Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2021 Results

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS

“The first quarter performance was above our internal expectations across all metrics as our core Williston & Permian properties continued to deliver,” commented Nick O’Grady, Northern’s Chief Executive Officer. “The Company generated $41.7 million of Free Cash Flow, approximately 6% of our total quarter end market capitalization — in a single quarter. I am also very excited that we were able to continue to improve our liquidity and balance sheet with the completion of our financings in February. These transactions along with the continued growth of our business should provide us with sufficient cash flow to continue our strategy of making additional accretive acquisitions, reducing debt and providing returns to our stockholders. Our first ever quarterly dividend is the culmination of a tireless multi-year effort to put the Company in a position to return cash to its stockholders. As we achieve our targets, we believe we can provide meaningful cash returns to investors over the coming years.”

FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

Oil and natural gas sales for the first quarter were $157.3 million. First quarter GAAP net loss, inclusive of a $128.6 million non-cash net mark-to-market loss on derivatives, was $90.4 million or $1.66 per diluted share. First quarter Adjusted Net Income was $40.2 million or $0.62 per diluted share, up from $21.7 million or $0.44 per diluted share in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter was $98.8 million. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

PRODUCTION

First quarter production was 38,417 Boe per day, a 7.5% increase from the fourth quarter of 2020. Oil represented 76% of total production in the first quarter. Northern estimates that curtailments and shut-ins still reduced the Company’s average daily production by an average of approximately 2,000 Boe per day in the first quarter, but that was a significant improvement from the fourth quarter of 2020. Northern had 6.7 net wells turned online during the first quarter, compared to 6.9 net wells turned online in the fourth quarter of 2020.

PRICING

During the first quarter, NYMEX West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) crude oil averaged $58.13 per Bbl, and NYMEX natural gas at Henry Hub averaged $3.37 per million cubic feet (“Mcf”). Northern’s unhedged net realized oil price in the first quarter was $51.57, representing a $6.56 differential to WTI prices. Northern’s unhedged net realized gas price in the first quarter was $4.37 per Mcf, representing approximately 130% realizations compared with Henry Hub pricing.

OPERATING COSTS

Lease operating costs were $34.3 million in the first quarter of 2021, or $9.92 per Boe, up 15.6% on a per unit basis compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. This is consistent with Northern’s prior commentary of extensive workover expense related to bringing curtailed and shut-in production back to sales, and is expected to be transitory in nature. First quarter general and administrative (“G&A”) costs totaled $6.8 million or $1.96 per Boe. This includes $2.5 million of legal and other transaction expenses in connection with the Reliance acquisition and $0.8 million of non-cash stock-based compensation. Northern’s G&A costs excluding these amounts totaled $3.5 million or $1.01 per Boe in the first quarter. Northern expects approximately $2.5 – $3.5 million in additional non-recurring advisory and other transaction costs related to the Reliance acquisition to be incurred in the second quarter of 2021.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND ACQUISITIONS

Capital spending for the first quarter was $38.1 million, made up of $33.1 million of organic drilling and completion (“D&C”) capital and $5.0 million of total acquisition spending and other items, inclusive of ground game D&C spending. Northern added 6.7 net wells to production in the first quarter, and wells in process decreased to 22.7 net wells, down 5.4 net wells from the prior quarter as well completions accelerated. On the ground game acquisition front, Northern closed on 6 transactions during the first quarter totaling 1.3 net wells and 186 net mineral acres.

