transactions that were not previously addressed comprehensively and improves guidance for multiple-element arrangements. This standard is effective for us in first quarter 2018 and will be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or with the cumulative effect of initially applying the update recognized at the date of initial application. We continue to evaluate the available adoption methods. We are utilizing a bottom-up approach to analyze the impact of the new standard on our contracts by reviewing our current accounting policies and practices to identify potential differences that would result from applying the requirements of the new standard to our revenue contracts and the impact of adopting this standards update on our total net revenues, operating income (loss) and our consolidated balance sheet. We are currently performing detailed analysis of our portfolio of contracts at the individual contract level as we continue to evaluate the impact of this accounting standards update on our consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows and financial disclosures, in addition to developing any process or control changes necessary.

In February 2016, an accounting standards update was issued that requires an entity to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability for all leases with terms of more than 12 months. Classification of leases as either a finance or operating lease will determine the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses. This accounting standards update also requires certain quantitative and qualitative disclosures about leasing arrangements. This standard is effective for us in first quarter 2019 and should be applied using a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements and early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the provisions of this accounting standards update and assessing the impact it will have on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows but based on our preliminary review of the update, we expect that we will have operating leases with durations greater than twelve months on the balance sheet. As we continue to evaluate and implement the standard, we will provide additional information about the expected financial impact at a future date.

In August 2016, an accounting standards update was issued that clarifies how entities classify certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for us in first quarter 2018 and will be applied retrospectively with

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early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the provisions of this accounting standards update and assessing the impact, if any, it may have on our consolidated cash flow statement presentation.

Recently Adopted

In August 2014, an accounting standards update was issued that requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern by incorporating and expanding upon certain principles that are currently in United States auditing standards. This standard was effective for us in 2016. The adoption did not have a significant impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows or financial disclosures; however, we did implement and formalize policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the requirement to perform ongoing interim and annual going concern assessments.

In March 2016, an accounting standards update was issued that simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions. Among other things, this new guidance requires all income tax effects of share-based awards to be recognized in the statement of operations when the awards vest or are settled, allows an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares for tax withholding purposes than it can today without triggering liability accounting and allows a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. This new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. We elected to early adopt this accounting standards update in fourth quarter 2016 and reflected any adjustments as of January 1, 2016, the beginning of the annual period that includes the interim period of adoption. The following summarizes the impact of the adoption of this update on our consolidated financial statements:  

Income taxes - Upon adoption of this standard, all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies (including tax benefits of dividends on share-based payment awards) are recognized as income tax expense or benefit in our consolidated statements of operations. The tax effects of exercised or vested awards are treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. Adoption of this new standard resulted in the recognition of an excess tax deficiency in our provision for income taxes rather than paid-in capital of $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and affected our previously reported first quarter 2016 results as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

In addition, we recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings (deficit) and reduced our deferred tax liability for $101.1 million for previously unrecognized tax benefits due to our NOL position as of December 31, 2016.

Forfeitures - Prior to adoption, share-based compensation expense was recognized on a straight line basis, net of estimated forfeitures, such that expense was recognized only for share-based awards that are expected to vest. We have elected to continue to estimate forfeitures.

Statements of cash flows - The presentation requirements for cash flows related to employee taxes paid for withheld shares were adjusted retrospectively. These cash flows have historically been presented as an operating activity. Upon adoption of this new standard, these cash outflows were classified as a financing activity. Prior periods have been adjusted as follows (in thousands):

 

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In January 2017, an accounting standards update was issued that eliminates the requirements to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value. This standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and should be applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted for any goodwill impairment tests performed in first quarter 2017 or later. We elected to adopt this accounting standards update in first quarter 2017. The adoption did not have a significant impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows or financial disclosures; however, this standard did change our policy for our annual goodwill impairment assessment by eliminating the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill.

(4) ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS

Memorial Merger

On September 16, 2016, we completed our merger with Memorial Resource Development Corp. (the “MRD Merger” or “Memorial”) which was accomplished through the merger of Medina Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Range, with and into Memorial, with Memorial surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Range. The results of Memorial’s operations since the effective time of the MRD Merger are included in our consolidated statement of operations. The MRD Merger was effected through the issuance of approximately 77.0 million shares of Range common stock in exchange for all outstanding shares of Memorial using an exchange ratio of 0.375 of a share of Range common stock for each share of Memorial common stock. At the effective time of the MRD Merger, Memorial’s liabilities, which are reflected in Range’s consolidated financial statements, included approximately $1.2 billion fair value of outstanding debt. In the last six months of 2016, we incurred MRD Merger-related expenses of approximately $37.2 million which includes consulting, investment banking, advisory, legal and other merger-related fees.

