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Northern Oil First Quarter 2022 Results

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   |    Monday,May 09,2022

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. announced the company's first quarter results and provided updated 2022 guidance.

Nick O'Grady, NOG's Chief Executive Officer, said: "Our accretive acquisitions of high quality properties over the last year are translating into record results. Record Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and production were all achieved in the first quarter as our new properties have been integrated and are performing well. Our execution continues to prove the superiority of our low leverage, diversified working interest model. We also continue to de-risk the enterprise, allowing us to grow shareholder returns at an increasing pace."

Financial Results

Oil and natural gas sales for the first quarter were $456.5 million, up 37% over the fourth quarter of 2021. First quarter GAAP net loss, inclusive of a $384.2 million non-cash mark-to-market loss on derivatives, was $206.6 million or $2.69 per diluted share. First quarter Adjusted Net Income was $138.9 million or $1.58 per diluted share, up 49% from the fourth quarter of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter was $256.6 million, up 46% from the fourth quarter of 2021. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

Production

First quarter production was 71,255 Boe per day, an 11% increase from the fourth quarter of 2021 and an 85% increase from the first quarter of 2021. Oil represented 60% of total production in the first quarter. Oil production was 42,489 Bbl per day, a 12% increase over the fourth quarter of 2021 and a 45% increase over the first quarter of 2021. NOG had 10.6 net wells turned in-line during the first quarter, compared to 6.7 net wells turned in-line in the first quarter of 2021. Production continues to benefit from increased AFE activity across our 252,345 net acre position, with net AFE activity having increased 62% sequentially in the fourth quarter of 2021 and now 40% in the first quarter of 2022. NOG's Permian production made up approximately 20% of volumes in the first quarter, reflecting a partial quarter impact from the Veritas acquisition, and is expected to continue to increase throughout 2022.

Pricing

During the first quarter, NYMEX West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") crude oil averaged $95.17 per Bbl, and NYMEX natural gas at Henry Hub averaged $4.63 per million cubic feet ("Mcf"). NOG's unhedged net realized oil price in the first quarter was $91.19, representing a $3.98 differential to WTI prices. NOG's unhedged net realized gas price in the first quarter was $6.94 per Mcf, representing approximately 150% realizations compared with Henry Hub pricing.

Operating Costs

Lease operating costs were $54.5 million in the first quarter of 2022, or $8.50 per Boe, down slightly on a per unit basis compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 and at the low end of guidance. The decrease in unit costs was driven primarily by increased lower-cost Permian production, modestly offset by processing costs associated with strong NGL prices. First quarter general and administrative ("G&A") costs totaled $13.8 million or $2.15 per Boe. This includes $6.8 million of legal and transaction expenses primarily in connection with the closing of the Veritas acquisition and $1.4 million of non-cash stock-based compensation. NOG's cash G&A costs excluding these amounts totaled $5.5 million or $0.86 per Boe in the first quarter, down substantially from $1.20 per Boe in the prior quarter.

Capital Expenditures & Acquisitions

Capital spending for the first quarter, excluding the Veritas acquisition, was $85.6 million. Spending was made up of $76.2 million of total drilling and completion ("D&C") capital on organic and ground game assets, and $9.4 million of ground game acquisition spending and other items. NOG spending was in line with internal expectations, despite some pull-forward of activity in March.

NOG's Williston Basin spending made up 60% of the total capital expenditures for the quarter, the Permian made up 35%, the Marcellus made up 4% and other items made up 1%. On the ground game acquisition front, NOG closed on 10 transactions during the first quarter totaling 1.3 net wells, 326 net mineral acres, and 73 net royalty acres (standardized to a 1/8 royalty interest).

Veritas Acquisition Close

NOG closed the Veritas acquisition on January 27, 2022, with a combination of cash and equity warrants. Total estimated consideration included $390.9 million in cash (which included a $40.7 million deposit paid at signing in November 2021), and approximately 1.94 million common stock warrants with a $28.30 per share exercise price. The closing consideration is net of preliminary and customary purchase price adjustments and remains subject to final post-closing settlement between NOG and Veritas.

Liquidity

NOG had total liquidity of $382.3 million as of March 31, 2022, consisting of cash of $3.3 million, and $379.0 million of committed borrowing availability under the revolving credit facility.

As of March 31, 2022, NOG's total debt was $1.1 billion, up $316 million since December 31, 2021. The change in debt was driven by the cash outlay for the Veritas closing, offset by substantial repayments on NOG's revolving credit facility driven by internal free cash flow.

Stockholder Returns

On January 31, 2022, NOG's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend for NOG's common stock of $0.14 per share for stockholders of record as of March 30, 2022, which was paid on April 29, 2022. This represented a 75% increase from the prior quarter.

On May 3, 2022, NOG's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend for NOG's common stock of $0.19 per share for stockholders of record as of June 29, 2022, which will be paid on July 29, 2022. This represents a 36% increase from the prior quarter. Additionally, NOG's Board increased authorized repurchase programs for both Preferred and Common Stock. The common stock repurchase authorization has increased to $150.0 million, from $68.1 million previously. The Board also authorized a Senior Unsecured Notes repurchase program.

In the first quarter of 2022, NOG repurchased $36.3 million of liquidation preference value of its 6.500% Series A Perpetual Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock from holders. In April 2022, NOG repurchased an additional $3.7 million, for a total year-to-date of $40.0 million liquidation preference value. The current total remaining outstanding face value of Preferred Stock is $181.9 million, down from $221.9 million at December 31, 2021. These repurchases are expected to reduce NOG's annual preferred dividend payments by $2.6 million and additionally reduce NOG's diluted common stock share count by approximately 1.8 million shares, based on the current conversion ratio.