Press Release

TULSA, OK, May 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Laredo Petroleum, Inc. (NYSE: LPI) ("Laredo" or "the Company") today announced its 2019 first-quarter results, reporting a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $9.5 million, or $0.04 per diluted share. Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the first quarter of 2019 was $27.9 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the first quarter of 2019 was $122.9 million. Please see supplemental financial information at the end of this news release for reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures.

2019 First-Quarter Highlights

• Produced a Company record 75,276 barrels of oil equivalent ("BOE") per day, driven by continued operational efficiency improvements that resulted in 20 completions during the quarter, 33% more than originally anticipated
• Reduced combined unit lease operating expenses ("LOE") and unit cash general and administrative expense ("G&A") to $5.42 per BOE in the first quarter of 2019, an approximately 11% decrease from full-year 2018 of $6.07 per BOE, as the Company continued to focus on controllable cash costs in both field operations and corporate-level personnel expenses
• Drove down completion costs at the end of the first quarter of 2019, as the Company realized lower prices for in-basin sand and completion services, reducing per well capital costs by approximately $500,000 from originally budgeted amounts and decreasing the Company's per well capital cost to approximately $7 million per well for a 10,000-foot horizontal
• Efficiently managed capital expenditures during first-quarter 2019, resulting in a net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of 1.8 times¹, which is expected to hold constant throughout 2019 as Laredo begins to generate free cash flow in the second quarter of 2019

"The strategy transition that Laredo committed to late last year is well underway," stated Randy A. Foutch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "During the first quarter, we completed the two remaining packages of tightly-spaced wells and are currently wrapping up completion operations on the first package of wells developed on wider spacing sooner than expected. We have also delivered on our pledge to align personnel costs with activity levels by a recent reduction in force, which cut combined cash, non-cash and capitalized general and administrative costs by approximately 25% on an annualized basis. Most importantly, we have already improved on the plan to operate within cash flow that we put forth a little over two months ago by restructuring our oil hedges, securing additional cash flow to increase activity and substantially accelerating the time frame in which we expect to generate free cash flow while growing oil production."

"Institutional investors have fundamentally changed how they measure success for exploration and production companies over the last few years and we endeavor to listen to all of our shareholder's input on how we can better operate the Company," continued Mr. Foutch. "We have made substantial progress transitioning Laredo from a net asset value accretion philosophy to one focused on measured growth with free cash flow generation and expect to be cash flow neutral for full-year 2019, but recognize there is more work to do. We look forward to continuing our communication with all of our investors as we work together to realize our common goals."

Updated 2019 Operating Plan

Subsequent to the approval of the Company's 2019 capital plan, Laredo's expected cash flow has benefited from both tactical and strategic decisions the Company implemented to improve anticipated financial and operational performance in 2019 and beyond. The Company restructured its oil hedges in 2019 and 2020 to significantly raise the weighted-average floor price for both years, reduced in-basin sand and completion services costs from those previously budgeted by approximately 25%, settled previously announced litigation that resulted in a substantial cash payment to Laredo and delivered on the commitment to cut combined capitalized and expensed personnel costs. The Company expects to allocate the combined additional cash flows from these decisions to drilling and completion activities in 2019 and 2020. The additional activity improves Laredo's anticipated oil production versus previous guidance by approximately 3% in 2019 and by approximately 19% in 2020, while maintaining its previously-communicated target of cash flow neutrality.

The updated operating plan for 2019 increases anticipated well completions from approximately 36 gross completions to approximately 52, with the increased activity primarily in the second half of 2019. The additional activity leverages the benefits of the previous drilling and completion efficiency improvements Laredo has demonstrated in the past five years by continuously operating two drilling rigs and one completion crew through the second half of 2019.

Laredo now expects to invest approximately $465 million in 2019, excluding non-budgeted acquisitions, comprised of approximately $400 million for drilling and completion activities and approximately $65 million for production facilities, land and other capitalized costs. Activity and capital expenditures for 2019 continue to be first-half weighted, with approximately 60% of expected completions and capital expenditures occurring in the first half of 2019. The Company expects to be cash flow positive beginning in the second quarter of 2019 and to balance cash flow and capital expenditures for full-year 2019.

The Company's production profile for 2019 and 2020 should improve with this additional activity. Total production for full-year 2019 is now expected to grow approximately 11% versus full-year 2018 compared to approximately 9% in the original budget. Oil production for full-year 2019 is expected to decrease approximately 2% versus full-year 2018 compared to an approximate 5% decrease with the original budget.

