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Ring Energy Fourth Quarter, Full Year 2020 Results

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   |    Wednesday,March 17,2021

Ring Energy, Inc. reported operational and financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2020 including Ring's year-end 2020 reserves and affirmed 2021 guidance.

2021 Plan Affirmed

- Capex: $44-48 million - up 53% vs. 2020 levels of $30MM

- Production: ~9.27 MBOEPD - the company didn't provide a specific number, however it estimates it will be 3-8% above 2020 average output of 8.79 MBOEPD

- Wells Drilled: 6-8 gross wells - up 75% from 4 wells in 2020

- Wells Completed: 8-10 gross wells - up 125% from 4 wells in 2020

All 2021 planned capital expenditures will be fully funded by cash on hand and cash from operations, and excess free cash flow is currently targeted for debt reduction.

Supported by its targeted development program and continued execution of its successful CTR initiatives, Ring currently forecasts full year 2021 sales volumes to be 3% to 8% higher than the full year 2020 average sales volumes of 8,790 Boe/d.

Plans to Sell Delaware Basin Asset

As previously announced on February 22, 2021, the Company is planning to launch a sales process during the second quarter of 2021 to divest all of Ring's Delaware Basin assets, subject to market conditions. The Company anticipates using the net proceeds from the potential sale to further reduce its debt position.

Q4 / Full Year 2020 Results

Highlights and Recent Key Items

• Exceeded high end of guidance and sold 9,307 barrels of oil equivalent per day ("Boe/d"), or 856,271 barrels of oil equivalent ("Boe") (86% oil), in the fourth quarter of 2020, despite no new wells coming online during the quarter;
• Reported a net loss for full year 2020 of $253.4 million, or $3.48 per diluted share, and a net loss of $160.3 million, or $1.83 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2020;
  • Reported Adjusted Net Income¹ of $20.7 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for full year 2020 and Adjusted Net Income of $6.5 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2020;
• Generated Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $86.1 million for full year 2020 and $24.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2020;
• Produced significant Free Cash Flow¹of $39.7 million for full year 2020, including $12.7 million in the fourth quarter;
  • Remained cash flow positive for the fifth consecutive quarter even with the recent resumption of development drilling in Q4 2020;
• Utilized Free Cash Flow and cash on hand to pay down $75 million of debt from the maximum amount drawn during full year 2020, including $47 million in the fourth quarter;
• Performed eight conversions from electrical submersible pumps to rod pumps ("CTR") in Q4 2020, and 29 CTR conversions in 2020, reducing future overall operating costs and diminishing costly workovers;
• Decreased lifting cost² by 8% to $10.52 per Boe for full year 2020 compared to $11.42 per Boe for full year 2019;
• Reported year-end 2020 proved reserves³of 76.5 million barrels of oil equivalent ("MMBoe"), compared with 81.1 MMBoe at year-end 2019;
  • Additions, improved well performance and technical revisions led to net upward revisions of 1.3 MMBoe in 2020;
  • Reduced SEC pricing led to downward revisions of 2.7 MMBoe and production for 2020 was 3.2 MMBoe;
• Completed public and registered direct offerings aggregating $20.8 million of gross proceeds with net proceeds of $19.4 million that provided the necessary liquidity to resume drilling operations;
• In early December 2020, initiated a targeted Northwest Shelf drilling program of eight to ten wells that focuses on the Company's most attractive drilling inventory in Yoakum County, Texas, in response to a rising oil price environment;
• Appointed Paul D. McKinney as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and welcomed new executive team and three new Board members during the fourth quarter of 2020; and
• Affirmed full year 2021 sales volumes, operating expense and capital spending guidance.

Paul D. McKinney, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We ended 2020 with strong fourth quarter operational and financial results, including sales volumes of 9,307 Boe/d that exceeded our guidance. The continued execution of our targeted CTR program and other high rate of return workover projects significantly contributed to our performance during the period. These projects reduce our operating costs and help stabilize our production levels. As a result of these actions and other strategic initiatives to enhance our operational performance and control costs, we generated $12.7 million of free cash flow, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of free cash flow. We used this free cash flow to help pay down $47 million on our revolving credit facility.