MARCELLUS SHALE ACQUISITION

On February 3, 2021, Northern announced a definitive agreement to acquire assets from Reliance Marcellus, LLC, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, Ltd., for $175.0 million in cash plus 3.25 million common stock warrants. The acquisition has an effective date of July 1, 2020 and closed on April 1, 2021. EQT Corporation, the operator of substantially all the assets, elected to exercise its preferential purchase right on a portion of the assets, which (together with the exercise of other preferential purchase rights) reduced the cash purchase price, net to Northern, by approximately $48.6 million, or 28%. Northern retained approximately 99% of the inventory on the assets. Northern has provided guidance for the acquired assets in the guidance section below, identical to what was provided in its fourth quarter 2020 earnings release.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Northern had total liquidity of $417.2 million as of March 31, 2021, consisting of cash of $2.7 million, the Reliance acquisition deposit of $17.5 million, and $397.0 million of borrowing availability under the revolving credit facility.

On January 4, 2021, Northern retired $65 million, or 50% of its VEN Bakken Note. In February 2021, Northern additionally strengthened its balance sheet through common equity and debt transactions alongside of its announcement of the Reliance Marcellus acquisition. Northern issued 14.3 million shares of common equity for gross proceeds of $140.3 million. Northern also issued $550 million of 8.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2028. With the net proceeds from these transactions, Northern retired the remaining $65 million of its VEN Bakken Note and retired $272.1 million, or 95% of its remaining Senior Secured Notes due 2023 on February 18, 2021. Northern will call the remaining $15.7 million of 2023 Notes on or about May 15, 2021. Northern used the remainder of the proceeds to retire debt under its revolving credit facility and for cash on hand.

On April 1, 2021, upon closing of the Reliance acquisition, Northern funded the adjusted cash purchase price of $120.9 million with cash on hand, the $17.5 million deposit made during the first quarter, and borrowings under its credit facility. The cash purchase price included typical closing adjustments, including a reduction for the net cash flows already received by Reliance from the properties since the effective date, which was July 1, 2020. Northern expects additional cash purchase price reductions to be received over the next several months for net cash flows generated after the effective date, but not received by Reliance prior to the closing date.

STOCKHOLDER RETURNS

On April 23, 2021, Northern’s Board of Directors declared all current and accrued cash dividends for Northern’s Series A Preferred Stock, to be paid on May 15, 2021 in the total amount of $22.0 million.

On May 6, 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.

2021 ESTIMATED GUIDANCE — WILLISTON AND PERMIAN PROPERTIES

2021 ESTIMATED GUIDANCE — RELIANCE MARCELLUS PROPERTIES (FULL YEAR)

2021 ESTIMATED GUIDANCE — CORPORATE

FIRST QUARTER 2021 RESULTS

The following tables set forth selected operating and financial data for the periods indicated.

HEDGING

Northern hedges portions of its expected production volumes to increase the predictability of its cash flow and to help maintain a strong financial position. The following table summarizes Northern’s open crude oil commodity derivative swap contracts scheduled to settle after March 31, 2021.

The following table summarizes Northern’s open natural gas commodity derivative swap contracts scheduled to settle after March 31, 2021.

The following table presents Northern’s settlements on commodity derivative instruments and unsettled gains and losses on open commodity derivative instruments for the periods presented, which is included in the revenue section of Northern’s statement of operations:

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES & DRILLING ACTIVITY

FIRST QUARTER 2021 EARNINGS RELEASE CONFERENCE CALL

In conjunction with Northern’s release of its financial and operating results, investors, analysts and other interested parties are invited to listen to a conference call with management on Friday, May 7, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time.

Those wishing to listen to the conference call may do so via webcast or phone as follows:

Webcast: https://78449.themediaframe.com/dataconf/productusers/nog/mediaframe/44884/indexl.html
Dial-In Number: (866) 373-3407 (US/Canada) and (412) 902-1037 (International)
Conference ID: 13719253 – Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. First Quarter 2021 Earnings Call
Replay Dial-In Number: (877) 660-6853 (US/Canada) and (201) 612-7415 (International)
Replay Access Code: 13719253 – Replay will be available through May 14, 2021

UPCOMING CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

SPE A&D Symposium
Houston, TX
May 13, 2021

UBS Global Oil and Gas Conference
May 26, 2021

Wells Fargo Energy Conference
June 2-3, 2021

Stifel Cross Sector Insight Conference
June 8, 2021

RBC Energy Conference
June 9, 2021

ABOUT NORTHERN OIL AND GAS

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. is a company with a primary strategy of investing in non-operated minority working and mineral interests in oil & gas properties, with a core area of focus in the premier basins within the United States. More information about Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. can be found at www.northernoil.com.