Allocation of Purchase Price. The MRD Merger has been accounted for as a business combination, using the acquisition method. The following table represents the preliminary allocation of the total purchase price of the MRD Merger to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on the fair value at the effective time of the MRD Merger, with any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired recorded as goodwill. Certain data necessary to complete the purchase price allocation is not yet available, and includes, but is not limited to, valuation of certain pre-merger contingencies, final tax returns that provide the underlying tax basis of Memorial’s assets and liabilities and final appraisals of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We expect to complete the purchase price allocation during the 12-month period following the MRD Merger date, in line with the acquisition method of accounting, during which time the value of the assets and liabilities, including goodwill, may be revised as appropriate.

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The following table sets forth our preliminary purchase price allocation (in thousands, except shares and stock price):

^(a) Goodwill will not be deductible for income tax purposes.

The fair value measurements of derivative instruments assumed were determined based on published forward commodity price curves as of the date of the MRD Merger and represent Level 2 inputs. Derivative instruments in an asset position include a measure of counterparty nonperformance risk and the fair values of commodity derivative instruments in a liability position include a measure of our own nonperformance risk, each based on the current published credit default swap rates. The fair value measurements of long-term debt were estimated based on published market prices and represent Level 1 inputs.

The fair value measurements of natural gas and oil properties and asset retirement obligations are based on inputs that are not observable in the market and therefore represent Level 3 inputs. The fair value of natural gas and oil properties and asset retirement obligations were measured using valuation techniques that convert future cash flows to a single discounted amount. Significant inputs to the valuation of natural gas and oil properties include estimates of: (i) recoverable reserves, (ii) production rates, (iii) future operating and development costs, (iv) future commodity prices and (v) a market-based weighted average costs of capital rate. These inputs require significant judgments and estimates by management at the time of the valuation and may be subject to change. Management utilized the assistance of a third party valuation expert to estimate the value of natural gas and oil properties acquired. In some cases, certain amounts allocated to unproved properties are based on a market approach using third party published data which provides lease pricing information based on certain geographic areas and represent Level 2 inputs.

Goodwill is attributed to net deferred tax liabilities arising from the differences between the purchase price allocated to Memorial’s assets and liabilities based on fair value and the tax basis of these assets and liabilities. In addition, the total consideration for the MRD Merger included a control premium, which resulted in a higher value compared to the fair value of net assets acquired. There are also other qualitative assumptions of long-term factors that the MRD Merger creates including additional potential for exploration and development opportunities, additional scale and efficiencies in other basins in which we operate and substantial operating and administrative synergies.

The results of operations attributable to Memorial are included in our consolidated statement of operations beginning on September 16, 2016. We recognized $129.1 million of natural gas, oil and NGLs revenues and $83.4 million of field net operating income from these assets from January 1, 2017 to March 31, 2017.

Pro forma Financial Information. The following pro forma condensed combined financial information was derived from the historical financial statements of Range and Memorial and gives effect to the MRD Merger as if it had occurred on January 1, 2015. The below information reflects pro forma adjustments for the issuance of Range common stock in exchange for Memorial’s outstanding shares of common stock, as well as pro forma adjustments based on available information and certain assumptions that we believe are reasonable, including (i) the depletion of Memorial’s fair-valued proved oil and gas properties and (ii) the estimated tax impacts of the pro forma adjustments. The pro forma results of operations do not include any cost savings or other synergies that may

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result from the MRD Merger or any estimated costs that have been or will be incurred by us to integrate the Memorial assets. The pro forma condensed combined financial information is not necessarily indicative of the results that might have actually occurred had the MRD Merger taken place on January 1, 2015. In addition, the pro forma financial information below is not intended to be a projection of future results (in thousands, except per share amounts).

 

2017 Dispositions

We recognized a pretax net gain on the sale of assets of $22.6 million in first quarter 2017 compared to a pretax net loss of $1.6 million in the same period of the prior year.

Western Oklahoma. In first three months 2017, we sold certain properties in Western Oklahoma for proceeds of $26.0 million and we recorded a gain of $22.5 million related to this sale, after closing adjustments and transaction fees.

Other. In first three months 2017, we sold miscellaneous proved and unproved properties, inventory, other assets and surface acreage for proceeds of $53,000 resulting in a pretax gain of $69,000.