"Looking back at full year 2020, I am pleased with our overall results given the unprecedented challenges Ring and our industry faced due to the pandemic and its impact on the global oil demand and supply environment. I want to thank all our employees for their hard work and tireless efforts. Our focus and dedication to executing our updated strategic vision has developed renewed enthusiasm within the Company. We are building a culture focused on operational excellence, sustainability and profitability with a clear mandate that every employee has a responsibility to ensure we operate safely and with the highest regards toward the environment. We are excited about the progress we've made and believe Ring is well positioned for success in 2021 and beyond."

"As I have said in the past, we remain committed to operational excellence to steady production levels and control costs while pursuing rigorous capital discipline by investing in our highest risk-adjusted return opportunities. A clear example is our recently initiated Northwest Shelf drilling program. The first well we drilled, the Badger 709 B 6XH, was brought online January 29^th and has averaged so far this month 363 BOPD, continuing to increase and currently producing over 400 BOPD. The other three wells are in early stages of cleaning up as well and are coming in equal to or ahead of our expectations. When compared to unconventional shale producers, we benefit from long life, low-decline reserves, which further support our ability to generate free cash flow even during lower oil price environments. We will continue to leverage our unique position in the marketplace to further pay down debt and potentially capitalize on accretive acquisitions that add value for our shareholders."

Financials

For the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company reported a net loss of $160.3 million, or $1.83 per diluted share, which included before tax adjustments of $129.6 million for a non-cash ceiling test impairment primarily due to lower oil pricing, a $15.2 million non-cash unrealized commodity derivative loss, and $2.8 million for share-based compensation. Excluding the estimated after-tax impact of these adjustments and adding back the full valuation against its deferred tax assets of $50.6 million, the Company's Adjusted Net Income was $6.5 million, or $0.07 per diluted share. In the third quarter of 2020, the Company reported a net loss of $2.0 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, and Adjusted Net Income of $3.4 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. In the fourth quarter of 2019, Ring reported net income of $5.0 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, and Adjusted Net Income of $10.3 million, or $0.15 per diluted share.

Adjusted EBITDA totaled $24.5 million for the fourth quarter 2020 compared to $19.9 million in the third quarter of 2020 and $34.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The year-over-year reduction was driven by lower realized pricing and sales volumes.

Free Cash Flow for the fourth quarter of 2020 totaled $12.7 million compared with $11.3 million in the third quarter of 2020 and $16.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2019.

Sales Volumes, Prices and Revenues: Sales volumes for the fourth quarter of 2020 were 9,307 Boe/d (86% oil), or 856,271 Boe, a slight decrease of 3% compared to 9,549 Boe/d (89% oil) in the third quarter of 2020 and 11,448 Boe/d (88% oil) in the fourth quarter of 2019. Sales volumes for the fourth quarter of 2020 were above the high end of the Company's guidance primarily due to CTR conversions, reactivations and the results of workovers. Fourth quarter 2020 sales volumes were comprised of 734,548 barrels ("Bbls") of oil and 730,337 thousand cubic feet ("Mcf") of natural gas.

For the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company realized an average sales price of $40.48 per barrel for crude oil and $2.21 per Mcf for natural gas. The combined average realized sales price for the period was $36.61 per Boe versus $35.82 per Boe for the third quarter of 2020 and $49.59 per Boe in the fourth quarter of 2019. The average price differential the Company experienced from WTI posting⁴ price in the fourth quarter of 2020 was approximately ($2.00) per barrel of crude oil.

Revenues of $31.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 were essentially flat with the third quarter of 2020 and down 40% from the fourth quarter of 2019 due to lower sales volumes and realized pricing.

Oil and Natural Gas Production Costs: Lease Operating Expense ("LOE"), which includes base lease operating expenses, expense workovers, and facilities maintenance, was $9.1 million, or $10.65 per Boe, in the fourth quarter of 2020 versus $8.9 million, or $10.11 per Boe, for the third quarter of 2020, an increase of 5%, primarily due to lower sales volumes and higher workover costs. LOE for the fourth quarter of 2020 was 22% lower than $11.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, and 5% lower than the fourth quarter of 2019 per Boe of $11.16. Ad valorem taxes were $0.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2020, and $0.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. Full year 2020 ad valorem taxes were $3.1 million compared to $3.4 million for full year 2019, with the decrease primarily associated with lower revenues and well counts year-over-year.

