Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) Registration No. 333-116048 P R O S P E C T U S GULFWEST ENERGY INC. 19,179,192 Shares of GulfWest Energy Inc. Class A Common Stock (the "Shares") This prospectus relates to the resale of up to 19,179,192 Shares issuable to certain selling shareholders assuming the exercise of warrants or conversion and exchange of certain preferred stock by those shareholders. This offering is not being underwritten. The selling shareholders have advised us that they will sell the shares from time to time in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or a combination of these methods at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, at negotiated prices, or otherwise as described under "Plan of Distribution." We will pay all expenses of registration incurred in connection with this offering, but the selling shareholders will pay all of their selling commission, brokerage fees and related expenses. Our common stock is traded over-the-counter under the symbol "GULF". On September 21, 2004, the average of the high and low bid and asked prices of our common stock as traded over-the-counter was $.70 per share. --------------- Investing in our stock involves a high degree of risk. Please see "Risk Factors" beginning on page 5 for a discussion of certain factors that you should consider before investing. --------------- Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The selling shareholders may not sell or offer those securities until this registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. The date of this prospectus is September 21, 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS PROSPECTUS SUMMARY.............................................................2 WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION......................................4 RISK FACTORS...................................................................5 CAPITALIZATION................................................................11 DIVIDEND POLICY...............................................................11 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS....................................................12 MARKET PRICE OF COMMON STOCK..................................................13 SELLING SHAREHOLDERS..........................................................14 PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION..........................................................17 SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA............................................19 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.........................................................20 BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES.......................................................28 MANAGEMENT....................................................................35 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION........................................................37 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT................39 CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS..........................................................40 DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.....................................................41 GLOSSARY OF INDUSTRY TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS..................................45 LEGAL MATTERS.................................................................47 EXPERTS.......................................................................47 INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS................................................F-1 -i- PROSPECTUS SUMMARY This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. The following summary does not contain all of the information that may be important. You should read the detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus before making an investment decision. Certain terms that we use in our industry are italicized and defined in the "Glossary of Industry Terms and Abbreviations". Unless otherwise indicated, all references to "GulfWest", the "Company", "we", "us" and "our" refer to GulfWest Energy Inc. and our subsidiaries. Our Business We are primarily engaged in the acquisition, development, exploitation and production of crude oil and natural gas. Our focus is on increasing production from our existing properties through further exploitation, development and exploration, and on acquiring additional interests in crude oil and natural gas properties in the United States of America. Since we made our first significant acquisition in 1993, we have substantially increased the value of our crude oil and natural gas reserves through a combination of acquisitions and the further exploitation and development of our properties. At December 31, 2003, our estimated proved reserves were approximately 5.0 million barrels (MBbl) of oil and 32.7 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas with a Present Value discounted at 10% (PV-10) of $114.4 million. Due to the limited available capital over the last three years, we have not spent enough capital to maintain or increase our reserves. This has led to a decrease in our proved reserves in each of the years. All of our properties are located on land in Texas, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Mississippi, with the exception of Grand Lake in Louisiana. In the future, we plan to expand by continued exploitation of our existing properties and through the acquisition of additional properties. Our operations are considered to fall within a single industry segment, which is the acquisition, development, production and servicing of crude oil and natural gas properties. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." Our Company We were formed as a corporation under the laws of the State of Utah in 1987 as Gallup Acquisitions, Inc., and subsequently changed our name to First Preference Fund, Inc. and then to GulfWest Energy, Inc. We became a Texas corporation by a merger effected in July 1992, in which our name became GulfWest Oil Company. On May 21, 2001, we changed our name to GulfWest Energy Inc. Our common stock is traded over-the-counter (OTC) under the symbol "GULF". Our principal office is located at 480 North Sam Houston Parkway East, Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77060 and our telephone number is (281) 820-1919. Recent Transactions On April 27, 2004, we completed an $18,000,000 financing package with new energy lenders. We used $15,700,000 to retire existing debt of $27,584,145, resulting in forgiveness of debt of $11,884,145, the elimination of a hedging liability and the return to the Company of Series F Preferred Stock with an aggregate liquidation preference of $1,000,000 (this preferred stock, at the request of the Company, was transferred to a financial advisor to the Company and to two companies affiliated with two directors of the Company. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.") This taxable gain -2- resulting from these transactions will be completely offset by available net operating loss carryforwards. The term of the note is eighteen months and it bears interest at the prime rate plus 11%. This rate increases by .75% per month beginning in month ten. We paid the new lenders $1,180,000 in cash fees and also issued them warrants to purchase 2,035,621 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $.01 per share, expiring in five years. The warrants are subject to anti-dilution provisions. We are required by the terms of the warrants to register the resale of the common stock underlying the warrants, and those shares are offered by this prospectus. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." Simultaneously, our wholly-owned subsidiary, GulfWest Oil & Gas Company, completed the initial phase of a private offering of its Series A Preferred Stock for $4,000,000. The Series A Preferred Stock is exchangeable into our common stock based on a liquidation value of $500 per share of Series A Preferred Stock divided by $.35 per share of our common stock, or 11,428,571 shares. As part of an advisory fee, we issued $500,000 of the Series A Preferred Stock to a financial advisor. One of our directors acquired $1,500,000 of the Series A Preferred Stock. The resale of the shares of common stock to be issued upon the exchange of the Series A Preferred Stock is offered by this prospectus. The Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to receive dividends at the rate of $45.00 per share per annum, payable quarterly, as declared by the Board of Directors. The Series A Preferred Stock is redeemable in whole or in part at any time, at the option of the issuer, at a price of $500 per share, plus all accrued and undeclared unpaid dividends. The exchange price of the Series A Preferred Stock is based upon $0.35 per share of common stock. None of the Series A Preferred Stock has been redeemed or converted. Pursuant to an agreement with the financial advisor, who provided access to the lenders and raised $1,900,000 of the Series A Preferred Stock, we paid the following: a cash fee of $400,000, at closing of the transaction; $250,000 in cash, payable $10,000 per month for 25 months; and $500,000 issued in Series A Preferred Stock (as mentioned above). In addition, the financial advisor received 400 shares of our Series F Preferred Stock from a former lender. Of the $21,500,000 total cash raised, we used $15,700,000 to pay existing debt and $1,580,000 to pay fees and commissions, leaving $4,220,000 available for capital expenditures and working capital. Other Securities Being Offered In addition to the transactions described above, this prospectus also covers the resale of our common stock to be acquired upon conversion and exchange of our preferred stock and upon exercise of certain other warrants we have issued. As of September 21, 2004, there was a total of 19,000 shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding in three series, including 8,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock, 9,000 shares of Series E Preferred Stock and 2,000 shares of Series F Preferred Stock (collectively, "Preferred Stock"). The 8,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock are held by a former director, the 9,000 shares of Series E Preferred Stock are held by a current director and the 2,000 shares of Series F are held by a financial advisor to the Company, by an officer and by two companies affiliated with two directors. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions." On a fully converted basis, the 8,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock would convert to 500,000 shares of common stock. On a fully converted basis, the 9,000 shares of Series E Preferred Stock would convert to 2,250,000 shares of common stock. On a fully converted basis, the 2,000 shares of Series F Preferred Stock would convert to 1,000,000 shares of common stock. Since 1996 we have occasionally issued warrants to employees, consultants and directors as additional compensation. These warrants have exercise prices ranging from $0.75 to $1.20 per share and entitle the warrant holders to purchase up to 890,000 shares of common stock. The warrants contain certain anti-dilution provisions and have expiration dates from January 6, 2005 to December 7, 2006. -3- Additionally, warrants have occasionally been issued to lenders or guarantors on loans to the Company as additional consideration for entering into the loans or guaranties. These warrants have an exercise price of $.75 per warrant and entitle the warrant holders to purchase up to 1,075,000 shares of common stock. A director of the Company has 625,000 of these warrants. The warrants contain certain anti-dilution provisions and have expiration dates ranging from February 12, 2005 to April 1, 2008. Summary of the Offering This prospectus relates to the resale of an aggregate of up to 19,179,192 shares of our common stock (the "Shares") issuable or issued to certain selling shareholders, assuming the conversion and exchange of the preferred stock described above and the exercise of the warrants described above. The selling shareholders may offer to sell the Shares at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, or at varying negotiated prices. We will not receive any proceeds from the resale of Shares by the holders thereof. As of September 21, 2004 the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding was 18,492,541, not including the shares reserved for issuance upon the conversion and exchange of the preferred stock and the exercise of the warrants described above. On September 21, 2004, the average of the high and low bid and asked prices of our common stock as traded over-the-counter was $.70 per share. WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION We have filed a registration statement on Form S-1, as amended, to register the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus. In addition, we file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective purchasers may read and copy any reports, statements or other information we file at the Securities and Exchange Commission's public reference facilities in Washington, D.C., New York and Chicago, Illinois. Please call the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference facilities. Our Securities and Exchange Commission filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services, and at the web site maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov. As allowed by Securities and Exchange Commission rules, this prospectus does not contain all the information contained in the registration statement or in exhibits to the registration statement. -4- RISK FACTORS Investing in our stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risk factors in addition to the other information in this prospectus before making an investment in our stock. Any of the following risks could cause the trading price of the Shares to decline. Our success depends heavily upon our ability to market our crude oil and natural gas production at favorable prices. In recent decades, there have been both periods of worldwide overproduction and underproduction of crude oil and natural gas, and periods of increased and relaxed energy conservation efforts. Such conditions have resulted in excess supply of, and reduced demand for, crude oil on a worldwide basis and for natural gas on a domestic basis. At other times, there has been short supply of, and increased demand for, crude oil and, to a lesser extent, natural gas. These changes have resulted in dramatic price fluctuations. The degree to which we are leveraged could possibly have important consequences to our shareholders, including the following: (i) Our indebtedness, acquisitions, working capital, capital expenditures or other purposes may be impaired; (ii) Funds available for our operations and general corporate purposes or for capital expenditures will be reduced as a result of the dedication of a substantial portion of our consolidated cash flow from operations to the payment of the principal and interest on our indebtedness; (iii) We may be more highly leveraged than certain of our competitors, which may place us at a competitive disadvantage; (iv) The agreements governing our long-term indebtedness and bank loans may contain restrictive financial and operating covenants; (v) An event of default (not cured or waived) under financial and operating covenants contained in our debt instruments could occur and have a material adverse effect; (vi) Certain of the borrowings under our debt agreements have floating rates of interest, which causes us to be vulnerable to increases in interest rates; and (vii) Our substantial degree of leverage could make us more vulnerable to a downturn in general economic conditions. Our ability to make principal and interest payments under long-term indebtedness and bank loans will be dependent upon our future performance, which is subject to financial, economic and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. We cannot assure you that our current level of operating results will continue or improve. We believe that we will need to access capital markets in the future in order to provide the funds necessary to repay a significant portion of our indebtedness. We cannot assure you that any such refinancing will be possible or that we can obtain any additional financing, particularly in view of our anticipated high levels of debt. If no such refinancing or additional financing were available, we could default on our debt obligations. -5- We have incurred net losses in the past and there can be no assurance that we will be profitable in the future. We have incurred net losses in three of the last five fiscal years. Our accountants have included a "going concern" notation in their letter accompanying our audited financial statements. See "Financial Statements." If we continue to sustain net losses in future years, it will be difficult to continue as an operating entity. Our future operating results may fluctuate significantly depending upon a number of factors, including industry conditions, prices of crude oil and natural gas, rates of production, timing of capital expenditures and drilling success. These variables could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and the market price of our common stock. Estimates of crude oil and natural gas reserves depend on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate. Estimates of our proved reserves for crude oil and natural gas and the estimated future net revenues from the production of such reserves rely upon various assumptions, including assumptions as to crude oil and natural gas prices, drilling and operating expenses, capital expenditures, taxes and availability of funds. The process of estimating crude oil and natural gas reserves is complex and imprecise. Actual future production, crude oil and natural gas prices, revenues, taxes, development expenditures, operating expenses and quantities of recoverable crude oil and natural gas reserves may vary substantially from the estimates we obtain from reserve engineers. Any significant variance in these assumptions could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of reserves we have set forth. In addition, our proved reserves may be subject to downward or upward revision due to factors that are beyond our control, such as production history, results of future exploration and development, prevailing crude oil and natural gas prices and other factors. Approximately 25% of our total estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2003 were proved undeveloped reserves, which are by their nature less certain. Recovery of such reserves requires significant capital expenditures and successful drilling operations. The reserve data set forth in the reserve engineer reports assumes that substantial capital expenditures are required to develop such reserves. Although cost and reserve estimates attributable to our crude oil and natural gas reserves have been prepared in accordance with industry standards, we cannot be sure that the estimated costs are accurate, that development will occur as scheduled or that the results of such development will be as estimated. You should not interpret the present value referred to in this prospectus as the current market value of our estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves. In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission requirements, the estimated discounted future net cash flows from proved reserves are generally based on prices and costs as of the date of the estimate. Actual future prices and costs may be materially higher or lower. The estimates of our proved reserves and the future net revenues from which the present value of our properties is derived were calculated based on the actual prices of our various properties on a property-by-property basis at December 31, 2003. The average prices of all properties were $29.51 per barrel of oil and $5.82 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of natural gas at that date. -6- Actual future net cash flows will also be affected by increases or decreases in consumption by crude oil and natural gas purchasers and changes in governmental regulations or taxation. The timing of both the production and the incurring of expenses in connection with the development and production of crude oil and natural gas properties affect the timing of actual future net cash flows from proved reserves. In addition, the 10% discount factor, which is required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to be used in calculating discounted future net cash flows for reporting purposes, is not necessarily the most appropriate discount factor. The effective interest rate at various times and the risks associated with our business or the oil and gas industry in general will affect the accuracy of the 10% discount factor. Except to the extent that we acquire properties containing proved reserves or conduct successful development or exploitation activities, our proved reserves will decline as they are produced. In general, the volume of production from crude oil and natural gas properties declines as reserves are depleted. Our future crude oil and natural gas production is highly dependent upon our success in finding or acquiring additional reserves. The business of acquiring, enhancing or developing reserves requires considerable capital. Our ability to make the necessary capital investment to maintain or expand our asset base of crude oil and natural gas reserves could be impaired to the extent that cash flow from operations is reduced and external sources of capital become limited or unavailable. In addition, we cannot be sure that our future acquisition and development activities will result in additional proved reserves or that we will be able to drill productive wells at acceptable costs. Crude oil and natural gas drilling and production activities are subject to numerous risks, many of which are beyond our control. These risks include (i) the possibility that no commercially productive oil or gas reservoirs will be encountered; and, (ii) that operations may be curtailed, delayed or canceled due to title problems, weather conditions, governmental requirements, mechanical difficulties, or delays in the delivery of drilling rigs and other equipment that may limit our ability to develop, produce and market our reserves. We cannot assure you that new wells we drill will be productive or that we will recover all or any portion of our investment in such new wells. Drilling for crude oil and natural gas may not be profitable. Any wells that we drill may be dry wells or wells that are not sufficiently productive to be profitable after drilling. Such wells will have a negative impact on our profitability. In addition, our properties may be susceptible to drainage from production by other operators on adjacent properties. Our industry experiences numerous operating risks that could cause us to suffer substantial losses. Such risks include fire, explosions, blowouts, pipe failure and environmental hazards, such as oil spills, natural gas leaks, ruptures or discharges of toxic gases. We could also suffer losses due to personnel injury or loss of life; severe damage to or destruction of property; or environmental damage that could result in clean-up responsibilities, regulatory investigation, penalties or suspension of our operations. In accordance with customary industry practice, we maintain insurance policies against some, but not all, of the risks described above. Our insurance policies may not adequately protect us against loss or liability. There is no guarantee that insurance policies that protect us against the many risks we face will continue to be available at justifiable premium levels. -7- As owners and operators of crude oil and natural gas properties, we may be liable under federal, state and local environmental regulations for activities involving water pollution, hazardous waste transport, storage, disposal or other activities. Our past growth has been attributable to acquisitions of producing crude oil and natural gas properties with proved reserves. There are risks involved with such acquisitions. The successful acquisition of properties requires an assessment of recoverable reserves, future crude oil and natural gas prices, operating costs, potential environmental and other liabilities, and other factors beyond our control. Such assessments