The additional completions in the second half of 2019 significantly improve the Company's anticipated production for full-year 2020 versus the previous budget. Driven by the updated 2019 operating plan, Laredo now expects oil production for full-year 2020 to be approximately flat versus full-year 2019, compared to originally guided expectations of a decrease of approximately 13%. The Company's improved production profile in 2019 and 2020 better positions Laredo for mid-single digit oil production growth and free cash flow generation in 2021.

E&P Update

During the first quarter of 2019, Laredo continued to efficiently execute its operational plan, completing 20 gross (19.8 net) horizontal wells with an average completed lateral length of 10,900 feet, exceeding initial expectations of 15 gross horizontal completions. The 20 wells were completed as two 10-well packages and were the last of the tight-spacing packages the Company had previously drilled.

Both oil and total production exceeded guidance in the first quarter of 2019. Total production averaged a Company record 75,276 BOE per day, an increase of approximately 7% from the previous quarter and above Company-issued guidance of 74,000 BOE per day. First-quarter 2019 oil production averaged 28,157 BOPD, an increase of 1% from the previous quarter and exceeding Company-issued guidance by more than 2%.

In the second quarter of 2019, Laredo expects to complete 12 gross (11.5 net) horizontal wells with an average completed lateral length of approximately 11,700 feet. These wells were developed on the Company's wide-spacing development strategy. The first package to be completed during the quarter is an eight-well package co-developing two landing points in the Upper Wolfcamp formation. The second package is a four-well package developing a single landing point in the Upper Wolfcamp formation. These wider-spaced packages are expected to be more productive than the tighter-spaced packages Laredo focused on in 2017 and 2018 and are expected to improve the returns and capital efficiency of the Company's development program.

Laredo continues to take action to drive down capital costs. At the end of the first quarter of 2019, the Company realized lower pricing for completion services and in-basin sand than was budgeted, reducing the per well capital cost for a 10,000-foot horizontal well by approximately $500,000. The reduction is expected to be realized for completions through at least the end of 2019.

Additionally, the Company's continued focus on controllable cash costs reduced combined unit LOE and unit cash G&A to $5.42 per BOE in the first quarter of 2019 from $6.07 per BOE in full-year 2018. Laredo expects these combined costs to trend down on a unit basis through 2019 as the Company's reduction in force is expected to drive unit cash G&A savings and unit LOE is expected to remain among the lowest in the Midland Basin, driven by benefits derived from Laredo's field infrastructure investments.

2019 Capital Program

During the first quarter of 2019, Laredo invested approximately $144 million in drilling and completions activities. Other expenditures incurred during the quarter included approximately $4 million in bolt-on land acquisitions, lease extensions and data, approximately $9 million in infrastructure, including Laredo Midstream Services investments, and approximately $7 million in other capitalized costs.

Total costs incurred of approximately $164 million in the first quarter of 2019 was slightly below Laredo's expected capital expenditures for the quarter, putting the Company on pace to deliver on the plan to operate within cash flow.

Liquidity

At March 31, 2019, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $45 million and available capacity under its senior secured credit facility of $915 million, resulting in total liquidity of approximately $960 million.

On April 30, 2019, in connection with the semi-annual redetermination of the Company's senior secured credit facility, lenders set the Company's borrowing base at $1.1 billion.

At April 30, 2019, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $85 million and available capacity under its senior secured credit facility of $815 million, resulting in total available liquidity of approximately $900 million.

Commodity Derivatives

Subsequent to the end of the first quarter of 2019, Laredo executed a tactical restructuring of its oil hedges for the balance of 2019 and full-year 2020, and significantly increased hedged volumes in full-year 2020. This restructuring locked in WTI pricing approximately 10% higher than the Company's original budgeting and planning assumptions and approximately 25% higher than the Company's previous weighted-average floor price over the 21-month period.

Prior to the restructuring, Laredo's 2019 oil hedges were predominately puts with a weighted-average floor price of approximately $47 per barrel. The Company closed substantially all of its put contracts and in their place entered into swap contracts at a weighted-average price of $62.02 per barrel for the balance of 2019. This restructuring results in Laredo having approximately 90% of expected oil production for the balance of 2019 hedged at a weighted-average floor price of $60.42 per barrel, driving an anticipated cash flow increase of approximately $60 million as compared to the Company's initial 2019 budget.

For full-year 2020, the Company closed collars with $45 per barrel floors and entered into swap contracts at a weighted-average price of $60.28 per barrel. Laredo now has approximately 75% of anticipated oil production for full-year 2020 hedged at a weighted-average floor price of $58.79 per barrel.

Laredo has approximately 70% of its anticipated natural gas production for the balance of 2019 hedged for both product and basis. Currently, the Company has natural gas product swaps at a weighted-average Henry Hub price of $3.09 per MMBtu and WAHA/Henry Hub basis swaps at a weighted-average price of ($1.51) per MMBtu. Additionally, Laredo has hedged approximately 65% of anticipated NGL production for the balance of 2019.