Production Taxes: Production taxes were $1.75 per Boe in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to $1.62 per Boe in the third quarter of 2020 and $2.21 per Boe in fourth quarter of 2019.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization ("DD&A") and Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion: DD&A was $13.04 per Boe for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to $12.32 per Boe for the third quarter of 2020 and $13.81 in the fourth quarter of 2019. Asset retirement obligation accretion was $0.25 per Boe for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to $0.26 per Boe for the third quarter of 2020 and $0.25 in the fourth quarter of 2019.

General and Administrative Expenses ("G&A"): G&A, excluding share-based compensation, was $4.4 million, or $5.09 per Boe, for the fourth quarter of 2020 versus $1.9 million, or $2.20 per Boe, for the third quarter of 2020 and $3.9 million, or $3.73 per Boe, in the fourth quarter of 2019. The increase from the third quarter of 2020 was primarily associated with management and personnel changes, severance and non-recurring legal and asset divestiture fees.

Operating Lease Expense: Operating lease expense was $0.37 per Boe for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to $0.34 per Boe for the third quarter of 2020 and $0.53 in the fourth quarter of 2019. These expenses are primarily associated with our office leases.

Derivative (Gain) Loss: In the fourth quarter of 2020, Ring recorded a net loss of $11.5 million on its commodity derivative contracts, including a realized $3.7 million cash commodity derivative gain and an unrealized $15.2 million non-cash commodity derivative loss, largely due to higher quarter-end oil and natural gas prices compared to third quarter of 2020. This compared to a net loss of $4.5 million in the third quarter of 2020, of which $6.2 million was unrealized, and $6.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, all of which was unrealized.

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Interest Expense: Interest expense, as reported in the income statement, in the fourth quarter of 2020 was $4.7 million compared with $4.5 million in the third quarter of 2020 and $4.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The fourth quarter 2020 included the amortization of additional deferred financing costs proportionate to the reduction in the Company's borrowing base.

Income Tax: Ring recorded a non-cash income tax provision of $21.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to a non-cash income tax benefit of $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2020 and a non-cash income tax provision of $2.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2019.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity: Total liquidity on December 31, 2020 was $40.6 million, consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $3.6 million and $37.0 million of availability under Ring's revolving bank credit facility. At December 31, 2020, the Company had $313 million in borrowings on its revolving credit facility, which has a current borrowing base of $350 million. Ring paid down $75 million of debt from the maximum amount drawn during full year 2020, including $47 million in the fourth quarter. The Company is targeting further debt reduction in 2021 based on expected additional free cash flow generation as well as potential asset sales during 2021.

The next regularly scheduled bank redetermination is scheduled for May 1, 2021. Ring is currently in compliance with all applicable covenants of its revolving credit facility agreement.

Capital Expenditures: Ring's original plan for 2020 included drilling 18 horizontal wells on the Northwest Shelf and performing workovers and extensive infrastructure projects on its Northwest Shelf, Central Basin Platform and Delaware Basin assets. Four of the 18 wells were drilled and completed in the first quarter. However, in early March, due to an uncertain commodity outlook primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company suspended its drilling and completion activities. During full year 2020, Ring performed 29 CTR projects, including eight in the fourth quarter. Capital expenditures in the fourth quarter of 2020 were $7.8 million. Capital expenditures for full year 2020 totaled $30.0 million.

Equity Offerings

In October 2020, the Company closed on an underwritten public offering of (i) 9,575,800 Common Shares, (ii) 13,428,500 Pre-Funded Warrants and (iii) 23,004,300 Common Warrants at a combined purchase price of $0.70. This included a partial exercise of the over-allotment. The Common Warrants have a term of five years and an exercise price of $0.80 per share. Gross proceeds totaled approximately $16.1 million.

Concurrently with the underwritten public offering, the Company closed on a registered direct offering of (i) 3,500,000 Common Shares, (ii) 3,300,000 Pre-Funded Warrants and (iii) 6,800,000 Common Warrants at a combined purchase price of $0.70. The Common Warrants have a term of five years and an exercise price of $0.80 per share. Gross proceeds totaled approximately $4.8 million.

Total gross proceeds from the 2020 underwritten public offering and the registered direct offering aggregated $20.8 million, with net proceeds aggregating $19.4 million.

Full Year 2020 Financial Review

The Company reported a net loss for full year 2020 of $253.4 million, or $3.48 per share, and Adjusted Net Income of $20.7 million, or $0.28 per share. For the full year 2019, Ring reported net income of $29.5 million, or $0.44 per share, and Adjusted Net Income of $34.3 million, or $0.51 per share. The Company generated Adjusted EBITDA of $86.1 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, for the full year 2020 compared to $121.4 million, or $1.82 per diluted share, in 2019, with the decline driven primarily by lower realized pricing and sales volumes, partially offset by targeted cost reductions and increased operational efficiencies.

