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Northern Oil Second Quarter 2021 Results

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   |    Wednesday,August 25,2021

Northern Oil reported its Q2 2021 results.

Highlights:

• Second quarter total production of 54,623 Boe per day, up 42% sequentially from the first quarter of 2021
• Oil production of 33,346 Bbl per day, up 14% sequentially from the first quarter of 2021
• Second quarter GAAP cash flow from operations of $106.2 million. Excluding changes in net working capital, cash flow from operations was $118.4 million, up 42% from the first quarter of 2021
• Total capital expenditures of $68.4 million during the second quarter, excluding the closing of the Marcellus acquisition on April 1, 2021
• Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP) of $46.2 million, post-preferred stock dividends. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below
• Completed a 5.75 million share common stock offering to fund the acquisition of over $100 million in core Permian Basin acquisitions that signed during the second quarter, the last and largest of which closed on August 2, 2021
• The Board of Directors has declared Northern’s second quarterly common stock dividend of $0.045 per share, a 50% increase from the prior quarter, payable October 29, 2021 to stockholders of record on September 30, 2021
• Updated 2021 guidance includes increased annual production and reduced capital expenditures

Nick O’Grady, Northern’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “This was one of the strongest operational and financial quarters on record for the Company. Year-to-date Northern has executed on several large bolt-on acquisitions and significantly improved its balance sheet. With the active management of our portfolio, we have driven substantial production and cash flow growth. Our focus on return on capital and high-quality operators and acreage is showing up directly on the bottom line. Our long term plan remains unchanged: building a diversified, low-leverage entity with the ability to deliver substantial cash returns. The opportunity set for value creation in front of us is stronger than ever.”

Q2 Financial Results

Oil and natural gas sales for the second quarter were $225.7 million, up 43% over the first quarter. Second quarter GAAP net loss, inclusive of a $173.1 million non-cash net mark-to-market loss on derivatives, was $90.6 million or $1.49 per diluted share. Second quarter Adjusted Net Income was $65.0 million or $0.92 per diluted share, up from $10.7 million or $0.21 per diluted share in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter was $132.8 million, up 35% from the first quarter of 2021. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

Production

Second quarter production was 54,623 Boe per day, a 42% increase from the first quarter of 2021. Oil represented 61% of total production in the second quarter. Oil production was 33,346 Bbl per day, a 14% increase over the first quarter. Northern has continued to see stellar well performance above target and accelerated development, with wells turning in-line ahead of schedule due to strong strip prices. Northern had 10.5 net wells turned in-line during the second quarter, compared to 6.7 net wells turned in-line in the first quarter of 2021. Northern’s Marcellus properties produced 63.0 MMcf per day in the second quarter, consistent with expectations. The first EQT-operated wells came online in early July 2021.

Pricing

During the second quarter, NYMEX West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) crude oil averaged $66.19 per Bbl, and NYMEX natural gas at Henry Hub averaged $2.92 per million cubic feet (“Mcf”). Northern’s unhedged net realized oil price in the second quarter was $60.73, representing a $5.46 differential to WTI prices. Northern’s unhedged net realized gas price in the second quarter was $3.57 per Mcf, representing approximately 122% realizations compared with Henry Hub pricing.

Operating Costs

Lease operating costs were $42.7 million in the second quarter of 2021, or $8.59 per Boe, down 13% on a per unit basis compared to the first quarter of 2021. Reductions in costs were driven by the closing of the Marcellus acquisition, partially offset by workover costs and higher processing costs associated with the ramp in overall production. Second quarter general and administrative (“G&A”) costs totaled $7.6 million or $1.53 per Boe. This includes $3.0 million of legal and other transaction expenses in connection with the Marcellus acquisition and $0.8 million of non-cash stock-based compensation. Northern’s G&A costs excluding these amounts totaled $3.8 million or $0.77 per Boe in the second quarter, record low unit costs for the Company.

Capital Expenditures & Acquisitions

Capital spending for the second quarter was $68.4 million, made up of $41.9 million of organic drilling and completion (“D&C”) capital and $26.5 million of total acquisition spending and other items, inclusive of ground game D&C spending. Northern added 10.5 net wells to production in the second quarter. Wells in process increased to 43.8 net wells at the end of the second quarter, compared to 22.7 at the end of the first quarter, driven by the acquisition of the Marcellus properties. On the ground game acquisition front, Northern closed on 11 transactions during the second quarter totaling 2.8 net wells, 624 net mineral acres, and 107 net royalty acres (standardized to a 1/8 royalty interest).

On June 16, 2021, Northern announced that it entered into three definitive agreements to acquire non-operated interests across approximately 2,900 net acres located in the heart of Lea and Eddy Counties, New Mexico and Reeves County, Texas. The assets include 5.3 net producing wells, 5.0 net wells in process and an additional 23.1 net undrilled locations ascribed to the core zones including the Wolfcamp A, Wolfcamp B and 1st through 3rd Bone Springs. The assets are operated primarily by Mewbourne Oil Company, Colgate Energy, ConocoPhillips and EOG Resources. The acquisitions were all closed by August 2, 2021. Northern has updated corporate guidance for the acquired assets in the guidance section below.

Liquidity

Northern had total liquidity of $411.2 million as of June 30, 2021, consisting of cash of $4.8 million, the Permian acquisition deposit of $9.4 million, and $397.0 million of committed borrowing availability under the revolving credit facility.

In June 2021, Northern additionally strengthened its balance sheet through a common equity transaction alongside of its announcement of a series of Permian Basin acquisitions. Northern issued 5.75 million shares of common equity for gross proceeds of $100.2 million. On May 17, 2021, Northern redeemed and retired the remaining $15.7 million of its 2023 Senior Notes.

On August 2, 2021, Northern funded the purchase price, including typical closing adjustments, of $105.6 million for the largest of its recently announced Permian acquisitions, funded in part by the $9.4 million deposit made during the second quarter, and borrowings under its credit facility.

Stockholder Returns

In April 2021, Northern’s Board of Directors declared all current and accrued cash dividends for Northern’s Series A Preferred Stock, paid on May 15, 2021 in the total amount of $22.0 million.

In May 2021, Northern’s Board of Directors declared its first ever regular quarterly cash dividend for Northern’s common stock of $0.03 per share for stockholders of record as of June 30, 2021, payable July 30, 2021.

On August 3, 2021, Northern’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend for Northern’s common stock of $0.045 per share for stockholders of record as of September 30, 2021, payable October 29, 2021. This represents a 50% increase from the prior quarter.

2021 Guidance