BATTALION OIL CORP Fair Value Disclosure
7. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company’s determination of fair value incorporates not only the credit standing of the counterparties involved in transactions with the Company resulting in receivables on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, but also the impact of the Company’s nonperformance risk on its own liabilities. Fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The Company separates the fair value of its financial instruments using a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy assigns the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). Level 2 measurements are inputs that are observable for assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly, other than quoted prices included within Level 1. The Company utilizes market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable. The Company classifies fair value balances based on the observability of those inputs.
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. There were no transfers between fair value hierarchy levels for any period presented.
The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets and liabilities associated with commodity-based derivative contracts that were accounted for at fair value as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands):
December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total | |||||
Assets | ||||||||||||
Assets from derivative contracts | $ | — | $ | 23,495 | $ | — | $ | 23,495 | ||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||
Liabilities from derivative contracts | $ | — | $ | 2,325 | $ | — | $ | 2,325 | ||||
December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total | |||||
Assets | ||||||||||||
Assets from derivative contracts | $ | — | $ | 11,021 | $ | — | $ | 11,021 | ||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||
Liabilities from derivative contracts | $ | — | $ | 19,284 | $ | — | $ | 19,284 | ||||
Derivative contracts listed above as Level 2 include fixed-price swaps, collars, puts, calls, basis swaps and WTI NYMEX rolls that are carried at fair value. The Company records the net change in the fair value of these positions in “Net gain on derivative contracts” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Level 2 observable data includes the forward curves for commodity prices based on quoted market prices and implied volatility factors related to changes in the forward curves. See Note 8, “Derivative and Hedging Activities,” for additional discussion of derivatives.
The Company’s derivative contracts are with a major financial institution and a large multi-strategy alternative investment manager, both of which have investment grade credit ratings and are believed to have minimal credit risk. As such, the Company is exposed to credit risk to the extent of nonperformance by the counterparties in the derivative contracts; however, the Company does not anticipate such nonperformance.
As discussed in Note 6, “Debt,” the Company evaluated the 2024 Amended Term Loan Agreement and identified the Exit Fee to be an embedded derivative not clearly and closely related to the host debt instrument. The fair value analysis for such derivative was performed and the fair value was deemed to be zero at commencement and at December 31, 2025. The fair value of the Exit Fee derivative will be subsequently remeasured each reporting period with fair value changes recorded in “Interest expense and other” on the consolidated statement of operations. The valuation of the Exit Fee derivative included significant inputs such as the timing of potential exit scenarios, forward NYMEX strip pricing, forecasted capital and other expenditures and discount rates. The fair value of the Exit Fee derivative is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
Estimated fair value amounts have been determined at discrete points in time based on relevant market information. The estimated fair value of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature. The estimated fair value of borrowings under the Company’s Amended Term Loan Agreement approximate carrying value because the interest rates approximate current market rates.
The Company follows the provisions of the FASB’s ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement for nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These provisions apply to the Company’s initial recognition of AROs for which fair value is used. The ARO estimates are derived from historical costs and
management’s expectation of future cost environments; and therefore, the Company has designated these liabilities as Level 3. See Note 9, “Asset Retirement Obligations,” for a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the liability for the Company’s AROs.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 23, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Mar 31, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Apr 1, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Mar 30, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Mar 7, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Mar 8, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Mar 25, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Mar 12, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Mar 1, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Mar 1, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Feb 26, 2016 | |
About Fair Value Disclosures
Fair value disclosures classify all assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy: Level 1 (quoted market prices), Level 2 (observable inputs like yield curves), and Level 3 (unobservable inputs requiring management estimates). The proportion of Level 3 assets directly reflects how much of the balance sheet depends on internal models rather than market evidence.
Key signals: a growing Level 3 balance relative to total fair-value assets increases valuation uncertainty and earnings volatility risk. Watch for transfers between levels — assets moving from Level 2 to Level 3 often signal deteriorating market liquidity. Unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 positions flow through earnings or other comprehensive income, so large swings deserve scrutiny. For financial institutions, examine the sensitivity disclosures that show how Level 3 valuations change under alternative assumptions. Compare the fair value of debt against its carrying amount to gauge hidden leverage.