SAFE HARBOR

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this release regarding Northern’s financial position, operating and financial performance, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, industry conditions, and indebtedness covenant compliance are forward-looking statements. When used in this release, forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “target,” “could,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “goal,” “will,” “should,” “may” or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Items contemplating or making assumptions about actual or potential future production and sales, market size, collaborations, and trends or operating results also constitute such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and important factors (many of which are beyond Northern’s control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, including the following: changes in crude oil and natural gas prices; the pace of drilling and completions activity on Northern’s properties and properties pending acquisition; Northern’s ability to acquire additional development opportunities; potential or pending acquisition transactions; Northern’s ability to consummate pending acquisitions, and the anticipated timing of such consummation; the projected capital efficiency savings and other operating efficiencies and synergies resulting from Northern’s acquisition transactions; integration and benefits of property acquisitions, or the effects of such acquisitions on Northern’s cash position and levels of indebtedness; changes in Northern’s reserves estimates or the value thereof; disruptions to Northern’s business due to acquisitions and other significant transactions; infrastructure constraints and related factors affecting Northern’s properties; ongoing legal disputes over and potential shutdown of the Dakota Access Pipeline; the COVID-19 pandemic and its related economic repercussions and effect on the oil and natural gas industry; general economic or industry conditions, nationally and/or in the communities in which Northern conducts business; changes in the interest rate environment, legislation or regulatory requirements; conditions of the securities markets; Northern’s ability to raise or access capital; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; and financial or political instability, health-related epidemics, acts of war or terrorism, and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technical factors affecting Northern’s operations, products and prices.

Northern has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions about future events. While management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond Northern’s control. Northern does not undertake any duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by the federal securities laws.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP measures. Northern defines Adjusted Net Income (Loss) as net income (loss) excluding (i) (gain) loss on unsettled commodity derivatives, net of tax, (ii) loss on extinguishment of debt, net of tax, (iii) contingent consideration loss, net of tax, (iv) acquisition transaction costs, net of tax, and (v) gain on unsettled interest rate derivatives, net of tax. Northern defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before (i) interest expense, (ii) income taxes, (iii) depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion, (iv) non-cash stock-based compensation expense, (v) loss on extinguishment of debt, (vi) contingent consideration loss, (vii) acquisition transaction costs, (viii) (gain) loss on unsettled commodity derivatives, and (ix) gain on unsettled interest rate derivatives. Northern defines Free Cash Flow as cash flows from operations before changes in working capital and other items, less (i) capital expenditures, excluding non-budgeted acquisitions and (ii) preferred stock dividends. A reconciliation of each of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is included below.

Management believes the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors to gain an overall understanding of current financial performance. Management believes Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses and unrealized commodity gains and losses that management believes are not indicative of Northern’s core operating results. Management believes that Free Cash Flow is useful to investors as a measure of a company’s ability to internally fund its budgeted capital expenditures, to service or incur additional debt, and to measure success in creating stockholder value. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures are used by management for budgeting and forecasting as well as subsequently measuring Northern’s performance, and management believes it is providing investors with financial measures that most closely align to its internal measurement processes. The non-GAAP financial measures included herein may be defined differently than similar measures used by other companies and should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, the comparable GAAP measures. From time to time Northern provides forward-looking Free Cash Flow estimates or targets; however, Northern is unable to provide a quantitative reconciliation of the forward looking non-GAAP measure to its most directly comparable forward looking GAAP measure because management cannot reliably quantify certain of the necessary components of such forward looking GAAP measure. The reconciling items in future periods could be significant.