Permian Resources Corp - 10-Q filing on 2020-11-03

Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Note 8—Fair Value Measurements

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The Company follows ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure, which establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy categorizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observability of the inputs employed in the measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:


•	Level 1: Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets – inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.


•	Level 2: Significant Other Observable Inputs – inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.


•	Level 3: Significant Unobservable Inputs – inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The following table presents, for each applicable level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s net derivative assets and liabilities, including both current and noncurrent portions, measured at fair value on a recurring basis:



(in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
September 30, 2020
Total assets	$	—	$	1,647	$	—
Total liabilities	—		869		—
December 31, 2019
Total assets	$	—	$	—	$	—
Total liabilities	—		325		—

Both financial and non-financial assets and liabilities are categorized within the above fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used by the Company as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the above fair value hierarchy. There were no transfers between any of the fair value levels during any period presented.

Derivatives

The Company uses Level 2 inputs to measure the fair value of its oil and natural gas commodity derivatives. The Company uses industry-standard models that consider various assumptions including current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, implied market volatility, time value, nonperformance risk, as well as other relevant economic measures. Substantially all of these inputs are observable in the marketplace throughout the full term of the instrument and can be supported by observable data. The Company utilizes its counterparties’ valuations to assess the reasonableness of its own valuations. Refer to Note 7—Derivative Instruments for details of the gross and net derivatives assets, liabilities and offset amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

The Company applies the provisions of the fair value measurement standard on a nonrecurring basis to its non-financial assets and liabilities, including proved oil and gas properties. These assets and liabilities are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances.

Impairment of Oil and Natural Gas Properties. The Company reviews its proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the fair value of these assets may be below their carrying value. The significant decrease in the forward price curves for crude oil and natural gas in March of 2020 resulted in a triggering event which required the Company to reassess its proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment as of March 31, 2020. An impairment loss is indicated if the sum of the expected undiscounted future net cash flows from oil and gas properties is less than the carrying amount of the assets. In this circumstance, the Company then recognizes impairment expense for the amount by which the carrying amount of proved properties exceeds their estimated fair value. The Company reviews its oil and natural gas properties on a field-by-field basis.

The Company calculates the estimated fair values of its oil and natural gas properties using an income approach that is based on inputs that are not observable in the market and therefore represent Level 3 inputs. Significant inputs to the expected future net cash flows used for the impairment review and the related fair value measurement of oil and natural gas proved properties include estimates of: (i) reserves; (ii) future production decline rates; (iii) future operating and development costs; (iv) future commodity prices, including price differentials; and (v) a market participant-based weighted average cost of capital rate. These inputs require significant judgments and estimates by the Company’s management.

The impairment test performed by the Company indicated that a proved property impairment had occurred with respect to certain of its oil and gas fields, and therefore a non-cash impairment charge to reduce the carrying value of the impaired property to its fair value was recorded. Proved oil and natural gas properties with a previous carrying value of $771.4 million were partially written down to their fair value of $179.6 million, resulting in a non-cash impairment charge of $591.8 million being recorded in the first quarter of 2020. All of the Company’s proved oil and gas properties were included in the impairment assessment performed as of March 31, 2020. Two of the Company’s fields were subject to an impairment write-down as quantified above, but the remaining five fields were not impaired due to their undiscounted cash flows exceeding their carrying values by 30% to over 100%. There were no triggering events identified as of September 30, 2020 or 2019 and therefore the Company did not recognize any impairment write-downs with respect to its proved property for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. Impairment expense for proved properties is presented as part of Impairment and Abandonment Expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

Asset Retirement Obligations. The initial measurement of ARO at fair value is calculated using discounted cash flow techniques and is based on internal estimates of future retirement costs associated with property, plant and equipment. Significant Level 3 inputs used in the calculation of ARO include the estimated future costs to plug and abandon oil and gas properties and reserve lives. Refer to Note 5—Asset Retirement Obligations for additional information on the Company’s ARO.

Senior Secured Notes. The Company’s Senior Secured Notes were measured and recorded at their fair value on the date of issuance equal to 83.44% of par. The fair value was determined utilizing the Black-Derman-Toy binomial lattice model, which is a one-factor binomial lattice model that determines the future evolution of the relevant yields. For each node on the lattice, it is determined whether it is preferable to redeem, or not, based on the yields. The model utilizes both a yield curve and a yield volatility as of the valuation date, both of which are estimated based on yields of comparable debt instruments and are inputs that are not observable for the Senior Secured Notes for the term of the debt instrument (a Level 3 classification in the fair value hierarchy). The fair value was measured by the model using the following inputs: (i) the treasury yield curve as of the valuation date, (ii) 12% credit spread, (iii) 45% yield volatility, and (iv) a corporate credit rating of B. The Company has not elected the fair value option, which would require remeasurement at fair value each period, to account for this debt instrument.

Other Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate their fair values because of the short-term maturities and/or liquid nature of these assets and liabilities.

The Company’s Senior Notes and borrowings under its credit agreement are accounted for at cost, and the cost basis of the Company’s Senior Secured Notes issued in the Debt Exchange was measured based on their fair value on the date of the exchange, as discussed above. The following table summarizes the carrying values, principal amounts and fair values of these instruments as of the dates indicated:



	September 30, 2020						December 31, 2019
	Carrying Value		Principal Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Principal Amount		Fair value
Credit facility due 2023⁽¹⁾	$	355,000	$	355,000	$	355,000	$	175,000	$	175,000	$	175,000
8.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2025⁽²⁾	102,916		127,073		101,658		—		—		—
5.375% Senior Notes due 2026⁽²⁾	284,675		289,448		117,226		392,623		400,000		394,480
6.875% Senior Notes due 2027⁽²⁾	349,650		356,351		144,322		489,766		500,000		520,000


⁽¹⁾	The carrying values of the amounts outstanding under CRP’s credit agreement approximate fair value because its variable interest rates are tied to current market rates and the applicable credit spreads represent current market rates for the credit risk profile of the Company.

⁽²⁾

The carrying values include associated unamortized debt issuance costs and any debt discounts as reflected in the consolidated balance sheets. The fair values are determined using quoted market prices for these debt securities, a Level 1 classification in the fair value hierarchy, and are based on the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes outstanding.