are necessarily inexact and their accuracy uncertain. In connection with such an assessment, we perform a review of the subject properties that we believe to be generally consistent with industry practices. Such a review, however, will not reveal all existing or potential problems, nor will it permit us, as the buyer, to become sufficiently familiar with the properties to fully assess their capabilities or deficiencies. We may not inspect every well and, even when an inspection is undertaken, structural and environmental problems may not necessarily be observable. When we acquire properties, in most cases, we are not entitled to contractual indemnification for pre-closing liabilities, including environmental liabilities. We generally acquire interests in properties on an "as is" basis with limited remedies for breaches of representations and warranties. In those circumstances in which we have contractual indemnification rights for pre-closing liabilities, we cannot assure you that the seller will be able to fulfill its contractual obligations. In addition, the competition to acquire producing crude oil and natural gas properties is intense and many of our larger competitors have financial and other resources substantially greater than ours. We cannot assure you that we will be able to acquire producing crude oil and natural gas properties that have economically recoverable reserves for acceptable prices. We may acquire royalty, overriding royalty or working interests in properties that are less than the controlling interest. In such cases, it is likely that we will not operate, nor control the decisions affecting the operations, of such properties. We intend to limit such acquisitions to properties operated by competent parties with whom we have discussed their plans for operation of the properties. We will need additional financing in the future to continue to fund our development and exploitation activities. We have made and will continue to make substantial capital expenditures in our exploitation and development projects. We intend to finance these capital expenditures with cash flow from operations, existing financing arrangements or new financing. We cannot assure you that such additional financing will be available. If it is not available, our development and exploitation activities may have to be curtailed, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, as was the case in 2003. -8- The marketing of our natural gas production depends, in part, upon the availability, proximity and capacity of natural gas gathering systems, pipelines and processing facilities. We could be adversely affected by changes in existing arrangements with transporters of our natural gas since we do not own most of the gathering systems and pipelines through which our natural gas is delivered to purchasers. Our ability to produce and market our natural gas could also be adversely affected by federal, state and local regulation of production and transportation. The crude oil and natural gas industry is highly competitive in all of its phases. Competition is particularly intense with respect to the acquisition of desirable producing properties, the acquisition of crude oil and natural gas prospects suitable for enhanced production efforts, and the hiring of experienced personnel. Our competitors in crude oil and natural gas acquisition, development, and production include the major oil companies, in addition to numerous independent crude oil and natural gas companies, individual proprietors and drilling programs. Many of these competitors possess and employ financial and personnel resources substantially in excess of those which are available to us and may, therefore, be able to pay more for desirable producing properties and prospects and to define, evaluate, bid for, and purchase a greater number of producing properties and prospects than our financial or personnel resources will permit. Our ability to generate reserves in the future will be dependent on our ability to select and acquire suitable producing properties and prospects while competing with these companies. The domestic oil industry is extensively regulated at both the federal and state levels. Although we believe we are presently in compliance with all laws, rules and regulations, we cannot assure you that changes in such laws, rules or regulations, or the interpretation thereof, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or the results of our operations. Legislation affecting the oil and gas industry is under constant review for amendment or expansion, frequently increasing the regulatory burden on the industry. There are numerous federal and state agencies authorized to issue rules and regulations affecting the oil and gas industry. These rules and regulations are often difficult and costly to comply with and carry substantial penalties for noncompliance. State statutes and regulations require permits for drilling operations, drilling bonds, and reports concerning operations. Most states also have statutes and regulations governing conservation matters, including the unitization or pooling of properties, and the establishment of maximum rates of production from wells. Some states have also enacted statutes prescribing price ceilings for natural gas sold within their states. Our industry is also subject to numerous laws and regulations governing plugging and abandonment of wells, discharge of materials into the environment and other matters relating to environmental protection. The heavy regulatory burden on the oil and gas industry increases the costs of our doing business as an oil and gas company, consequently affecting our profitability. -9- We have "blank check" preferred stock. Our Articles of Incorporation authorize the Board of Directors to issue preferred stock without further shareholder action in one or more series and to designate the dividend rate, voting rights and other rights preferences and restrictions. The issuance of preferred stock could have an adverse impact on holders of common stock. Preferred stock is senior to common stock. Additionally, preferred stock could be issued with dividend rights senior to the rights of holders of common stock. Finally, preferred stock could be issued as part of a "poison pill", which could have the effect of determining offers to acquire the Company See "Description of Securities" We do not pay dividends on our common stock. Our board of directors presently intends to retain all of our earnings for the expansion of our business, therefore we do not anticipate distributing cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Any decision of our board of directors to pay cash dividends will depend upon our earnings, financial position, cash requirements and other factors. The holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights, preemptive rights or rights to convert their common stock to other securities. We are authorized to issue 80,000,000 shares of common stock, $.001 par value per share. As of September 21, 2004, there were 18,492,541 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Since the holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights, the holder(s) of a majority of the shares of common stock present, in person or by proxy, will be able to elect all of the members of our board of directors. The holders of shares of our common stock do not have preemptive rights or rights to convert their common stock into other securities. Management controls the Company. Mr. J. Virgil Waggoner, our Chairman of the Board and one of the selling shareholders, owns 9,601,829 shares of our common stock, which represents almost 52% of the currently outstanding common stock. Additionally, Mr. Waggoner has the right to acquire an additional 7,180,714 shares pursuant to conversion and exchange of preferred stock and exercise of currently exercisable warrants and options. See "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management." Additionally, all current directors and officers as a group own almost 70% of the outstanding common stock (assuming they convert all preferred stock and exercise all currently exercisable warrants and options held by them). For as long as Mr. Waggoner and the other directors and officers continue to own over a majority of the outstanding common stock, they will be able to control elections to the board of directors and other matters submitted to shareholders. The percentage ownership of directors and officers could be reduced by the issuance of common stock on conversion and exchange of preferred stock and the exercise of warrants, although it is impossible to say how many shares will be actually issued. The number of shares of outstanding common stock could increase significantly as a result of our recent transactions. If all of the common stock offered by this prospectus is issued by the Company, the number of our outstanding shares of common stock will more than double. It is impossible to say how many shares, if any, will be issued by the Company and how many shares, in turn, will be resold under this prospectus. However, it is possible that our stock price could decline significantly as a result of an increased number of shares being offered into the market. -10- CAPITALIZATION The following table sets forth our capitalization as of June 30, 2004 and as adjusted to give effect to the issuance of the shares offered by this prospectus listed under "Summary - Other Securities Being Offered", assuming conversion and exchange of all the preferred stock described in this prospectus and exercise of all of the outstanding warrants. You should read this table in conjunction with our financial statements, "Selected Financial Data" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition" included elsewhere in this prospectus. June 30, 2004 Actual As Adjusted -------------- -------------- Total long-term debt, less current portion $ 21,187,404 $ 21,187,404 Total current liabilities 11,751,500 11,751,500 -------------- -------------- Total debt $ 32,938,904 $ 32,938,904 -------------- -------------- Shareholders' equity Series A Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, $500 liquidation value, 8,000 shares outstanding 80 - Series D Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, $500 liquidation value, 8,000 shares outstanding 80 - Series E Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, $500 liquidation value, 9,000 shares outstanding 90 - Series F Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, $500 liquidation value, 2,000 shares outstanding 20 - Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value, 18,492,541 shares outstanding actual, 37,671,733 as adjusted 18,493 37,672 Additional paid-in equity 34,093,242 35,587,188 Accumulated deficit (14,325,740) (14,325,740) -------------- -------------- Total shareholders' equity 19,786,265 21,299,120 -------------- -------------- Total capitalization $ 52,724,899 $ 54,238,024 ============== ============== DIVIDEND POLICY We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation of our business and to fund future growth. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. -11- FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS We make forward-looking statements throughout this prospectus. Whenever you read a statement that is not simply a statement of historical fact (such as when we describe what we "believe," "expect" or "anticipate" will occur, and other similar statements), you must remember that our expectations may not be correct, even though we believe they are reasonable. We do not guarantee that the transactions and events described in this prospectus will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). The forward-looking information contained in this prospectus is generally located in the material set forth under the headings "Summary," "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Business" but may be found in other locations as well. These forward-looking statements generally relate to our plans and objectives for future operations and are based upon our management's reasonable estimates of future results and trends. YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT. THIS PROSPECTUS MAY ONLY BE USED WHERE IT IS LEGAL TO SELL THESE SECURITIES. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE ONLY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS, REGARDLESS OF WHEN THIS PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED OR THE DATE OF ANY SALE OF OUR COMMON STOCK. -12- MARKET PRICE OF COMMON STOCK Our common stock is traded over-the-counter (OTC) under the symbol "GULF". Fidelity Transfer Company, 1800 South West Temple, Suite 301, Box 53, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115, (801) 484-7222 is the transfer agent for the common stock. The high and low trading prices for the common stock for each quarter in 2004, 2003 and 2002 are set forth below. The trading prices represent prices between dealers, without retail mark-ups, mark-downs, or commissions, and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. High Low ------ ----- 2004 ---- Second Quarter $.56 $.33 First Quarter $.56 $.32 2003 ---- First Quarter $.45 $.42 Second Quarter .47 .35 Third Quarter .47 .43 Fourth Quarter .47 .32 2002 ---- First Quarter $.66 $.55 Second Quarter .60 .46 Third Quarter .51 .20 Fourth Quarter .44 .32 We are authorized to issue 80,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $.001 per share (the "common stock"). As of September 21, 2004, there were 18,492,541 shares of common stock issued and outstanding (not including shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants or upon conversion and exchange of preferred stock) and held by approximately 625 beneficial owners. -13- SELLING SHAREHOLDERS The selling shareholders may offer and sell, from time to time, any or all of the Shares. Because the selling security holders may offer all or only some portion of the 19,179,192 Shares to be registered, no estimate can be given as to the amount or percentage of these Shares that will be held by the selling shareholders upon termination of the offering. The following table sets forth the name and relationship with us, if any, of certain of the selling shareholders and (i) the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the selling shareholders as of the date of this prospectus, (ii) the maximum number of shares of common stock which may be offered for the account of the selling shareholders under this prospectus and (iii) the amount and percentage of common stock that would be owned by the selling shareholders after completion of the offering, assuming a sale of all of the common stock which may be offered hereunder. Except as otherwise noted below, the selling shareholders have not, within the past three years, had any position, office or other material relationship with us. Beneficial ownership is determined under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The number of shares beneficially owned by a person includes shares of common stock subject to options held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus. The shares issuable under these securities are treated as if outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of the person holding these securities but are not treated as if outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name and Address of Total Shares % of Total Shares Selling Security Holder Registered Ownership Owned(1) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Petrobridge Investment Management, LLC 2,035,621 9.9 2,035,621 1600 Smith Street, Suite 4250 Houston, TX 77002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Petro Capital Advisors 1,628,571 8.1 1,628,571 1845Woodall Rodgers Frwy.,Suite 1700 Dallas, TX 75201 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Virgil Waggoner(2) 7,160,714 65.4 16,782,543 6605 Cypresswood Drive, Suite 250 Spring, TX 77379 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patrick Parker 857,143 4.4 857,143 Scarbrough Building, 6th and Congress, 101 W. 6th St. Suite 610 Austin, TX 78701 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Douglas Moreland 1,428,571 7.2 1,428,571 1655 East Layton Drive Englewood, CO 80110 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stanley Chason 71,429 * 71,429 1230 Watervale Court, Pasadena, MD 21122 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -14- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name and Address of Total Shares % of Total Shares Selling Security Holder Registered Ownership Owned(1) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- XMen, LLC 1,714,286 8.9 1,714,286 520 Lake Cook Road, Suite 105 Deerfield, IL 60015 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bruce Goldstein 57,143 * 57,143 1934 Deercrest Lane Northbrook, IL 60062 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Barry S. Cohn Revocable Trust 214,286 1.2 214,286 2505 Astor Court Glenview, IL 60025 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bargus Partnership 714,286 3.7 714,286 664 South Evergreen Ave Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edwin J. Hagerty 371,429 2.0 371,429 5100 West Grove Dr. Dallas, TX 75248 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Star-Tex Trading Company 285,713 * 370,381 16300 Addison Rd., Suite 300 Addison, TX 75001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ST Advisory Corp./John E. Loehr(3) 270,000 3.3 617,491 16300 Addison Rd., Suite 300 Addison, TX 75001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas R, Kaetzer(4) 325,000 3.9 733,852 480 N. Sam Houston Parkway, Suite 300 Houston, TX 77060 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim C. Bigham(5) 125,000 1.3 245,985 480 N. Sam Houston Parkway, Suite 300 Houston, TX 77060 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marshall A. Smith III(6) 270,000 4.7 889,005 480 N. Sam Houston Parkway, Suite 300 Houston, TX 77060 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Intermarket Management LLC(7) 500,000 2.7 500,000 170 Broadway., Suite 1700 New York, NY 10038 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Star Investments , LTD 100,000 * 139,500 3421 Causeway Blvd., Suite 103 Metairie, LA 70002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -15- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name and Address of Total Shares % of Total Shares Selling Security Holder Registered Ownership Owned(1) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ray B. Nesbitt 150,000 * 393,333 1 Winston Woods Houston, TX 77024 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. T. Thompson 40,000 * 40,000 1212 Woodhollow Drive, No. 15101 Houston, TX 77057 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rick Gardner 100,000 * 100,000 1615 Poydras, 5th Floor New Orleans, LA 70112 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ron Zimmerman 60,000 * 60,000 1212 Woodhollow Drive, No. 15101 Houston, TX 77057 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steven M. Morris 500,000 * 500,000 P.O. Box 941828 Houston, TX 77094 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Less than 1% (1) Includes shares registered hereunder. (2) Mr. Waggoner is Chairman of the Board of the Company. See "Management." (3) Mr. Loehr is Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company. See "Management." Reflects 270,000 shares issuable to Mr. Loehr pursuant immediately exercisable warrants and 200,000 shares issuable upon exchange of preferred stock held by ST Advisory Corp. ST Advisory Corp. is owned by John E. Loehr. (4) Mr. Kaetzer is President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of the Company. See "Management." (5) Mr. Bigham is Vice President and Secretary of the Company. See "Management." (6) Mr. Smith is a director of the Company. See "Management." (7) Mr. M. Scott Manolis, one of our directors, is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and an owner of this Company. See "Management" and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions." -16- PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The selling shareholders may, from time to time, sell all or a portion of the shares of common stock on any market upon which the common stock may be quoted (currently the OTC Bulletin Board), in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such sales may be at fixed prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the market prices or at negotiated prices. The shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus may be sold by the selling shareholders using one or more of the following methods, without limitation: (a) Block trades in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares of common stock as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (b) purchases by broker or dealer as principal and resale by the broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus; (c) an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; (d) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers; (e) privately negotiated transactions; (f) market sales (both long and short to the extent permitted under the federal securities laws); (g) at the market to or through market makers or into an existing market for the shares; (h) through transactions in options, swaps or other derivatives (whether exchange listed or otherwise); and (i) a combination of any aforementioned methods of sale. In the event of the transfer by the selling shareholder of its shares to any pledgee, donee or other transferee, we will amend this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part by the filing of a post-effective amendment in order to have the pledgee, donee or other transferee in place of the selling shareholder who has transferred his or her shares. In effecting sales, brokers and dealers engaged by a selling shareholder may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Brokers or dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling shareholder or, if any of the broker-dealers act as an agent for the purchaser of such shares, from the purchaser in amounts to be negotiated which are not expected to exceed those customary in the types of transactions involved. Broker-dealers may agree with a selling shareholder to sell a specified number of the shares of common stock at a stipulated price per share. Such an agreement may also require the broker-dealer to purchase as principal any unsold shares of common stock at the price required to fulfill the broker-dealer commitment to the selling shareholder if such broker-dealer is unable to sell the shares on behalf of the selling shareholder. Broker-dealers who acquire shares of common stock as principal may thereafter resell the shares of common stock from time to time in transactions which may involve block transactions and sales to and through other broker-dealers, including transactions of the nature described above. Such sales by a broker-dealer could be at prices and on terms then prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the then-current market price or in negotiated transactions. In connection with such resales, the broker-dealer may pay to or receive from the purchasers of the shares commissions as described above. -17- A selling shareholder and any broker-dealers or agents that participate with that selling shareholder in the sale of the shares of common stock may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with these sales. In that event, any commissions received by the broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares of common stock purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. From time to time, a selling shareholder may pledge its shares of common stock pursuant to the margin provisions of its customer agreements with its brokers. Upon a default by a selling shareholder, the broker may offer and sell the pledged shares of common stock from time to time. Upon a sale of the shares of common stock, the selling shareholders intend to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements under the Securities Act of 1933 by delivering a prospectus to each purchaser in the transaction. We intend to file any amendments or other necessary documents in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933 which may be required in the event a selling shareholder defaults under any customer agreement with brokers. To the extent required under the Securities Act of 1933, a post effective amendment to this registration statement will be filed, disclosing the name of any broker-dealers, the number of shares of common stock involved, the price at which the common stock is to be sold, the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealers, where applicable, that such broker-dealers did not conduct any investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and other facts material to the transaction. We and the selling shareholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations under it, including, without limitation, Rule 10b-5 and, insofar as a selling shareholder is a distribution participant and we, under certain circumstances, may be a distribution participant, under Regulation M. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the common stock. All expenses of the registration statement including, but not limited to, legal, accounting, printing and mailing fees are and will be borne by us. Any commissions, discounts or other fees payable to brokers or dealers in connection with any sale of the shares of common stock will be borne by the selling shareholder, the purchasers participating in such transaction, or both. Any shares of common stock covered by this prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus. -18- SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA The following table sets forth selected historical financial data of our Company for the six-month period ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, and as of December 31, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999, and for each of the periods then ended. See "Business" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." The income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 and the balance sheet data at December 31, 2003 and 2002 are derived from our audited financial statements contained elsewhere herein. The income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 and the balance sheet data at December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 are derived from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for those periods. You should read this data in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere herein. (in thousands, except per share data) Six Month Period Ended June 30, (unaudited) Year Ended December 31 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2004 2003 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ Income Statement Data --------------------- Operating Revenues $ 5,073,995 $ 6,040,727 $ 11,010,723 $ 10,839,797 $ 12,990,581 $ 8,984,175 $ 2,812,639 Net income (loss) from operations 684,145 1,269,259 917,571 927,655 3,451,875 2,464,017 (1,464,094) Net income (loss) 9,151,987 (1,111,224) (3,024,426) (4,502,313) 1,044,291 352,774 (2,269,506) Dividends on preferred stock (131,709) - (127,083) (112,500) (56,250) - (450,684) Net income (loss) available to common shareholders 9,020,278 (1,111,224) (3,151,509) (4,614,813) 988,401 352,774 (2,720,190) Net income (loss), per share of common stock, basic $ .49 $ (.06) $ (.17) $ (.25) $ .05 $ .02 $ (.34) Net income (loss), per share of common stock, diluted $ .34 $ (.06) $ (.17) $ (.25) $ .05 $ .02 $ (.34) Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding 18,492,541 18,492,541 18,492,541 18,492,541 18,464,343 17,293,848 7,953,147 Balance Sheet Data ------------------ Current assets $ 2,432,551 $ 2,406,702 $ 1,742,689 $ 2,353,046 $ 2,205,862 $ 2,934,804 $ 1,357,465 Total assets 55,273,493 52,642,185 52,428,774 53,088,941 51,379,209 32,374,128 20,009,793 Current liabilities 11,751,500 43,862,669 44,619,652 43,998,566 12,492,365 7,594,986 4,650,691 Long-term obligations 22,585,326 104,840 1,393,607 137,808 26,541,957 18,077,371 11,304,318 Other liabilities 1,150,402 936,826 591,467 1,128,993 - - - Shareholders' Equity $ 55,273,493 $ 52,642,185 $ 5,824,648 $ 7,823,574 $ 12,344,887 $ 6,701,771 $ 4,054,784 -19- MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS You should read the following discussion in conjunction with our financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or our predictions. Please see "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements" for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements. Overview We are engaged primarily in the acquisition, development, exploitation, exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. Our focus is on increasing production from our existing crude oil and natural gas properties through the further exploitation, development and exploration of those properties, and on acquiring additional interests in crude oil and natural gas properties. Our gross revenues are derived from the following sources: 1. Oil and gas sales that are proceeds from the sale of crude oil and natural gas production to midstream purchasers; 2. Operating overhead and other income that consists of earnings from operating crude oil and natural gas properties for other working interest owners, and marketing and transporting natural gas. This also includes earnings from other miscellaneous activities. 3. Well servicing revenues that are earnings from the operation of well servicing equipment under contract to other operators. During 2003, we worked only for our own account. The following is a discussion of our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, financial condition and capital resources. You should read this discussion in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto contained elsewhere herein. See "Financial Statements." Results of Operations The factors which most significantly affect our results of operations are (1) the sales price of crude oil and natural gas, (2) the level of total sales volumes of crude oil and natural gas, (3) the cost and efficiency of operating our properties, (4) depletion and depreciation of oil and gas property costs and related equipment, (5) the level of and interest rates on borrowings, (6) the level and success of new acquisitions and development of existing properties, and (7) the adoption of changes in accounting rules. We consider depletion and depreciation of oil and gas properties and related support equipment to be critical accounting estimates, based upon estimates of oil and gas reserves. The estimates of oil and gas reserves utilized in the calculation of depletion and depreciation are estimated in accordance with guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Accounting Standards Board, which require that reserve estimates be prepared under existing economic and operating conditions with no provision for price and cost escalations over prices and costs existing at year end, except by contractual arrangements. -20- We emphasize that reserve estimates are inherently imprecise. Accordingly, the estimates are expected to change as more current information becomes available. Our policy is to amortize capitalized oil and gas costs on the unit of production method, based upon these reserve estimates. It is reasonably possible the estimates of future cash inflows, future gross revenues, the amount of oil and gas reserves, the remaining estimated lives of the oil and gas properties, or any combination of the above may be increased or reduced in the near term. If reduced, the carrying amount of capitalized oil and gas properties may be reduced materially in the near term. Comparative results of operations for the periods indicated are discussed below. Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2004 compared to Three Month Period Ended June 30, 2003. Revenues Oil and Gas Sales. Revenues from the sale of crude oil and natural gas for the quarter decreased 10% from $2,770,200 in 2003 to $ 2,494,300 in 2004. This was due to a decrease in sales volumes, partially offset by an increase in oil and gas prices. Operating Overhead and Other Income. Revenues from these activities increased 105% from $20,000 in 2003 to $ 40,900 in 2004. This was due to fluctuation in prices of natural gas in our imbalance accounts. Costs and Expenses Lease Operating Expenses. Lease operating expenses decreased 8% from $1,392,400 in 2003 to $1,285,000 in 2004, due to decreased field activities. Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (DD and A). DD and A decreased 23% from $570,700 in 2003 to $437,000 in 2004. This was due to a decrease in sales volumes. General and Administrative (G and A) Expenses. G and A expenses increased 12% for the period from $420,400 in 2003 to $ 472,400 in 2004. This was mainly due to increased expenses related to our refinancing activities. Interest Expense. Interest expense increased 25% from $811,800 in 2003 to $1,014,600 in 2004, primarily due to increased interest rates resulting from the refinancing of the major component of our debt even though the amount of our debt decreased. Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2004 compared to Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2003. Revenues Oil and Gas Sales. Revenues from the sale of crude oil and natural gas for the period decreased 16% from $5,975,000 in 2003 to $4,995,000 in 2004. This was due to a decrease in sales volumes, partially offset by an increase in oil and gas prices. Operating Overhead and Other Income. Revenues from these activities increased 20% from $65,700 in 2003 to $79,000 in 2004. This was due to fluctuation in prices of natural gas in our imbalance accounts. -21- Costs and Expenses Lease Operating Expenses. Lease operating expenses decreased 6% from $2,762,400 in 2003 to $2,599,300 in 2004, due to decreased field activity. Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (DD and A). DD and A decreased 25% from $1,174,600 in 2003 to $876,200 in 2004. This was due to a decrease in sales volumes. General and Administrative (G and A) Expenses. G and A expenses increased 5% for the period from $834,500 in 2003 to $873,600 in 2004. This was mainly due to increased expenses related to our refinancing activities. Interest Expense. Interest expense increased 23% from $1,572,600 in 2003 to $1,934,800 in 2004.This was due to increased interest rates resulting from the refinancing of the major component of our debt, even though the amount of the debt decreased, and penalty interest changed by the previous lender. Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2002 Revenues Oil and Gas Sales. Our operating revenues from the sale of crude oil and natural gas increased by 4% from $10,447,000 in 2002 to $10,844,000 in 2003. This increase was due to higher sales prices but offset by normal oil and gas production declines. We were unable to offset the production declines through development efforts because of limited development capital. Well Servicing Revenues. There were no revenues from our well servicing operations in 2003 compared to $39,000 in 2002 since we ceased performing work for other operators and concentrated on our own properties. Operating Overhead and Other Income. Revenues from these activities decreased 53% from $354,000 in 2002 to $166,000 in 2003, primarily due to (1) the loss of an oil and gas marketing contract and (2) lower pipeline volumes resulting in less transportation revenue. Costs and Expenses Lease Operating Expenses. Lease operating expenses increased 2% from $5,430,000 in 2002 to $5,528,000 in 2003 due to increased vendor prices and increased production taxes. Cost of Well Servicing Operations. There were no well servicing expenses in 2003 compared to $56,000 in 2002 since we did not work for other operators. Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (DD and A). DD and A decreased 17% from $2,698,000 in 2002 to $2,226,000 in 2003, principally due to lower production volumes. We also recorded income of $262,000 related to the cumulative effect of adopting SFAS 143. Accretion Expense. We recorded accretion expense of $77,000 as a result of adopting SFAS 143 "Asset Retirement Obligation", effective January 1, 2003. General and Administrative (G and A) Expenses. G and A expenses increased 31% from $1,728,000 in 2002 to $2,262,000 in 2003 due to expenses associated with financing efforts that were not culminated. -22- Interest Income and Expense. Interest expense increased 6% from $3,159,000 in 2002 to $3,363,000 in 2003 due to penalty interest paid to our largest lender. Other Financing Costs. In 2003, we recorded an expense of $1,000,000 to account for the issuance of 2,000 shares of our preferred stock to our largest lender under a financial agreement. Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments. The estimated future fair value of derivative instruments at December 31, 2003 resulted in an unrealized gain of $537,000 in 2003 compared to an unrealized loss of $1,597,000 in 2002. Dry Holes, Abandoned Property and Impaired Assets. The cost of abandoned property in 2003 was $359,000 because the lack of capital to complete projects resulted in the loss of leases. This compared to combined costs of dry holes, abandoned property and impaired assets of $617,000 in 2002. Dividends on Preferred Stock. In 2003, accrued and unpaid dividends on preferred stock due were $127,000. In 2002, dividends on preferred stock due and paid were $112,000. Year Ended December 31, 2002 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2001 Revenues Oil and Gas Sales. Our operating revenues from the sale of crude oil and natural gas decreased by 16% from $12,426,000 in 2001 to $10,447,000 in 2002. This decrease was due to normal oil and gas production declines of 6% and oil and gas price declines of 10%. Well Servicing Revenues. Revenues from our well servicing operations decreased by 77% from $169,000 in 2001 to $39,000 in 2002. This decrease was due to performing less work for third parties and the sale of one of our workover rigs. Operating Overhead and Other Income. Revenues from these activities decreased 10% from $395,000 in 2001 to $354,000 in 2002, primarily as a result of the termination of a gas transportation sales contract with a local utility. Costs and Expenses Lease Operating Expenses. Lease operating expenses increased 5% from $5,155,000 in 2001 to $5,430,000 in 2002 due to increased vendor prices which more than offset a decrease in production taxes. Cost of Well Servicing Operations. Well servicing expenses decreased 69% from $182,000 in 2001 to $56,000 in 2002 due to less work under contract to third parties and the sale of one workover rig. Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (DD and A). DD and A increased 8% from $2,491,000 in 2001 to $2,698,000 in 2002, due to a reduction in proved reserves at year end 2002. General and Administrative (G and A) Expenses. G and A expenses were essentially unchanged from $1,710,000 in 2001 to $1,728,000 in 2002. Interest Income and Expense. Interest expense increased 15% from $2,757,000 in 2001 to $3,159,000 in 2002 due to increased debt associated with the funding of acquisitions in August, 2001, capital used in our development program and issuance of warrants associated with working capital loans. -23- Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments. The estimated future fair value of derivative instruments at December 31, 2002 resulted in an unrealized loss of $1,597,000 in 2002 compared to an unrealized gain of $4,215,000 in 2001. Also in 2001, an unrealized loss of $3,747,000, resulting from the cumulative effect of adopting SFAS No. 133 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Other Hedging Activities," was recorded. Dry Holes, Abandoned Property, Impaired Assets. The costs of a dry hole in Louisiana of $339,000, abandoned property in Oklahoma of $222,000 and impaired assets in Mississippi of $55,000 totaled $617,000 in 2002 compared to none in 2001. Dividends on Preferred Stock. In 2002, dividends on Preferred Stock due and paid were $112,000. Dividends on Preferred Stock due were $56,000 and paid were $28,000 in 2001. Financial Condition and Capital Resources At June 30, 2004, our current liabilities exceeded our current assets by $9,318,949. We had a net income available to common shareholders of $9,323,281 for the quarter compared to a loss of $1,231,883 for the period in 2003. During the second quarter of 2004, we sold 41,613 barrels of crude oil and 230,247 Mcf of natural gas compared to 59,414 barrels of crude oil and 307,238 Mcf of natural gas in the second quarter of 2003. Revenue for crude oil sales for the quarter was $1,265,285 in 2004 compared to $1,397,770 in 2003 and for natural gas sales was $1,229,062 in 2004 compared to $1,372,386 in 2003. On April 27, 2004, in our wholly-owned subsidiary, GulfWest Oil and Gas Company, we completed an $18,000,000 financing package with a new energy lender. We used $15,700,000 to retire existing debt of $27,584,145, resulting in forgiveness of debt of $11,884,145. This taxable gain will be completely offset by available net operating loss carryforwards. The term of the note is eighteen months and it bears interest at the prime rate plus 11%. This rate increases by ..75% per month beginning in month ten. We paid the new lender $1,180,000 in cash fees and also issued the new lender warrants to purchase 2,035,621 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $.01 per share, expiring in five years. The warrants are subject to demand registration and anti-dilution provisions. Simultaneously, our wholly-owned subsidiary, GulfWest Oil & Gas Company, completed the initial phase of a private offering of its Series A Preferred Stock for $4,000,000. The Series A Preferred Stock is exchangeable for our Common Stock based on a liquidation value of $500 per share of Series A Preferred Stock divided by $.35 per share of our Common Stock. As part of a fee and commission, we issued $500,000 of the Series A Preferred Stock to a financial advisor. One of our directors acquired $1,500,000 of the Series A Preferred Stock. Of the $21,500,000 total cash raised, we used $15,700,000 to pay existing debt and $1,580,000 to pay fees and commissions, leaving $4,220,000 available for capital expenditures and working capital. As of August 11, 2004 we have incurred $2,613,687 in loan fees. This includes lender fees of $1,180,000, financial advisor fees of $1,150,000, which includes the $500,000 of Series A Preferred Stock, and $283,687 for other professional fees. These costs are being amortized over the term of the loan and are included in other financing costs. In addition we issued the lender warrants valued at $916,029. The value of the warrants is recorded as a note discount and is being expensed over the term of the loan and included in interest expense. Also, the lender charges a quarterly administrative fee of $25,000 and is due a $360,000 fee upon termination of the loan. The termination fee is being amortized over the term of the loan. These additional costs are included in other financing costs. -24- Inflation and Changes in Prices While the general level of inflation affects certain costs associated with the petroleum industry, factors unique to the industry result in independent price fluctuations. Such price changes have had, and will continue to have a material effect on our operations; however, we cannot predict these fluctuations. The following table indicates the average crude oil and natural gas prices received over the last three years by quarter. Average prices per barrel of oil equivalent, computed by converting natural gas production to crude oil equivalents at the rate of 6 Mcf per barrel, indicate the composite impact of changes in crude oil and natural gas prices. Average Prices ------------------------------------------ Crude Oil Per And Natural Equivalent Liquids Gas Barrel ----------- --------- ------------ (per Bbl) (per Mcf) 2003 ---- First $24.53 $5.36 $28.08 Second 23.53 4.47 25.04 Third 23.85 4.32 24.86 Fourth 24.99 4.56 25.02 2002 ---- First $19.40 $2.81 $18.31 Second 20.75 3.16 19.83 Third 22.04 2.87 19.67 Fourth 22.38 3.56 22.11 2001 ---- First $24.15 $5.27 $27.87 Second 24.14 3.88 23.71 Third 23.25 3.08 21.08 Fourth 19.94 2.62 17.96 Controls and Procedures As of September 30, 2003, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the CEO and Vice President of Finance, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, our management, including the CEO and Vice President of Finance, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2004. There have been no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to June 30, 2004. -25- Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk The following market rate disclosures should be read in conjunction with the quantitative disclosures about market risk contained in the Company's 2003 annual report on Form 10-K, as well as with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. All of our financial instruments are for purposes other than trading. We only enter derivative financial instruments in conjunction with its oil and gas hedging activities. Hypothetical changes in interest rates and prices chosen for the following stimulated sensitivity effects are considered to be reasonably possible near-term changes generally based on consideration of past fluctuations for each risk category. It is not possible to accurately predict future changes in interest rates and product prices. Accordingly, these hypothetical changes may not be an indicator of probable future fluctuations. Interest Rate Risk We are exposed to interest rate risk on debt with variable interest rates. At June 30, 2004, we carried variable rate debt of $28,375,455. Assuming a one percentage point change at June 30, 2004 on our Company's variable rate debt, the annual pretax income would change by $283,755. Commodity Price Risk In the past we have entered into and may in the future enter into certain derivative arrangements with respect to portions of our oil and natural gas production to reduce our sensitivity to volatile commodity prices. During 2003, 2002, and 2001, we entered into price swaps and put agreements. We believe that these derivative arrangements, although not free of risk, allow us to achieve a more predictable cash flow and to reduce exposure to price fluctuations. However, derivative arrangements limit the benefit to us of increases in the prices of crude oil and natural gas sales. Moreover, our derivative arrangements apply only to a portion of our production and provide only partial price protection against declines in price. Such arrangements may expose us to risk of financial loss in certain circumstances. We expect that the daily volume of derivative arrangements will vary from time to time. We continuously reevaluate our derivative program in light of market conditions, commodity price forecasts, capital spending and debt service requirements. For 2004, we have hedged approximately 70% of our projected oil production and gas production. Crude Oil Daily Volume Price per Bbl --------- ------------ ------------- May 1, 2004 to October 31, 2005 329 Bbls $32.00 November 1, 2005 to April 30, 2006 (1) 231 Bbls $25.75 put May 1, 2006 to October 31, 2006 (1) 198 Bbls $25.75 put November 1, 2006 to April 30, 2007 (1) 165 Bbls $25.75 put Natural Gas Daily Volume Price per MMBTU ----------- ------------ --------------- May 1, 2004 to October 31, 2005 1,865 MMBTU $5.15 November 1, 2005 to April 30, 2006 (1) 1,698 MMBTU $4.50 put May 1, 2006 to October 31, 2006 (1) 1,319 MMBTU $4.50 put November 1, 2006 to April 30, 2007 (1) 989 MMBTU $4.50 put (1) These are "put" derivative instruments we purchased and we will receive the difference between the actual market price and the put price only if the actual market price is below the put price. If the actual market price is equal to or above the put price, we do not pay or receive any settlement amount. -26- Effective January 1, 2001, we adopted SFAS No. 133 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Other Hedging Activities", as amended by SFAS No. 137 and No. 138. As a result of a financing agreement with an energy lender, we were required to enter into an oil and gas hedging agreement with the lender. It has been determined this agreement meets the definition of SFAS 133 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" and is accounted for as a derivative instrument. The estimated change in fair value of the derivatives is reported in Other Income and Expense as unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments. The estimated fair value of the derivatives is reported in Other Assets (or Other Liabilities) as derivative instruments. Oil and gas sales are adjusted for gains or losses related to the effective portion of hedging transactions as the underlying hedged production is sold. Changes in fair value of the ineffective portion of designated hedges or for derivative arrangements that do not qualify as hedges are recognized in the consolidated statement of income as derivative gain or loss. Adjustments to oil and gas sales from our hedging activities resulted in a reduction in revenues of $1,496,303, $368,776 and $762,480 in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. In addition, we recognized a gain/(loss) on derivatives of $537,526, ($1,596,575) and $4,215,017 in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. See Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form S-1 for additional discussion on derivative instruments. All hedges which were in existence at March 31, 2004 were canceled as part of our debt restructuring on April 27, 2004. As of June 30, 2004, these derivative instruments' liabilities had a fair value of $1,150,402. A hypothetical change in oil and gas prices could have an effect on oil and gas futures prices, which are used to estimate the fair value of our derivative instrument. However, it is not practicable to estimate the resultant change, in any, in the fair value of our derivative instrument. More generally, dramatic price volatility in the natural gas and oil markets has existed the past several years. In fact, the average quoted prices for natural gas hovered around the low levels of $2.10 per MCf in January 2002, with the expectation of further decreases. However, the market price dramatically reversed in the summer months of 2002 and have continued to improve, which lead natural gas to trade at an average NYMEX price of $5.44 per MMBTU for 2003. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data Information with respect to this our financial statements and supplementary data is contained in our financial statements beginning on Page F-1 of the financial section of this Prospectus. -27- BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES Our Business This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. The following summary does not contain all of the information that may be important. You should read the detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus before making an investment decision. Certain terms that we use in our industry are italicized and defined in the "Glossary of Industry Terms and Abbreviations.". Unless otherwise indicated, all references to "GulfWest", the "Company", "we", "us" and "our" refer to GulfWest Energy Inc. and our subsidiaries. We are primarily engaged in the acquisition, development, exploitation and production of crude oil and natural gas. Our focus is on increasing production from our existing properties through further exploitation, development and exploration, and on acquiring additional interests in crude oil and natural gas properties. Since we made our first significant acquisition in 1993, we have substantially increased our ownership in producing properties and the value of our crude oil and natural gas reserves through a combination of acquisitions and the further exploitation and development of our properties. At December 31, 2003, our part of the estimated proved reserves these properties contain was approximately 5.0 million barrels (MBbl) of oil and 32.7 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas with a Present Value discounted 10% (PV-10) of $114.4 million. At present, all of our properties are located on land in Texas, Colorado, Louisiana and Oklahoma, except for the property on Grand Lake, Louisiana. In the future, we plan to expand by acquiring additional properties in those areas, and in similar properties located in other areas of the United States. Our operations are considered to fall within a single industry segment, which is the acquisition, development, production and servicing of crude oil and natural gas properties. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." Our Company We were formed as a corporation under the laws of the State of Utah in 1987 as Gallup Acquisitions, Inc., and subsequently changed our name to First Preference Fund, Inc. and then to GulfWest Energy, Inc. We became a Texas corporation by a merger effected in July 1992, in which our name became GulfWest Oil Company. On May 21, 2001, we changed our name to GulfWest Energy Inc. Our principal office is located at 480 North Sam Houston Parkway East, Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77060 and our telephone number is (281) 820-1919. GulfWest Energy Inc. has six active and three inactive, direct or indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries: The active subsidiaries are: 1. GulfWest Oil and Gas Company, a Texas corporation, was organized February 18, 1999 and is the owner of record of interests in certain crude oil and natural gas properties located in Colorado, Texas, and Louisiana. It has one wholly owned subsidiary, GulfWest Oil and Gas Company (Louisiana) LLC, a Louisiana company, that was formed July 31, 2001 and is the owner of record of interests in certain crude oil and natural gas properties in Louisiana. 2. SETEX Oil and Gas Company, a Texas corporation, was organized August 11, 1998 and is the operator of crude oil and natural gas properties in which we own the majority working interest. -28- 3. RigWest Well Service, Inc., a Texas corporation, was organized September 5, 1996 and operates well servicing equipment for our own account. 4. DutchWest Oil Company, a Texas corporation, was organized July 28, 1997 and is the owner of record of interests in certain crude oil and natural gas properties located along the Gulf Coast of Texas. 5. GulfWest Development Company, a Texas corporation, was organized November 9, 2000 and is the owner of record of interests in certain crude oil and natural gas properties located in Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi. Our Business Strategy We have pursued a business strategy of acquiring interests in crude oil and natural gas producing properties where production and reserves can be increased through exploitation activities. Such activities include workovers, development drilling, recompletions, replacement or addition of equipment and waterflood or other secondary recovery techniques. We have expanded our business plan to include an increased but controlled emphasis on development drilling for additional crude oil and natural gas reserves. Key elements of our business strategy include: Continued Acquisition Program. We acquired properties in four crude oil and natural gas fields in Texas and Louisiana in the year 2001. We intend to continue to pursue interests in crude oil and natural gas properties (i) held by small, under-capitalized operators and (ii) being divested by larger independent and major oil and gas companies. Development and Exploitation of Existing Properties. Our intent is to increase crude oil and natural gas production and reserves of our existing assets through relatively low-risk development activities, such as workovers, recompletions, horizontal drilling from existing wellbores and infield drilling, as well as the more efficient use of production facilities and the expansion of existing waterflood operations. Significant Operating Control. Currently, we are the operator of all the wells, except two, in which we own working interests. This operating control enables us to better manage the nature, timing and costs of development of such wells, and marketing of the resulting production. Ownership of Workover Rigs. We currently own three workover service rigs and one swabbing unit that we operate for our own account. By owning and operating this equipment, we are better able to control costs, quality of operations and availability of equipment and services. Greater Natural Gas Ownership. At December 31, 2003, our reserves were comprised of 48% crude oil and 52% natural gas. We will continue to expand our role in the domestic natural gas industry by (i) acquiring additional interests in natural gas properties, (ii) increasing the production and reserve base of our existing natural gas properties, and (iii) acquiring ownership of more natural gas gathering systems and pipelines. We are presently focusing our workover and development efforts on both crude oil and natural gas reserves to take advantage of the higher prices of both commodities. We are also seeking to expand our ownership of gas gathering systems and pipelines located in our main field areas. Our goal is to have greater control of our natural gas transportation and marketing, and an expanded role in the transportation of natural gas produced by other parties in our area of operations. Expanded Exploration and Exploitation Role. Historically, we have not drilled exploratory wells due to the cost and risk associated with drilling prospective locations. However, since the end of 1998, we have acquired producing properties that have included significant acreage for prospective oil and gas exploration. These include producing wells and acreage in Crockett, Grimes, Hardin, Jim Wells, Kimble, Madison, Palo Pinto, Refugio, Sutton, Wharton and Zavala, Counties, Texas; Adams, Arapaho, Elbert and Weld Counties, Colorado; Creek County, Oklahoma; and, Cameron Parish, Louisiana. These acquisitions have added existing natural gas and crude oil production to our asset base and, as importantly, have provided us with immediate geological databases for drilling opportunities. We have expanded our evaluation efforts in these fields and intend to increase our development of reserves, not only through workovers of existing wells, but by drilling additional wells. -29- Our Employees At December 31, 2003, we had 34 full time employees, of whom 22 were field personnel. Our Properties At December 31, 2003, we owned a total of 684 gross wells, of which 266 were producing, 351 were shut-in or temporarily abandoned and 67 were injection or saltwater wells. We owned an average 94% working interest in the 266 gross (249.90 net) producing wells. Gross wells are the total wells in which we own a working interest. Net wells are the sum of the fractional working interests we own in gross wells. Our part of the estimated proved reserves these properties contain was approximately 5.0 million barrels (MBbl) of oil and 32.7 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas. Substantially all of our properties are located in Texas, Colorado, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Proved Reserves The following table reflects our estimated proved reserves at December 31 for each of the preceding three years. 2003 2002 2001 -------- -------- -------- Crude Oil (MBbl) Developed 3,773 4,026 3,940 Undeveloped 1,265 1,496 1,932 -------- -------- -------- Total 5,038 5,522 5,872 ======== ======== ======== Natural Gas (MMcf) Developed 24,642 25,374 21,204 Undeveloped 8,018 8,785 18,054 -------- -------- -------- Total 32,660 34,159 39,258 ======== ======== ======== Total (MBOE) 10,481 11,215 12,415 ======== ======== ======== (a) Approximately 75% of our total proved reserves were classified as proved developed at December 31, 2003. (b) Barrel of Oil Equivalent (BOE) is based on a ratio of 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas for each barrel of oil. -30- Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows The following table sets forth as of December 31 for each of the preceding three years, the estimated future net cash flow from and standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows of our proved reserves, which were prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Future net cash flow represents future gross cash flow from the production and sale of proved reserves, net of crude oil and natural gas production costs (including production taxes, ad valorem taxes and operating expenses) and future development costs. The calculations used to produce the figures in this table are based on current cost and price factors at December 31 for each year. We cannot assure you that the proved reserves will all be developed within the periods used in the calculations or that prices and costs will remain constant. 2003 2002 2001 -------------- -------------- -------------- Future cash inflows $ 336,795,385 $ 308,381,837 $ 199,162,921 Future production and development costs- Production 109,468,727 105,629,872 77,526,278 Development 21,460,459 23,350,811 23,610,596 -------------- -------------- -------------- Future net cash flows before income taxes 205,866,199 179,401,154 98,026,047 Future income taxes (46,885,360) (38,611,577) (13,281,358) -------------- -------------- -------------- Future net cash flows after income taxes 158,980,839 140,789,577 84,744,689 10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows (70,653,419) (63,165,742) (35,895,306) -------------- -------------- -------------- Standardized measure of discounted Future net cash flows(1) $ 88,327,420 $ 77,623,835 $ 48,849,383 ============== ============== ============== (1) The average prices of our proved reserves were $29.51 per Bbl and $5.82 per Mcf, $28.72 per Bbl and $4.43 per Mcf, and $17.67 and $2.43 per Mcf at December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 respectively. Significant Properties Summary information on our properties with proved reserves is set forth below as of December 31, 2003. Productive Wells Proved Reserves Present ---------------------- ---------------------- ------------ Gross Net Value (1) Productive Productive Crude Natural ------------ Wells Wells Oil Gas Total Amount ---------- ---------- ------- ------- ------ ------------ (MBbl) (MMcf) (MBOE) ($M) Texas 185 181.03 2,969 18,717 6,088 $ 67,235 Colorado 35 23.62 355 6,090 1,370 11,303 Oklahoma 28 28.00 150 - 150 1,301 Louisiana 17 16.88 1,558 7,853 2,867 34,484 Mississippi 1 .37 6 - 6 73 ---------- ---------- ------- ------- ------ ------------ Total 266 249.90 5,038 32,660 10,481 $ 114,396 ========== ========== ======= ======= ====== ============ (1) The average prices of our proved reserves were $29.51 per Bbl and $5.82 per Mcf at December 31, 2003. -31- All information set forth herein relating to our proved reserves, estimated future net cash flows and present values is taken from reports prepared by Pressler Petroleum Consultants, independent petroleum engineers. The estimates of these engineers were based upon their review of production histories and other geological, economic, ownership and engineering data provided by and relating to us. No reports on our reserves have been filed with any federal agency. In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission's guidelines, our estimates of proved reserves and the future net revenues from which present values are derived are made using year end crude oil and natural gas sales prices held constant throughout the life of the properties (except to the extent a contract specifically provides otherwise). Operating costs, development costs and certain production-related taxes were deducted in arriving at estimated future net revenues, but such costs do not include debt service, general and administrative expenses and income taxes. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating crude oil and natural gas reserves and their values, including many factors beyond our control. The reserve data set forth in this report are based upon estimates. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process, which involves estimating the sizes of underground accumulations of crude oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data, engineering and geological interpretation of that data, and judgment. As a result, estimates of different engineers, including those used by us, may vary. In addition, estimates of reserves are subject to revision based upon actual production, results of future development, exploitation and exploration activities, prevailing crude oil and natural gas prices, operating costs and other factors. Such revisions may be material. Accordingly, reserve estimates are often different from the quantities of crude oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered and are highly dependent upon the accuracy of the assumptions upon which they are based. We cannot assure you that the estimates contained in this report are accurate predictions of our crude oil and natural gas reserves or their values. Estimates with respect to proved reserves that may be developed and produced in the future are often based upon volumetric calculations and upon analogy to similar types of reserves rather than upon actual production history. Estimates based on these methods are generally less reliable than those based on actual production history. Subsequent evaluation of the same reserves based upon production history will result in potentially substantial variations in the estimated reserves. -32- Production, Revenue and Price History The following table sets forth information (associated with our proved reserves) regarding production volumes of crude oil and natural gas, revenues and expenses attributable to such production (all net to our interests) and certain price and cost information for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001. 2003 2002 2001 ------------ ------------ ------------ Production Oil (Bbl) 221,433 278,374 294,276 Natural gas (Mcf) 1,191,350 1,487,048 1,594,899 ------------ ------------ ------------ Total (BOE) 419,991 526,215 560,092 Revenue Oil production $ 5,362,657 $ 5,859,568 $ 6,690,338 Natural gas production 5,481,803 4,587,601 5,735,765 ------------ ------------ ------------ Total $10,844,460 $10,447,169 $12,426,103 Operating Expenses $ 5,527,841 $ 5,430,205 $ 5,155,500 Production Data Average sales price Per barrel of oil $ 24.22 $ 21.05 $ 22.73 Per Mcf of natural gas 4.60 3.09 3.60 Per BOE 25.82 19.85 22.19 Average expenses per BOE Lease operating 13.16 10.32 9.20 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 5.30 5.13 4.45 General and administrative $ 5.39 $ 3.28 $ 3.05 Productive Wells at December 31, 2003 The following table shows the number of productive wells we own by location: Gross Net Gross Net Oil Wells Oil Wells Gas Wells Gas Wells ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- Texas 109 108.81 76 72.22 Colorado 22 14.37 13 9.25 Oklahoma 28 28.00 - - Louisiana 13 12.88 4 4.00 Mississippi 1 .37 - - ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- Total 173 164.43 93 85.47 =========== =========== ============ =========== -33- Developed Acreage at December 31, 2003 The following table shows the developed acreage that we own, by location, which is acreage spaced or assigned to productive wells. Gross acres are the total acres in which we own a working interest. Net acres are the sum of the fractional working interests we own in gross acres. Gross Acres Net Acres Texas 18,380 14,255 Colorado 5,000 2,700 Louisiana 1,695 1,256 Oklahoma 900 684 Total 25,975 18,895 Undeveloped Acreage at December 31, 2003 The following table shows the undeveloped acreage that we own, by location. Undeveloped acreage is acreage on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of commercial quantities of crude oil and natural gas. Gross Acres Net Acres Texas 18,070 14,749 Colorado 10,000 6,000 Louisiana 80 55 Oklahoma 900 684 Total 29,050 21,488 Drilling Results We did not drill any wells in 2003. In 2002, we drilled one exploratory well, in which we own 18% working interest, that resulted in a dry hole and one development well, in which we own 100% working interest, that is productive. We drilled three wells in 2001, all of which were development wells and are currently productive. These development wells included two horizontal wells, in which we own 96% and 89% working interest, drilled by sidetracking from existing wellbores in the Madisonville Field, Texas, and one well, in which we own 100% working interest that was deepened in our Leona River Field, Texas. Legal Proceedings From time to time, we are involved in litigation relating to claims arising out of our operations or from disputes with vendors in the normal course of business. As of September 21, 2004, we were not engaged in any legal proceedings that are expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on us. -34- MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth information on our directors and executive officers: Name Age Position Year First Elected Director or Officer J. Virgil Waggoner(1)(2) 76 Chairman of the Board 1997 John E. Loehr 58 Chief Executive Officer and 1992 Director Thomas R. Kaetzer 45 President, Chief Operating 1998 Officer and Director Marshall A. Smith III 56 Director 1989 M. Scott Manolis(1)(2) 50 Director 2003 Richard L. Creel 55 Vice President of Finance and 1998 Controller Jim C. Bigham 68 Vice President and Secretary 1991 (1) Member of the Audit Committee. (2) Member of the Compensation Committee. _________________ J. Virgil Waggoner has served as a director of GulfWest since December 1, 1997 and was elected Chairman of the Board in May, 2002. Mr. Waggoner's career in the petrochemical industry began in 1950 and included senior management positions with Monsanto Company and El Paso Products Company, the petrochemical and plastics unit of El Paso Company. He served as president and chief executive officer of Sterling Chemicals, Inc. from the firm's inception in 1986 until its sale and his retirement in 1996. He is currently chief executive officer of JVW Investments, Ltd., a private company. John E. Loehr was appointed Chief Executive Officer on May 12, 2004 and has served as a director of GulfWest since 1992, was chairman of the board from September 1, 1993 to July 8, 1998 and was chief financial officer from November 22, 1996 to May 28, 1998. He is also currently president and sole shareholder of ST Advisory Corporation, an investment company, and vice-president of Star-Tex Trading Company, also an investment company. He was formerly president of Star-Tex Asset Management, a commodity-trading advisor, and a position he held from 1988 until 1992 when he sold his ownership interest. Mr. Loehr is a CPA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Thomas R. Kaetzer was appointed senior vice president and chief operating officer of GulfWest on September 15, 1998 and on December 21, 1998 became president and a director. He was Chief Executive Officer from March 20, 2001 until May12, 2004. Prior to joining GulfWest, Mr. Kaetzer had 17 years experience in the oil and gas industry, including 14 years with Texaco Inc., which involved the evaluation, exploitation and management of oil and gas assets. He has both onshore and offshore experience in operations and production management, asset acquisition, development, drilling and workovers in the continental U.S., Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, China and West Africa. Mr. Kaetzer has a Masters Degree in Petroleum Engineering from Tulane University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois. -35- Marshall A. Smith III founded GulfWest and served as an officer in various capacities, including president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board, from July 1989 until his resignation in May 2002. He is currently a paid consultant and remains a director. M. Scott Manolis is the chairman and chief executive officer of Intermarket Management, LLC and Intermarket Brokerage, LLC. He has over twenty years experience in commodity risk management, commodity finance and commodity-based investments. Prior to founding Intermarket, Mr. Manolis concurrently served as managing director of Commodity Strategies for Refco Group, LTD. and Managing Director of Global Derivatives Strategies for Forstmann-Leff International (an asset management firm wholly owned by Refco Group, LTD), where he directed commodity-based investments. Prior to that, he served as a vice president and director of the Commodity Portfolio Management Group at Jefferies & Company. He received a B. S. in Economics from the University of South Dakota in 1979. Richard L. Creel has served as controller of GulfWest since May 1, 1997 and was elected vice president of finance on May 28, 1998. Prior to joining GulfWest, Mr. Creel served as Branch Manager of the Nashville, Tennessee office of Management Reports and Services, Inc. He has also served as controller of TLO Energy Corp. He has extensive experience in general accounting, petroleum accounting and financial consulting and income tax preparation. Jim Bigham has served as secretary since 1991 and as executive vice president of GulfWest since 1996. Prior to joining GulfWest, he held management and sales positions in the real estate and printing industries. Mr. Bigham is also a retired United States Air Force Major. During his military career, he served in both command and staff officer positions in the operational, intelligence and planning areas. Directors are elected annually and hold office until the next annual meeting or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Code of Ethical Conduct The Board recently adopted a Code of Ethical Conduct (the "Code of Conduct"), which requires that all employees, directors and officers, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, adhere to the Code of Conduct in addressing legal and ethical issues encountered in conducting their work. The Code of Conduct requires that these individuals avoid conflict of interests, comply with all laws and other legal requirements, conduct business in an honest and ethical manner and otherwise act with integrity and in our best interest. The Code of Conduct contains additional provisions that apply specifically to our Chief Financial Officer and other financial officers with respect to full and accurate reporting. Board Meetings and Committees Our board of directors has established an audit committee and a compensation committee. The functions of these committees, their members and the number of meetings held during 2003 are described below. The audit committee was established to review and appraise the audit efforts of our independent auditors, and monitor our accounts, procedures and internal controls. The committee was comprised of Mr. John E. Loehr (Chairman), Mr. J. Virgil Waggoner, and Mr. M. Scott Manolis. The committee met twice in 2003. The Board of Directors had made a determination that Mr. Loehr was an independent financial expert. When Mr. Loehr was elected Chief Executive Officer on May 12, 2004, he resigned from the audit committee. Mr. Manolis was elected Chair of the audit committee and Mr. Marshall A. Smith III has been appointed to that committee. The Board of Directors has not had an opportunity to conclude whether the newly constituted audit committee has an independent financial expert. -36- The function of the compensation committee is to fix the annual salaries and other compensation for our officers and key employees. The committee was comprised of Mr. J. Virgil Waggoner (Chairman), Mr. John E. Loehr and Mr. M. Scott Manolis. The committee met twice in 2003. Mr. Loehr resigned from the committee on May 12, 2004 when he became Chief Executive Officer. Compensation of Directors The shareholders approved an amended and restated Employee Stock Option Plan on May 28, 1998, which included a provision for the payment of reasonable fees in cash or stock to directors. No fees were paid to directors in 2003. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Summary Compensation Table The following table sets forth information regarding compensation paid to our executive officers whose total annual compensation is $100,000 or more during each of the last three fiscal years. Long Term Compensation Annual Compensation Awards --------------------------- ------------------------------- Other All Annual Restricted Other Year Compen- Stock Compen- Name and Principal Position End Salary($) Bonus($) sation($) Awards($) Options(#) sation($) --------------------------- ---- --------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- --------- Thomas R. Kaetzer (1) 2003 150,000 - 25,000 - - President and Chief 2002 144,167 - 25,000 - 100,000 - Executive Officer 2001 131,249 - 25,000 - 135,000 - Marshall A. Smith III (2) 2001 150,000 - - - - - _____________________ (1) Mr. Kaetzer joined us as chief operating officer in September, 1998, was elected president in December, 1998 and chief executive officer on March 20, 2001. He receives a base annual salary $150,000, plus a $25,000 annual contribution to a life insurance savings account paid monthly. He was also awarded 5-year options to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock to be issued 100,000 each year over a three year period. (2) Mr. Smith served as chief executive officer until March 20, 2001 and as chairman of the board until his resignation on May 11, 2002. As chairman of the board, Mr. Smith devoted full time to the business. Effective June 1, 2002, he resigned as an executive officer and became a paid consultant at an annual fee of $150,000, plus a $25,000 annual contribution to a life insurance savings account to be paid monthly. His consulting agreement expires September 30, 2004. -37- Option Grants During 2003 There were no options granted during 2003. Option Exercises During 2003 and Year End Option Values (1) Number of Securities Value of Unexercised Underlying Unexercised Options In-the-Money Options at FY-End (#) at FY-End ($) Exercisable/ Exercisable/ Name Unexercisable Unexercisable ------------------ ------------------------------ -------------------- Thomas R. Kaetzer 335,000 -0- -0- -0- (1) No shares were acquired or value realized upon the exercise of options since no options were exercised by Mr. Kaetzer in 2003. Employment Agreements Effective October 1, 2001, we entered into an Employment Agreement with Mr. Thomas R. Kaetzer, president and chief executive officer for a period of three years. Under the Employment Agreement, Mr. Kaetzer receives a base annual salary of $150,000, plus a $25,000 annual contribution to a life insurance savings account to be paid monthly. He was also awarded 5-year options to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock to be issued 100,000 each year over a three year period. In the event of a change of control, Mr. Kaetzer will have the option to continue as an employee under the terms of the Employment Agreement or receive a lump-sum cash severance payment equal to 200% of his annual base salary for the year following the change of control. Effective June 1, 2002, we entered into a Consulting Agreement with Mr. Marshall A. Smith III, which expires September 30, 2004 Under the Consulting Agreement, Mr. Smith receives an annual consulting fee of $150,000, plus a $25,000 annual contribution to a life insurance savings account to be paid monthly. In the event of a change of control, Mr. Smith will have the option to continue as a consultant under the terms of the Consulting Agreement or receive a lump-sum cash severance payment equal to 200% of his annual consulting fee for the year following the change of control. Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation During fiscal year 2003, Messrs. Waggoner, Loehr and Manolis served on the Compensation Committee. No interlocking relationship exists between any member of the Board or Compensation Committee and any member of the Board or Compensation Committee of any other company, nor has any such interlocking relationship existed in the past. -38- SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth information as of September 21, 2004 regarding the beneficial ownership of common stock by each person known to us to own beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding common stock, each director, certain named executive officers, and the directors and executive officers as a group. The persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock owned by them, unless otherwise noted. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. For the purpose of calculating the number of shares beneficially owned by a shareholder and the percentage ownership of that shareholder, shares of common stock subject to options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus by that shareholder are deemed outstanding. Amount and Nature Name and Address of of Beneficial Beneficial Owner Ownership Percent % ---------------- --------- --------- J. Virgil Waggoner(1),(2) 16,782,543 65.4 Thomas R. Kaetzer(2),(3) 733,852 3.9 Jim C. Bigham(2),(4) 245,985 1.3 Richard L. Creel(2),(5) 110,000 .6 John E. Loehr(2),(6) 617,491 3.3 Marshall A. Smith III(2),(7) 889,005 4.7 M. Scott Manolis(2),(8) 500,000 2.7 All current directors and officers as a group (8 persons)(9) 19,878,876 72.7 (1) Includes 4,285,714 shares underlying exchangeable preferred stock,625,000 shares subject to currently exercisable warrants,225,000 underlying convertible preferred stock and 20,000 shares subject to currently exercisable options. (2) Shareholder's address is 480 N. Sam Houston Parkway East, Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77060. (3) Includes 196,226 shares owned directly, 2,626 shares owned by his wife and 435,000 shares subject to currently exercisable warrants and options and 100,000 shares subject to currently exchangeable preferred stock. (4) Includes 155,000 shares subject to currently exercisable warrants and options. (5) Includes 80,000 subject to currently exercisable options. (6) Includes 62,653 shares held directly; and 64,838 shares held by ST Advisory Corporation and 290,000 shares subject to currently exercisable warrants and options. Mr. Loehr is president and sole shareholder of ST Advisory Corporation. 200,000 shares held by ST Advisory Corp subject to currently exchangeable preferred stock. (7) Includes 596,046 shares owned directly, 2,959 shares owned by his wife and 290,000 shares subject to currently exercisable warrants and options. (8) Includes 500,000 shares held by Intermarket Management LLC subject to currently exchangeable preferred stock . (9) Includes 1,236,754 shares subject to currently exercisable warrants and options and 6,535,714 shares underlying convertible or exchangeable preferred stock. -39- CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS Transactions With Management and Others On October 23, 1995, we sold $25,000 each of 9% promissory notes in a private offering to two trusts, the trustee of whom is John E. Loehr, an officer and director. The balance of the notes was $50,000, plus accrued interest at September 21, 2004. In June, 1999, we issued a promissory note with interest at 8.5% to Mr. Marshall A. Smith III, an officer and director at the time and currently a director, in the amount of $124,083 for accrued compensation. The note has a balance of $71,354 and is being paid in monthly installments of approximately $1,500 per month. On November 6, 2002, Mr. J. Virgil Waggoner, a director, provided us a loan in the initial amount of $1,200,000, which was subsequently increased to a total of $1,500,000, which is outstanding at September 21, 2004. We issued Mr. Waggoner a promissory note with interest at the prime rate (prime rate 4.0% at May 26, 2004), secured by common stock our of wholly-owned subsidiary, DutchWest Oil Company. Mr. Waggoner also received warrants to purchase 625,000 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $.75 per share. Those underlying shares are included in this prospectus. On April 26, 2001, we obtained a line of credit of up to $2,500,000 from a bank for which two directors, Mr. J. Virgil Waggoner and Mr. Marshall A. Smith, were guarantors. On April 3, 2002, the balance of the line of credit was retired and a new line of credit of up to $3,000,000 was obtained from the bank for which Mr. Waggoner and Mr. Smith were guarantors. On March 5, 2004, we entered into an Option Agreement for the Purchase of Oil and Gas Leases (the "Addison Agreement") with W. L. Addison Investments L.L.C., a private company owned by Mr. J. Virgil Waggoner and Mr. John E. Loehr, two of our directors, (`Addison"). Under the Addison Agreement, Addison agreed to pay Summit, on our behalf, the non-recouped and outstanding advanced funds amounting to $1,200,000, thereby retiring the Summit Agreement. For consideration of such payment, Addison acquired certain oil and gas leases and wellbores from Summit but agreed to grant us a 180-day redemption option (which may be extended by mutual consent) to purchase the same for $1,200,000, plus interest at the prime rate plus 2%. We tendered Addison a promissory note in the amount of $600,000, with interest at the prime rate plus 2%, to substitute for an account payable to Summit, pursuant to the Summit Agreement, in the same amount. The note will be considered paid in full if we exercise the redemption option and pay the $1,200,000, plus interest. Summit retained the right to participate up to a 25% working interest in the drilling of any wells on the leases acquired by Addison. In the event we exercise the redemption option, Addison may, at its sole option, retain up to a 25% working interest in the leases. As part of our recent refinancing, our former lender agreed to return all 2000 shares of our Series F Preferred Stock held by it. Rather than receive the shares as treasury shares (which would have meant cancellation of the series) at our request the former lender transferred 400 of the shares to ST Advisory Corp., an entity owned by John Loehr, our CEO and a director, 400 of the shares to a financial advisor to the Company, and 200 of the shares to Thomas R. Kaetzer, our President and Director and 1000 shares to Intermarket Management LLC, an entity partially owned by M. Scott Manolis, one of our directors. These transfers were to compensate the financial advisor and Mr. Loehr, Kaetzer and Manolis for service to the Company. -40- DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES General The following descriptions are summaries of material terms of our common stock, preferred stock, articles of incorporation and bylaws. This summary is qualified by reference to our articles of incorporation, bylaws and the designations of our preferred stock, which have been previously filed as exhibits to our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and by the provisions of applicable law. On July 8, 2004, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, our shareholders increased the amount of shares we are authorized to issue from 40,000,000 to 80,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share. As of September 21, 2004, there were 18,492,541 shares of our sole class of common stock, designated Class A, issued and outstanding, and held by approximately 625 beneficial owners. Our common stock is traded over-the-counter (OTC) under the symbol "GULF". Fidelity Transfer Company, 1800 South West Temple, Suite 301, Box 53, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115, (801) 484-7222 is the transfer agent for the common stock. Our Common Stock The holders of our common stock are entitled, among other things, to one vote per share on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders and, in the event of liquidation, to share ratably in the distribution of assets remaining after payment of liabilities (including preferential distribution and dividend rights of holders of preferred stock). They have no cumulative voting rights, and, accordingly, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the common stock have the ability to elect all of the directors. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for shares. Holders of common stock are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by the Board out of funds legally available therefore. We have never paid cash dividends on the common stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Our Preferred Stock Our board of directors is authorized, without further shareholder action, to issue preferred stock in one or more series and to designate the dividend rate, voting rights and other rights, preferences and restrictions of each such series. As of September 21, 2004, there was a total of 19,000 shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding in three series, including 8,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock, 9,000 shares of Series E Preferred Stock and 2,000 shares of Series F Preferred Stock (collectively, Preferred Stock). The 8,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock is held by multiple parties including 3,000 shares by a director of the Company. The 8,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock are held by a former director, the 9,000 shares of Series E Preferred Stock are held by a current director and the 2,000 shares of Series F are held by a financial advisor to the Company by an officer and director and by two companies affiliated with two of our current directors. Our preferred stock is senior to our common stock regarding liquidation. The holders of the preferred stock do not have voting rights or preemptive rights nor are they subject to the benefits of any retirement or sinking fund. The Series D Preferred Stock is not entitled to dividends, nor is it redeemable, however it is convertible to common stock at any time. None of the 8,000 outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock has been converted. On a fully converted basis, the 8,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock would convert to 500,000 shares of common stock. -41- The Series E Preferred Stock is entitled to receive dividends at the rate of $12.50 per share per annum, payable quarterly, as declared by the Board of Directors, until June 20, 2004 when the dividend rate shall be increased to $30.00 per share per annum. The Board of Directors did not declare payment of dividends during 2003. The Series E Preferred Stock is redeemable in whole or in part at any time, at the option of the issuer, at a price of $500 per share, plus all accrued and undeclared or unpaid dividends; except that, prior to our redemption of the remaining, the holders of record shall be given a 60-day written notice of the issuer's intent to redeem and the opportunity to convert the Series E Preferred Stock to common stock. The conversion price for the Series E Preferred Stock is based on $2.00 per share of common stock. None of the 9,000 outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock has been redeemed or converted. On a fully converted basis, the 9,000 shares of Series E Preferred Stock would convert to 2,250,000 shares of common stock. The Series F Preferred Stock is entitled to receive dividends at the rate of $12.50 per share per annum, payable quarterly, as declared by the Board of Directors, until May 30, 2006 when the dividend rate shall be increased to $30.00 per share per annum. The Series F Preferred Stock is redeemable in whole or in part at any time, at the option of the issuer, at a price of $500 per share, plus all accrued and undeclared or unpaid dividends; except that, after two years from the date of the original issuance, June 1, 2003, prior to our redemption of the remaining shares, the holders of record shall be given a 60-day written notice of the issuer's intent to redeem and the opportunity to convert the Series F Preferred Stock to common stock. The conversion price for the Series F Preferred Stock is based on $1.00 per share of common stock. None of the 2,000 outstanding shares of Series F Preferred Stock has been redeemed or converted. On a fully converted basis, the 2,000 shares of Series F Preferred Stock would convert to 1,000,000 shares of common stock. Outstanding Options and Warrants At September 21, 2004, we had outstanding warrants and options for the purchase of 5,137,621 shares of common stock at prices ranging from $.01 to $.875 per share, including employee stock options to purchase 1,102,000 shares at prices ranging from $.75 to $1.81 per share. If we issue additional shares, the existing shareholders' percentage ownership of the Company may be further diluted. Anti-Takeover Effects of Texas Laws and Our Charter and Bylaws Provisions Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Certain provisions in our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws summarized below may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider to be in its best interests, including attempts that might result in a premium being paid over the market price for the shares held by shareholders. Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws contain provisions that: o permit us to issue, without any further vote or action by the shareholders, additional shares of preferred stock in one or more series and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting the series and the designation of the series, the voting powers (if any) of the shares of the series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, if any, and any qualification, limitations or restrictions, of the shares of such series; and -42- o Require consent of shareholders owning over 50% of the outstanding common stock to call special meetings. The foregoing provisions of our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the board of directors and in the policies formulated by the board of directors and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change of control. These provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal. The provisions also are intended to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and, as a consequence, they also may inhibit fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that could result form actual or rumored takeover attempts. Such provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our management. Texas Takeover Statute. We are subject to Article 13.03 of the Texas Business Corporation Act, which, subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a Texas corporation from engaging in any "business combination" (as defined below) with any "affiliated shareholder" (as defined below) for a period of three years following the date that such shareholder became an affiliated shareholder, unless: (i) prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an affiliated shareholder; or (ii) not more than six months subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the affiliated shareholder. The Texas Business Corporation Act defines "business combination" to include: (i) any merger, share exchange or conversion involving the corporation and the affiliated shareholder or an affiliate; (ii) any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the affiliated shareholder or an affiliate; (iii) subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer of the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the affiliated shareholder or an affiliate; (iv) the adoption of a plan of liquidation or dissolution proposed by or under an agreement with, the affiliated shareholder or an affiliate; (v) any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the affiliated shareholder; or (vi) the receipt by the affiliated shareholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. In general, an "affiliated stockholder" is any entity or person beneficially owning 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation. Limitation on Liability of Directors Our articles of incorporation and bylaws indemnify our directors to the fullest extent permitted by the Texas Business Corporation Act. Article 2.01 of the Texas Business Corporation Act provides that a corporation may indemnify a person who was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding because the person is or was a director only if it is determined that the person: (1) conducted himself in good faith; (2) reasonably believed: (a) in the case of conduct in his official capacity as a director of the corporation, that his conduct was in the corporation's best interests; and (b) in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation's best interests; and -43- (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Except to a limited extent, a director may not be indemnified in respect of a proceeding: (1) in which the person is found liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him, whether or not the benefit resulted from an action taken in the person's official capacity; or (2) in which the person is found liable to the corporation. Additionally, our Articles of Incorporation limit a director's liability to the company to the fullest extent permitted by the Texas Business Corporation Act. The Texas laws permit a corporation to limit or eliminate a director's personal liability to the corporation or the holders of its capital stock for breach of duty. This limitation is generally unavailable to the extent the director is found liable for: (1) a breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders or members; (2) an act or omission not in good faith that constitutes a breach of duty of the director to the corporation or an act or omission that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law; (3) a transaction from which the director received an improper benefit, whether or not the benefit resulted from an action taken within the scope of the director's office; or (4) an act or omission for which the liability of a director is expressly provided by an applicable statute. The Texas laws also prohibit limitations on director liability for acts or omissions which resulted in a violation of a statute prohibiting