2016 Dispositions

Pennsylvania. In first quarter 2016, we sold our non-operated interest in certain wells and gathering facilities in northeast Pennsylvania for proceeds of $111.5 million. After closing adjustments, we recorded a loss of $2.1 million related to this sale.

Other. In first three months 2016, we sold miscellaneous proved and unproved properties, inventory, other assets and surface acreage for proceeds of $1.6 million resulting in a pretax gain of $443,000. Included in the $1.6 million of proceeds is $1.2 million received from the sale of proved properties in Mississippi and South Texas.

(5) GOODWILL

During 2016, we recorded goodwill associated with the MRD Merger, which represents the cost of the acquired entity over the net amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is assessed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that impairment of the carrying value of goodwill is likely, but no less often than annually. During fourth quarter 2016, we performed our annual qualitative assessment of goodwill to determine whether it was more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit was less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it was necessary to perform the two-step impairment test. Based on the results of this assessment, we determined it was not likely that goodwill was impaired. We are not aware of any events or circumstances that occurred during first quarter 2017 that would have more likely than not reduced the fair value of our reporting unit below its carrying value.

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(6) INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense (benefit) was as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

We compute our quarterly taxes under the effective tax rate method based on applying an anticipated annual effective rate to our year-to-date income, except for discrete items. Income taxes for discrete items are computed and recorded in the period that the specific transaction occurs. For first quarter 2017 and 2016, our overall effective tax rate was different than the federal statutory rate of 35% due primarily to state income taxesand other tax items which are detailed below (dollars in thousands).

 

(7) INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE

Basic income or loss per share attributable to common shareholders is computed as (1) income or loss attributable to common shareholders (2) less income allocable to participating securities (3) divided by weighted average basic shares outstanding. Diluted income or loss per share attributable to common shareholders is computed as (1) basic income or loss attributable to common shareholders (2) plus diluted adjustments to income allocable to participating securities (3) divided by weighted average diluted shares outstanding. The following tables set forth a reconciliation of income or loss attributable to common shareholders to basic income or loss attributable to common shareholders to diluted income or loss attributable to common shareholders (in thousands except per share amounts):

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The following table provides a reconciliation of basic weighted average common shares outstanding to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):

⁽¹⁾ 2017 includes common stock issued in connection with the exchange of 77.0 million shares for all outstanding Memorial common stock on September 16, 2016.

Weighted average common shares outstanding–basic for first quarter 2017 excludes 2.7 million shares of restricted stock held in our deferred compensation plan compared to 2.8 million shares in first quarter 2016 (although all awards are issued and outstanding upon grant). For first quarter 2017, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) of 941,000 were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted net income per share because the grant prices of the SARs were greater than the average market price of the common shares and would be anti-dilutive to the computations. Due to our net loss from operations in first quarter 2016, we excluded all outstanding SARs, restricted stock and performance shares from the computation of diluted net loss per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.

(8) SUSPENDED EXPLORATORY WELL COSTS

We capitalize exploratory well costs until a determination is made that the well has either found proved reserves or that it is impaired. Capitalized exploratory well costs are included in natural gas and oil properties in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. If an exploratory well is determined to be impaired, the well costs are charged to exploration expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. We did not have any exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period greater than one year as of March 31, 2017. The following table reflects the change in capitalized exploratory well costs for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 

 

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(9) INDEBTEDNESS

We had the following debt outstanding as of the dates shown below (bank debt interest rate at March 31, 2017 is shown parenthetically). No interest was capitalized during the three months ended March 31, 2017 or the year ended December 31, 2016 (in thousands).

