Viper Energy Partners LP, A Subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc., Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial and Operating Results

MIDLAND, Texas, Feb. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viper Energy Partners LP (NASDAQ:VNOM) (“Viper” or the “Company”), a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:FANG) (“Diamondback”), today announced financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and the full year ended December 31, 2020.

FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Q4 2020 average production of 17,359 bo/d (27,699 boe/d), an increase of 10% from Q3 2020 average daily oil production and 5% year over year
• Q4 2020 cash distribution of $0.14 per common unit, representing approximately 50% of cash available for distribution; $0.28 per unit of cash available for distribution implies a 7.0% annualized distributable cash flow yield based on the February 19, 2021 unit closing price of $15.96
• Q4 2020 consolidated net loss (including non-controlling interest) of $(52.7) million; adjusted net income (as defined and reconciled below) of $14.2 million
• Consolidated adjusted EBITDA (as defined and reconciled below) of $51.0 million and cash available for distribution to Viper’s common units (as reconciled below) of $18.4 million
• Repurchased 2,045,000 common units in Q4 2020 for an aggregate of $24.0 million
• Generated $42.0 million in one-time proceeds from asset sales during the fourth quarter of 2020, including the divestiture of 352 net royalty acres for an aggregate of $36.3 million
• Ended the fourth quarter of 2020 with net debt of $544.8 million (as defined and reconciled below); total debt down $109.6 million since March 31, 2020, or a 16% reduction over the past nine months
• 80 total gross (2.1 net 100% royalty interest) horizontal wells turned to production on Viper’s acreage during Q4 2020 with an average lateral length of 10,012 feet
• Q3 2020 and Q4 2020 distributions reasonably estimated to not constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes; instead should generally constitute non-taxable reductions to the tax basis
  

FULL YEAR 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

• Full year 2020 average production of 16,272 bo/d (26,551 boe/d), an increase of 16% from full year 2019 average daily oil production
• Proved reserves as of December 31, 2020 of 99,392 Mboe (73% PDP, 57,530 Mbo), up 12% year over year with oil up 6% from year end 2019
• 514 total gross (13.8 net 100% royalty interest) horizontal wells turned to production during 2020 with an average lateral length of 9,395 feet
• Generated $49.4 million in one-time proceeds from asset sales during 2020
• All 2020 quarterly distributions reasonably estimated to not constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes; instead should generally constitute non-taxable reductions to the tax basis
  

2021 OUTLOOK AND FIRST QUARTER UPDATE
Viper expects the production impact from the recent winter storms in the Permian Basin will be in the range of four to five days of total net production lost during February for Diamondback operated properties, with a slightly greater negative impact expected for third party operated properties. As a result, Viper has adjusted its guidance accordingly.

• As of February 8, 2021, there were approximately 529 gross horizontal wells in the process of active development on Viper’s acreage, in which Viper expects to own an average 1.5% net royalty interest (8.2 net 100% royalty interest wells)
• Approximately 538 gross (9.0 net 100% royalty interest) line-of-sight wells that are not currently in the process of active development, but for which Viper has visibility to the potential of future development in coming quarters, based on Diamondback’s current completion schedule and third party operators’ permits
• Initiating average daily production guidance for the first half of 2021 of 14,250 to 15,750 bo/d (23,750 to 26,250 boe/d)
• Initiating full year 2021 average production guidance of 14,750 to 16,000 bo/d (24,500 to 26,500 boe/d)

“Viper’s business has rebounded strongly from the unprecedented volatility experienced throughout 2020 as commodity prices have increased and activity has returned to Viper’s acreage. This recovery again highlights both the advantaged nature of the royalty business model, as well as the benefit of Viper’s symbiotic relationship with Diamondback. During the fourth quarter of 2020, we were able to generate more than $40 million in one-time proceeds from asset sales, which, in addition to the roughly $50 million in net cash provided by operating activities that the business delivered, helped accelerate our debt reduction and kick start our common unit repurchase program. We have now reduced total debt by 16% over the past nine months and have repurchased more than 2.5 million common units in the last three months, or a repurchase of 1.6% of our previous total units outstanding,” stated Travis Stice, Chief Executive Officer of Viper’s General Partner.

