FST-09.30.2011-10Q
Table of Contents

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
 
 
 
__________________________________________________
FORM 10-Q 
(Mark One)
T
 QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011
 
Or 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                 to                 
 
Commission File Number 1-13515
 
FOREST OIL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 
New York
25-0484900
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
707 17th Street, Suite 3600
Denver, Colorado
80202
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 812-1400 
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.  T Yes  ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  T Yes  ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer T
Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company ¨
 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  ¨ Yes  T No

As of November 2, 2011 there were 114,354,204 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $.10 per share, outstanding.
 
 
 
 
 

Table of Contents

FOREST OIL CORPORATION
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q
September 30, 2011
 
 

i

Table of Contents

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
  
FOREST OIL CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 

(Unaudited)

(In Thousands, Except Share Amounts)
 
September 30,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
ASSETS
 

 
 

Current assets:
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
270,089

 
$
217,569

Accounts receivable
72,639

 
102,325

Derivative instruments
66,726

 
60,182

Inventory
13,422

 
22,640

Other current assets
31,346

 
28,825

Current assets of discontinued operations

 
50,142

Total current assets
454,222

 
481,683

Property and equipment, at cost:
 

 
 

Oil and gas properties, full cost method of accounting:
 

 
 

Proved, net of accumulated depletion of $6,838,561 and $6,688,012
1,768,305

 
1,370,864

Unproved
687,900

 
646,264

Net oil and gas properties
2,456,205

 
2,017,128

Other property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $47,300 and $42,432
51,182

 
53,145

Net property and equipment
2,507,387

 
2,070,273

Deferred income taxes
236,558

 
284,021

Goodwill
239,420

 
239,420

Derivative instruments
20,772

 
8,244

Other assets
39,746

 
36,698

Long-term assets of discontinued operations

 
665,049

 
$
3,498,105

 
$
3,785,388

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
224,259

 
$
209,998

Accrued interest
34,041

 
23,630

Derivative instruments
13,101

 
36,413

Deferred income taxes
16,941

 
6,911

Current portion of long-term debt
285,497

 
287,092

Asset retirement obligations
2,501

 
121

Other current liabilities
17,891

 
19,562

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

 
45,647

Total current liabilities
594,231

 
629,374

Long-term debt
1,586,591

 
1,582,280

Asset retirement obligations
75,760

 
73,011

Derivative instruments
1,849

 

Other liabilities
64,983

 
73,463

Long-term liabilities of discontinued operations

 
74,473

Total liabilities
2,323,414

 
2,432,601

Shareholders’ equity:
 

 
 

Preferred stock, none issued and outstanding

 

Common stock, 114,400,776 and 113,594,788 shares issued and outstanding
11,440

 
11,359

Capital surplus
2,480,984

 
2,684,269

Accumulated deficit
(1,306,530
)
 
(1,424,905
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
(11,203
)
 
82,064

Total shareholders’ equity
1,174,691

 
1,352,787

 
$
3,498,105

 
$
3,785,388


See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. 

1

Table of Contents

FOREST OIL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Revenues:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids sales
$
174,012

 
$
174,991

 
$
526,915

 
$
529,012

Interest and other
109

 
203

 
939

 
471

Total revenues
174,121

 
175,194

 
527,854

 
529,483

Costs, expenses, and other:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Lease operating expenses
23,480

 
23,602

 
70,593

 
69,549

Production and property taxes
7,926

 
12,751

 
32,187

 
35,419

Transportation and processing costs
3,197

 
3,302

 
10,263

 
9,228

General and administrative
19,942

 
16,313

 
49,122

 
49,016

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
54,323

 
48,862

 
155,227

 
133,979

Interest expense
37,225

 
37,237

 
113,081

 
112,494

Realized and unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net
(65,961
)
 
(59,156
)
 
(70,632
)
 
(177,398
)
Other, net
(177
)
 
2,399

 
12,280

 
4,192

Total costs, expenses, and other
79,955

 
85,310

 
372,121

 
236,479

Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
94,166

 
89,884

 
155,733

 
293,004

Income tax
34,556

 
34,313

 
76,940

 
109,238

Net earnings from continuing operations
59,610

 
55,571

 
78,793

 
183,766

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax
28,108

 
13,340

 
44,569

 
27,561

Net earnings
87,718

 
68,911

 
123,362

 
211,327

Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest
4,923

 

 
4,987

 

Net earnings attributable to Forest Oil Corporation
$
82,795

 
$
68,911

 
$
118,375

 
$
211,327

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders:


 


 
 
 
 
Earnings from continuing operations
$
.52

 
$
.49

 
$
.69

 
$
1.63

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax
.20

 
.12

 
.35

 
.24

Basic earnings per common share attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders
$
.72

 
$
.61

 
$
1.04

 
$
1.87




 


 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders:


 


 
 
 
 
Earnings from continuing operations
$
.52

 
$
.49

 
$
.69

 
$
1.62

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax
.20

 
.11

 
.34

 
.24

Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders
$
.72

 
$
.60

 
$
1.03

 
$
1.86

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings from continuing operations
$
59,610

 
$
55,571

 
$
78,793

 
$
183,766

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax
23,185

 
13,340

 
39,582

 
27,561

Net earnings
$
82,795

 
$
68,911

 
$
118,375

 
$
211,327

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Table of Contents

FOREST OIL CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY
 
(Unaudited)
 
(In Thousands)

 
Common Stock
 
Capital Surplus
 
Accumulated Deficit
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive Income
 
Forest Oil
Corporation
Shareholders’ Equity
 
Noncontrolling Interest
 
Total
Shareholders’ Equity
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balances at December 31, 2010
113,595

 
$
11,359

 
$
2,684,269

 
$
(1,424,905
)
 
$
82,064

 
$
1,352,787

 
$

 
$
1,352,787

Issuance of Lone Pine Resources Inc. common stock

 

 
112,610

 

 
(18,007
)
 
94,603

 
83,572

 
178,175

Spin-off of Lone Pine Resources Inc.

 

 
(333,568
)
 

 
(54,125
)
 
(387,693
)
 
(82,242
)
 
(469,935
)
Exercise of stock options
30

 
3

 
548

 

 

 
551

 

 
551

Employee stock purchase plan
68

 
7

 
1,121

 

 

 
1,128

 

 
1,128

Restricted stock issued, net of cancellations
894

 
90

 
(90
)
 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of stock-based compensation

 

 
30,980

 

 

 
30,980

 

 
30,980

Tax impact of employee stock option exercises

 

 
(9,285
)
 

 

 
(9,285
)
 

 
(9,285
)
Other, net
(187
)
 
(19
)
 
(5,601
)
 

 

 
(5,620
)
 

 
(5,620
)
Comprehensive earnings:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net earnings

 

 

 
118,375

 

 
118,375

 
4,987

 
123,362

Unfunded postretirement benefits, net of tax

 

 

 

 
311

 
311

 

 
311

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 
(21,446
)
 
(21,446
)
 
(6,317
)
 
(27,763
)
Total comprehensive earnings
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
97,240

 
(1,330
)
 
95,910

Balances at September 30, 2011
114,400

 
$
11,440

 
$
2,480,984

 
$
(1,306,530
)
 
$
(11,203
)
 
$
1,174,691

 
$

 
$
1,174,691

 
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 

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Table of Contents

FOREST OIL CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
(Unaudited)
 
(In Thousands)
 

Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
Operating activities:
 

 
 

Net earnings
$
123,362

 
$
211,327

Less: earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax
44,569

 
27,561

Net earnings from continuing operations
78,793

 
183,766

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations:
 

 
 

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
155,227

 
133,979

Deferred income tax
46,724

 
121,327

Unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net
(40,538
)
 
(102,839
)
Stock-based compensation expense
17,809

 
13,565

Accretion of asset retirement obligations
4,496

 
4,667

Other, net
6,123

 
804

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 

 
 

Accounts receivable
29,686

 
23,734

Other current assets
8,218

 
10,476

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
(5,096
)
 
(61,914
)
Accrued interest and other current liabilities
3,977

 
5,134

Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
305,419

 
332,699

Investing activities:
 

 
 

Capital expenditures for property and equipment:
 

 
 

Exploration, development, acquisition, and leasehold costs
(656,894
)
 
(439,687
)
Other fixed assets
(4,375
)
 
(3,722
)
Proceeds from sales of assets
120,956

 
128,588

Net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations
(540,313
)
 
(314,821
)
Financing activities:
 

 
 

Redemption of 7¾% senior notes

 
(151,938
)
Proceeds from the exercise of options and from employee stock purchase plan
1,679

 
5,445

Payment of debt issue costs
(8,198
)
 

Change in bank overdrafts
(20,660
)
 
13,712

Other, net
(5,788
)
 
(6,001
)
Net cash used by financing activities of continuing operations
(32,967
)
 
(138,782
)
Cash flows of discontinued operations:


 


Operating cash flows
101,292

 
65,608

Investing cash flows
(255,470
)
 
(160,097
)
Financing cash flows
478,324

 
107

Net cash provided (used) by discontinued operations
324,146

 
(94,382
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
(3,476
)
 
(336
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
52,809

 
(215,622
)
Net (increase) decrease in cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations
(289
)
 
25

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations
52,520

 
(215,597
)
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at beginning of period
217,569

 
458,275

Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at end of period
$
270,089

 
$
242,678

Cash paid during the period for:
 

 
 

Continuing operations:


 


Interest
$
101,907

 
$
103,774

Income taxes
2,602

 
67,641

Discontinued operations:


 


Interest
$
4,594

 
$
338

Income taxes

 

 See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

4

Table of Contents

FOREST OIL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
(Unaudited)
 
(1) ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
Organization
 
Forest Oil Corporation is an independent oil and gas company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) primarily in the United States. Forest was incorporated in New York in 1924, as the successor to a company formed in 1916, and has been a publicly held company since 1969. Forest holds assets in several exploration and producing areas in the United States and has exploratory and development interests in two other countries. In December 2010, Forest announced its intention to separate its Canadian operations through an initial public offering of up to 19.9% of the common stock of its subsidiary, Lone Pine Resources Inc. (“Lone Pine”), followed by a distribution, or spin-off, of the remaining shares of Lone Pine held by Forest to its shareholders.  On June 1, 2011, Lone Pine completed an initial public offering of 15 million shares of common stock.  On September 30, 2011, Forest completed the spin-off of the 70 million shares of Lone Pine held by Forest in the form of a pro rata common stock dividend to all Forest shareholders. See Note 10 for more information regarding the initial public offering and spin-off of Lone Pine.  Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “Forest,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us,” as used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, refer to Forest Oil Corporation and its subsidiaries.
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein are unaudited and include the accounts of Forest and its consolidated subsidiaries. The results of operations of Lone Pine are reported as discontinued operations due to the spin-off, with prior periods being recast for comparative purposes. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, have been made that are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of Forest at September 30, 2011, and the results of its operations, its cash flows, and changes in its shareholders’ equity for the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of expected annual results because of the impact of fluctuations in the price of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids and the impact the prices have on our revenues and fair values of our derivative instruments.
 
In the course of preparing the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, management makes various assumptions, judgments, and estimates to determine the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses, and in the disclosures of commitments and contingencies. Changes in these assumptions, judgments, and estimates will occur as a result of the passage of time, and the occurrence of future events and, accordingly, actual results could differ from amounts previously established.
 
The more significant areas requiring the use of assumptions, judgments, and estimates relate to volumes of oil and gas reserves used in calculating depletion, the amount of future net revenues used in computing the ceiling test limitations, and the amount of future capital costs and abandonment obligations used in such calculations, determining impairments of investments in unproved properties, valuing deferred tax assets and goodwill, and estimating fair values of financial instruments, including derivative instruments.
 
Certain amounts in the prior year financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2011 financial statement presentation.
 
For a more complete understanding of Forest’s operations, financial position, and accounting policies, reference is made to the consolidated financial statements of Forest, and related notes thereto, filed with Forest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).



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Table of Contents

(2) EARNINGS PER SHARE AND COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS
 
Earnings per Share
 
Basic earnings per share is computed using the two-class method by dividing net earnings attributable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. The two-class method of computing earnings per share is required for those entities that have participating securities or multiple classes of common stock. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Holders of restricted stock issued under Forest’s stock incentive plans have the right to receive non-forfeitable cash and certain non-cash dividends, participating on an equal basis with common stock. Holders of phantom stock units issued to directors under Forest’s stock incentive plans also have the right to receive non-forfeitable cash and certain non-cash dividends, participating on an equal basis with common stock, while phantom stock units issued to employees do not participate in dividends. Stock options issued under Forest’s stock incentive plans do not participate in dividends. Performance units issued under Forest’s stock incentive plans do not participate in dividends in their current form. Holders of performance units participate in dividends paid during the performance units’ vesting period only after the performance units vest with common shares being earned by the holders of the performance units. Performance units may vest with no common shares being earned, depending on Forest’s shareholder return over the performance units’ vesting period in relation to the shareholder returns of specified peers. See Note 3 for more information on Forest’s stock-based incentive awards. In summary, restricted stock issued to employees and directors and phantom stock units issued to directors are participating securities, and earnings are allocated to both common stock and these participating securities under the two-class method. However, these participating securities do not have a contractual obligation to share in Forest’s losses. Therefore, in periods of net loss, none of the loss is allocated to these participating securities.
 
Under the treasury stock method, diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing (a) net earnings, adjusted for the effects of certain contracts that provide the issuer or holder with a choice between settlement methods, by (b) the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, adjusted for the dilutive effect, if any, of potential common shares (e.g., stock options, unvested restricted stock grants, unvested phantom stock units that may be settled in shares, and unvested performance units). No potential common shares are included in the computation of any diluted per share amount when a net loss exists. Unvested restricted stock grants were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 as their inclusion would have an antidilutive effect. Unvested performance units were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 as no shares would be issuable under the performance unit agreements had the end of the contingency period occurred during these periods.
 