Revenues totaled $113.0 million for 2020 compared with $195.7 million in 2019, with the reduction due primarily to decreases in commodity prices and sales volumes. Net cash provided by operating activities for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 was $72.2 million compared with $106.6 million in 2019. Free Cash Flow totaled $39.7 million in 2020 compared with $(28.8) million in 2019.

Net sales for full year 2020 were 8,790 Boe/d, or 3,217,278 Boe, comprised of 2,801,528 Bbls of oil and 2,494,502 Mcf of natural gas. Full year 2019 net sales averaged 10,819 Boe/d, or 3,948,871 Boe, which included 3,536,126 Bbls of oil and 2,476,472 Mcf of natural gas. The year-over-year decrease was driven by a substantial reduction in the Company's development program activities due to the decline in crude oil prices in March 2020 primarily as a result of COVID-19 and natural decline. Partially offsetting the impact was Ring's highly successful CTR program designed to mitigate production declines and well failure rates at a much lower cost than utilizing current electrical submersible pump technology for artificial production lift.

For the full year 2020, the Company's realized crude oil sales price was $38.95 per barrel and natural gas sales price was $1.57 per Mcf. The combined average sales price was $35.13 per Boe compared to a realized sales price of $49.56 per Boe for full year 2019.

For the full year 2020, LOE decreased 25% to $33.8 million from $45.1 million for full year 2019, and 8% on a per BOE basis from $11.42 in 2019 to $10.52 for 2020. Driving the year-over-year decrease was the Company's focus on cost reductions during the pandemic-induced downturn. This included reducing overhead, expensive repairs, and the conversion of 29 electrical submersible pumps to rod pumps, which have an overall lower operating cost. In addition, artificial lift optimization has continued to reduce overall well failure rates, resulting in lower well downtime and further reductions to operating costs. Production taxes totaled $5.2 million, or $1.63 per Boe, in 2020, compared to $9.1 million, or $2.31 per Boe, in 2019.

For the full year 2020, G&A, including share-based compensation, was $16.9 million, down 15% compared with full year 2019 G&A of $19.9 million. For the full year 2020, G&A, excluding share-based compensation, was $11.5 million, a 31% reduction from full year 2019 of $16.8 million. The decrease year-over-year was primarily due to right-sizing the organization to match operational activity in response to a reduced oil price environment. G&A, excluding share-based compensation, per Boe was $3.58 in 2020, down 16% from $4.25 in 2019.

For the full year 2020, the Company recorded a non-cash income tax benefit of $6.0 million compared to a non-cash income tax provision of $13.8 million in full year 2019. The change was primarily the result of losses due to the ceiling test write-down in 2020 offset by the Company's full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets of $50.6 million. The Company was in a deferred tax asset position as a result of the ceiling test write downs recorded during 2020. No valuation allowance was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Year-End 2020 Proved Reserves

The Company's year-end 2020 SEC proved reserves were 76.5 MMBoe, down modestly from 81.1 MMBoe at year-end 2019. Ring recorded net upward revisions of 1.3 MMBoe in 2020 primarily related to additions, improved well performance and technical revisions that were offset by reductions of 2.7 MMBoe due to lower commodity prices and 3.2 MMBoe of production.

The SEC twelve-month first day of the month average prices used for year-end 2020 were $36.04 per barrel of crude oil (WTI) and $1.99 per MMBtu of natural gas (Henry Hub), both before adjustment for quality, transportation, fees, energy content, and regional price differentials, while for year-end 2019 they were $52.19 per barrel of crude oil and $2.58 per MMBtu of natural gas.

Year-end 2020 SEC proved reserves were comprised of approximately 87% crude oil and 13% natural gas. At year end, approximately 57.5% of 2020 proved reserves were classified as proved developed and 42.5% as proved undeveloped.

Ring's reserve life ratio at year-end 2020, based on year-end 2020 SEC proved reserves and 2020 production was 23.8 years.

The present value of the Company's reported SEC proved reserves, discounted at 10% ("PV-10"), at year-end 2020 was $556 million, down about 40% from $923 million at the end of 2019.