Mr. Stice continued, “Viper’s 10% quarter over quarter increase in oil production was driven primarily by Viper having an interest in 21 of Diamondback’s 35 completions in the fourth quarter of 2020, with well performance exceeding internal expectations. Viper also benefited from third party well performance and timing of wells being turned to production that exceeded our prior conservative expectations that were lowered due to the uncertainty presented by the volatile oil prices experienced in 2020. Looking ahead to 2021, Diamondback’s continued focus on developing Viper’s acreage, as well as exposure to other well-capitalized operators in the Permian Basin, underscores our confidence in Viper’s forward production and free cash flow outlook, even considering the impact of the recent winter storms in the Permian Basin.”

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Viper’s fourth quarter 2020 average unhedged realized prices were $40.36 per barrel of oil, $1.36 per Mcf of natural gas and $14.71 per barrel of natural gas liquids, resulting in a total equivalent realized price of $29.48/boe.

During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company recorded total operating income of $76.3 million and a consolidated net loss (including non-controlling interest) of $(52.7) million. The fourth quarter net loss includes a non-cash impairment charge of $69.2 million as a result of lower SEC pricing because of the sharp decline in commodity prices.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had a cash balance of $19.1 million. During the fourth quarter of 2020, Viper repaid $42.5 million of outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility and, as of December 31, 2020, had $496.0 million available for borrowing under this facility. Since the end of the first quarter of 2020, Viper reduced total debt by $109.6 million, or a 16% reduction over this time period.

FOURTH QUARTER 2020 CASH DISTRIBUTION & CAPITAL RETURN PROGRAM

The Board of Directors of Viper’s General Partner declared a cash distribution for the three months ended December 31, 2020 of $0.14 per common unit. The distribution is payable on March 11, 2021 to eligible common unitholders of record at the close of business on March 4, 2021. This distribution represents approximately 50% of total cash available for distribution.

On November 19, 2020, Viper made a cash distribution to its common unitholders and subsequently has reasonably estimated that such distribution, as well as the distribution payable on March 11, 2021, should not constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Rather, these distributions should generally constitute non-taxable reductions to the tax basis of each distribution recipient’s ownership interest in Viper. The Form 8937 containing additional information may be found on www.viperenergy.com under the “Investor Relations” section of the site.

During the fourth quarter of 2020, Viper repurchased 2,045,000 common units for an aggregate of $24.0 million. From the end of the fourth quarter through February 12, 2021, Viper repurchased an additional 488,453 common units for an aggregate of $7.0 million. In total through February 12, 2021, the Company repurchased 2,533,453 common units, utilizing approximately 30.9% of the $100.0 million approved by the Board for the repurchase program.

The repurchase program is authorized to extend through December 31, 2021 and the Company intends to purchase common units under the repurchase program opportunistically with cash on hand, free cash flow from operations and proceeds from potential liquidity events such as the sale of assets. This repurchase program may be suspended from time to time, modified, extended or discontinued by the Board at any time. Purchases under the repurchase program may be made from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and will be subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements, contractual obligations and other factors. Any common units purchased as part of this program will be retired.

OPERATIONS AND ACQUISITIONS UPDATE

During the fourth quarter of 2020, Viper estimates that 80 gross (2.1 net 100% royalty interest) horizontal wells with an average royalty interest of 2.6% were turned to production on its existing acreage position with an average lateral length of 10,012 feet. Of these 80 gross wells, Diamondback is the operator of 21 with an average royalty interest of 5.6%, and the remaining 59 gross wells, with an average royalty interest of 1.6%, are operated by third parties.

During the fourth quarter of 2020, Viper acquired seven net royalty acres for an aggregate purchase price of $0.8 million. Additionally during the fourth quarter, the Company sold 352 net royalty acres in the Permian Basin for an aggregate of approximately $36.3 million, subject to post-closing adjustments. As a result of these acquisitions and divestitures, Viper’s footprint of mineral and royalty interests as of December 31, 2020 was 24,350 net royalty acres.

The following table summarizes Viper’s gross well information:

(1) Average lateral length of 10,012.
(2) Average lateral length of 9,395.