The following reconciles net earnings as reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations to net earnings used for calculating basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods presented.
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2011
 
September 30, 2011
 
Continuing Operations
 
Discontinued Operations
 
Total
 
Continuing Operations
 
Discontinued Operations
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Net earnings
$
59,610

 
$
28,108

 
$
87,718

 
$
78,793

 
$
44,569

 
$
123,362

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

 
(4,923
)
 
(4,923
)
 

 
(4,987
)
 
(4,987
)
Net earnings attributable to participating securities
(1,341
)
 
(522
)
 
(1,863
)
 
(1,606
)
 
(807
)
 
(2,413
)
Net earnings attributable to common stock for basic earnings per share
$
58,269

 
$
22,663

 
$
80,932

 
$
77,187

 
$
38,775

 
$
115,962

Adjustment for liability classified stock-based compensation awards

 
(603
)
 
(603
)
 

 
(707
)
 
(707
)
Net earnings for diluted earnings per share
$
58,269

 
$
22,060

 
$
80,329

 
$
77,187

 
$
38,068

 
$
115,255

 

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Table of Contents

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2010
 
September 30, 2010
 
Continuing Operations
 
Discontinued Operations
 
Total
 
Continuing Operations
 
Discontinued Operations
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Net earnings
$
55,571

 
$
13,340

 
$
68,911

 
$
183,766

 
$
27,561

 
$
211,327

Net earnings attributable to participating securities
(1,151
)
 
(276
)
 
(1,427
)
 
(3,579
)
 
(537
)
 
(4,116
)
Net earnings attributable to common stock for basic earnings per share
$
54,420

 
$
13,064

 
$
67,484

 
$
180,187

 
$
27,024

 
$
207,211

Adjustment for liability classified stock-based compensation awards

 
74

 
74

 

 
250

 
250

Net earnings for diluted earnings per share
$
54,420

 
$
13,138

 
$
67,558

 
$
180,187

 
$
27,274

 
$
207,461


The following reconciles basic weighted average common shares outstanding to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding for the periods presented.
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
Weighted average common shares outstanding during the period for basic earnings per share
111,810

 
110,992

 
111,598

 
110,691

Dilutive effects of potential common shares
352

 
786

 
521

 
699

Weighted average common shares outstanding during the period, including the effects of dilutive potential common shares, for diluted earnings per share
112,162

 
111,778

 
112,119

 
111,390


Comprehensive Earnings
 
Comprehensive earnings is a term used to refer to net earnings plus other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income is comprised of revenues, expenses, gains, and losses that under generally accepted accounting principles are reported as separate components of shareholders’ equity instead of net earnings. Items included in Forest’s other comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are net foreign currency gains and losses related to the translation of the assets and liabilities of Lone Pine’s Canadian operations prior to the spin-off of Lone Pine on September 30, 2011, and changes in unfunded postretirement benefits.
 
The components of comprehensive earnings are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
Consolidated net earnings
$
87,718

 
$
68,911

 
$
123,362

 
$
211,327

Other comprehensive income:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency translation (losses) gains
(38,234
)
 
8,978

 
(27,763
)
 
5,132

Unfunded postretirement benefits, net of tax
93

 
290

 
311

 
975

Total comprehensive earnings
$
49,577

 
$
78,179

 
$
95,910

 
$
217,434

Less: total comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest
(1,824
)
 

 
(1,330
)
 

Total comprehensive earnings attributable to Forest Oil Corporation
$
51,401

 
$
78,179

 
$
97,240

 
$
217,434


7

Table of Contents


(3) STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
Equity Incentive Plans
 
Forest maintains the 2001 and 2007 Stock Incentive Plans (the “Plans”) under which qualified and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, performance units, and phantom stock units may be granted to employees, consultants, and non-employee directors of Forest and its subsidiaries.
 
Compensation Costs
 
The table below sets forth total stock-based compensation of continuing operations recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and the remaining unamortized amounts and weighted average amortization period as of September 30, 2011.
 
 
Stock
Options(1)
 
Restricted
Stock(2)
 
Performance
Units
 
Phantom
Stock Units
 
 
Total(3)(4)
 
(In Thousands)
Three months ended September 30, 2011:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

Total stock-based compensation costs
$
1,095

 
$
15,434

 
$
775

 
$
(1,456
)
 
 
$
15,848

Less: stock-based compensation costs capitalized
(437
)
 
(6,994
)
 
(253
)
 
529

 
 
(7,155
)
Stock-based compensation costs expensed
$
658

 
$
8,440

 
$
522

 
$
(927
)
 
 
$
8,693

Nine months ended September 30, 2011:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

Total stock-based compensation costs
$
1,536

 
$
26,566

 
$
2,181

 
$
(1,788
)
 
 
$
28,495

Less: stock-based compensation costs capitalized
(663
)
 
(11,522
)
 
(683
)
 
696

 
 
(12,172
)
Stock-based compensation costs expensed
$
873

 
$
15,044

 
$
1,498

 
$
(1,092
)
 
 
$
16,323

Unamortized stock-based compensation costs
$

 
$
25,086

 
$
8,378

 
$
655

(5) 
 
$
34,119

Weighted average amortization period remaining

 
2.2 years

 
2.0 years

 
.8 years

 
 
2.1 years

Three months ended September 30, 2010:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

Total stock-based compensation costs
$
166

 
$
6,205

 
$
552

 
$
639

 
 
$
7,562

Less: stock-based compensation costs capitalized
(73
)
 
(2,440
)
 
(94
)
 
(207
)
 
 
(2,814
)
Stock-based compensation costs expensed
$
93

 
$
3,765

 
$
458

 
$
432

 
 
$
4,748

Nine months ended September 30, 2010:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

Total stock-based compensation costs
$
396

 
$
18,918

 
$
1,260

 
$
1,749

 
 
$
22,323

Less: stock-based compensation costs capitalized
(169
)
 
(6,937
)
 
(310
)
 
(558
)
 
 
(7,974
)
Stock-based compensation costs expensed
$
227

 
$
11,981

 
$
950

 
$
1,191

 
 
$
14,349

____________________________________________
(1)
In conjunction with the spin-off of Lone Pine, both the number of options outstanding and the option exercise prices were adjusted in accordance with antidilution provisions provided for by the Plans, which were designed to equalize an award’s value before and after an equity restructuring. Because the actual option modifications were calculated based on Forest’s average stock price over a period of time before and after the spin-off of Lone Pine rather than the stock price immediately before and after the spin-off, $1.1 million in incremental compensation cost resulted, $.4 million of which was capitalized. This cost was recognized in its entirety on September 30, 2011 because all options outstanding were vested as of that date.
(2)
In conjunction with the spin-off, the forfeiture restrictions on a portion of each outstanding restricted stock award lapsed because the holders of the restricted stock awards received unrestricted Lone Pine common shares in the spin-off. This resulted in an acceleration of the recognition of $10.9 million of compensation costs associated with the restricted stock awards, $4.9 million of which was capitalized.
(3)
The Company also maintains an employee stock purchase plan (which is not included in the table) under which $.1 million and $.4 million of compensation cost was recognized for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and $.1 million and $.4 million of compensation cost was recognized for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010, respectively.
(4)
In addition to the compensation costs set forth in the table above, in June 2011 the Company granted a cash-based long-term incentive award under which $35,000 and $44,000 in compensation costs were recognized for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and under which $.3 million remains as unamortized stock-based compensation costs at September 30, 2011.  The award is comprised of time-based and performance-based components.  Under the time-based component, a cash payment will be made after three years dependent on the change in value of Forest’s common stock during the three-year period, and under the performance-based component, a cash payment will be made after three years dependent on the total shareholder return on Forest’s common stock in comparison to that of a peer group during the three-year period.
(5)
Based on the closing price of Forest’s common stock on September 30, 2011.
 

8

Table of Contents

Stock Options
 
The following table summarizes stock option activity in the Plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2011
 
Number of
Options
 
Weighted
Average Exercise
Price
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(In Thousands)(2)
 
Number of
Options
Exercisable
Outstanding at January 1, 2011
1,327,695

 
$
21.67

 
$
22,531

 
1,283,232

Granted

 

 
 

 
 

Exercised
(29,711
)
 
18.55

 
331

 
 

Cancelled
(13,273
)
 
25.11

 
 

 
 

Spin-off adjustment(1)
673,189

 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2011
1,957,900

 
$
14.29

 
$
187

 
1,957,900

____________________________________________
(1)
In conjunction with the spin-off of Lone Pine, both the number of options outstanding and the option exercise prices were adjusted in accordance with antidilution provisions provided for by the Plans. In conjunction with the spin-off, Lone Pine employees were deemed to have been involuntarily terminated under the terms of their option agreements and, therefore, have three months from September 30, 2011 to exercise their vested options before they are canceled. Lone Pine has agreed to reimburse Forest for the market value of any stock issued upon exercise of these options by Lone Pine employees.
(2)
The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the market value of the underlying stock, as of the date outstanding or exercised, exceeds the exercise price of the option.
 
Restricted Stock, Performance Units, and Phantom Stock Units
 
The following table summarizes the restricted stock, performance unit, and phantom stock unit activity in the Plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.
 
 
Restricted Stock
 
Performance Units
 
Phantom Stock Units
 
Number of
Shares
 
Weighted
Average
Grant
Date
Fair
Value
 
Vest Date
Fair
Value
(In
Thousands)
 
Number
of
Units(3)
 
Weighted
Average
Grant
Date
Fair
Value
 
Vest Date
Fair
Value
(In
Thousands)
 
Number
of
Units(4)
 
Weighted
Average
Grant
Date
Fair
Value
 
Vest Date
Fair
Value
(In
Thousands)
Unvested at January 1, 2011
2,272,321

 
$
32.71

 
 

 
264,500

 
$
31.63

 
 

 
510,609

 
$
24.79

 
 

Awarded
1,025,782

 
27.30

 
 

 
226,000

 
27.53

 
 

 
500

 
28.24

 
 

Vested
(610,681
)
 
61.33

 
$
18,416

 

 

 
$

 
(52,587
)
 
60.04

 
$
1,449

Forfeited
(131,330
)
 
23.51

 
 

 
(41,000
)
 
29.98

 
 

 
(25,737
)
 
19.12

 
 

Spin-off adjustment(1)

 
 
 
 
 
233,740

 


 
 
 
225,004

 
 
 
 
Vested due to spin-off(2)

 
 
 
 
 
(19,000
)
 
20.81

 
$

 
(342,765
)
 
15.15

 
$
3,246

Unvested at September 30, 2011
2,556,092

 
$
24.18

 
 

 
664,240

 
$
19.52

 
 

 
315,024

 
$
12.15

 
 

 ____________________________________________
(1)
In conjunction with the spin-off of Lone Pine, the number of performance units and phantom stock units outstanding was adjusted in accordance with antidilution provisions provided for by the Plans. In addition, the initial stock prices used to measure Forest’s total shareholder returns over the performance periods of the performance units were adjusted in accordance with the antidilution provisions provided for by the Plans. The number of restricted stock awards outstanding was not adjusted as a result of the spin-off since holders of restricted stock awards received Lone Pine common shares in the spin-off.
(2)
In conjunction with the spin-off of Lone Pine, Lone Pine employees were deemed to have been involuntarily terminated under the terms of their phantom stock agreements, and, therefore, all phantom stock units held by Lone Pine employees vested on September 30, 2011 and were settled in cash by Lone Pine. The single Lone Pine employee who held a performance unit award was deemed to have been involuntarily terminated under the terms of his performance unit agreement at the time of the spin-off and, therefore, his performance units vested on September 30, 2011, but with no shares deliverable under his agreement. No Forest restricted stock awards are held by Lone Pine employees.
(3)
Forest granted 226,000 performance units on June 10, 2011, with a grant date fair value of $27.53 each. Under the terms of the award agreements, each performance unit represents a contractual right to receive one share of Forest’s common stock; provided that the actual number of shares that may be deliverable under an award will range from 0% to 200% of the number of performance units awarded, depending on Forest’s relative total shareholder return in comparison to an identified peer group during the thirty-six month performance period ending on March 31, 2014.
(4)
Of the unvested phantom stock units at September 30, 2011, 6,080 units can be settled in cash, shares of common stock, or a combination of both, while the remaining 308,944 units can only be settled in cash. The phantom stock units have been accounted for as a liability within the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Of the 395,352 phantom stock units that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, 5,500 units were settled in shares of common stock and 389,852 units were settled in cash.


9

Table of Contents

(4) DEBT
 
The components of debt are as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
Principal
 
Unamortized
Premium
(Discount)
 
Other(1)
 
Total
 
Principal
 
Unamortized
Premium
(Discount)
 
Other(1)
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Credit Facility
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

8% Senior Notes due 2011(2) 
285,000

 
323

 
174

 
285,497

 
285,000

 
1,292

 
800

 
287,092

7% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013
12

 

 

 
12

 
12

 

 

 
12

8½% Senior Notes due 2014
600,000

 
(13,856
)
 

 
586,144

 
600,000

 
(18,210
)
 

 
581,790

7¼% Senior Notes due 2019
1,000,000

 
435

 

 
1,000,435

 
1,000,000

 
478

 

 
1,000,478

Total debt
1,885,012

 
(13,098
)
 
174

 
1,872,088

 
1,885,012

 
(16,440
)
 
800

 
1,869,372

Less: current portion of debt(2) 
(285,000
)
 
(323
)
 
(174
)
 
(285,497
)
 
(285,000
)
 
(1,292
)
 
(800
)
 
(287,092
)
Long-term portion of debt
$
1,600,012

 
$
(13,421
)
 
$

 
$
1,586,591

 
$
1,600,012

 
$
(17,732
)
 
$

 
$
1,582,280

____________________________
(1)
Represents the unamortized portion of deferred gains realized upon termination of interest rate swaps in 2002 that were accounted for as fair value hedges. The gains are being amortized as a reduction of interest expense over the term of the notes.
(2)
Due December 2011.
 
Bank Credit Facilities
 
On June 30, 2011, the Company entered into the Third Amended and Restated Credit Facility with a syndicate of banks led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Credit Facility”), consisting of a $1.5 billion credit facility maturing in June 2016. Subject to the agreement of Forest and the applicable lenders, the size of the Credit Facility may be increased by $300 million, to a total of $1.8 billion.
 