Bank Debt

In October 2014, we entered into an amended and restated revolving bank facility, which we refer to as our bank debt or our bank credit facility, which is secured by substantially all of our assets and has a maturity date of October 16, 2019. The bank credit facility provides for a maximum facility amount of $4.0 billion. The bank credit facility provides for a borrowing base subject to redeterminations annually by May and for event-driven unscheduled redeterminations. As part of our annual redetermination completed on March 21, 2017, our borrowing base was reaffirmed at $3.0 billion and our bank commitment was also reaffirmed at $2.0 billion. As of March 31, 2017, our bank group was composed of twenty-nine financial institutions with no one bank holding more than 5.8% of the total facility. The borrowing base may be increased or decreased based on our request and sufficient proved reserves, as determined by the bank group. The commitment amount may be increased to the borrowing base, subject to payment of a mutually acceptable commitment fee to those banks agreeing to participate in the facility increase. As of March 31, 2017, the outstanding balance under our bank credit facility was $846.0 million, before deducting debt issuance costs. Additionally, we had $279.7 million of undrawn letters of credit leaving $874.3 million of committed borrowing capacity available under the facility. During a non-investment grade period, borrowings under the bank credit facility can either be at the alternate base rate (“ABR,” as defined in the bank credit facility agreement) plus a spread ranging from 0.25% to 1.25% or LIBOR borrowings at the LIBOR Rate (as defined in the bank credit facility agreement) plus a spread ranging from 1.25% to 2.25%. The applicable spread is dependent upon borrowings relative to the borrowing base. We may elect, from time to time, to convert all or any part of our LIBOR loans to base rate loans or to convert all or any of the base rate loans to LIBOR loans. The weighted average interest rate was 2.4% in first quarter 2017 compared to 2.1% in first quarter 2016. A commitment fee is paid on the undrawn balance based on an annual rate of 0.30% to 0.375%. At March 31, 2017, the commitment fee was 0.3% and the interest rate margin was 1.5% on our LIBOR loans and 0.5% on our base rate loans.

At any time during which we have an investment grade debt rating from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and we have elected, at our discretion, to effect the investment grade rating period, certain collateral security requirements, including the borrowing base requirement and restrictive covenants, will cease to apply and an additional financial covenant (as defined in the bank credit facility) will be imposed. During the investment grade period, borrowings under the credit facility can either be at the ABR plus a spread ranging from 0.125% to 0.75% or at the LIBOR Rate plus a spread ranging from 1.125% to 1.75% depending on our debt rating. The commitment fee paid on the undrawn balance would range from 0.15% to 0.30%. We currently do not have an investment grade debt rating.

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Senior Notes

In May 2015, we issued $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.875% senior notes due 2025 (the “Outstanding Notes”) for net proceeds of $737.4 million after underwriting discounts and commissions of $12.6 million. The notes were issued at par and were offered to qualified institutional buyers and non-U.S. persons outside the United States in compliance with Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). On April 8, 2016, all of the Outstanding Notes were exchanged for an equal principal amount of registered 4.875% senior notes due 2025 pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016 under the Securities Act (the “Exchange Notes”). The Exchange Notes are identical to the Outstanding Notes except the Exchange Notes are registered under the Securities Act and do not have restrictions on transfer, registration rights or provisions for additional interest. Under certain circumstances, if we experience a change of control, noteholders may require us to repurchase all of our senior notes at 101% of the aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

Senior Subordinated Notes

If we experience a change of control, noteholders may require us to repurchase all or a portion of our senior subordinated notes at 101% of the aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. All of the senior subordinated notes and the guarantees by our subsidiary guarantors are general, unsecured obligations and are subordinated to our bank debt and are subordinated to existing and future senior debt that we or our subsidiary guarantors are permitted to incur.

Guarantees

Range is a holding company which owns no operating assets and has no significant operations independent of its subsidiaries. The guarantees by our subsidiaries, which are directly or indirectly owned by Range, of our senior notes, senior subordinated notes and our bank credit facility are full and unconditional and joint and several, subject to certain customary release provisions. A subsidiary guarantor may be released from its obligations under the guarantee:

Debt Covenants

Our bank credit facility contains negative covenants that limit our ability, among other things, to pay cash dividends, incur additional indebtedness, sell assets, enter into certain hedging contracts, change the nature of our business or operations, merge, consolidate, or make certain investments. In addition, we are required to maintain a ratio of EBITDAX (as defined in the bank credit facility agreement) to cash interest expense of equal to or greater than 2.5 and a current ratio (as defined in the bank credit facility agreement) of no less than 1.0. In addition, the ratio of the present value of proved reserves (as defined in the credit agreement) to total debt must be equal to or greater than 1.5 until Range has two investment grade ratings. We were in compliance with applicable covenants under the bank credit facility at March 31, 2017.