There continues to be active development across Viper’s asset base with near-term activity expected to be driven primarily by Diamondback operations. The 529 gross wells currently in the process of active development are those wells that have been spud and are expected to be turned to production within approximately the next six to eight months. The 538 line-of-sight wells are those that are not currently in the process of active development, but for which Viper has reason to believe that they will be turned to production within approximately the next 15 to 18 months. The expected timing of these line-of-sight wells is based primarily on permitting by third party operators or Diamondback’s current expected completion schedule. Existing permits or active development of Viper’s royalty acreage does not ensure that those wells will be turned to production.

YEAR END RESERVES UPDATE

Ryder Scott Company, L.P. prepared an estimate of Viper’s proved reserves as of December 31, 2020. Reference prices of $39.57 per barrel of oil and natural gas liquids and $1.99 per MMbtu of natural gas were used in accordance with applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Realized prices with applicable differentials were $37.61 per barrel of oil, $0.34 per Mcf of natural gas and $11.65 per barrel of natural gas liquids.

Proved reserves at year-end 2020 of 99,392 Mboe (57,530 Mbo) represent a 12% increase over year-end 2019 reserves. The year-end 2020 proved reserves have a PV-10 value (as defined and reconciled below) of approximately $1.0 billion.

Proved developed reserves increased by 5% year over year to 72,547 Mboe (40,220 Mbo) as of December 31, 2020, reflecting continued horizontal development by the operators of Viper’s acreage.

Net proved reserve additions of 20,163 Mboe resulted in a reserve replacement ratio of 207% (defined as the sum of extensions, discoveries, revisions, purchases and divestitures, divided by annual production). The organic reserve replacement ratio was 203% (defined as the sum of extensions, discoveries and revisions, divided by annual production).

Extensions and discoveries of 23,836 Mboe are primarily attributable to the drilling of 652 new wells and from 299 new proved undeveloped locations added. The Company’s negative revisions of previous estimated quantities of 4,082 Mboe were primarily due to negative price revisions and PUD downgrades. 114 Mboe of PUDs were downgraded from non-operated properties and 804 Mboe of PUDs were downgraded from Diamondback-operated properties, with the Diamondback-operated downgrades due to changes in the development plan and optimization of the inventory. The purchase of reserves in place of 689 Mboe was due to multiple acquisitions of certain mineral and royalty interests.

As the owner of mineral interests, Viper incurred no exploration and development costs during the year ended December 31, 2020.

GUIDANCE UPDATE

Below is Viper’s preliminary guidance for the full year 2021, as well as average production guidance for the first half of 2021.

(1)   Assumes expected interest on $480.0 million in principal of senior notes and $85.0 million drawn on the revolver.
(2)   Includes production taxes of 4.6% for crude oil and 7.5% for natural gas and NGLs and ad valorem taxes.

CONFERENCE CALL

Viper will host a conference call and webcast for investors and analysts to discuss its results for the fourth quarter of 2020 on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. CT. Participants should call (844) 400-1537 (United States/Canada) or (703) 326-5198 (International) and use the confirmation code 8999454. A telephonic replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 through Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. CT. To access the replay, call (855) 859-2056 (United States/Canada) or (404) 537-3406 (International) and enter confirmation code 8999454. A live broadcast of the earnings conference call will also be available via the internet at www.viperenergy.com under the “Investor Relations” section of the site. A replay will also be available on the website following the call.

About Viper Energy Partners LP

Viper is a limited partnership formed by Diamondback to own, acquire and exploit oil and natural gas properties in North America, with a focus on owning and acquiring mineral and royalty interests in oil-weighted basins, primarily the Permian Basin. For more information, please visit www.viperenergy.com.

About Diamondback Energy, Inc.

Diamondback is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland, Texas focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas. For more information, please visit www.diamondbackenergy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements, other than historical facts, that address activities that Viper assumes, plans, expects, believes, intends or anticipates (and other similar expressions) will, should or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events, including specifically the statements regarding the current adverse industry and macroeconomic conditions, volatile commodity prices, production levels on properties in which Viper has mineral and royalty interests, the effect of the recent presidential and congressional elections on environmental policies and regulations impacting Viper and its operators, any potential regulatory action that may impose production limits on Viper’s mineral and royalty acreage, severe weather conditions (including the impact of the recent severe winter storms on production volumes on Viper’s mineral and royalty acreage), any acquisitions or dispositions, Diamondback’s plans for developing Viper’s acreage discussed above, development activity by other operators, Viper’s cash distribution policy and the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the results to differ materially from those expected by the management of Viper. Information concerning these risks and other factors can be found in Viper’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, which can be obtained free of charge on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. Viper undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