Forest’s availability under the Credit Facility is governed by a borrowing base. As of September 30, 2011, the borrowing base under the Credit Facility was $1.25 billion. The determination of the borrowing base is made by the lenders in their sole discretion, on a semi-annual basis, taking into consideration the estimated value of Forest’s oil and gas properties based on pricing models determined by the lenders at such time, in accordance with the lenders’ customary practices for oil and gas loans. The available borrowing amount under the Credit Facility could increase or decrease based on such redetermination. In addition to the scheduled semi-annual redeterminations, Forest and the lenders each have discretion at any time, but not more often than once during a calendar year, to have the borrowing base redetermined. The borrowing base is also subject to automatic adjustments if certain events occur.  The borrowing base was reaffirmed at $1.25 billion in October 2011 and the next scheduled redetermination of the borrowing base will occur on or about May 1, 2012.
 
The borrowing base is also subject to change in the event (i) Forest or its Restricted Subsidiaries issue senior unsecured notes, in which case the borrowing base will immediately be reduced by an amount equal to 25% of the stated principal amount of such issued senior notes, excluding any senior unsecured notes that Forest or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may issue to refinance then-existing senior notes, or (ii) Forest sells oil and natural gas properties included in the borrowing base having a fair market value in excess of 10% of the borrowing base then in effect. A lowering of the borrowing base could require Forest to repay indebtedness in excess of the borrowing base in order to cover the deficiency.

Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at one of two rates as may be elected by the Company. Borrowings bear interest at:
 
(i)
the greatest of (a) the prime rate announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., (b) the federal funds effective rate from time to time plus ½ of 1%, and (c) the one-month rate applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market for one, two, three or six months (as selected by Forest) (the “LIBO Rate”) plus 1%, plus, in the case of each of clauses (a), (b), and (c), 50 to 150 basis points depending on borrowing base utilization; or
 
(ii)
the LIBO Rate as adjusted for statutory reserve requirements (the “Adjusted LIBO Rate”), plus 150 to 250 basis points, depending on borrowing base utilization.
 

10

Table of Contents

The Credit Facility includes terms and covenants that place limitations on certain types of activities, including restrictions or requirements with respect to additional debt, liens, asset sales, hedging activities, investments, dividends, mergers, and acquisitions, and also includes a financial covenant. The Credit Facility provides that Forest will not permit its ratio of total debt outstanding to consolidated EBITDA (as adjusted for non-cash charges) for a trailing twelve-month period to be greater than 4.50 to 1.00 at any time.
 
Under certain conditions, amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility may be accelerated. Bankruptcy and insolvency events with respect to Forest or certain of its subsidiaries will result in an automatic acceleration of the indebtedness under the Credit Facility. Subject to notice and cure periods, certain events of default under the Credit Facility will result in acceleration of the indebtedness under the Credit Facility at the option of the lenders. Such other events of default include non-payment, breach of warranty, non-performance of obligations under the Credit Facility (including the financial covenant), default on other indebtedness, certain pension plan events, certain adverse judgments, change of control, and a failure of the liens securing the Credit Facility.
 
The Credit Facility is collateralized by Forest’s assets. Under the Credit Facility, Forest is required to mortgage and grant a security interest in 75% of the present value of the proved oil and gas properties and related assets of Forest and its U.S. subsidiaries. Forest is required to pledge, and has pledged, the stock of certain subsidiaries to secure the Credit Facility.  If Forest’s corporate credit rating by Moody’s and S&P meet pre-established levels, the security requirements would cease to apply and, at Forest’s request, the banks would release their liens and security interest on Forest’s properties.
 
Of the $1.5 billion total nominal amount under the Credit Facility, JPMorgan and eleven other banks hold approximately 68% of the total commitments, with each of these twelve lenders holding an equal share. With respect to the other 32% of the total commitments, no single lender holds more than 3.3% of the total commitments.
 
At September 30, 2011, there were no borrowings and $2.1 million in letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Facility.
 

(5) PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
Full Cost Method of Accounting
 
The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for oil and gas properties. Separate cost centers are maintained for each country in which the Company has operations. During the periods presented, the Company’s primary oil and gas operations were conducted in the United States and Canada. Upon the spin-off of Lone Pine on September 30, 2011, the Company no longer has any operations in Canada. All costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration, and development of properties (including costs of surrendered and abandoned leaseholds, delay lease rentals, dry holes, and overhead related to exploration and development activities) and the fair value of estimated future costs of site restoration, dismantlement, and abandonment activities are capitalized. During the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, Forest’s continuing operations capitalized $15.8 million and $10.5 million of general and administrative costs (including stock-based compensation), respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, Forest’s continuing operations capitalized $37.9 million and $31.1 million of general and administrative costs (including stock-based compensation), respectively. Interest costs related to significant unproved properties that are under development are also capitalized to oil and gas properties. During the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, Forest’s continuing operations capitalized $3.0 million and $2.8 million, respectively, of interest costs attributed to unproved properties. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, Forest’s continuing operations capitalized $7.5 million and $8.4 million, respectively, of interest costs attributed to unproved properties.
 
Investments in unproved properties, including capitalized interest costs, are not depleted pending determination of the existence of proved reserves. Unproved properties are assessed periodically to ascertain whether impairment has occurred. Unproved properties whose costs are individually significant are assessed individually by considering the primary lease terms of the properties, the holding period of the properties, geographic and geologic data obtained relating to the properties, and estimated discounted future net cash flows from the properties. Estimated discounted future net cash flows are based on discounted future net revenues associated with probable and possible reserves, risk adjusted as appropriate. Where it is not practicable to assess individually the amount of impairment of properties for which costs are not individually significant, such properties are grouped for purposes of assessing impairment. The amount of impairment assessed is added to the costs to be amortized, or is reported as a period expense, as appropriate.
 


11

Table of Contents

The Company performs a ceiling test each quarter on a country-by-country basis under the full cost method of accounting. The ceiling test is a limitation on capitalized costs prescribed by SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10. The ceiling test is not a fair value based measurement. Rather, it is a standardized mathematical calculation. The ceiling test provides that capitalized costs less related accumulated depletion and deferred income taxes for each cost center may not exceed the sum of (1) the present value of future net revenue from estimated production of proved oil and gas reserves using current prices, excluding the future cash outflows associated with settling asset retirement obligations that have been accrued on the balance sheet, at a discount factor of 10%; plus (2) the cost of properties not being amortized, if any; plus (3) the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties included in the costs being amortized, if any; less (4) income tax effects related to differences in the book and tax basis of oil and gas properties. Should the net capitalized costs for a cost center exceed the sum of the components noted above, a ceiling test write-down would be recognized to the extent of the excess capitalized costs.
 
Gain or loss is not recognized on the sale of oil and gas properties unless the sale significantly alters the relationship between capitalized costs and estimated proved oil and gas reserves attributable to a cost center.
 
Depletion of proved oil and gas properties is computed on the units-of-production method, whereby capitalized costs, as adjusted for future development costs and asset retirement obligations, are amortized over the total estimated proved reserves. The Company uses its quarter-end reserves estimates to calculate depletion for the current quarter.
 
(6) INCOME TAXES
 
A reconciliation of income tax computed by applying the United States statutory federal income tax rate is as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
Federal income tax at 35% of earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
$
32,958

 
$
31,459

 
$
54,507

 
$
102,551

State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefits
1,107

 
1,004

 
1,830

 
3,274

Canadian dividend tax, net of U.S. tax benefit

 

 
18,460

 

Effect of federal, state, and foreign tax on permanent items
1,397

 
1,039

 
2,243

 
3,271

Other
(906
)
 
811

 
(100
)
 
142

Total income tax
$
34,556

 
$
34,313

 
$
76,940

 
$
109,238


 

12

Table of Contents


(7) FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
 
The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2011 are set forth in the table below.
 
 
 
Using
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)(1)
 
 
(In Thousands)
Assets:
 
 

Derivative instruments(2):
 
 

Commodity
 
$
64,062

Interest rate
 
23,436

Total assets
 
$
87,498

Liabilities:
 
 

Derivative instruments(2):
 
 

Commodity
 
$
14,950

Interest rate
 

Total liabilities
 
$
14,950

____________________________________________
(1)
The authoritative accounting guidance regarding fair value measurements for assets and liabilities measured at fair value establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. These tiers consist of: Level 1, defined as unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs for use when little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.
(2)
The Company’s derivative assets and liabilities include commodity and interest rate derivatives (see Note 8 for more information on these instruments). The Company utilizes present value techniques and option-pricing models for valuing its derivatives. Inputs to these valuation techniques include published forward prices, volatilities, and credit risk considerations, including the incorporation of published interest rates and credit spreads. All of the significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; therefore, the Company’s derivative instruments are included within the Level 2 fair value hierarchy.

The fair values and carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments are summarized below as of the dates indicated.
 
 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value(1)
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value(1)
 
(In Thousands)
Assets:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
270,089

 
$
270,089

 
$
217,569

 
$
217,569

Derivative instruments
87,498

 
87,498

 
68,426

 
68,426

Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Derivative instruments
14,950

 
14,950

 
36,413

 
36,413

8% Senior Notes due 2011
285,497

 
288,563

 
287,092

 
300,658

7% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013
12

 
12

 
12

 
12

8½% Senior Notes due 2014
586,144

 
636,000

 
581,790

 
660,000

7¼% Senior Notes due 2019
1,000,435

 
975,500

 
1,000,478

 
1,022,670

____________________________________________
(1)
The Company used various assumptions and methods in estimating the fair values of its financial instruments. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximated fair value due to the short original maturities (three months or less) and high liquidity of the cash equivalents. The fair values of the senior notes and senior subordinated notes were estimated based on quoted market prices.  The methods used to determine the fair values of the derivative instruments are discussed above. See also Note 8 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the derivative instruments.
 
   

13

Table of Contents

(8) DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
 
Commodity Derivatives
 
Forest periodically enters into derivative instruments such as swap and collar agreements as an attempt to moderate the effects of wide fluctuations in commodity prices on Forest’s cash flow and to manage the exposure to commodity price risk. Forest’s commodity derivative instruments generally serve as effective economic hedges of commodity price exposure; however, Forest has elected not to designate its derivatives as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. As such, Forest recognizes all changes in fair value of its derivative instruments as unrealized gains or losses on derivative instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
 
The table below sets forth Forest’s outstanding commodity swaps and costless collars as of September 30, 2011.
 
Commodity Swaps and Collars
 
Natural Gas
(NYMEX HH)
 
Oil
(NYMEX WTI)
 
NGLs
(OPIS Refined Products)
Remaining Term
Bbtu
Per Day
 
Weighted
Average
Hedged Price
per MMBtu
 
Barrels
Per Day
 
Weighted
Average
Hedged Price
per Bbl
 
Barrels
Per Day
 
Weighted
Average
Hedged Price
per Bbl
Swaps:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oct 2011 - Dec 2011
150

 
$
5.48

 
1,000

 
$
85.00

 
5,000

 
$
38.15

Calendar 2012(1)
105

 
5.30

 

 

 
2,000

 
45.22

Collars:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oct 2011 - Dec 2011

 

 
3,000

 
75.00/90.20

(2) 

 

____________________________________________
(1)
Subsequent to September 30, 2011, Forest entered into derivative agreements for the period April 2012 - December 2012 subjecting 30 Bbtu per day of the 2012 gas swaps to a written put of $3.57 and a $4.00 to $4.50 call spread whereby Forest receives $5.30 except as follows: Forest receives (i) NYMEX HH plus $1.73 when NYMEX HH is $3.57 or below; (ii) $5.30 plus the value of the call spread when NYMEX HH is between $4.00 and $4.50; and (iii) $5.80 when NYMEX HH is $4.50 or above.

(2)
Represents the weighted average hedged floor and ceiling price per Bbl.

In connection with several natural gas swaps Forest has entered into, Forest granted option instruments (several commodity swaptions and one oil call option) to the natural gas swap counterparties in exchange for Forest receiving premium hedged prices on the natural gas swaps. The table below sets forth the outstanding options as of September 30, 2011 (as of November 2, 2011, none of the swaptions in the table have been exercised by the counterparties).
 
Commodity Options
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural Gas (NYMEX HH)
 
Oil (NYMEX WTI)
Instrument
 
Option Expiration
 
Underlying Swap
Term
 
Underlying
Swap Bbtu
Per Day
 
Underlying Swap
Weighted Average
Hedged Price per
MMBtu
 
Underlying Swap
Barrels Per Day
 
Underlying Swap
Hedged Price per
Bbl
Gas Swaptions
 
December 2011
 
Calendar 2012
 
50

 
$
5.28

 

 
$

Oil Swaptions
 
December 2011
 
Calendar 2012
 

 

 
3,000

 
90.00

Oil Swaptions
 
December 2012
 
Calendar 2013
 

 

 
2,000

 
120.00

Oil Call Option
 
Monthly in 2011
 
Monthly 2011
 

 

 
1,000

 
90.00

  

14

Table of Contents

Interest Rate Derivatives
 
Forest periodically enters into interest rate derivative agreements in an attempt to manage the mix of fixed and floating interest rates within its debt portfolio. The Company has elected not to designate its derivatives as hedging instruments. As such, the Company recognizes all changes in fair value of its derivative instruments as unrealized gains or losses on derivative instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The table below sets forth Forest’s outstanding fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps as of September 30, 2011.
 
Interest Rate Swaps
Remaining Swap Term
 
Notional
Amount
(In Thousands)
 
Weighted Average
Floating Rate
 
Weighted
Average
Fixed Rate
October 2011 - February 2014
 
$
500,000

 
1 month LIBOR + 5.89%
 
8.50
%

Fair Value and Gains and Losses
 
The table below summarizes the location and fair value amounts of Forest’s derivative instruments reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of the dates indicated. These derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. For financial reporting purposes, Forest does not offset asset and liability fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments with the same counterparty under its master netting arrangements. See Note 7 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the fair values of Forest’s derivative instruments.
 