(10) ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

Our asset retirement obligations primarily represent the estimated present value of the amounts we will incur to plug, abandon and remediate our producing properties at the end of their productive lives. Significant inputs used in determining such obligations include estimates of plugging and abandonment costs, estimated future inflation rates and well lives. The inputs are calculated based on historical data as well as current estimated costs. A reconciliation of our liability for plugging and abandonment costs for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is as follows (in thousands):

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Accretion expense is recognized as a component of depreciation, depletion and amortization expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

(11) CAPITAL STOCK

We have authorized capital stock of 485.0 million shares which includes 475.0 million shares of common stock and 10.0 million shares of preferred stock. We currently have no preferred stock issued or outstanding. The following is a schedule of changes in the number of common shares outstanding since the beginning of 2016:

 

 

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(12) DERIVATIVE ACTIVITIES

We use commodity-based derivative contracts to manage exposure to commodity price fluctuations. We do not enter into these arrangements for speculative or trading purposes. We typically do not utilize complex derivatives, as we utilize commodity swaps or options to (1) reduce the effect of price volatility of the commodities we produce and sell and (2) support our annual capital budget and expenditure plans. The fair value of our derivative contracts, represented by the estimated amount that would be realized upon termination, based on a comparison of the contract price and a reference price, generally the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) for natural gas and crude oil or Mont Belvieu for NGLs, approximated a net asset of $8.8 million at March 31, 2017. These contracts expire monthly through December 2019. The following table sets forth our commodity-based derivative volumes by year as of March 31, 2017, excluding our basis and freight swaps which are discussed separately below:

 

⁽¹⁾ Includes derivative instruments assumed in connection with the MRD Merger.

⁽²⁾ Weighted average deferred premium is ($0.32).

⁽³⁾ Weighted average deferred premium is $0.31.

Every derivative instrument is required to be recorded on the balance sheet as either an asset or a liability measured at its fair value. If the derivative does not qualify as a hedge or is not designated as a hedge, changes in fair value of these non-hedge derivatives are recognized in earnings as derivative fair value income or loss.

Basis Swap Contracts

In addition to the swaps above, at March 31, 2017, we had natural gas basis swap contracts which lock in the differential between NYMEX and certain of our physical pricing indices primarily in Appalachia. These contracts settle monthly through October 2018 and include a total volume of 68,830,000 Mmbtu. The fair value of these contracts was a loss of $20.4 million on March 31, 2017.

At March 31, 2017, we also had propane spread swap contracts which lock in the differential between Mont Belvieu and international propane indices. The contracts settle monthly through December 2018 and include a total volume of 1,641,000 barrels in 2017 and 750,000 barrels in 2018. The fair value of these contracts was a gain of $491,000 on March 31, 2017.

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Freight Swap Contracts

In connection with our international propane spread swaps, at March 31, 2017, we had freight swap contracts which lock in the freight rate for a specific trade route on the Baltic Exchange. These contracts settle monthly in fourth quarter 2017 through December 2018 and cover 5,000 metric tons per month with a fair value gain of $116,000 on March 31, 2017.

Derivative Assets and Liabilities

The combined fair value of derivatives included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is summarized below. The assets and liabilities are netted where derivatives with both gain and loss positions are held by a single counterparty and we have master netting arrangements. The tables below provide additional information relating to our master netting arrangements with our derivative counterparties (in thousands):

 

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The effects of our derivatives on our consolidated statements of operations are summarized below (in thousands):

 

 

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(13) FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. There are three approaches for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities: the market approach, the income approach and the cost approach, each of which includes multiple valuation techniques. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to measure fair value by converting future amounts, such as cash flows or earnings, into a single present value amount using current market expectations about those future amounts. The cost approach is based on the amount that would currently be required to replace the service capacity of an asset. This is often referred to as current replacement cost. The cost approach assumes that the fair value would not exceed what it would cost a market participant to acquire or construct a substitute asset of comparable utility, adjusted for obsolescence.

The fair value accounting standards do not prescribe which valuation technique should be used when measuring fair value and do not prioritize among the techniques. These standards establish a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in applying the various valuation techniques. Inputs broadly refer to the assumptions that market participants use to make pricing decisions, including assumptions about risk. Level 1 inputs are given the highest priority in the fair value hierarchy while Level 3 inputs are given the lowest priority. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

Valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs are favored. Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest priority level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the placement of assets and liabilities within the levels of the fair value hierarchy.

Significant uses of fair value measurements include:

The need to test long-lived assets and goodwill can be based on several indicators, including a significant reduction in prices of natural gas, oil and condensate, NGLs, sustained declines in our common stock, unfavorable adjustments to reserves, significant changes in the expected timing of production, other changes to contracts or changes in the regulatory environment in which a property is located.

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Fair Values – Recurring

We use a market approach for our recurring fair value measurements and endeavor to use the best information available. The following tables present the fair value hierarchy table for assets and liabilities measured at fair value, on a recurring basis (in thousands):