(1)   Bbl equivalents are calculated using a conversion rate of six Mcf per one Bbl.
(2)   Average daily volumes and average sales prices presented are based on actual production volumes and not calculated utilizing the rounded production volumes presented in the table above.
(3)   Realized price net of all deducts for gathering, transportation and processing.
(4)   Hedged prices reflect the effect of our matured commodity derivative transactions on our average sales prices. Our calculation of such effects includes realized gains and losses on cash settlements for commodity derivatives, which we do not designate for hedge accounting. We did not have any derivative contracts prior to February of 2020.
(5)   Excludes non-cash stock compensation for the respective periods presented.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of our financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. Viper defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus interest expense, net, non-cash unit-based compensation expense, depletion expense, impairment expense, (gain) loss on revaluation of investments, non-cash (gain) loss on derivative instruments, (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt and provision for (benefit from) income taxes, if any. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of net income as determined by United States’ generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful because it allows them to more effectively evaluate Viper’s operating performance and compare the results of its operations from period to period without regard to its financing methods or capital structure. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, royalty income, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented as determined in accordance with GAAP. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of Adjusted EBITDA. Viper defines cash available for distribution generally as an amount equal to its Adjusted EBITDA for the applicable quarter less cash needed for income taxes payable, debt service, contractual obligations, fixed charges and reserves for future operating or capital needs that the board of directors of Viper’s general partner may deem appropriate, common units repurchased for tax withholding, dividend equivalent rights and preferred distributions. Viper’s computations of Adjusted EBITDA and cash available for distribution may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies or to such measure in its credit facility or any of its other contracts.

The following tables present a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA and cash available for distribution to the GAAP financial measure of net loss.

(1) Does not take into account special income allocation consideration.

Adjusted net income (loss) is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to net income (loss) attributable to Viper adjusted for impairment expenses, non-cash (gain) loss on derivative instruments, (gain) loss on revaluation of investments, (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, provisions for (benefit from) income taxes, if any. The Company’s computation of adjusted net income may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies or to such measure in our credit facility or any of our other contracts.

The following table presents a reconciliation of adjusted net income (loss) to net income (loss):

RECONCILIATION OF LONG-TERM DEBT TO NET DEBT

The Company defines net debt as debt less cash equivalents. Net debt should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, total debt, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Management uses net debt to determine the Company's outstanding debt obligations that would not be readily satisfied by its cash and cash equivalents on hand. The Company believes this metric is useful to analysts and investors in determining the Company's leverage position because the Company has the ability to, and may decide to, use a portion of its cash and cash equivalents to reduce debt.

(1) Excludes debt issuance, discounts & premiums.

PV-10

PV-10 is the Company’s estimate of the present value of the future net revenues from proved oil and natural gas reserves after deducting estimated production and ad valorem taxes, future capital costs and operating expenses, but before deducting any estimates of future income taxes. The estimated future net revenues are discounted at an annual rate of 10% to determine their “present value.” The Company believes PV-10 to be an important measure for evaluating the relative significance of its oil and natural gas properties and that the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measure of PV-10 provides useful information to investors because it is widely used by professional analysts and investors in evaluating oil and natural gas companies. Because there are many unique factors that can impact an individual company when estimating the amount of future income taxes to be paid, the Company believes the use of a pre-tax measure is valuable for evaluating the Company. The Company believes that PV-10 is a financial measure routinely used and calculated similarly by other companies in the oil and natural gas industry.

The following table reconciles PV-10 to the Company’s standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. PV-10 should not be considered as an alternative to the standardized measure as computed under GAAP.

Derivatives

As of the filing date, the Company had the following outstanding derivative contracts. The Company’s derivative contracts are based upon reported settlement prices on commodity exchanges, with crude oil derivative settlements based on New York Mercantile Exchange West Texas Intermediate pricing and Crude Oil Brent. When aggregating multiple contracts, the weighted average contract price is disclosed.

Investor Contacts:
Adam Lawlis
+1 432.221.7467
alawlis@viperenergy.com 

Austen Gilfillian
+1 432.221.7420
agilfillian@viperenergy.com 

Source: Viper Energy Partners LP; Diamondback Energy, Inc.