 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
(In Thousands)
Assets:
 

 
 

Commodity derivatives:
 

 
 

Current assets: derivative instruments
$
56,390

 
$
49,415

Derivative instruments
7,672

 

Interest rate derivatives:
 

 
 

Current assets: derivative instruments
10,336

 
10,767

Derivative instruments
13,100

 
8,244

Total assets
87,498

 
68,426

Liabilities:
 

 
 

Commodity derivatives:
 

 
 

Current liabilities: derivative instruments
13,101

 
36,413

Derivative instruments
1,849

 

Total liabilities
14,950

 
36,413

Net derivative fair value
$
72,548

 
$
32,013

 

15

Table of Contents

The table below summarizes the amount of derivative instrument gains and losses of continuing operations reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as “Realized and unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net,” for the periods indicated. These derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
Commodity derivatives:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Realized gains
$
(8,639
)
 
$
(27,153
)
 
$
(21,478
)
 
$
(64,816
)
Unrealized gains
(51,886
)
 
(21,222
)
 
(36,113
)
 
(75,839
)
Interest rate derivatives:
 

 
 

 


 
 

Realized gains
(2,774
)
 
(2,912
)
 
(8,616
)
 
(9,743
)
Unrealized gains
(2,662
)
 
(7,869
)
 
(4,425
)
 
(27,000
)
Realized and unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net
$
(65,961
)
 
$
(59,156
)
 
$
(70,632
)
 
$
(177,398
)
 
Due to the volatility of natural gas and liquids prices, the estimated fair values of Forest’s commodity derivative instruments are subject to large fluctuations from period to period. Forest has experienced the effects of these commodity price fluctuations in both the current period and prior periods and expects that volatility in commodity prices will continue.
 
Credit Risk
 
Forest executes with each of its derivative counterparties an International Swap and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) Master Agreement, which is a standard industry form contract containing general terms and conditions applicable to many types of derivative transactions. Additionally, Forest executes, with each of its derivative counterparties, a Schedule, which modifies the terms and conditions of the ISDA Master Agreement according to the parties’ requirements and the specific types of derivatives to be traded. As of September 30, 2011, all of the derivative counterparties are lenders, or affiliates of lenders, under the Credit Facility.  The terms of the Credit Facility provide that any security granted by Forest thereunder shall also extend to and be available to those lenders that are counterparties to derivative transactions. None of these counterparties requires collateral beyond that already pledged under the Credit Facility. 

The ISDA Master Agreements and Schedules contain cross-default provisions whereby a default under the Credit Facility will also cause a default under the derivative agreements. Such events of default include non-payment, breach of warranty, non-performance of financial covenant, default on other indebtedness, certain pension plan events, certain adverse judgments, change of control, and a failure of the liens securing the Credit Facility.  In addition, bankruptcy and insolvency events with respect to Forest or certain of its U.S. subsidiaries will result in an automatic acceleration of the indebtedness under the Credit Facility. None of these events of default is specifically credit-related, but some could arise if there were a general deterioration of Forest’s credit. The ISDA Master Agreements and Schedules contain a further credit-related termination event that would occur if Forest were to merge with another entity and the creditworthiness of the resulting entity was materially weaker than that of Forest.
 
The derivative counterparties are all financial institutions that are engaged in similar activities and have similar economic characteristics that, in general, could cause their ability to meet contractual obligations to be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions. Forest does not require the posting of collateral for its benefit under its derivative agreements. However, the ISDA Master Agreements and Schedules generally contain netting provisions whereby if on any date amounts would otherwise be payable by each party to the other, then on such date the party that owes the larger amount will pay the excess of that amount over the smaller amount owed by the other party, thus satisfying each party’s obligations. These provisions generally apply to all derivative transactions, or all derivative transactions of the same type (e.g., commodity, interest rate, etc.), with the particular counterparty. If all counterparties failed, Forest would be exposed to a risk of loss equal to this net amount owed to Forest, the fair value of which was $73.5 million at September 30, 2011. If Forest suffered an event of default, each counterparty could demand immediate payment, subject to notification periods, of the net obligations due to it under the derivative agreements. At September 30, 2011, Forest owed a net derivative liability to one counterparty, the fair value of which was $1.0 million. In the absence of netting provisions, at September 30, 2011, Forest would be exposed to a risk of loss of $87.5 million under its derivative agreements and Forest’s derivative counterparties would be exposed to a risk of loss of $15.0 million.

16

Table of Contents

 
On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was enacted which, as part of a broader financial regulatory reform, includes derivatives reform that may impact Forest’s business. Congress delegated many of the details of the Dodd-Frank Act to federal regulatory agencies, which are in the process of writing and implementing new rules. Forest is monitoring the impact, if any, that the Dodd-Frank Act and related rules will have on its existing derivative transactions under its outstanding ISDA Master Agreements and Schedules, as well as its ability to enter into such transactions and agreements in the future.
 

(9) COSTS, EXPENSES, AND OTHER
 
The table below sets forth the components of “Other, net” of continuing operations in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the periods indicated.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
Accretion of asset retirement obligations
$
1,539

 
$
1,442

 
$
4,496

 
$
4,667

Legal proceeding settlement

 

 
6,500

 

Gain on debt extinguishment, net






(4,576
)
Other, net
(1,716
)
 
957

 
1,284

 
4,101

 
$
(177
)
 
$
2,399

 
$
12,280

 
$
4,192


(10) DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
 
In December 2010, Forest announced its intention to separate its Canadian operations through an initial public offering of up to 19.9% of the common stock of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lone Pine, which would hold Forest’s ownership interests in its Canadian operations, followed by a distribution, or spin-off, of the remaining shares of Lone Pine held by Forest to its shareholders.  In May 2011, as part of a corporate restructuring in anticipation of Lone Pine’s initial public offering, Lone Pine Resources Canada Ltd. (“LPR Canada”), Forest’s former Canadian subsidiary, declared a stock dividend to Forest immediately before Forest’s contribution of LPR Canada to Lone Pine, with such stock dividend resulting in Forest incurring a dividend tax payable to Canadian federal tax authorities of $28.9 million, which Forest paid in June 2011. This dividend tax is classified within “Income tax” on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. On June 1, 2011, Lone Pine completed an initial public offering of 15 million shares of its common stock at a price of $13.00 per share ($12.22 per share net of underwriting discounts and commissions).  Upon completion of the offering, Forest retained controlling interest in Lone Pine, owning approximately 82% of the outstanding shares of Lone Pine’s common stock.  The net proceeds from the offering received by Lone Pine, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, were $178.2 million.  Lone Pine used the net proceeds to pay $29.2 million to Forest as partial consideration for Forest’s contribution to Lone Pine of Forest’s direct and indirect interest in its Canadian operations.  Additionally, Lone Pine used the remaining net proceeds and borrowings under Lone Pine’s credit facility to repay Lone Pine’s outstanding indebtedness owed to Forest, consisting of a note payable, intercompany advances, and accrued interest, of $400.5 million.  Forest completed the spin-off of the remaining shares of Lone Pine held by Forest on September 30, 2011, in the form of a pro rata common stock dividend to all Forest shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 16, 2011 (the “Record Date”). Forest shareholders received 0.61248511 of a share of Lone Pine common stock for every share of Forest common stock held as of the close of business on the Record Date.
 

17

Table of Contents

The table below sets forth the effects of changes in Forest’s ownership interest in Lone Pine on Forest’s equity.

 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2011
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011
 
(In Thousands)
Net earnings attributable to Forest Oil Corporation
$
82,795

 
$
118,375

Transfers from (to) the noncontrolling interest:


 


Increase in Forest Oil Corporation’s capital surplus for sale of 15 million Lone Pine Resources Inc. common shares
(269
)
 
112,610

Decrease in Forest Oil Corporation’s capital surplus for spin-off of 70 million Lone Pine Resources Inc. common shares
(333,568
)
 
(333,568
)
Change from net earnings attributable to Forest Oil Corporation and transfers from (to) noncontrolling interest
$
(251,042
)
 
$
(102,583
)

Since Lone Pine was a component of Forest with operations and cash flows clearly distinguishable both operationally and for financial reporting purposes from those of Forest, and because Lone Pine’s operations and cash flows have been eliminated from the ongoing operations of Forest and Forest will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of Lone Pine, Forest has presented Lone Pine’s results of operations as discontinued operations in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the periods presented. Additionally, Forest has separately presented Lone Pine’s assets and liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2010. Lone Pine’s assets and liabilities are not presented in Forest’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2011 due to the spin-off occurring on that date.

The table below presents the major classes of assets and liabilities included in the discontinued operations classifications within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2010.

 
December 31, 2010
 
(In Thousands)
 
 
Cash
$
576

Accounts receivable
33,405

Other current assets
16,161

Current assets of discontinued operations
$
50,142

 
 
Net property and equipment
$
645,405

Goodwill
17,422

Other assets
2,222

Long-term assets of discontinued operations
$
665,049

 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
42,202

Other current liabilities
3,445

Current liabilities of discontinued operations
$
45,647

 
 
Deferred income taxes
$
57,560

Asset retirement obligations
13,741

Other long-term liabilities
3,172

Long-term liabilities of discontinued operations
$
74,473



18

Table of Contents

The table below presents the major components of earnings from discontinued operations for the periods presented.

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
 
(Unaudited)
Total revenues
$
50,298

 
$
35,193

 
$
137,834

 
$
110,864

Direct operating expenses
13,902

 
10,108

 
40,350

 
27,885

General and administrative
3,255

 
1,694

 
8,846

 
5,525

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
20,799

 
15,875

 
60,780

 
45,516

Interest expense
3,000

 
82

 
3,866

 
274

Realized and unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net
(28,498
)
 

 
(33,628
)
 

Other, net
235

 
(9,026
)
 
(4,053
)
 
(4,561
)
Earnings from discontinued operations before tax
37,605

 
16,460

 
61,673

 
36,225

Income tax
9,497

 
3,120

 
17,104

 
8,664

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax
$
28,108

 
$
13,340

 
$
44,569

 
$
27,561




19

Table of Contents

(11) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
The Company’s 8% senior notes due 2011, 8½% senior notes due 2014, and 7¼% senior notes due 2019 have been fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Forest Oil Permian Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Forest (the “Subsidiary Guarantor”). Forest’s remaining subsidiaries (the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”) have not provided guarantees. Based on this distinction, the following presents condensed consolidating financial information as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 on an issuer (parent company), guarantor subsidiary, non-guarantor subsidiaries, eliminating entries, and consolidated basis. Elimination entries presented are necessary to combine the entities.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands)
 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
Parent
Company
 
Guarantor
Subsidiary
 
Combined
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
Parent
Company
 
Guarantor
Subsidiary
 
Combined
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
ASSETS
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Current assets:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
269,385

 
$

 
$
704

 
$

 
$
270,089

 
$
216,580

 
$
3

 
$
986

 
$

 
$
217,569

Accounts receivable
37,856

 
33,870

 
2,003

 
(1,090
)
 
72,639

 
50,024

 
50,211

 
2,886

 
(796
)
 
102,325

Note receivable from subsidiary

 

 

 

 

 
250,183

 

 

 
(250,183
)
 

Other current assets
110,598

 
312

 
584

 

 
111,494

 
110,766

 
755

 
126

 

 
111,647

Current assets of discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
50,142

 

 
50,142

Total current assets
417,839

 
34,182

 
3,291

 
(1,090
)
 
454,222

 
627,553

 
50,969

 
54,140

 
(250,979
)
 
481,683

Property and equipment, at cost
7,832,778

 
1,289,951

 
270,519

 

 
9,393,248

 
7,403,398

 
1,198,138

 
199,181

 

 
8,800,717

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization
5,733,765

 
1,087,840

 
64,256

 

 
6,885,861

 
5,618,604

 
1,049,647

 
62,193

 

 
6,730,444

Net property and equipment
2,099,013

 
202,111

 
206,263

 

 
2,507,387

 
1,784,794

 
148,491

 
136,988

 

 
2,070,273

Investment in subsidiaries
148,335

 

 

 
(148,335
)
 

 
436,772

 

 

 
(436,772
)
 

Goodwill
216,460

 
22,960

 

 

 
239,420

 
216,460

 
22,960

 

 

 
239,420

Due from (to) parent and subsidiaries
209,372

 
39,071

 
(248,443
)
 

 

 
188,925

 
(13,388
)
 
(175,537
)
 

 

Deferred income taxes
310,453

 

 
23,967

 
(97,862
)
 
236,558

 
330,309

 

 
21,654

 
(67,942
)
 
284,021

Other assets
60,512

 
6

 

 

 
60,518

 
44,936

 
6

 

 

 
44,942

Long-term assets of discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
665,049

 

 
665,049

 
$
3,461,984

 
$
298,330

 
$
(14,922
)
 
$
(247,287
)
 
$
3,498,105

 
$
3,629,749

 
$
209,038

 
$
702,294

 
$
(755,693
)
 
$
3,785,388

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
214,249

 
$
5,284

 
$
5,816

 
$
(1,090
)
 
$
224,259

 
$
204,295

 
$
2,189

 
$
4,310

 
$
(796
)
 
$
209,998

Current portion of long-term-debt
285,497

 

 

 

 
285,497

 
287,092

 

 

 

 
287,092

Other current liabilities
78,151

 
53

 
6,271

 

 
84,475

 
80,328

 
36

 
6,273

 

 
86,637

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
295,830

 
(250,183
)
 
45,647

Total current liabilities
577,897

 
5,337

 
12,087

 
(1,090
)
 
594,231

 
571,715

 
2,225

 
306,413

 
(250,979
)
 
629,374

Long-term debt
1,586,591

 

 

 

 
1,586,591

 
1,582,280

 

 

 

 
1,582,280

Other liabilities
122,805

 
2,436

 
17,351

 

 
142,592

 
122,390

 
2,119

 
21,965

 

 
146,474

Deferred income taxes

 
97,862

 

 
(97,862
)
 

 
577

 
67,365

 

 
(67,942
)
 

Long-term liabilities of discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
74,473

 

 
74,473

Total liabilities
2,287,293

 
105,635

 
29,438

 
(98,952
)
 
2,323,414

 
2,276,962

 
71,709

 
402,851

 
(318,921
)
 
2,432,601

Shareholders’ equity
1,174,691

 
192,695

 
(44,360
)
 
(148,335
)
 
1,174,691

 
1,352,787

 
137,329

 
299,443

 
(436,772
)
 