certain dividend declarations and certain payments after dissolution. The effect of these provisions is to eliminate the rights of our company and our shareholders (through shareholders' derivative suits on behalf of our company) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director excepting the situations described above. These provisions will not limit the liability of directors under the federal securities laws of the United States. -44- GLOSSARY OF INDUSTRY TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS The following are definitions of certain industry terms and abbreviations used in this report: Bbl. Barrel. BOE. Barrel of oil equivalent, based on a ratio of 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas for each barrel of oil. Gross Acres or Gross Wells. The total acres or wells, as the case may be, in which a working interests is owned. Horizontal Drilling. High angle directional drilling with lateral penetration of one or more productive reservoirs. Mcf. One thousand cubic feet. Net Acres or Net Wells. The sum of the fractional working interests owned in gross acres or gross wells. Overriding Royalty Interest. The right to receive a share of the proceeds of production from a well, free of all costs and expenses, except transportation and severance taxes. Present Value. The pre-tax present value, discounted at 10%, of future net cash flows from estimated proved reserves, calculated holding prices and costs constant at amounts in effect on the date of the report (unless such prices or costs are subject to change pursuant to contractual provisions) and otherwise in accordance with the Commission's rules for inclusion of oil and gas reserve information in financial statements filed with the Commission. Proceeds of Production. Money received (usually monthly) from the sale of oil and gas produced from producing properties. Producing Properties. Properties that contain one or more productive wells. Productive Well. A well that is producing oil or gas or that is capable of production. Prospect. A lease or group of leases containing possible reserves, capable of producing crude oil, natural gas, or natural gas liquids in commercial quantities, either at the time of acquisition, or after vertical or horizontal drilling, completion of workovers, recompletions, or operational modifications. Proved Reserves. Estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic conditions; i.e., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made. Reservoirs are considered proved if either actual production or a conclusive formation test supports economic production. The area of a reservoir considered proved includes: a. That portion delineated by drilling and defining by gas-oil or oil-water contacts, if any; and b. The immediately adjoining portions not yet drilled but which can be reasonably judged as economically productive on the basis of available geological and engineering data. In the absence of information on fluid contacts, the lowest known structural occurrence of hydrocarbons controls the lower proved limit of the reservoir. -45- Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (such as fluid injection) are included in the "proved" classification when successful testing by a pilot project, or the operation of an installed program in the reservoir, provides support for the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based. Proved Reserves do not include: a. Oil that may become available from known reservoirs but is classified separately as "indicated additional reserves"; b. Crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, the recovery of which is subject to reasonable doubt because of uncertainty as to geology, reservoir characteristics, or economic factors; c. Crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids that may occur in undrilled prospects; and d. Crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids that may be recovered from oil shales and other sources. Proved Developed Reserves. Reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Additional oil and gas expected to be obtained through the application of fluid injection or other improved recovery techniques for supplementing the natural forces and mechanisms of primary recovery should be included as proved developed only after testing by a pilot project or after operation of an installed program has confirmed through production response that increased recovery will be achieved. Proved Undeveloped Reserves. Reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. Reserves on undrilled acreage shall be limited to those drilling units offsetting productive units that are reasonably certain of production when drilled. Proved reserves for other units that have not been drilled can be claimed only where it can be demonstrated with certainty that there is continuity of production from the existing productive formation. Under no circumstances should estimates for proved undeveloped reserves be attributable to any acreage for which an application of fluid injection or other improved recovery technique is contemplated, unless such techniques have been proven effective by actual tests in the area and in the same reservoir. Recompletion. The completion for production of an existing wellbore in another formation from that in which the well has previously been completed. Reservoir. A porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of producible oil or gas that is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is individual and separate from other reservoirs. Royalty. The right to a share of production from a well, free of all costs and expenses, except transportation. Royalty Interest. An interest in an oil and gas property entitling the owner to a share of oil and natural gas production free of costs of production. -46- Standardized Measure. The present value, discounted at 10%, of future net cash flows from estimated proved reserves, after income taxes, calculated holding prices and costs constant at amounts in effect on the date of the report (unless such prices or costs are subject to change pursuant to contractual provisions) and otherwise in accordance with the Commission's rules for inclusion of oil and gas reserve information in financial statements filed with the Commission. Waterflood. An engineered, planned effort to inject water into an existing oil reservoir with the intent of increasing oil reserve recovery and production rates. Working Interest. The operating interest under a lease, the owner of which has the right to explore for and produce oil and gas covered by such lease. The full working interest bears 100 percent of the costs of exploration, development, production, and operation, and is entitled to the portion of gross revenue from the proceeds of production which remains after proceeds allocable to royalty and overriding royalty interests or other lease burdens have been deducted. Workover. Rig work performed to restore an existing well to production or improve its production from the current existing reservoir. LEGAL MATTERS The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Jackson Walker L.L.P., Dallas, Texas. EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements of GulfWest Energy Inc. and subsidiaries have been included herein and in the registration statement filed in connection with this offering in reliance upon the report of Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P., independent certified public accountants, appearing elsewhere herein and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. Our oil and gas reserves have been reviewed by our independent reserve engineers, Pressler Petroleum Consultants. Our disclosures of our oil and gas reserves included in this prospectus have been presented in reliance upon the authority of such firm as experts in petroleum engineering. -47- INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Page ---- INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.................................................................. F-2 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Consolidated balance sheets............................................... F-3 Consolidated statements of operations..................................... F-5 Consolidated statements of shareholders' equity........................... F-6 Consolidated statements of cash flows..................................... F-8 Notes to consolidated financial statements................................ F-9 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE....................................................................F-36 FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE................................................F-37 Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts All other Financial Statement Schedules have been omitted because they are either inapplicable or the information required is included in the financial statements or the notes thereto. F-1 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT To the Shareholders and Board of Directors GULFWEST ENERGY INC. We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of GulfWest Energy Inc. (a Texas Corporation) and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of GulfWest Energy Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As shown in the consolidated financial statements, the Company incurred a net loss of $3,151,509 during the year ended December 31, 2003, and, as of that date, had a working capital deficiency of $42,876,963. Those conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans regarding those matters described in Note 2, "Operations and Management Plans". The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. As explained in Note 1 to the Financial Statements, effective January 1, 2003, the Company changed its accounting method for Asset Retirement Obligations. /s/WEAVER AND TIDWELL, L.L.P ---------------------------- WEAVER AND TIDWELL, L.L.P. Dallas, Texas March 19, 2004 F-2 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS DECEMBER 31, 2003 AND 2002 ASSETS ------------- ------------- 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 483,618 $ 687,694 Accounts receivable - trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $-0- in 2003 and 2002 1,099,802 1,361,446 Prepaid expenses 159,269 303,906 ------------- ------------- Total current assets 1,742,689 2,353,046 ------------- ------------- OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES, using the successful efforts method of accounting 58,472,886 56,786,043 OTHER PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT 2,132,220 2,121,410 Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization (10,017,931) (8,498,497) ------------- ------------- Net oil and gas properties and other property and equipment 50,587,175 50,408,956 ------------- ------------- OTHER ASSETS Deposits 20,142 37,442 Debt issue cost, net 78,768 289,497 ------------- ------------- Total other assets 98,910 326,939 ------------- ------------- TOTAL ASSETS $ 52,428,774 $ 53,088,941 ============= ============= The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements. F-3 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY ------------- ------------- 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- CURRENT LIABILITIES Notes payable $ 8,182,165 $ 4,936,088 Notes payable - related parties 1,465,000 1,290,000 Current portion of long-term debt 29,396,092 33,128,447 Current portion of long-term debt - related parties 130,152 256,967 Accounts payable - trade 5,002,675 3,928,477 Accrued expenses 443,568 458,587 ------------- ------------- Total current liabilities 44,619,652 43,998,566 ------------- ------------- NONCURRENT LIABILITIES Long-term debt, net of current portion 35,801 126,552 Long-term debt - related parties - 11,256 Asset retirement obligations 1,357,206 - ------------- ------------- Total noncurrent liabilities 1,393,007 137,808 ------------- ------------- OTHER LIABILITIES Derivative instruments 591,467 1,128,993 ------------- ------------- Total Liabilities 46,604,126 45,265,367 ------------- ------------- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Preferred stock 190 170 Common stock 18,493 18,493 Additional paid-in capital 29,283,692 28,258,212 Retained deficit (23,477,727) (20,453,301) ------------- ------------- Total shareholders' equity 5,824,648 7,823,574 ------------- ------------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 52,428,774 $ 53,088,941 ============= ============= The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements. F-4 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003, 2002 AND 2001 2003 2002 2001 ------------- ------------- ------------- OPERATING REVENUES Oil and gas sales $ 10,844,460 $ 10,447,169 $ 12,426,103 Well servicing revenues - 39,116 169,167 Operating overhead and other income 166,263 353,512 395,311 ------------- ------------- ------------- Total Operating Revenues 11,010,723 10,839,797 12,990,581 ------------- ------------- ------------- OPERATING EXPENSES Lease operating expenses 5,527,841 5,430,205 5,155,500 Cost of well servicing operations - 56,295 182,180 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 2,226,123 2,697,784 2,491,385 Accretion expense 76,823 - - General and administrative 2,262,425 1,727,858 1,709,641 ------------- ------------- ------------- Total Operating Expenses 10,093,212 9,912,142 9,538,706 ------------- ------------- ------------- INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 917,511 927,655 3,451,875 ------------- ------------- ------------- OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE Interest expense (3,363,330) (3,159,381) (2,756,912) Other financing costs (1,000,000) Gain (Loss) on sale of assets (19,848) (56,647) (118,254) Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments 537,526 (1,596,575) 4,215,017 Dry holes, abandoned property and impaired assets (358,737) (617,365) - ------------- ------------- ------------- Total Other Income and (Expense) (4,204,389) (5,429,968) 1,339,851 ------------- ------------- ------------- INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (3,286,878) (4,502,313) 4,791,726 INCOME TAXES ------------- ------------- ------------- INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (3,286,878) (4,502,313) 4,791,726 CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, NET OF INCOME TAXES 262,452 ---- (3,747,435) ------------- ------------- ------------- NET INCOME (LOSS) $ (3,024,426) $ (4,502,313) $ 1,044,291 DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED STOCK (PAID 2003-$-0-; 2002-$112,500; 2001-$28,125) (127,083) (112,500) (56,250) ------------- ------------- ------------- NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS $ (3,151,509) $ (4,614,813) $ 988,041 ============= ============= ============= NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE, BASIC BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES $ (.18) $ (.25) $ .25 CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES .01 - (.20) ------------- ------------- ------------- NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE BASIC $ (.17) $ (.25) $ .05 ============= ============= ============= NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE, DILUTED BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES $ (.18) $ (.25) $ .23 CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES .01 - (.18) ------------- ------------- ------------- NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE, DILUTED $ (.17) $ (.25) $ .05 ============= ============= ============= F-5 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003, 2002 AND 2001 ----------------------------- Number of Shares ----------------------------- Preferred Common Stock Stock ----------- ------------ BALANCE, December 31, 2000 8,000 18,445,041 Issuance of 9,000 shares of Series E preferred stock for the acquisition of assets 9,000 - Issuance of 47,500 shares of common stock for the acquisition of assets - 47,500 Issuance of warrants for the acquisition of assets - - Net income - - Dividends paid on preferred stock - - BALANCE, December 31, 2001 17,000 18,492,541 Issuance of warrants for additional financing - - Net loss - - Dividends paid on preferred stock - - BALANCE, December 31, 2002 17,000 18,492,541 Issuance of warrants for additional financing - - Issuance of preferred stock related to current financing 2,000 - Net loss - - BALANCE, December 31, 2003 19,000 18,492,541 The Notes to Consolidated Financials are an integral part of these statements. F-6 Preferred Common Additional Retained Stock Stock Paid-In Capital Deficit ---------------------- --------------- --------------- $ 80 $ 18,445 $ 23,537,900 $ (16,854,654) 90 - 4,499,910 - - - 35,402 - - - 91,500 - - - - 1,044,291 - - - (28,125) ---------------------- --------------- --------------- $ 170 $ 18,493 $ 28,164,712 $ (15,838,488) ====================== =============== =============== - - 93,500 - - - ---- (4,502,313) - - ---- (112,500) ---------------------- --------------- --------------- $ 170 $ 18,493 $ 28,258,212 $ (20,453,301) ====================== =============== =============== - - 25,500 - 20 - 999,980 - - - - (3,024,426) ---------------------- --------------- --------------- $ 190 $ 18,493 $ 29,283,692 $ (23,477,727) ====================== =============== =============== The Notes to Consolidated Financials are an integral part of these statements. F-7 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003, 2002 AND 2001 2003 2002 2001 ------------- ------------- ------------ CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income (loss) $ (3,024,426) $ (4,502,313) $ 1,044,291 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash Provided by operating activities: Depreciation, depletion and amortization 2,226,123 2,697,784 2,491,385 Accretion expense 76,823 - - Common stock and warrants issued and charged to operations 25,500 93,500 - Other financing costs 1,000,000 - - Loss on sale of assets 19,848 56,647 118,254 Dry holes, abandoned property, impaired assets 358,737 617,365 - Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments (537,526) 1,596,575 (4,215,017) Cumulative effect of accounting change (262,452) - 3,747,435 Provision for bad debts 29,201 - - (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable - trade, net 232,443 (109,437) 765,939 (Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses 144,637 (179,825) (40,730) Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses 1,235,503 1,043,994 797,800 ------------- ------------- ------------ Net cash provided by operating activities 1,524,411 1,314,290 4,709,357 ------------- ------------- ------------ CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Deposits - - (9,804) Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 38,561 675,440 394,423 Purchase of property and equipment (1,067,924) (5,861,969) (6,962,650) ------------- ------------- ------------ Net cash used in investing activities (1,029,363) (5,186,529) (6,578,031) ------------- ------------- ------------ CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Payments on debt (1,672,288) (3,410,778) (6,577,928) Proceeds from debt issuance 973,164 7,394,181 8,530,269 Debt issue cost - - (29,544) Dividends paid - (112,500) (28,125) ------------- ------------- ------------ Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (699,124) 3,870,903 1,894,672 ------------- ------------- ------------ INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (204,076) (1,336) 25,998 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, Beginning of year 687,694 689,030 663,032 ------------- ------------- ------------ CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, End of year $ 483,618 $ 687,694 $ 689,030 ============= ============= ============ CASH PAID FOR INTEREST $ 3,216,034 $ 3,004,015 $ 2,811,677 ============= ============= ============ The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements. F-8 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies consistently applied by management in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Organization/Concentration of Credit Risk GulfWest Energy Inc. and our subsidiaries intend to pursue the acquisition of quality oil and gas prospects, which have proved developed and undeveloped reserves, and the development of prospects with third party industry partners. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include our company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: (1) RigWest Well Service, Inc. ("RigWest"); (2) GulfWest Texas Company ("GWT"), both formed in 1996; (3) DutchWest Oil Company formed in 1997; (4) SETEX Oil and Gas Company ("SETEX") formed August 11, 1998; (5) Southeast Texas Oil and Gas Company, L.L.C. ("Setex LLC") acquired September 1, 1998; (6) GulfWest Oil and Gas Company formed February 18, 1999; (7) LTW Pipeline Co. formed April 19, 1999; (8) GulfWest Development Company ("GWD") formed November 9, 2000 and (9) GulfWest Oil and Gas Company (Louisiana) LLC, formed July 31, 2001. All material intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated upon consolidation. We grant credit to independent and major oil and gas companies for the sale of crude oil and natural gas. In addition, we grant credit to joint owners of oil and gas properties, which we, through our subsidiary, SETEX, operate. Such amounts are secured by the underlying ownership interests in the properties. We also grant credit to various third parties through RigWest for well servicing operations. We maintain cash on deposit in non-interest bearing accounts, which, at times, exceed federally insured limits. We have not experienced any losses on such accounts and believe we are not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and equivalents. Statement of Cash Flows We consider all highly liquid investment instruments purchased with remaining maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents for purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows. Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities: During the twelve month period ended December 31, 2003, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 143 "Asset Retirement Obligations" (SFAS 143). As a result of adopting SFAS 143, effective January 1, 2003, we recorded an asset retirement obligation liability of $1,280,383, an increase in the carrying value of our oil and gas properties of $1,058,445, a reduction in accumulated depletion of $484,390 and an adjustment to prior income of $262,452. This liability was increased during 2003 by recognizing $76,823 in accretion expense. Also, we decreased the current portion of long term debt-related parties by applying $17,300 in deposits and reclassified $176,320 from accrued expenses to current portion of long term debt. During the twelve month period ended December 31, 2002, we acquired $74,653 in property and equipment through notes payable to financial institutions. We also acquired $182,742 of oil producing properties in exchange of accounts receivable from a related party. In addition, we sold property and equipment, which included an account receivable of $42,000. This receivable was collected in January 2003. F-9 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) Statement of Cash Flows - Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities - continued During the twelve month period ended December 31, 2001, we acquired $15,068,774 in property and equipment through $10,441,824 in notes payable to financial institutions and related parties, by issuing 9,000 shares of preferred stock valued at $4,500,000, by issuing 47,500 shares of common stock valued at $35,450 and by issuing 150,000 warrants valued at $91,500. Also, debt issue costs increased $170,000 in notes payable. Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Oil and Gas Properties We use the successful efforts method of accounting for oil and gas producing activities. Costs to acquire mineral interests in oil and gas properties, to drill and equip exploratory wells that find proved reserves, and to drill and equip development wells are capitalized. Costs to drill exploratory wells that do not find proved reserves, and geological and geophysical costs are expensed. As we acquire significant oil and gas properties, any unproved property that is considered individually significant is periodically assessed for impairment of value, and a loss is recognized at the time of impairment by providing an impairment allowance. Capitalized costs of producing oil and gas properties and support equipment, after considering estimated dismantlement and abandonment costs and estimated salvage values, are depreciated and depleted by the unit-of-production method. On the sale of an entire interest in an unproved property, gain or loss on the sale is recognized, taking into consideration the amount of any recorded impairment if the property has been assessed individually. If a partial interest in an unproved property is sold, the amount received is treated as a reduction of the cost of the interest retained. On the sale of an entire or partial interest in a proved property, gain or loss is recognized, based upon the fair values of the interests sold and retained. F-10 Other Property and Equipment The following tables set forth certain information with respect to our other property and equipment. We provide for depreciation and amortization using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives of the respective assets: Assets Years -------------------------- ------- Automobiles 3-5 Office equipment 7 Gathering system 10 Well servicing equipment 10 F-11 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued Other Property and Equipment - continued Capitalized costs relating to other properties and equipment: 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- Automobiles $ 420,776 $ 420,776 Office equipment 148,172 137,362 Gathering system 529,486 529,486 Well servicing equipment 1,033,786 1,033,786 ------------- ------------- 2,132,220 2,121,410 Less accumulated depreciation (1,268,330) (1,037,076) ------------- ------------- Net capitalized cost $ 863,890 $ 1,084,334 ============= ============= Revenue Recognition We recognize oil and gas revenues on the sales method as oil and gas production is sold. Differences between sales and production volumes during the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001 were not significant. Well servicing revenues are recognized as the related services are performed. Operating overhead income is recognized based upon monthly contractual amounts for lease operations and other income is recognized as earned. Trade Accounts Receivable Trade accounts receivable are reported in the consolidated balance sheet at the outstanding principal adjusted for any chargeoffs. An allocation for doubtful accounts is recognized by management based upon a review of specific customer balances, historical losses and general economic conditions. Fair Value of Financial Instruments At December 31, 2003 and 2002, our financial instruments consist of notes payable and long-term debt. Interest rates currently available to us for notes payable and long-term debt with similar terms and remaining maturities are used to estimate fair value of such financial instruments. Accordingly, the carrying amounts are a reasonable estimate of fair value. Debt Issue Costs Debt issue costs incurred are capitalized and subsequently amortized over the term of the related debt on a straight-line basis. Earnings (Loss) Per Share Earnings (loss) per share are calculated based upon the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares. Diluted earnings (loss) per share are calculated based upon the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares, plus the effect of dilutive stock options, warrants, convertible preferred stock and convertible debentures. F-12 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued Earnings (Loss) Per Share - continued We have adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128 "Earnings Per Share", which requires that both basic earnings (loss) per share and diluted earnings (loss) per share be presented on the face of the statement of operations. Basic earnings (loss) per share are based on the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares. Diluted earnings (loss) per-share are based on the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares and the effect of all potentially diluted common shares. Impairments Impairments, measured using fair market value, are recognized whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of long-lived assets (other than unproved oil and gas properties discussed above) may not be recoverable and the future undiscounted cash flows attributable to the asset are less than its carrying value. Stock Based Compensation In October 1995, SFAS No. 123, "Stock Based Compensation," (SFAS 123) was issued. This statement requires that we choose between two different methods of accounting for stock options and warrants. The statement defines a fair-value-based method of accounting for stock options and warrants but allows an entity to continue to measure compensation cost for stock options and warrants using the accounting prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25 (APB 25), "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." Use of the APB 25 accounting method results in no compensation cost being recognized if options are granted at an exercise price at the current market value of the stock or higher. We will continue to use the intrinsic value method under APB 25 but are required by SFAS 123 to make pro forma disclosures of net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per share as if the fair value method had been applied in its 2003, 2002 and 2001 financial statements. During 2003, 2002 and 2001, we issued options and warrants totaling: 2003 - 35,000 (all exercisable); 2002 - 405,000 (all exercisable); and 2001 - 184,000 (all exercisable), respectively, to employees and directors as compensation. If we had used the fair value method required by SFAS 123, our net income (loss) and per share information would approximate the following amounts: 2003 2002 2001 ------------------------- ------------------------- ----------------------- As Reported ProForma As Reported ProForma As Reported ProForma ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ---------- SFAS 123 compensation cost $ - $ 7,350 $ - $ 38,300 $ - $ 99,360 APB 25 compensation cost $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Net income (loss) $(3,151,509) $(3,158,859) $(4,614,813) $(4,653,113) $ 988,041 $ 888,681 Income (loss) per common share-basic $ (.17) $ (.17) $ (.25) $ (.25) $ .05 $ .05 F-13 2003 2002 2001 ------------------------- ------------------------- ----------------------- Income (loss) per common share-diluted $ (.17) $ (.17) $ (.25) $ (.25) $ .05 $ .04 F-14 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued Stock Based Compensation - continued The effects of applying SFAS 123 as disclosed above are not indicative of future amounts. We anticipate making additional stock based employee compensation awards in the future. We use the Black-Sholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of the options and warrants (to employee and non-employees) on the grant date. Significant assumptions include (1) risk free interest rate 2003 - 3.0%; 2002 - 3.0%; 2001 - 4.5%; (2) weighted average expected life 2003 - 3.4; 2002 - 3.6; 2001 - 5.0; (3) expected volatility of 2003 - 147.43; 2002 - 101.73%; 2001 - 103.27%; and (4) no expected dividends. Implementation of New Financial Accounting Standards Effective January 1, 2001, we adopted SFAS No. 133 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Other Hedging Activities", as amended by SFAS No. 137 and No. 138. As a result of a financing agreement with an energy lender, we were required to enter into an oil and gas hedging agreement with the lender. It has been determined this agreement meets the definition of SFAS 133 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" and is accounted for as a derivative instrument. The estimated change in fair value of the derivatives is reported in Other Income and Expense as unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments. The estimated fair value of the derivatives is reported in Other Assets (or Other Liabilities) as derivative instruments. The estimated fair value of the derivative instruments at January 1, 2001, the date of initial application of SFAS 133, of $3,747,435 is reported in the Statement of Operations as the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. In June, 2001, SFAS No. 141 "Business Combinations" and SFAS No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets were issued. We presently have no goodwill or intangible assets and are thus not affected by SFAS No. 142. Effective January 1, 2002, we adopted SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." This statement requires the following three-step approach for assessing and recognizing the impairment of long-lived assets: (1) consider whether indicators of impairment of long-lived assets are present; (2) if indicators of impairment are present, determine whether the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the assets in question is less than their carrying amount; and (3) if less, recognize an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount of the assets over their respective fair values. In addition, SFAS No. 144 provides more guidance on estimating cash flows when performing a recoverability test, requires that a long-lived asset to be disposed of other than by sale (such as abandoned) be classified as "held and used" until it is disposed of, and establishes more restrictive criteria to classify an asset as "held for sale". The adoption of SFAS No. 144 did not have a material impact on our financial statements since it retained the fundamental provisions of SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of," related to the recognition and measurement of the impairment of long-lived assets to be "held and used". F-15 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued Implementation of New Financial Accounting Standards - continued In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities." SFAS No. 146 addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies EITF Issue No. 94-3, "Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)." SFAS No. 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under EITF Issue No. 94-3, a liability for an exit cost as defined was recognized at the date of an entity's commitment to an exit plan. SFAS No. 146 also establishes that the fair value is the objective for the initial measurement of the liability. SFAS No. 146 is effective for exit and disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002. This statement will impact the timing of our recognition of liabilities for costs associated with exit or disposal activities. Beginning in 2003, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, "Asset Retirement Obligations" ("SFAS 143") requires us to recognize an estimated liability for the plugging and abandonment of our oil and gas wells and associated pipelines and equipment. Consistent with industry practice, historically we had assumed the cost of plugging and abandonment would be offset by salvage value received. This statement requires us to record a liability in the period in which our asset retirement obligation ("ARO") is incurred. After initial recognition of the liability, we must capitalize an additional asset cost equal to the amount of the liability. In addition to any obligation that arises after the effective date of SFAS 143, upon initial adoption we must recognize (1) a liability for any existing ARO's, (2) capitalized cost related to the liability, and (3) accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization on that capitalized cost adjusting for the salvage value of related equipment. The estimated liability is based on historical experience in plugging and abandoning wells, estimated remaining lives of those wells based on reserves estimates and federal and state regulatory requirements. The liability is discounted using an assumed credit-adjusted risk-free rate of 7.5%. Revisions to the liability could occur due to changes in estimates of plugging and abandonment costs, changes in the risk-free rate or remaining lives of the wells, or if federal or state regulators enact new plugging and abandonment requirements. At the time of abandonment, we will be required to recognize a gain or loss on abandonment if the actual costs do not equal the estimated costs. The adoption of SFAS 143 resulted in a January 1, 2003 cumulative effect adjustment to record (i) a $1,058,445 increase in the carrying value of proved properties, (ii) a $484,390 decrease in accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization, (iii) a $1,280,383 increase in noncurrent liabilities, and (iv) a $262,452 gain, net of tax. Note 2. Operations and Management Plans At December 31, 2003, our current liabilities exceeded our current assets by $42,876,963. We had a loss available to common shareholders of $3,151,509 compared to a loss available to common shareholders of $4,614,813 at December 31, 2002. This loss included non-cash items of $537,526 for unrealized gain on derivative instruments, a loss of $358,737 for abandonment of properties and a $262,452 gain from the recording of Asset Retirement Obligations ("ARO's"), as required by SFAS 143, at January 1, 2003. In 2004, we will continue the recapitalization of debt and funding of our capital development program that we began in 2003. Following are the steps we are taking and plan to take to achieve that purpose: F-16 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 2. Operations and Management Plans - continued (a) The first step is to close the refinancing of our largest debt of $27.8 million held by Concert Capital Resources LP ("CCR") and loaned to our wholly-owned subsidiary, GulfWest Oil & Gas Company. We have entered into an agreement with a new lending source that, subject to due diligence, will fund approximately $14 million to purchase the $27.8 million note. The new debt financing will also provide for the payment of closing costs. CCR has agreed to sell the note to our new financier for a $14 million cash payment and a $4 million subordinated note from us. (b) Secondly, we are continuing to work with our financial advisor to raise an additional $4 to $5 million through the sale of our preferred stock. Proceeds from this equity sale will be used for working capital and fund our new development projects. The refinancing of the CCR debt and sale of new equity are both currently scheduled to close in April, 2004. (c) Effective December 1, 200l and amended August 16, 2002, we entered into an Oil and Gas Property Acquisition, Exploration and Development Agreement (the "Summit Agreement") with Summit Investment Group-Texas, L.L.C., an unrelated party, ("Summit"). Under the agreement, Summit provided payments in the aggregate of $1,200,000 in advanced funds for our use in the acquisition of oil and gas leases and other mineral and royalty interests, and production activities, and was to recoup and recover those advanced funds. In a subsequent event on March 5, 2004, we entered into an Option Agreement for the Purchase of Oil and Gas Leases (the "Addison Agreement") with W. L. Addison Investments L.L.C., a private company owned by Mr. J. Virgil Waggoner and Mr. John E. Loehr, two of our directors, (`Addison"). Under the Addison Agreement, Addison agreed to pay Summit, on our behalf, the non-recouped and outstanding advanced funds amounting to $1,200,000, thereby retiring the Summit Agreement. For consideration of such payment, Addison acquired certain oil and gas leases and wellbores from Summit but agreed to grant us a 180-day redemption option (which may be extended by mutual consent) to purchase the same for $1,200,000, plus interest at the prime rate plus 2%. We tendered Addison a promissory note in the amount of $600,000, with interest at the prime rate plus 2%, to substitute for an account payable to Summit, pursuant to the Summit Agreement, in the same amount. The note will be considered paid in full if we exercise the redemption option and pay the $1,200,000, plus interest. Summit retained the right to participate up to a 25% working interest in the drilling of any wells on the leases acquired by Addison. In the event we exercise the redemption option, Addison may, at its sole option, retain up to a 25% working interest in the leases. (d) Finally, after completing the above, we will pursue the consolidation of all of our debt, including other asset and bridge loans. Our goal is to simplify our financial structure and provide adequate capitalization for the development of our oil and gas assets. F-17 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 3. Cost of Oil and Gas Properties The following tables set forth certain information with respect to our oil and gas producing activities for the periods presented: Capitalized Costs Relating to Oil and Gas Producing Activities: 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- Unproved oil and gas properties $ 261,650 $ 439,926 Proved oil and gas properties 54,669,482 52,847,625 Support equipment and facilities 3,541,754 3,498,492 ------------- ------------- 58,472,886 56,786,043 Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and Amortization (8,749,601) (7,461,421) ------------- ------------- Net capitalized costs $ 49,723,285 $ 49,324,622 ============= ============= Results of Operations for Oil and Gas Producing Activities: 2003 2002 2001 ------------- ------------- ------------- Oil and gas sales $ 10,844,466 $ 10,447,169 $ 12,426,103 Production costs (5,527,841) (5,430,205) (5,155,500) Depreciation, depletion and amortization (1,527,727) (2,187,036) (2,018,890) Accretion expense (76,823) - - ------------- ------------- ------------- Income tax expense - - - ------------- ------------- ------------- Results of operations for oil and gas producing activities - income $ 3,712,075 $ 2,829,928 $ 5,251,713 ============= ============= ============= Costs Incurred in Oil and Gas Producing Activities: 2003 2002 2001 ------------- ------------- ------------- Property Acquisitions Proved $ - $ 562,760 $ 15,236,808 Unproved 110,119 14,401 154,076 Development Costs 2,024,663 5,141,075 6,317,527 ------------- ------------- ------------- $ 2,134,782 $ 5,718,236 $ 21,708,411 ============= ============= ============= F-18 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 3. Cost of Oil and Gas Properties - continued Effective July 1, 2001, we acquired interests in oil and gas properties located in Texas and Louisiana from an unrelated party, Grand Goldking L.L.C. The acquisition cost was $15,077,358, consisting of 9,000 shares of Series E preferred stock valued at $4,500,000 and $10,000,000 in debt. In addition, we paid $545,300 in commissions to unrelated parties. The commissions were paid by issuing 10,000 shares of common stock valued at $8,800, 150,000 warrants valued at $91,500 and $445,000 in cash. We incurred additional cash costs of $33,058 related to the acquisition. On the same date, we transferred its ownership interest in these properties to our wholly owned subsidiary, GulfWest Oil and Gas Company. Supplemental unaudited pro forma information (under the purchase method of accounting) presenting the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2001, as if the Grand Goldking acquisition had occurred as of January 1, 2001: Year Ended December 31, 2001 ------------- Operating revenues $ 15,649,329 Operating expenses 10,652,222 ------------- Income from operations 4,997,107 Other income and expense (3,325,166) Income taxes - ------------- Net income 1,671,941 Preferred dividends (112,500) ------------- Net income to common shareholders $ 1,559,441 ============= Earnings per share Basic $ 0.08 ============= Diluted $ 0.07 ============= Effective January 1, 2002, we acquired oil and gas properties located in Louisiana from a related party for $182,742. The acquisition price was the amount of accounts receivable due us. Note 4. Accrued Expenses Accrued expenses consisted of the following: December 31, December 31, 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- Payroll and payroll taxes $ 5,833 $ 1,863 Interest 395,735 414,724 Professional fees 42,000 42,000 ------------- ------------- $ 443,568 $ 458,587 ============= ============= F-19 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 5. Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt Notes payable is as follows: 2003 2002 ----------- ----------- Non-interest bearing note payable to an unrelated party; payable out of 50% of the net transportation revenues from a certain natural gas pipeline; no due date. $ 40,300 $ 40,300 Promissory note payable to a former director at 8%; due May, 2001; unsecured. 40,000 40,000 Promissory note payable to an unrelated party at 10%; payable on demand; unsecured. 45,000 45,000 Line of credit (up to $2,500,000) to a bank; due October, 2002; secured by guaranty of a director; interest greater of prime rate less .25% or 5.25%, (prime rate 4.0% at December 31, 2003). Line of credit increased to $3,000,000 and due date extended to April, 2004. 2,995,488 2,995,488 Note payable to a bank; due March, 2003; interest at prime rate plus 1% (prime rate 4.0% at December 31, 2003); secured by guaranty of three of our directors; retired September 2003. 500,000 Promissory note payable to an unrelated party; payable on demand; interest at 8%; interest increased to 12% on January 1, 2003; secured by certain oil and gas properties. 300,000 300,000 Note payable to a bank; due July, 2004; secured by guaranty of a director; interest at prime rate (prime rate 4.0% at December 31, 2003 with a floor of 4.75% and a ceiling of 8.0%. 948,400 1,000,000 Promissory note payable to unrelated party; interest at 6%; due June, 2003. 55,300 55,300 Promissory note payable to one of our directors; interest at 8%; due on demand; unsecured. 50,000 50,000 Promissory note payable to one of our directors; interest at prime rate (prime rate 4.0% at December 31, 2003); due May, 2003; secured by common stock of DutchWest Oil Company, our wholly owned subsidiary. 1,375,000 1,200,000 Promissory note payable to an unrelated party at 8%; due June 2003; secured by 4% of the common stock of DutchWest Oil Company, our wholly owned subsidiary 100,000 - Promissory note payable to an unrelated party at 8%; due May 2003; secured by 8% of the common stock of DutchWest Oil Company, our wholly owned subsidiary 200,000 - F-20 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 5. Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt Notes payable is as follows - continued: 2003 2002 ----------- ------------ Line of credit (up to $3,500,000) to a bank; due June 2004; secured by the guaranty of a director; interest at prime rate (prime rate 4.0% at December 31, 2003) with a floor of 4.75% and a ceiling of 8.0% 3,497,677 - ------------ ------------ $ 9,647,165 $ 6,226,088 ============ ============ The weighted average interest rate for notes payable at December 31, 2003 and 2002 was 5.0% and 4.7%, respectively. Long-term debt is as follows: 2003 2002 ------------ ------------ Line of credit (up to $3,000,000) to a bank; due July, 2003; secured by the guaranty of a director; interest at prime rate (prime rate 4.0% at December 31, 2003); replaced by a short-term line of credit (up to $3,500,000) from the same bank. $ - $ 2,999,515 Subordinated promissory notes to various individuals at 9.5% interest per annum; amounts include $50,000 due to related parties; past due. 150,000 150,000 Notes payable to finance vehicles, payable in aggregate monthly installments of approximately $4,000, including interest of .9% to 13% per annum; secured by the related equipment; due various dates through 2007. 69,500 116,721 Note payable to related party to finance equipment with monthly installments of $5,200, including interest at 13.76% per annum; final payment due October, 2003; secured by related equipment; retired June, 2003. - 48,850 Promissory note to a director; interest at 8.5%; due December 31, 2003. 78,941 95,670 Note payable to a bank with monthly principal payments of $2,300; interest at 9.5%; due May, 2003; secured by related equipment; retired May, 2003. - 11,630 Note payable to an energy lender; interest at prime plus 3.5% (prime rate 4.0% at December 31, 2003) payable monthly out of 90% net profits from certain oil and gas properties; final payment due May, 2004; secured by related oil and gas properties. 27,574,769 27,907,509 F-21 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 5. Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt Long-term debt is as follows - continued: 2003 2002 ------------ ------------ Note payable to a bank with monthly principal payments of $36,000; interest at prime plus 1% (prime rate 4.0% at December 31, 2003) with a minimum prime rate of 5.5%; final payment due November, 2003; secured by related oil and gas properties; Extended to March, 2004. 