1,352,787

 
$
3,461,984

 
$
298,330

 
$
(14,922
)
 
$
(247,287
)
 
$
3,498,105

 
$
3,629,749

 
$
209,038

 
$
702,294

 
$
(755,693
)
 
$
3,785,388



20

Table of Contents


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands)
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
Parent
Company
 
Guarantor
Subsidiary
 
Combined
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
Parent
Company
 
Guarantor
Subsidiary
 
Combined
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Revenues:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oil, natural gas, and NGL sales
$
128,849

 
$
44,529

 
$
634

 
$

 
$
174,012

 
$
114,416

 
$
60,044

 
$
531

 
$

 
$
174,991

Interest and other
348

 
76

 

 
(315
)
 
109

 
1,197

 
10

 

 
(1,004
)
 
203

Equity earnings in subsidiaries
39,093

 

 

 
(39,093
)
 

 
42,876

 

 

 
(42,876
)
 

Total revenues
168,290

 
44,605

 
634

 
(39,408
)
 
174,121

 
158,489

 
60,054

 
531

 
(43,880
)
 
175,194

Costs, expenses, and other:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Lease operating expenses
20,218

 
3,161

 
101

 

 
23,480

 
21,271

 
2,222

 
109

 

 
23,602

Other direct operating costs
11,816

 
(735
)
 
42

 

 
11,123

 
12,037

 
4,405

 
(389
)
 

 
16,053

General and administrative
18,672

 
881

 
389

 

 
19,942

 
15,233

 
604

 
476

 

 
16,313

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
40,675

 
13,251

 
397

 

 
54,323

 
32,692

 
15,760

 
410

 

 
48,862

Interest expense
37,225

 
(159
)
 
474

 
(315
)
 
37,225

 
37,238

 
230

 
773

 
(1,004
)
 
37,237

Realized and unrealized (gains) losses on derivative instruments, net
(73,757
)
 
7,780

 
16

 

 
(65,961
)
 
(47,022
)
 
(12,022
)
 
(112
)
 

 
(59,156
)
Other, net
(1,895
)
 
186

 
1,532

 

 
(177
)
 
1,750

 
(580
)
 
1,229

 

 
2,399

Total costs, expenses, and other
52,954

 
24,365

 
2,951

 
(315
)
 
79,955

 
73,199

 
10,619

 
2,496

 
(1,004
)
 
85,310

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
115,336

 
20,240

 
(2,317
)
 
(39,093
)
 
94,166

 
85,290

 
49,435

 
(1,965
)
 
(42,876
)
 
89,884

Income tax
27,618

 
7,825

 
(887
)
 

 
34,556

 
16,379

 
18,679

 
(745
)
 

 
34,313

Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations
87,718

 
12,415

 
(1,430
)
 
(39,093
)
 
59,610

 
68,911

 
30,756

 
(1,220
)
 
(42,876
)
 
55,571

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 
28,108

 

 
28,108

 

 

 
13,340

 

 
13,340

Net earnings
87,718

 
12,415

 
26,678

 
(39,093
)
 
87,718

 
68,911

 
30,756

 
12,120

 
(42,876
)
 
68,911

Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 
4,923

 

 
4,923

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to Forest Oil Corporation
$
87,718

 
$
12,415

 
$
21,755

 
$
(39,093
)
 
$
82,795

 
$
68,911

 
$
30,756

 
$
12,120

 
$
(42,876
)
 
$
68,911

 


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands)

 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
Parent
Company
 
Guarantor
Subsidiary
 
Combined
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
Parent
Company
 
Guarantor
Subsidiary
 
Combined
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Revenues:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oil, natural gas, and NGL sales
$
382,211

 
$
142,775

 
$
1,929

 
$

 
$
526,915

 
$
373,620

 
$
153,539

 
$
1,853

 
$

 
$
529,012

Interest and other
1,696

 
138

 

 
(895
)
 
939

 
3,964

 
19

 

 
(3,512
)
 
471

Equity earnings in subsidiaries
90,828

 

 

 
(90,828
)
 

 
104,214

 

 

 
(104,214
)
 

Total revenues
474,735

 
142,913

 
1,929

 
(91,723
)
 
527,854

 
481,798

 
153,558

 
1,853

 
(107,726
)
 
529,483

Costs, expenses, and other:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Lease operating expenses
60,487

 
9,789

 
317

 

 
70,593

 
61,388

 
7,848

 
313

 

 
69,549

Other direct operating costs
37,160

 
5,188

 
102

 

 
42,450

 
35,155

 
10,634

 
(1,142
)
 

 
44,647

General and administrative
45,726

 
2,094

 
1,302

 

 
49,122

 
45,840

 
1,767

 
1,409

 

 
49,016

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
115,738

 
38,193

 
1,296

 

 
155,227

 
96,182

 
36,665

 
1,132

 

 
133,979

Interest expense
113,081

 
(351
)
 
1,246

 
(895
)
 
113,081

 
112,494

 
1,308

 
2,204

 
(3,512
)
 
112,494

Realized and unrealized (gains) losses on derivative instruments, net
(77,929
)
 
7,282

 
15

 

 
(70,632
)
 
(145,083
)
 
(31,963
)
 
(352
)
 

 
(177,398
)
Other, net
8,354

 
165

 
3,761

 

 
12,280

 
720

 
(548
)
 
4,020

 

 
4,192

Total costs, expenses, and other
302,617

 
62,360

 
8,039

 
(895
)
 
372,121

 
206,696

 
25,711

 
7,584

 
(3,512
)
 
236,479

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
172,118

 
80,553

 
(6,110
)
 
(90,828
)
 
155,733

 
275,102

 
127,847

 
(5,731
)
 
(104,214
)
 
293,004

Income tax
48,756

 
30,497

 
(2,313
)
 

 
76,940

 
63,775

 
47,597

 
(2,134
)
 

 
109,238

Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations
123,362

 
50,056

 
(3,797
)
 
(90,828
)
 
78,793

 
211,327

 
80,250

 
(3,597
)
 
(104,214
)
 
183,766

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 
44,569

 

 
44,569

 

 

 
27,561

 

 
27,561

Net earnings
123,362

 
50,056

 
40,772

 
(90,828
)
 
123,362

 
211,327

 
80,250

 
23,964

 
(104,214
)
 
211,327

Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 
4,987

 

 
4,987

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to Forest Oil Corporation
$
123,362

 
$
50,056

 
$
35,785

 
$
(90,828
)
 
$
118,375

 
$
211,327

 
$
80,250

 
$
23,964

 
$
(104,214
)
 
$
211,327



21

Table of Contents

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands)
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
Parent
Company
 
Guarantor
Subsidiary
 
Combined
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidated
 
Parent
Company
 
Guarantor
Subsidiary
 
Combined
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidated
Operating activities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net earnings
$
32,534

 
$
50,056

 
$
40,772

 
$
123,362

 
$
107,113

 
$
80,250

 
$
23,964

 
$
211,327

Less: earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 
44,569

 
44,569

 

 

 
27,561

 
27,561

Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations
32,534

 
50,056

 
(3,797
)
 
78,793

 
107,113

 
80,250

 
(3,597
)
 
183,766

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) from continuing operations to net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
115,738

 
38,193

 
1,296

 
155,227

 
96,182

 
36,665

 
1,132

 
133,979

Unrealized (gains) losses on derivative instruments, net
(45,114
)
 
4,566

 
10

 
(40,538
)
 
(85,415
)
 
(17,234
)
 
(190
)
 
(102,839
)
Deferred income tax
18,540

 
30,497

 
(2,313
)
 
46,724

 
75,864

 
47,597

 
(2,134
)
 
121,327

Other, net
30,067

 
243

 
(1,882
)
 
28,428

 
21,261

 
187

 
(2,412
)
 
19,036

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Accounts receivable
12,168

 
16,341

 
1,177

 
29,686

 
43,774

 
(19,293
)
 
(747
)
 
23,734

Other current assets
6,712

 
443

 
1,063

 
8,218

 
9,183

 
26

 
1,267

 
10,476

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
(7,118
)
 
787

 
1,235

 
(5,096
)
 
(60,479
)
 
(2,384
)
 
949

 
(61,914
)
Accrued interest and other current liabilities
3,420

 
(122
)
 
679

 
3,977

 
(4,765
)
 
(48
)
 
9,947

 
5,134

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations
166,947

 
141,004

 
(2,532
)
 
305,419

 
202,718

 
125,766

 
4,215

 
332,699

Investing activities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Capital expenditures for property and equipment
(501,688
)
 
(89,477
)
 
(70,104
)
 
(661,269
)
 
(333,616
)
 
(102,712
)
 
(7,081
)
 
(443,409
)
Proceeds from sales of assets
120,949

 

 
7

 
120,956

 
126,596

 
1,489

 
503

 
128,588

Net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations
(380,739
)
 
(89,477
)
 
(70,097
)
 
(540,313
)
 
(207,020
)
 
(101,223
)
 
(6,578
)
 
(314,821
)
Financing activities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Redemption of notes

 

 

 

 
(151,938
)
 

 

 
(151,938
)
Change in bank overdrafts
(20,979
)
 
185

 
134

 
(20,660
)
 
14,902

 
(997
)
 
(193
)
 
13,712

Net activity in investments from subsidiaries
299,883

 
(51,715
)
 
(248,168
)
 

 
(72,969
)
 
(23,925
)
 
96,894

 

Other, net
(12,307
)
 

 

 
(12,307
)
 
(556
)
 

 

 
(556
)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities of continuing operations
266,597

 
(51,530
)
 
(248,034
)
 
(32,967
)
 
(210,561
)
 
(24,922
)
 
96,701

 
(138,782
)
Cash flows from discontinued operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating cash flows

 

 
101,292

 
101,292

 

 

 
65,608

 
65,608

Investing cash flows

 

 
(255,470
)
 
(255,470
)
 

 

 
(160,097
)
 
(160,097
)
Financing cash flows

 

 
478,324

 
478,324

 

 

 
107

 
107

Net cash provided (used) by discontinued operations

 

 
324,146

 
324,146

 

 

 
(94,382
)
 
(94,382
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

 
(3,476
)
 
(3,476
)
 

 

 
(336
)
 
(336
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
52,805

 
(3
)
 
7

 
52,809

 
(214,863
)
 
(379
)
 
(380
)
 
(215,622
)
Net (increase) decrease in cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations

 

 
(289
)
 
(289
)
 

 

 
25

 
25

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations
52,805

 
(3
)
 
(282
)
 
52,520

 
(214,863
)
 
(379
)
 
(355
)
 
(215,597
)
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at beginning of period
216,580

 
3

 
986

 
217,569

 
456,978

 
379

 
918

 
458,275

Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at end of period
$
269,385

 
$

 
$
704

 
$
270,089

 
$
242,115

 
$

 
$
563

 
$
242,678

 

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Table of Contents

(12) RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income, Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”), which provides amendments that will result in more converged guidance on how comprehensive income is presented under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). ASU 2011-05 requires an entity to present items of net income, items of other comprehensive income, and total comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement or in two separate consecutive statements and eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of shareholders’ equity. This authoritative guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and should be applied retrospectively. The adoption of this authoritative guidance will not have an impact on Forest’s financial position or results of operations, but will require Forest to present the statements of comprehensive income separately from its statements of equity, as these statements are currently presented on a combined basis.
 
In June 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs (“ASU 2011-04”), which amends the current U.S. GAAP fair value measurement and disclosure guidance, to converge U.S. GAAP and IFRS requirements for measuring amounts at fair value as well as disclosures about these measurements. Many of the amendments clarify existing concepts and are not expected to result in significant changes to how companies apply the fair value principles. This authoritative guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Forest is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this authoritative guidance will have on its fair value measurements and disclosures.




23

Table of Contents

Item 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
OVERVIEW
 
All expectations, forecasts, assumptions, and beliefs about our future financial results, condition, operations, strategic plans, and performance are forward-looking statements, as described in more detail under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements” below. Our actual results may differ materially because of a number of risks and uncertainties. Historical statements made herein are accurate only as of the date of filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and may be relied upon only as of that date. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with Forest’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto, the information under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements” below, and the information included or incorporated by reference in Forest’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K under the headings “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Unless the context indicates otherwise, all references in this document to “Forest,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” and “us” refer to Forest Oil Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.
 
Forest is an independent oil and gas company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids primarily in the United States. Forest was incorporated in New York in 1924, as the successor to a company formed in 1916, and has been a publicly held company since 1969. Our total estimated proved reserves related to our continuing operations as of December 31, 2010 were approximately 1,868 Bcfe of which 97% were in the United States and 3% were in Italy. Approximately 80% of our estimated proved reserves related to our continuing operations were natural gas as of December 31, 2010. Having spun-off our Canadian operations on September 30, 2011, we currently conduct our operations in one material geographical segment: the United States. We also have oil and gas exploration activities in Italy and South Africa. Our core operational areas are in the Texas Panhandle, the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas, and the East Texas / North Louisiana area.


RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
In December 2010, Forest announced its intention to separate its Canadian operations through an initial public offering of up to 19.9% of the common stock of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lone Pine Resources Inc. (“Lone Pine”), which would hold Forest’s ownership interests in its Canadian operations, followed by a distribution, or spin-off, of the remaining shares of Lone Pine held by Forest to its shareholders. The offering occurred in June 2011, with Forest retaining approximately 82% of the outstanding shares of Lone Pine common stock.  Lone Pine used the net proceeds from the offering, along with borrowings under its credit facility, to pay approximately $29 million to Forest, as partial consideration for the contribution to Lone Pine of Forest’s interests in the Canadian operations, and to repay an intercompany note and intercompany advances and accrued interest of approximately $401 million.  The spin-off of the remaining shares of Lone Pine held by Forest was completed on September 30, 2011. Lone Pine’s total estimated proved reserves as of December 31, 2010 were approximately 376 Bcfe, of which approximately 71% were natural gas. As a result of the spin-off, Lone Pine’s results of operations are reported as discontinued operations in Forest’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for all periods presented.

Following the spin-off, Forest has altered its operating strategy, with the intent of achieving steady growth while maintaining debt at its current levels. Forest believes this can be achieved by focusing capital expenditures primarily on developing Forest’s assets located in the Texas Panhandle, Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas, and in the East Texas / North Louisiana area. In addition, our growth may be supplemented from time to time through opportunistic acquisitions in our core areas of operation.



24

Table of Contents

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following table sets forth selected operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Net earnings from continuing operations (in thousands)
$
59,610

 
$
55,571

 
$
78,793

 
$
183,766

Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations
$
.52

 
$
.49

 
$
.69

 
$
1.62

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations (in thousands)(1)
$
142,437

 
$
152,781

 
$
412,308

 
$
450,294

____________________________________________
(1)
In addition to reporting net earnings from continuing operations as defined under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we also present Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations, which is a non-GAAP performance measure. See “—Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure” at the end of this Item 2 for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations to reported net earnings from continuing operations, which is the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
 
Net earnings from continuing operations decreased $105 million to $79 million in the first nine months of 2011, compared to net earnings from continuing operations of $184 million in the first nine months of 2010, primarily due to a decrease in realized and unrealized gains on derivative instruments of $107 million.  Realized and unrealized gains on derivative instruments of $71 million were recorded in the first nine months of 2011, compared to realized and unrealized gains on derivative instruments of $177 million recorded in the first nine months of 2010.
 
Adjusted EBITDA is a performance measure that we use to evaluate our operations that excludes the impact of certain non-cash items such as fair value adjustments on derivative instruments.  Adjusted EBITDA decreased $10 million to $142 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $153 million in the third quarter of 2010, due primarily to a decrease in realized gains on derivatives of $19 million offset by a decrease in production costs of $5 million. Adjusted EBITDA decreased $38 million to $412 million in the first nine months of 2011 from $450 million in first nine months of 2010, due primarily to a decrease in realized gains on derivatives of $44 million.
 
Management’s analysis of the individual components of the changes in our quarterly and year-to-date results follows.
 

25

Table of Contents

Oil and Natural Gas Volumes and Revenues
 
Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (“NGL”) sales volumes, revenues, and average sales prices from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are set forth in the table below.

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
 
Sales volumes:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Natural gas (MMcf)
21,774

 
25,687

 
66,600

 
75,791

Oil (MBbls)
638

 
597

 
1,748

 
1,734

NGL (MBbls)
689

 
971

 
2,309

 
2,503

Totals (MMcfe)
29,736

 
35,095

 
90,942

 
101,213

Revenues (in thousands):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural gas
$
84,158

 
$
101,268

 
$
258,700

 
$
317,114

Oil
58,610

 
44,071

 
167,189

 
128,746

NGL
31,244

 
29,652

 
101,026

 
83,152

Totals
$
174,012

 
$
174,991

 
$
526,915

 
$
529,012

Average sales price per unit:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Natural gas ($/Mcf)
$
3.87

 
$
3.94

 
$
3.88

 
$
4.18

Oil ($/Bbl)
91.87

 
73.82

 
95.65

 
74.25

NGL ($/Bbl)
45.35

 
30.54

 
43.75

 
33.22

Totals ($/Mcfe)
$
5.85

 
$
4.99

 
$
5.79

 
$
5.23


Our reported oil, natural gas, and NGL sales volumes from continuing operations in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2011 decreased 15% and 10%, respectively, compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2010. Sales volumes in both the three and nine month periods in 2011 were negatively impacted by decreased initial production rates and production downtime in the Texas Panhandle resulting from third-party pipeline and plant performance. Oil and NGL sales volumes as a percentage of total sales volumes increased 2% to 27% for the nine month period ended September 30, 2011, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. Oil and natural gas revenues were $174 million in the third quarter 2011 compared to $175 million in the third quarter 2010. Oil and natural gas revenues were $527 million in the first nine months of 2011 compared to $529 million in the first nine months of 2010. Oil and natural gas revenues were consistent between the comparable three and nine month periods as the decreases in sales volumes discussed above were offset by a 17% and 11% increase in the average realized sales price per Mcfe between the comparable three and nine month periods, respectively.
 
The revenues and average sales prices reflected in the table above exclude the effects of commodity derivative instruments as we have elected not to designate our derivative instruments as cash flow hedges. See—“Realized and Unrealized Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments” below for more information on gains and losses relating to our commodity derivative instruments.


26

Table of Contents

Production Expense
 
The table below sets forth the detail of oil and gas production expense from continuing operations for the periods indicated.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands, Except Per Mcfe Data)
Production expense:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Lease operating expenses
$
23,480

 
$
23,602

 
$
70,593

 
$
69,549

Production and property taxes
7,926

 
12,751

 
32,187

 
35,419

Transportation and processing costs
3,197

 
3,302

 
10,263

 
9,228

Production expense
$
34,603

 
$
39,655

 
$
113,043

 
$
114,196

Production expense per Mcfe:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Lease operating expenses
$
.79

 
$
.67

 
$
.78

 
$
.69

Production and property taxes
.27

 
.36

 
.35

 
.35

Transportation and processing costs
.11

 
.09

 
.11

 
.09

Production expense per Mcfe
$
1.16

 
$
1.13

 
$
1.24

 
$
1.13

 
Lease Operating Expenses
 
Lease operating expenses in the third quarter of 2011 were $23 million, or $.79 per Mcfe, compared to $24 million, or $.67 per Mcfe, in the third quarter of 2010. Lease operating expenses in the first nine months of 2011 were $71 million, or $.78 per Mcfe, compared to $70 million, or $.69 per Mcfe, in the first nine months of 2010. The $.12 per Mcfe and $.09 per Mcfe increases in lease operating expenses between the comparable three and nine month periods, respectively, were primarily due to an increase in water handling costs and decreased sales volumes. 
 
Production and Property Taxes
 
Production and property taxes, consisting primarily of severance taxes paid on the value of the oil, natural gas, and NGL sold, were 4.6% and 7.3% of oil, natural gas, and NGL sales for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and 6.1% and 6.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Normal fluctuations occur in the percentage between periods based upon the timing of approval of incentive tax credits in Texas, changes in tax rates, and changes in the assessed values of oil and gas properties and equipment for purposes of ad valorem taxes. The decrease in production and property taxes to 4.6% of sales in the third quarter of 2011 from 7.3% in the third quarter of 2010 was primarily due to a $4 million increase in severance tax refunds approved by the state of Texas between the two comparable periods.
 
Transportation and Processing Costs
 
Transportation and processing costs in the third quarter of 2011 were $3 million, or $.11 per Mcfe, compared to $3 million, or $.09 per Mcfe, in the third quarter of 2010. Transportation and processing costs in the first nine months of 2011 were $10 million, or $.11 per Mcfe, compared to $9 million, or $.09 per Mcfe, in the first nine months of 2010.


27

Table of Contents

General and Administrative Expense
 
The table below sets forth the components of general and administrative expense from continuing operations incurred during the periods indicated.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
Stock-based compensation costs
$
15,999

 
$
7,692

 
$
28,938

 
$
22,729

Other general and administrative costs
19,767

 
19,073

 
58,096

 
57,412

General and administrative costs capitalized
(15,824
)
 
(10,452
)
 
(37,912
)
 
(31,125
)
General and administrative expense
$
19,942

 
$
16,313

 
$
49,122

 
$
49,016

 
General and administrative expense in the third quarter of 2011 was $20 million compared to $16 million in the third quarter of 2010. General and administrative expense in the first nine months of 2011 was $49 million compared to $49 million in the first nine months of 2010.  During the third quarter of 2011, we recognized $12 million in stock-based compensation costs ($7 million of expense, net of capitalized amounts) due to the spin-off of Lone Pine, which caused the forfeiture restrictions to lapse on a portion of each outstanding restricted stock award, thus requiring the immediate recognition of compensation cost. See Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the impact of the spin-off of Lone Pine on our stock-based compensation costs. The percentage of general and administrative costs capitalized under the full cost method of accounting was consistent between the periods presented, ranging from 39% to 44%.
 
Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization
 
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense (“DD&A”) from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2011 was $54 million, or $1.83 per Mcfe, compared to $49 million, or $1.39 per Mcfe, in the third quarter of 2010. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, DD&A was $155 million, or $1.71 per Mcfe, compared to $134 million, or $1.32 per Mcfe, for the first nine months of 2010. The increase in DD&A in each period is primarily due to ceiling test write-downs (see Note 5 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the “ceiling test”) recorded as of December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2009 as well as the sale of our Permian Basin assets in the fourth quarter of 2009, both of which contributed to our reduced DD&A rate of $1.25 in the first quarter of 2010. Our depletion rate has steadily increased since the first quarter of 2010 as we have added proved oil and gas reserves to our depletable base at per-unit rates that have exceeded $1.25 per Mcfe.
 
Interest Expense
 
The table below sets forth interest expense from continuing operations incurred during the periods indicated.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
Interest costs
$
40,269

 
$
40,025

 
$
120,590

 
$
120,898

Interest costs capitalized
(3,044
)
 
(2,788
)
 
(7,509
)
 
(8,404
)
Interest expense
$
37,225

 
$
37,237

 
$
113,081

 
$
112,494

 
Interest expense in the third quarter of 2011 totaled $37 million compared to $37 million in the third quarter 2010. Interest expense was $113 million and $112 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Average outstanding debt balances were consistent between periods, as were average interest rates, since our outstanding debt throughout the periods presented consisted of senior notes with fixed interest rates.

In order to effectively reduce our concentration of fixed-rate debt, we have entered into fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps under which we have swapped, as of September 30, 2011, $500 million in notional amount at an 8.5% fixed rate for an equal notional amount at a weighted-average rate equal to the 1-month LIBOR plus approximately 5.9%. We recognized realized gains under these interest rate swaps of $3 million and $9 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and $3 million and $9 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30,

28

Table of Contents

2010, respectively. These gains are recorded as realized gains on derivatives rather than as a reduction in interest expense since we have not elected to use hedge accounting. See Note 8 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on our interest rate derivatives.

Realized and Unrealized Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments
 
The table below sets forth realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivatives from continuing operations recognized under “Costs, expenses, and other” in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the periods indicated. See Note 7 and Note 8 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on our derivative instruments.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
Realized losses (gains) on derivatives, net:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oil
$
1,335

 
$
41

 
$
9,867

 
$
1,306

Natural gas
(17,708
)
 
(27,194
)
 
(51,582
)
 
(66,122
)
NGL
7,734

 

 
20,237

 

Interest
(2,774
)
 
(2,912
)
 
(8,616
)
 
(9,743
)
Subtotal realized gains on derivatives, net
(11,413
)
 
(30,065
)
 
(30,094
)
 
(74,559
)
Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives, net:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Oil
(23,696
)
 
7,302

 
(22,751
)
 
430

Natural gas
(20,726
)
 
(30,453
)
 
(13,441
)
 
(78,198
)
NGL
(7,464
)
 
1,929

 
79

 
1,929

Interest
(2,662
)
 
(7,869
)
 
(4,425
)
 
(27,000
)
Subtotal unrealized gains on derivatives, net
(54,548
)
 
(29,091
)
 
(40,538
)
 
(102,839
)
Realized and unrealized gains on derivatives, net
$
(65,961
)
 
$
(59,156
)
 
$
(70,632
)
 
$
(177,398
)
 
Other, Net
 
The table below sets forth the components of “Other, net” from continuing operations for the periods indicated.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
Accretion of asset retirement obligations
$
1,539

 
$
1,442

 
$
4,496

 
$
4,667

Legal proceeding settlement

 

 
6,500

 

Gain on debt extinguishment, net

 

 

 
(4,576
)
Other, net
(1,716
)
 
957

 
1,284

 
4,101

 
$
(177
)
 
$
2,399

 
$
12,280

 
$
4,192

 
Accretion of Asset Retirement Obligations
 
Accretion of asset retirement obligations is the expense recognized to increase the carrying amount of the liability associated with our asset retirement obligations as a result of the passage of time. Our asset retirement obligations consist of costs related to the plugging of wells, the removal of facilities and equipment, and site restoration on oil and gas properties.
 
Legal Proceeding Settlement

During the second quarter of 2011, Forest settled litigation relating to the 2007 sale of its Alaska assets to Pacific Energy Resources, Ltd., which included claims in excess of $250 million. The plaintiffs released Forest from all claims and

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agreed to dismiss the complaint against Forest in exchange for a $7 million payment from Forest.

Gain on Debt Extinguishment
The net gain on debt extinguishment for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 includes the net gain related to the January 2010 redemption of all $150 million of our 7¾% senior notes due 2014 at 101.292% of par. A net gain was recognized due to the write-off, at the time the notes were redeemed, of unamortized deferred gains resulting from the previous termination of interest rate swaps related to these senior notes. This gain was partially offset by the $2 million redemption premium paid to redeem the notes. See Note 4 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on our debt.
 
Current and Deferred Income Tax
 
The table below sets forth the components of income tax and effective tax rates related to continuing operations for the periods indicated.
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands, Except Percentages)
Current income tax
$
1,172

 
$
(16,814
)
 
$
30,216

 
$
(12,089
)
Deferred income tax
33,384

 
51,127

 
46,724

 
121,327

Total income tax
$
34,556

 
$
34,313

 
$
76,940

 
$
109,238

Effective tax rate
37
%
 
38
%
 
49
%
 
37
%
 
Our effective tax rate generally approximates 37% to 38%. Our effective income tax rate was 37% and 49% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and 38% and 37% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. Our effective tax rate was 49% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 due to the Canadian dividend tax of $29 million which was incurred on a stock dividend declared and paid by our former Canadian subsidiary, Lone Pine Resources Canada Ltd. (“LPR Canada”), to Forest, as parent, immediately before Forest’s contribution of LPR Canada to Lone Pine in conjunction with Lone Pine’s initial public offering. See Note 6 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconciliation of income tax computed by applying the United States statutory federal income tax rates.

Discontinued Operations

The results of operations of Lone Pine are presented as discontinued operations in Forest’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations due to the spin-off of Lone Pine on September 30, 2011, with prior periods’ results recast to conform with the discontinued operations presentation. The increase in earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax, during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the corresponding 2010 periods was due to an increase in unrealized and realized gains on derivative instruments and revenues offset somewhat by increased expenses in the 2011 periods. See Note 10 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding the components of discontinued operations.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
Our exploration, development, and acquisition activities require us to make significant operating and capital expenditures. Historically, we have used cash flow from operations and our bank credit facility as our primary sources of liquidity. To fund large transactions, such as acquisitions and debt refinancing transactions, we have looked to the private and public capital markets as another source of financing and, as market conditions have permitted, we have engaged in asset monetization transactions.
 