1,564,000 1,996,000 Note payable to unrelated party to finance saltwater disposal well with monthly installments of $4,540, including interest at 10% per annum; final payment due January, 2005; secured by related well. 123,624 123,624 Note payable to related party to finance equipment with monthly installments of $5,109, including interest at 13.75% per annum; final payment due February, 2004; secured by related equipment; retired June, 2003. - 65,743 Note payable to related party to finance equipment with monthly installments of $608, including interest at 11% per annum; final payment due February, 2004; secured by related equipment. 1,211 7,960 ------------ ------------ 29,562,045 33,523,222 Less current portion (29,526,244) (33,385,414) ------------ ------------ Total long-term debt $ 35,801 $ 137,808 ============ ============ Estimated annual maturities for long-term debt are as follows: 2004 $29,526,244 2005 27,292 2006 7,150 2007 1,359 2008 - ------------ $29,562,045 ============ F-22 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 6. Shareholders' Equity Common Stock ------------ 2003 2002 --------- --------- Par value $.001; 40,000,000 shares authorized; 18,492,541 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively $ 18,493 $ 18,493 ========= ========= Preferred Stock --------------- Series D, par value $.01; 12,000 shares authorized; 8,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2003 and 2002. The Series D preferred stock does not pay dividends and is not redeemable. The liquidation value is $500 per share. After three years from the date of issue, and thereafter, the shares are convertible to common stock based upon a value of $500 per Series D share divided by $8 per share of common stock. 80 80 Series E, par value $.01; 9,000 shares authorized; 9,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2003 and 2002. The Series E preferred stock pays dividends, as declared, at a rate of 2.5% per annum, has a liquidation value of $500 per share, may be redeemed at our option and, if not redeemed after two years, is convertible to common stock based upon a value of $500 per Series E share divided by $2 per share of common stock. 90 90 Series F, par value $.01; 2,000 shares authorized; 2,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2003. The Series F preferred stock pays dividends, as declared, at a rate of 2.5% per annum, has a liquidation value of $500 per share, may be redeemed at our option and, if not redeemed after two years, is convertible to common stock based upon a value of $500 per Series E share divided by $1 per share of common stock. 20 - --------- --------- $ 190 170 ========= ========= All classes of preferred shareholders have liquidation preference over common shareholders of $500 per preferred share, plus accrued dividends. Dividends in arrears at December 31, 2003 we $127,083 (Series E $112,500; Series F $14,583). Stock Options ------------- We maintain a Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (as amended and restated, the "Plan"), which authorizes the grant of options of up to 2,000,000 shares of common stock. Under the Plan, options may be granted to any of our key employees (including officers), employee and nonemployee directors, and advisors. A committee appointed by the Board administers the Plan. Prior to 1999, options granted under the Plan had been granted at an option price of $3.13 and $1.81 per share. In July 1999, the Board authorized that all then current employee and director options under the plan be reduced to a price of $.75 per share. Following is a schedule by year of the activity related to stock options, including weighted-average ("WTD AVG") exercise prices of options in each category. F-23 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 6. Shareholders' Equity - continued 2003 2002 2001 ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Wtd Wtd Wtd Avg Avg Avg Prices Number Prices Number Prices Number ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- Balance, January 1 $.90 1,067,000 $1.03 1,097,000 $ .09 923,000 Options issued $.75 35,000 $ .75 35,000 $ .83 184,000 Options expired $ - - $3.00 (65,000) $3.00 (10,000) ---------- ---------- ---------- Balance, December 31 $.90 1,102,000 $.90 1,067,000 $1.03 1,097,000 ========== ========== ========== All options were exercisable at December 31, 2003. Following is a schedule by year and by exercise price of the expiration of our stock options issued as of December 31, 2003: 2004 2005 2006 2007 Thereafter Total -------- -------- -------- ------- ---------- ---------- $.75 432,000 35,000 185,000 652,000 $.83 184,000 184,000 $1.13 100,000 100,000 $1.20 106,000 106,000 $1.81 60,000 60,000 -------- -------- -------- ------- ---------- ---------- 432,000 206,000 184,000 35,000 210,000 1,102,000 ======== ======== ======== ======= ========== ========== Stock Warrants -------------- We have issued a significant number of stock warrants for a variety of reasons, including compensation to employees, additional inducements to purchase our common or preferred stock, inducements related to the issuance of debt and for payment of goods and services. Following is a schedule by year of the activity related to stock warrants, including weighted-average exercise prices of warrants in each category: 2003 2002 2001 ------------------ ----------------- ----------------- Wtd Wtd Wtd Avg Avg Avg Prices Number Prices Number Prices Number ------- ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- Balance, January 1 $ 1.24 2,181,754 $2.15 1,306,754 $2.31 1,392,254 Warrants issued $ .75 150,000 $.75 1,145,000 $.75 150,000 Warrants exercised or expired $(3.61) (366,754) $3.57 (270,000) $2.22 (235,500) ---------- ---------- ---------- Balance, December 31 $ .76 1,965,000 $1.24 2,181,754 $2.15 1,306,754 ========== ========== ========== Included in the "warrants issued" and "warrants exercised/expired" columns in 2002 were 270,000 warrants whose price was reduced in 2002 to $.75. F-24 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 6. Shareholders' Equity - continued Following is a schedule by year and by exercise price of the expiration of our stock warrants issued as of December 31, 2003: 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- $ .75 1,590,000 1,815,000 225,000 .875 150,000 150,000 -------- ------- --------- -------- -------- --------- - 375,000 1,590,000 - - 1,965,000 ======== ======= ========= ======== ======== ========= Warrants outstanding to our officers, directors and employees at December 31, 2003 and 2002 were approximately 1,515,000 and 1,682,000, respectively. The exercise prices on these warrants range from $.75 to $.88 and expire various dates through 2006. Note 7. Income (Loss) Per Common Share The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators used in computing income (loss) per share: 2003 2002 2001 ------------- -------------- ------------- Net income (loss) $ (3,024,426) $ (4,502,313) $ 1,044,291 Preferred stock dividends (127,083) (112,500) (56,250) ------------- -------------- ------------- Income (loss) available to common shareholders (numerator) $ (3,151,509) $ (4,614,813) $ 988,041 ============= ============== ============= Weighted-average number of shares of common stock - basic (denominator) 18,492,541 18,492,541 18,464,343 ------------- -------------- ------------- Income (loss) per share - basic $ (.17) $ (.25) $ .05 ============= ============== ============= Potential dilutive securities (stock options, stock warrants and convertible preferred stock) in 2003 and 2002 have not been considered since we reported a net loss and, accordingly, their effects would be antidilutive. Potential dilutive securities (stock options, stock warrants and convertible preferred stock) totaling 2,780,520 weighted average shares in 2001 have been considered but there is no effect on income per common share. Note 8. Related Party Transactions On December 1, 1992, Ray Holifield and Associates, Inc. executed an unsecured promissory note to us for $118,645 with interest at 10% per annum, due on October 1, 1993. At December 31, 1993, the note was still outstanding. During 1994, we entered into an agreement with the Holifield Trust in which Holifield will make payments on the past due note from future oil and gas revenue. During 1995, $10,995 of interest payments were received. At December 31, 2001 the unsecured promissory note had been fully reserved. At December 31, 2002, the unsecured promissory note had been fully written off. On December 1, 1992, Parkway Petroleum Company, a Ray Holifield related company, executed an unsecured promissory note to us for $54,616 with interest at 10% per annum, due on October 1, 1993. The note was issued for amounts due from contract drilling services we provided Parkway Petroleum F-25 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 8. Related Party Transactions - continued Company. At December 31, 1993, the note was still outstanding. During 1994, we entered into an agreement with the Holifield Trust in which Holifield will make payments on the past due note from future oil and gas revenue. During 1995, $6,250 of interest payments were received. At December 31, 2001, the unsecured promissory note had been fully reserved. At December 31, 2002, the unsecured promissory note had been fully written off. On January 10, 1994, we entered into a consulting agreement with Williams Southwest Drilling Company, Inc. ("Williams") whereby we would provide management and accounting services for $25,000 per month for a period of one year. We accrued the consulting fees with an offset to deferred income until payment of the fees is actually received. During 1994, $172,140 was recorded as consulting fee income. Beginning in the second quarter 1994, we began recognizing consulting income only as cash payments were received. Prior to the second quarter, $75,000 in consulting fee revenue was accrued. We received $97,140 in consulting fee payments. As of December 31, 1994, the receivable from Williams of $202,860 for consulting fees has been offset by deferred income of $127,860 and a provision for doubtful accounts of $75,000. Effective January 1, 1995, we received a promissory note from Williams in the amount of $202,860, bearing interest at the rate of 10% per annum, and payable in quarterly installments of principal and interest of $15,538.87. At December 31, 2001, the unsecured promissory note had been fully reserved. At December 31, 2002, the unsecured promissory note had been fully written off. From July 22 to August 13, 1998, we advanced sums totaling $102,000 to Gulf Coast Exploration, Inc. At December 31, 2001, the debt had been fully reserved. At December 31, 2002, the debt had been fully written off. On October 1, 1998, Toro Oil Company executed an unsecured promissory note to us for the purchase of 100% of WestCo for $150,000, with interest at the prime rate per annum and due September 30, 1999. To date, no principal payments have been received. At December 31, 2001, the promissory note had been fully reserved. At December 31, 2002, the debt had been fully written off. In a subsequent event on March 5, 2004, we entered into an Option Agreement for the Purchase of Oil and Gas Leases (the "Addison Agreement") with W. L. Addison Investments L.L.C., a private company owned by Mr. J. Virgil Waggoner and Mr. John E. Loehr, two of our directors, (`Addison"). Effective December 1, 200l and amended August 16, 2002, we had entered into an Oil and Gas Property Acquisition, Exploration and Development Agreement (the "Summit Agreement") with Summit Investment Group-Texas, L.L.C., an unrelated party, ("Summit"). Under the agreement, Summit provided payments in the aggregate of $1,200,000 in advanced funds for our use in the acquisition of oil and gas leases and other mineral and royalty interests, and production activities, and was to recoup and recover those advanced funds. Under the Addison Agreement, Addison agreed to pay Summit, on our behalf, the non-recouped and outstanding advanced funds amounting to $1,200,000, thereby retiring the Summit Agreement. For consideration of such payment, Addison acquired certain oil and gas leases and wellbores from Summit but agreed to grant us a 180-day redemption option (which may be extended by mutual consent) to purchase the same for $1,200,000, plus interest at the prime rate plus 2%. We tendered Addison a promissory note in the amount of $600,000, with interest at the prime rate plus 2%, to substitute for an account payable due to Summit, pursuant to the Summit Agreement, in the same amount. The note will be considered paid in full if we exercise the redemption option and pay the $1,200,000, plus interest. Summit retained the right to participate up to a 25% working interest in the drilling of any wells on the leases acquired by Addison. In the event we exercise the redemption option, Addison may, at its sole option, retain up to a 25% working interest in the leases. F-26 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 8. Related Party Transactions - continued Interest expensed on related party notes totaled approximately $76,000, $53,000 and $128,000 for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 respectively. Note 9. Income Taxes The components of the net deferred federal income tax assets (liabilities) recognized in our consolidated balance sheets were as follows: F-27 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 9. Income Taxes - continued December 31, December 31, 2003 2002 ------------ ------------ Deferred tax assets Net operating loss carryforwards $ 6,352,507 $ 5,236,485 Oil and gas properties 610,381 542,131 Capital loss carryforwards - 93,211 Derivative instruments 201,099 383,858 Accretion 26,120 - ------------ ------------ Net deferred tax assets before valuation allowance 7,190,107 6,255,685 Valuation allowance (7,190,107) (6,255,685) ------------ ------------ Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) $ - $ - ============ ============ As of December 31, 2003 and 2002, we did not believe it was more likely than not that the net operating loss carryforwards would be realizable through generation of future taxable income; therefore, they were fully reserved. The following table summarizes the difference between the actual tax provision and the amounts obtained by applying the statutory tax rate of 34% to the income (loss) before income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001. 2003 2002 2001 ------------ ------------ ---------- Tax (benefit) calculated at statutory rate $(1,028,305) $(1,530,786) $ 355,059 Increase (reductions) in taxes due to: Effect on non-deductible expenses 362,910 65,174 18,157 Change in valuation allowance 934,422 1,586,988 (345,754) Other (269,027) (121,376) (27,462) ------------ ------------ ---------- Current federal income tax provision $ - $ - $ - ============ ============ ========== As of December 31, 2003 we had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $18,700,000, which are available to reduce future taxable income and capital gains, respectively, and the related income tax liability. The net operating loss carryforward expires at various dates through 2023. Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies Oil and Gas Hedging Activities We entered into an agreement with an energy lender commencing in May, 2000, to hedge a portion of our oil and gas sales for the period of May, 2000 through April, 2004. The agreement called for initial volumes of 7,900 barrels of oil and 52,400 Mmbtu of gas per month, declining monthly thereafter. We entered into a second agreement with the energy lender, commencing September, 2001, to hedge an additional portion of our oil and gas sales for the periods of September, 2001 through July, 2004 and F-28 September, 2001 through December 2002, respectively. The agreement called for initial volumes of 15,000 barrels of oil and 50,000 Mmbtu of gas per month, declining monthly thereafter. Volumes at December 31, 2003 had declined to 6,400 barrels of oil and 21,200 Mmbtu of gas. As a result of these agreements, we realized a reduction in revenues of $1,496,303, $368,776 and $762,480 for the twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, which is included in oil and gas sales. Lease Obligations We lease office space at one location under a sixty-four (64) month lease, which commenced December 1, 2001 and was amended May 30, 2002 after expansion. Annual commitments under the lease are: 2004 - $130,050, 2005 - $132,979, 2006 - $135,323 and 2007 - $33,977. Total rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 were approximately $134,500, $91,000 and $60,000, respectively. F-29 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies - continued Litigation From time to time, we are involved in litigation arising out of our operations or from disputes with vendors in the normal course of business. As of March 29, 2004, we were not engaged in any legal proceedings that are expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. The estimates of proved oil and gas reserves utilized in the preparation of the financial statements are estimated in accordance with guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Accounting Standards Board, which require that reserve estimates be prepared under existing economic and operating conditions with no provision for price and cost escalations over prices and costs existing at year end except by contractual arrangements. We emphasize that reserve estimates are inherently imprecise. Accordingly, the estimates are expected to change as more current information becomes available. Our policy is to amortize capitalized oil and gas costs on the unit of production method, based upon these reserve estimates. It is reasonably possible that, because of changes in market conditions or the inherent imprecision of these reserve estimates, that the estimates of future cash inflows, future gross revenues, the amount of oil and gas reserves, the remaining estimated lives of the oil and gas properties, or any combination of the above may be increased or reduced in the near term. If reduced, the carrying amount of capitalized oil and gas properties may be reduced materially in the near term. F-30 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 11. Oil and Gas Reserves Information (Unaudited) - continued The following unaudited table sets forth proved oil and gas reserves, all within the United States, at December 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001, together with the changes therein. Crude Oil Natural Gas (BBls) (Mcf) ----------- ----------- QUANTITIES OF PROVED RESERVES: Balance December 31, 2000 4,575,179 24,811,919 Revisions (386,078) 238,595 Extensions, discoveries and additions 5,676 895,333 Purchase 2,078,561 14,905,837 Sales (107,225) 1,122 Production (294,276) (1,594,899) ----------- ----------- Balance December 31, 2001 5,871,837 39,257,907 Revisions (125,468) (4,959,229) Extensions, discoveries and additions 22,129 1,090,024 Purchase 52,480 1,090,025 Sales (20,698) (837,856) Production (278,374) (1,487,048) ----------- ----------- Balance December 31, 2002 5,521,906 34,158,823 Revisions (262,608) (308,080) Extensions, discoveries and additions -- -- Purchase -- -- Sales -- -- Production (221,335) (1,190,624) ----------- ----------- Balance December 31, 2003 5,037,963 32,660,119 =========== =========== PROVED DEVELOPED RESERVES: December 31, 2001 3,939,593 21,203,989 =========== =========== December 31, 2002 4,025,552 25,374,113 =========== =========== December 31, 2003 3,772,926 24,642,407 =========== =========== F-31 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 11. Oil and Gas Reserves Information (Unaudited) - continued STANDARDIZED MEASURE: Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved reserves: 2003 2002 2001 -------------- ------------- ------------- Future cash inflows $ 336,795,385 $ 308,381,837 $ 199,162,921 Future production and development costs Production 109,468,727 105,629,872 77,526,278 Development 23,350,811 23,610,596 21,460,459 ------------- ------------- ------------- Future cash flows before income taxes 205,866,199 179,401,154 98,026,047 Future income taxes (38,611,577) (13,281,358) (46,885,360) ------------- ------------- ------------- Future net cash flows after income taxes 158,980,839 140,789,577 84,744,689 10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows (63,165,742) (35,895,306) (70,653,419) ------------- ------------- ------------- Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows $ 88,327,420 $ 77,623,835 $ 48,849,383 ============= ============= ============= The following reconciles the change in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows: Beginning of year $ 77,623,835 $ 48,849,383 $ 90,381,127 Changes from: Purchases -- 3,054,793 27,032,359 Sales -- (953,159) (443,324) Extensions, discoveries and improved recovery, less related costs -- 2,002,176 427,192 Sales of oil and gas produced net of production costs (5,316,619) (5,016,964) (7,270,603) Revision of quantity estimates (3,751,921) (9,974,557) (1,783,276) Accretion of discount 9,889,881 5,649,945 12,414,073 Change in income taxes (4,793,281) (13,624,917) 26,109,535 Changes in estimated future development costs 2,003,801 (5,254,561) (6,360,990) Development costs incurred that reduced future development costs 2,024,663 5,569,881 5,945,369 Change in sales and transfer prices, net of production costs 16,470,113 46,903,282 (89,573,528) Changes in production rates (timing) and other (5,823,052) 418,533 (8,028,551) ------------- ------------- ------------- End of year $ 88,327,420 $ 77,623,835 $ 48,849,383 ============= ============= ============= F-32 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 12. Quarterly Results (Unaudited) Summary data relating to the results of operations for each quarter for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 follows: Three Months Ended -------------------------------------------------------------------- March 31 June 30 September 30 December 31 ----------- ----------- ------------ ------------ 2003 Net sales $ 3,250,603 $ 2,790,124 $2,436,063 $ 2,533,933 Gross profit 862,683 406,576 81,573 (433,321) Net income (loss) 120,659 (1,231,883) (399,457) (1,640,828) Income (loss) per common share - basic and diluted $ .01 $ (.07) $ (.02) $ (.09) 2002 Net sales $ 2,648,873 $ 2,951,798 $2,641,626 $ 2,597,500 Gross profit 450,255 239,912 100,527 136,961 Net income (loss) (1,964,010) (305,060) (924,750) (1,420,993) Income (loss) per common share - basic and diluted $ (0.11) $ (0.02) $ (0.05) $ (0.07) F-33 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT Shareholders and Board of Directors GULFWEST ENERGY INC. Our report on the consolidated financial statements of GulfWest Energy Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003, is included on page F-2. In connection with our audit of such consolidated financial statements, we have also audited the related financial statement schedule for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 on page F-31. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information required to be included therein. \s\ WEAVER AND TIDWELL, L.L.P. ---------------------------------- WEAVER AND TIDWELL, L.L.P. Dallas, Texas March 19, 2004 F-34 GULFWEST ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003, 2002 AND 2001 BALANCE BALANCE AT AT BEGINNING PROVISIONS/ RECOVERIES/ END DESCRIPTION OF PERIOD ADDITIONS DEDUCTIONS OF PERIOD -------------------------------------- --------------- ----------------- --------------- ----------- For the year ended December 31, 2001 Accounts and notes receivable related parties $ 740,478 $ -- $ -- $ 740,478 =============== ================ ============== ========== Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets $ 5,014,451 $ (345,754) $- $4,668,697 =============== ================ ============== ========== For the year ended December 31, 2002 Accounts and notes Receivable related parties $ 740,478 $ -- $ (740,478) $ -- =============== ================ ============== ========== Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets $ 4,668,697 $ 1,586,988 $ -- $6,255,685 =============== ================ ============== ========== For the year ended December 31, 2003 Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets $ 6,255,685 $ 934,422 $ -- $7,190,107 =============== ================ ============== ========== F-35 GULFWEST ENERGY, INC. 19,179,192 Shares Class A Common Stock July 14, 2004 F-36