Changes in the market prices for oil, natural gas, and NGL directly impact our level of cash flow generated from operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, natural gas accounted for approximately 73% of our total production and, as a result, our operations and cash flow are more sensitive to fluctuations in the market price for natural gas than to fluctuations in the market prices for oil and NGL. We employ a commodity hedging strategy as an attempt to moderate the effects of wide fluctuations in commodity prices on our cash flow. As of November 2, 2011, we had hedged, via commodity swaps and collar instruments, approximately 73 Bcfe of our total projected 2011 production and approximately 43 Bcfe of our total projected 2012 production, excluding outstanding commodity call options. This level of hedging will provide a measure of

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certainty of the cash flow that we will receive for a portion of our production in 2011 and 2012. In the future, we may determine to increase or decrease our hedging positions. See Item 3—“Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Commodity Price Risk” below for more information on our derivative contracts including commodity call options.
 
As noted above, the other primary source of liquidity is our credit facility, which had a borrowing base of $1.25 billion as of September 30, 2011. This facility is used to fund daily operations and to fund acquisitions and refinance debt, as needed and if available. The credit facility is secured by a portion of our assets, with the facility maturing in June 2016. See—“Bank Credit Facility” below for further details. As of September 30, 2011 and November 2, 2011, we had no amounts drawn and $2.1 million in outstanding letters of credit on our credit facility.
 
The public and private capital markets have served as our primary source of financing to fund large acquisitions and other exceptional transactions. In the past, we have issued debt and equity in both the public and private capital markets. Our ability to access the debt and equity capital markets on economic terms is affected by general economic conditions, the domestic and global financial markets, the credit ratings assigned to our debt by independent credit rating agencies, our operational and financial performance, the value and performance of our equity and debt securities, prevailing commodity prices, and other macroeconomic factors outside of our control. We also have engaged in asset dispositions as a means of generating additional cash to fund expenditures and enhance our financial flexibility.
 
We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, cash flows provided by operating activities, and availability under our credit facility, will be sufficient to fund our normal recurring operating needs, anticipated capital expenditures, and our contractual obligations, including the redemption of our $285 million principal amount of senior notes that are due in December 2011. However, if our revenue and cash flow decrease in the future as a result of a deterioration in domestic and global economic conditions or a significant decline in commodity prices, or otherwise, we may elect to reduce our planned capital expenditures. We believe that this financial flexibility to adjust our spending levels will provide us with sufficient liquidity to meet our financial obligations.
 
Bank Credit Facility
 
On June 30, 2011, we entered into the Third Amended and Restated Credit Facility with a syndicate of banks led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Credit Facility”), consisting of a $1.5 billion credit facility maturing in June 2016. Subject to the agreement of us and the applicable lenders, the size of the Credit Facility may be increased by $300 million, to a total of $1.8 billion.
 
Our availability under the Credit Facility is governed by a borrowing base. As of September 30, 2011, the borrowing base under the Credit Facility was $1.25 billion. The determination of the borrowing base is made by the lenders in their sole discretion, on a semi-annual basis, taking into consideration the estimated value of our oil and gas properties based on pricing models determined by the lenders at such time, in accordance with the lenders’ customary practices for oil and gas loans. The available borrowing amount under the Credit Facility could increase or decrease based on such redetermination. In addition to the scheduled semi-annual redeterminations, we and the lenders each have discretion at any time, but not more often than once during a calendar year, to have the borrowing base redetermined. The borrowing base is also subject to automatic adjustments if certain events occur.  The borrowing base was reaffirmed at $1.25 billion in October 2011 and the next scheduled redetermination of the borrowing base will occur on or about May 1, 2012.
 
The borrowing base is also subject to change in the event (i) we or our Restricted Subsidiaries issue senior unsecured notes, in which case the borrowing base will immediately be reduced by an amount equal to 25% of the stated principal amount of such issued senior notes, excluding any senior unsecured notes that we or any of our Restricted Subsidiaries may issue to refinance then-existing senior notes, or (ii) we sell oil and natural gas properties included in the borrowing base having a fair market value in excess of 10% of the borrowing base then in effect. If the borrowing base is reduced to a level that is below our level of borrowing under the Credit Facility, we would be required to repay indebtedness in excess of the borrowing base in order to cover the deficiency.
 
Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at one of two rates as may be elected by us. Borrowings bear interest at:

(i)
the greatest of (a) the prime rate announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., (b) the federal funds effective rate from time to time plus ½ of 1%, and (c) the one-month rate applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market for one, two, three or six months (as selected by us) (the “LIBO Rate”) plus 1%, plus, in the case of each of clauses (a), (b), and (c), 50 to 150 basis points depending on borrowing base utilization; or


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(ii)
the LIBO Rate as adjusted for statutory reserve requirements (the “Adjusted LIBO Rate”), plus 150 to 250 basis points, depending on borrowing base utilization.
 
The Credit Facility includes terms and covenants that place limitations on certain types of activities, including restrictions or requirements with respect to additional debt, liens, asset sales, hedging activities, investments, dividends, mergers, and acquisitions, and also includes a financial covenant. The Credit Facility provides that we will not permit our ratio of total debt outstanding to consolidated EBITDA (as adjusted for non-cash charges) for a trailing twelve-month period to be greater than 4.50 to 1.00 at any time.
 
Under certain conditions, amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility may be accelerated. Bankruptcy and insolvency events with respect to us or certain of our subsidiaries will result in an automatic acceleration of the indebtedness under the Credit Facility. Subject to notice and cure periods, certain events of default under the Credit Facility will result in acceleration of the indebtedness under the Credit Facility at the option of the lenders. Such other events of default include non-payment, breach of warranty, non-performance of obligations under the Credit Facility (including the financial covenant), default on other indebtedness, certain pension plan events, certain adverse judgments, change of control, and a failure of the liens securing the Credit Facility.
 
The Credit Facility is collateralized by our assets. Under the Credit Facility, we are required to mortgage and grant a security interest in 75% of the present value of our and our U.S. subsidiaries’ proved oil and gas properties and related assets. We are required to pledge, and have pledged, the stock of certain subsidiaries to secure the Credit Facility.  If our corporate credit rating by Moody’s and S&P meet pre-established levels, the security requirements would cease to apply and, at our request, the banks would release their liens and security interest on our properties.
 
Of the $1.5 billion total nominal amount under the Credit Facility, JPMorgan and eleven other banks hold approximately 68% of the total commitments, with each of these twelve lenders holding an equal share. With respect to the other 32% of the total commitments, no single lender holds more than 3.3% of the total commitments.
 
Historical Cash Flow
 
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations, net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations, and net cash used by financing activities of continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were as follows:

 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
$
305,419

 
$
332,699

Net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations
(540,313
)
 
(314,821
)
Net cash used by financing activities of continuing operations
(32,967
)
 
(138,782
)
 
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations is primarily affected by sales volumes and commodity prices, net of the effects of settlements of our derivative contracts and changes in working capital. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, was primarily due to decreased realized gains on derivative instruments of $44 million and increased current income tax expense due to the $29 million Canadian dividend tax paid in the second quarter of 2011 and due to the $17 million reduction in our 2009 federal income tax liability recorded in the third quarter of 2010, partially offset by a decreased investment in net operating assets (i.e., working capital) of $59 million.


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The components of net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were as follows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
Exploration, development, acquisition, and leasehold costs(1)
$
(656,894
)
 
$
(439,687
)
Proceeds from sale of assets
120,956

 
128,588

Other fixed asset costs
(4,375
)
 
(3,722
)
Net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations
$
(540,313
)
 
$
(314,821
)
____________________________________________
(1)
Cash paid for exploration, development, acquisition, and leasehold costs as reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows differs from the reported capital expenditures in the “Capital Expenditures” table below due to the timing of when the capital expenditures are incurred and when the actual cash payment is made as well as non-cash capital expenditures such as capitalized stock-based compensation costs.
 
Net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations is primarily comprised of expenditures for the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and gas properties, net of proceeds from the dispositions of oil and gas properties and other capital assets. The increase in net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, was primarily due to increased exploration, development, and leasehold acquisition cost expenditures during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to the same period of 2010.
 
The decrease in net cash used by financing activities of continuing operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, was primarily due to the redemption of the 7¾% senior notes for $152 million that occurred in the nine months ended September 30, 2010. This decrease in net cash used by financing activities was partially offset by a $34 million change in bank overdrafts between the two periods and $8 million in debt issue costs paid in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 related to our new Credit Facility.

Capital Expenditures
 
Expenditures for property exploration, development, and acquisitions were as follows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2011
 
September 30, 2010
 
Continuing Operations
 
Discontinued Operations
 
Total
 
Continuing Operations
 
Discontinued Operations
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Exploration, development, and acquisition costs:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct costs:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exploration and development
$
481,901

 
$
185,627

 
$
667,528

 
$
374,196

 
$
136,429

 
$
510,625

Proved property and leasehold acquisitions
182,147

 
91,212

 
273,359

 
66,892

 
37,713

 
104,605

Overhead capitalized
37,912

 
3,373

 
41,285

 
31,125

 
3,451

 
34,576

Interest capitalized
7,509

 
650

 
8,159

 
8,404

 
525

 
8,929

Total capital expenditures(1) 
$
709,469

 
$
280,862

 
$
990,331

 
$
480,617

 
$
178,118

 
$
658,735

____________________________________________
(1)
Total capital expenditures include cash expenditures, accrued expenditures, and non-cash capital expenditures including stock-based compensation capitalized under the full cost method of accounting. Total capital expenditures also include changes in estimated discounted asset retirement obligations of $3 million and $(1) million recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, for continuing operations and $1 million and $(1) million recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, for discontinued operations.
 


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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
The information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements other than statements of historical or present facts, that address activities, events, outcomes, and other matters that Forest plans, expects, intends, assumes, believes, budgets, predicts, forecasts, projects, estimates, or anticipates (and other similar expressions) will, should, or may occur in the future. Generally, the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “future,” “potential,” “continue,” variations of such words, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events.
 
These forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this report and include statements with respect to, among other things:
 
estimates of our oil and natural gas reserves;

estimates of our future oil and natural gas production, including estimates of any increases or decreases in our production;

our future financial condition and results of operations;

our future revenues, cash flows, and expenses;

our access to capital and our anticipated liquidity;

our future business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations;

our outlook on oil and gas prices;

the amount, nature, and timing of future capital expenditures, including future development costs;

our outlook on the costs and availability of drilling, completion, and production equipment, and related services and labor;

our ability to access the capital markets to fund capital and other expenditures;

our assessment of our counterparty risk and the ability of our counterparties to perform their future obligations; and
 
the impact of federal, state, and local political, legislative, regulatory, and environmental developments in the United States and certain foreign locations where we conduct business operations.
 
We believe the expectations and forecasts reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, but we can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. We caution you that these forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations and projections. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading “Risk Factors” included or incorporated in Part I of our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011.
 
Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described above or elsewhere in this Form 10-Q occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.
 
We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report, and we undertake no obligation to update this information to reflect events or circumstances after the filing of this report with the SEC, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this Form 10-Q and attributable to Forest are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement

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should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we may make or persons acting on our behalf may issue.
 
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURE
 
Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations
 
In addition to reporting net earnings from continuing operations as defined under GAAP, we also present adjusted earnings from continuing operations before interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion, and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”), which is a non-GAAP performance measure. Adjusted EBITDA consists of net earnings from continuing operations before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion, and amortization, as well as other non-cash operating items such as unrealized gains on derivative instruments and accretion of asset retirement obligations and other items presented in the table below. Adjusted EBITDA does not represent, and should not be considered an alternative to, GAAP measurements, such as net earnings from continuing operations (its most comparable GAAP financial measure), and our calculations thereof may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. By eliminating interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization, and other items from earnings, we believe the result is a useful measure across time in evaluating our fundamental core operating performance. Management also uses Adjusted EBITDA to manage its business, including in preparing its annual operating budget and financial projections. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is also useful to investors because similar measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties in their evaluation of companies in similar industries. Our management does not view Adjusted EBITDA in isolation and also uses other measurements, such as net earnings, net earnings from continuing operations, and revenues to measure operating performance. The following table provides a reconciliation of net earnings from continuing operations, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented.

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
Net earnings from continuing operations
$
59,610

 
$
55,571

 
$
78,793

 
$
183,766

Income tax expense
34,556

 
34,313

 
76,940

 
109,238

Unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net
(54,548
)
 
(29,091
)
 
(40,538
)
 
(102,839
)
Interest expense
37,225

 
37,237

 
113,081

 
112,494

Legal proceeding settlement

 

 
6,500

 

Gain on debt extinguishment, net

 

 

 
(4,576
)
Accretion of asset retirement obligations
1,539

 
1,442

 
4,496

 
4,667

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
54,323

 
48,862

 
155,227

 
133,979

Stock-based compensation
9,732

 
4,447

 
17,809

 
13,565

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations
$
142,437

 
$
152,781

 
$
412,308

 
$
450,294



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Item 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
We are exposed to market risk, including the effects of adverse changes in commodity prices, interest rates, and foreign currency exchange rates as discussed below.
 
Commodity Price Risk
 
We produce and sell natural gas, crude oil, and NGL in the United States. As a result, our financial results are affected when prices for these commodities fluctuate. Such effects can be significant. In order to reduce the impact of fluctuations in commodity prices, or to protect the economics of property acquisitions, we make use of a commodity hedging strategy. Under our hedging strategy, we enter into commodity swaps, collars, and other derivative instruments with counterparties who, in general, are participants in our Credit Facility. These arrangements, which are typically based on prices available in the financial markets at the time the contracts are entered into, are settled in cash and do not require physical deliveries of hydrocarbons.
 
Swaps
 
In a typical commodity swap agreement, we receive the difference between a fixed price per unit of production and a price based on an agreed upon published, third-party index if the index price is lower than the fixed price. If the index price is higher, we pay the difference. By entering into swap agreements, we effectively fix the price that we will receive in the future for the hedged production. Our current swaps are settled in cash on a monthly basis. As of September 30, 2011, we had entered into the following swaps:
 
Commodity Swaps
 
 
Natural Gas (NYMEX HH)
 
Oil (NYMEX WTI)
 
NGL (OPIS Refined Products)
Remaining Swap Term
 
Bbtu
per
Day
 
Weighted
Average
Hedged
Price
per
MMBtu
 
Fair Value
(In
Thousands)
 
Barrels
per Day
 
Weighted
Average
Hedged
Price
per Bbl
 
Fair Value
(In
Thousands)
 
Barrels
per Day
 
Weighted
Average
Hedged
Price
per Bbl
 
Fair Value
(In
Thousands)
October 2011 - December 2011
 
150

 
$
5.48

 
$
23,169

 
1,000

 
$
85.00

 
$
516

 
5,000

 
$
38.15

 
$
(7,098
)
Calendar 2012(1)
 
105

 
5.30

 
39,830

 

 

 

 
2,000

 
45.22

 
(2,690
)
 ____________________________________________
(1)
Subsequent to September 30, 2011, we entered into derivative agreements for the period April 2012 - December 2012 subjecting 30 Bbtu per day of the 2012 gas swaps to a written put of $3.57 and a $4.00 to $4.50 call spread whereby we receive $5.30 except as follows: we receive (i) NYMEX HH plus $1.73 when NYMEX HH is $3.57 or below; (ii) $5.30 plus the value of the call spread when NYMEX HH is between $4.00 and $4.50; and (iii) $5.80 when NYMEX HH is $4.50 or above.

Collars
 
We also enter into collar agreements with third parties. A collar agreement is similar to a swap agreement, except that we receive the difference between the floor price and the index price only if the index price is below the floor price and we pay the difference between the ceiling price and the index price only if the index price is above the ceiling price. As of September 30, 2011, we had entered into the following collars:
 
 
 
Commodity Collars
 
 
Oil (NYMEX WTI)
Remaining Collar Term
 
Barrels
Per Day
 
Weighted Average
Hedged Floor and
Ceiling Price per Bbl
 
Fair Value
(In Thousands)
October 2011 - December 2011
 
3,000

 
75.00/90.20
 
$
546

 
Commodity Options
 
In connection with several natural gas swaps we have entered into, we granted option instruments (several commodity swaptions and one oil call option) to the natural gas swap counterparties in exchange for us receiving premium hedged prices on the gas swaps. The table below sets forth the outstanding options as of September 30, 2011 (as of November 2, 2011, none

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of the swaptions in the table have been exercised by the counterparties):
 
Commodity Options
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural Gas (NYMEX HH)
 
Oil (NYMEX WTI)
Instrument
 
Option
Expiration
 
Underlying
Swap Term
 
Underlying
Swap Bbtu
Per Day
 
Underlying
Swap
Weighted
Average
Hedged
Price
per MMBtu
 
Fair Value
(In
Thousands)
 
Underlying
Swap
Barrels
Per Day
 
Underlying
Swap
Hedged
Price per
Bbl
 
Fair Value
(In
Thousands)
Gas Swaptions
 
December 2011
 
Calendar 2012
 
50

 
$
5.28

 
$
(146
)
 

 
$

 
$

Oil Swaptions
 
December 2011
 
Calendar 2012
 

 

 

 
3,000

 
90.00

 
(3,337
)
Oil Swaptions
 
December 2012
 
Calendar 2013
 

 

 

 
2,000

 
120.00

 
(1,551
)
Oil Call Option
 
Monthly in 2011
 
Monthly in 2011
 

 

 

 
1,000

 
90.00

 
(127
)
 
The estimated fair value of all our commodity derivative instruments based on various inputs, including published forward prices, at September 30, 2011 was a net asset of approximately $49 million.
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
We periodically enter into interest rate derivative agreements in an attempt to manage the mix of fixed and floating interest rates within our debt portfolio. As of September 30, 2011, we had entered into the following fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps:
 
Interest Rate Swaps
Remaining Swap Term
 
Notional
Amount
(In Thousands)
 
Weighted Average
Floating Rate
 
Weighted
Average
Fixed
Rate
 
Fair Value
(In Thousands)
October 2011 - February 2014
 
$
500,000

 
1 month LIBOR + 5.89%
 
8.5
%
 
$
23,436

 
The estimated fair value of all our interest rate derivative instruments was a net asset of approximately $23 million as of September 30, 2011.

Derivative Fair Value Reconciliation
 
The table below sets forth the changes that occurred in the fair values of the derivative contracts of continuing operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, beginning with the fair value of our derivative contracts on December 31, 2010. It has been our experience that commodity prices are subject to large fluctuations, and we expect this volatility to continue. Due to the volatility of oil and natural gas prices, the estimated fair values of our commodity derivative instruments are subject to large fluctuations from period to period. Actual gains and losses recognized related to our commodity derivative instruments will likely differ from those estimated at September 30, 2011 and will depend exclusively on the price of the commodities on the specified settlement dates provided by the derivative contracts.
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Contracts
 
Commodity
 
Interest Rate
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
As of December 31, 2010
$
13,002

 
$
19,011

 
$
32,013

Net increase in fair value
57,588

 
13,041

 
70,629

Net contract gains realized
(21,478
)
 
(8,616
)
 
(30,094
)
As of September 30, 2011
$
49,112

 
$
23,436

 
$
72,548


37

Table of Contents

 
Interest Rates on Borrowings
 
The following table presents principal amounts and related interest rates by year of maturity for Forest’s debt obligations at September 30, 2011.
 
 
2011
 
2013
 
2014
 
2019
 
Total
 
(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)
Long-term debt:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Principal
$
285,000

 
$
12

 
$
600,000

 
$
1,000,000

 
$
1,885,012

Fixed interest rate
8.00
%
 
7.00
%
 
8.50
%
 
7.25
%
 
7.76
%
Effective interest rate(1)
7.25
%
 
7.49
%
 
9.47
%
 
7.24
%
 
7.95
%
____________________________________________
(1)
The effective interest rates on the senior notes differ from the fixed interest rates due to the amortization of related discounts or premiums on the notes. The effective interest rate on the 8% senior notes due 2011 is further reduced from the fixed rate as a result of amortization of deferred gains related to the interest rate swaps terminated in 2002.
 
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
 
We conduct business in Italy and South Africa, and thus are subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk on cash flows related primarily to expenses and investing transactions. We have not entered into any foreign currency forward contracts or other similar financial instruments to manage this risk. Expenditures incurred relative to the foreign concessions held by Forest outside of North America have been primarily United States dollar-denominated, as have cash proceeds related to property sales and farmout arrangements.


38

Table of Contents

Item 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to Forest and its consolidated subsidiaries is made known to the officers who certify Forest’s financial reports and the Board of Directors.
 
Our Chief Executive Officer, H. Craig Clark, and our Chief Financial Officer, Michael N. Kennedy, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011 (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on this evaluation, they believe that as of the Evaluation Date our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act (i) is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms; and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to Forest’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
There has not been any change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our quarterly period ended September 30, 2011 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


39

Table of Contents

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
 

Item 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There have been no material changes to the disclosure included in Part I, Item 3, of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, as updated by Part II, Item I, of the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2011, and June 30, 2011.

We are a party to various other lawsuits, claims, and proceedings in the ordinary course of business. These proceedings are subject to uncertainties inherent in any litigation, and the outcome of these matters is inherently difficult to predict with any certainty. We believe that the amount of any potential loss associated with these proceedings would not be material to our consolidated financial position; however, in the event of an unfavorable outcome, the potential loss could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flow.

Item 1A.  RISK FACTORS

The following risk factor updates the Risk Factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 (“Annual Report”). Except as set forth below and in Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, there have been no material changes to the risks described in Part I, Item 1A, of the Annual Report.
Lone Pine did not assume any of the liabilities associated with our existing public debt, any of our pension liabilities, or certain corporate litigation matters, and we continue to bear all of the risk for these liabilities even though we have fewer assets following the spin-off of Lone Pine.

In the spin-off we did not require Lone Pine to assume any of our liabilities for our existing public debt, our pension obligations, or, except for those associated with Lone Pine’s predecessor, our litigation matters.  Moreover, Lone Pine did not provide us with indemnification for these liabilities, some of which may be significant.  We now will be required to service these obligations as a company with fewer assets and less revenue, which could have a negative impact on our business and results of operations.

    

Item 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
 
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
 
There were no sales of unregistered equity securities during the period covered by this report.
 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
The table below sets forth information regarding repurchases of our common stock during the third quarter 2011. The shares repurchased represent shares of our common stock that employees elected to surrender to Forest to satisfy their tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of shares of restricted stock. Forest does not consider this a share buyback program.
 
Period
 
Total # of Shares
Purchased
 
Average Price
Paid Per Share
 
Total # of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
 
Maximum # (or
Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares that
May Yet be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs
July 2011
 
2,878

 
$
23.45

 

 

August 2011
 
1,063

 
21.57

 

 

September 2011
 
1,488

 
19.17

 

 

Third Quarter Total
 
5,429

 
$
21.91

 

 



40

Table of Contents

Item 6.  EXHIBITS
(a)

 
Exhibits.
 

 
 
3.1

 
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Forest Oil Corporation dated October 14, 1993, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended September 30, 1993 (File No. 0-4597).
 

 
 
3.2

 
Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, dated as of July 20, 1995, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(a) to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 1995 (File No. 0-4597).
 

 
 
3.3

 
Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation, dated as of July 26, 1995, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(b) to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 1995 (File No. 0-4597).
 

 
 
3.4

 
Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation dated as of January 5, 1996, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(c) to Forest Oil Corporation Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No. 33-64949).
 

 
 
3.5

 
Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation dated as of December 7, 2000, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(d) to Form 10-K for Forest Oil Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 001-13515).
 

 
 
3.6

 
Bylaws of Forest Oil Corporation Restated as of February 14, 2001, as amended by Amendments No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 (File No. 001-13515).
 

 
 
10.1

 
Forest Oil Corporation 2011 Annual Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K for Forest Oil Corporation filed August 16, 2011. (File No. 001-13515)
 

 
 
10.2

 
Second Amendment dated September 21, 2011 to Credit Agreement dated March 18, 2011 among Lone Pine Resources Inc., as parent, Lone Pine Resources Canada Ltd., as borrower, each of the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch as Administrative Agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K of Forest Oil Corporation filed September 22, 2011 (File No. 001-13515)

 
 
 
10.3*

 
Form of Phantom Stock Unit Agreement (Cash Only Three Vesting Tranches) pursuant to the Forest Oil Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.
 
 
 
31.1*

 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer of Forest Oil Corporation as required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 

 
 
31.2*

 
Certification of Principal Financial Officer of Forest Oil Corporation as required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 

 
 
32.1+

 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer of Forest Oil Corporation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350.
 

 
 
32.2+

 
Certification of Principal Financial Officer of Forest Oil Corporation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350.
 
 
 
101.INS++

 
XBRL Instance Document.
 
 
 
101.SCH++

 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
 
 
 
101.CAL++

 
XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
101.LAB++

 
XBRL Label Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
101.PRE++

 
XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document.
____________________________________________
*                                            Filed herewith.
 
+                                           Not considered to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section.
 
++                                      The documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) and attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are deemed not filed as part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act, are deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Exchange Act, and otherwise are not subject to liability under these sections.

41

Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
 
 
FOREST OIL CORPORATION
(Registrant)
 
 
 
November 8, 2011
By:
/s/ MICHAEL N. KENNEDY
 
 
Michael N. Kennedy
Executive Vice President and
 Chief Financial Officer
 (on behalf of the Registrant and as
 Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ VICTOR A. WIND
 
By:
Victor A. Wind
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
 and Corporate Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)


42

Table of Contents

Exhibit Index
(a)

 
Exhibits.
 

 
 
3.1

 
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Forest Oil Corporation dated October 14, 1993, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended September 30, 1993 (File No. 0-4597).
 

 
 
3.2

 
Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, dated as of July 20, 1995, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(a) to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 1995 (File No. 0-4597).
 

 
 
3.3

 
Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation, dated as of July 26, 1995, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(b) to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 1995 (File No. 0-4597).
 

 
 
3.4

 
Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation dated as of January 5, 1996, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(c) to Forest Oil Corporation Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No. 33-64949).
 

 
 
3.5

 
Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation dated as of December 7, 2000, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(d) to Form 10-K for Forest Oil Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 001-13515).
 

 
 
3.6

 
Bylaws of Forest Oil Corporation Restated as of February 14, 2001, as amended by Amendments No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 (File No. 001-13515).
 

 
 
10.1

 
Forest Oil Corporation 2011 Annual Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K for Forest Oil Corporation filed August 16, 2011. (File No. 001-13515)
 

 
 
10.2

 
Second Amendment dated September 21, 2011 to Credit Agreement dated March 18, 2011 among Lone Pine Resources Inc., as parent, Lone Pine Resources Canada Ltd., as borrower, each of the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch as Administrative Agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K of Forest Oil Corporation filed September 22, 2011 (File No. 001-13515)

 
 
 
10.3*

 
Form of Phantom Stock Unit Agreement (Cash Only Three Vesting Tranches) pursuant to the Forest Oil Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.
 
 
 
31.1*

 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer of Forest Oil Corporation as required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 

 
 
31.2*

 
Certification of Principal Financial Officer of Forest Oil Corporation as required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 

 
 
32.1+

 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer of Forest Oil Corporation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350.
 

 
 
32.2+

 
Certification of Principal Financial Officer of Forest Oil Corporation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350.
 
 
 
101.INS++

 
XBRL Instance Document.
 
 
 
101.SCH++

 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
 
 
 
101.CAL++

 
XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
101.LAB++

 
XBRL Label Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
101.PRE++

 
XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document.
____________________________________________
*                                            Filed herewith.
 
+                                           Not considered to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section.
 
++                                      The documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) and attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are deemed not filed as part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act, are deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Exchange Act, and otherwise are not subject to liability under these sections.

43