The Company enters into contracts solely with banks that are part of its senior secured credit facility. Details of the Company's hedge positions are included in the current Corporate Presentation available on the Company's website at www.laredopetro.com.

Guidance

The Company is increasing its anticipated full-year 2019 total production growth guidance to approximately 11% from a previous estimate of approximately 9% and improving oil production guidance to a decrease of approximately 2% from a previous estimate of a 5% decrease, as compared to full-year 2018. The table below reflects the Company's guidance for the second quarter of 2019.

Conference Call Details

On Thursday, May 2, 2019, at 7:30 a.m. CT, Laredo will host a conference call to discuss its first-quarter 2019 financial and operating results and management's outlook, the content of which is not part of this earnings release. A slide presentation providing summary financial and statistical information that will be discussed on the call will be posted to the Company's website and available for review. The Company invites interested parties to listen to the call via the Company's website at www.laredopetro.com, under the tab for "Investor Relations." Portfolio managers and analysts who would like to participate on the call should dial 877.930.8286 (international dial-in 253.336.8309), using conference code 8489007, approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled conference time. A telephonic replay will be available approximately two hours after the call on May 2, 2019 through Thursday, May 9, 2010. Participants may access this replay by dialing 855.859.2056, using conference code 8489007.

About Laredo

Laredo Petroleum, Inc. is an independent energy company with headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Laredo's business strategy is focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties and midstream and marketing services, primarily in the Permian Basin of West Texas.

Additional information about Laredo may be found on its website at www.laredopetro.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and any oral statements made regarding the subject of this release, including in the conference call referenced herein, contain forward-looking statements as defined under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities that Laredo assumes, plans, expects, believes, intends, projects, estimates 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 belief, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events.

General risks relating to Laredo include, but are not limited to, the decline in prices of oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas and the related impact to financial statements as a result of asset impairments and revisions to reserve estimates, the increase in service and supply costs, tariffs on steel, pipeline transportation constraints in the Permian Basin, hedging activities, possible impacts of pending or potential litigation, the suspension or discontinuance of share repurchases at any time and other factors, including those and other risks described in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and those set forth from time to time in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These documents are available through Laredo's website at www.laredopetro.com under the tab "Investor Relations" or through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval System at www.sec.gov. Any of these factors could cause Laredo's actual results and plans to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, Laredo can give no assurance that its future results will be as estimated. Laredo does not intend to, and disclaims any obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statement.

The SEC generally permits oil and natural gas companies, in filings made with the SEC, to disclose proved reserves, which are reserve estimates that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions and certain probable and possible reserves that meet the SEC's definitions for such terms. In this press release and the conference call, the Company may use the terms "resource potential" and "estimated ultimate recovery," or "EURs," each of which the SEC guidelines restrict from being included in filings with the SEC without strict compliance with SEC definitions. These terms refer to the Company’s internal estimates of unbooked hydrocarbon quantities that may be potentially added to proved reserves, largely from a specified resource play. A "resource play" is a term used by the Company to describe an accumulation of hydrocarbons known to exist over a large areal expanse and/or thick vertical section potentially supporting numerous drilling locations, which, when compared to a conventional play, typically has a lower geological and/or commercial development risk. EURs are based on the Company's previous operating experience in a given area and publicly available information relating to the operations of producers who are conducting operations in these areas. Unbooked resource potential or EURs do not constitute reserves within the meaning of the Society of Petroleum Engineer's Petroleum Resource Management System or SEC rules and do not include any proved reserves. Actual quantities of reserves that may be ultimately recovered from the Company's interests may differ substantially from those presented herein. Factors affecting ultimate recovery include the scope of the Company's ongoing drilling program, which will be directly affected by the availability of capital, decreases in oil and natural gas prices, well spacing, drilling and production costs, availability and cost of drilling services and equipment, drilling results, lease expirations, transportation constraints, regulatory approvals, negative revisions to reserve estimates and other factors as well as actual drilling results, including geological and mechanical factors affecting recovery rates.Estimates of ultimate recovery from reserves may change significantly as development of the Company's core assets provides additional data. In addition, our production forecasts and expectations for future periods are dependent upon many assumptions, including estimates of production decline rates from existing wells and the undertaking and outcome of future drilling activity, which may be affected by significant commodity price declines or drilling cost increases. "Type curve" refers to a production profile of a well, or a particular category of wells, for a specific play and/or area. In addition, the Company’s production forecasts and expectations for future periods are dependent upon many assumptions, including estimates of production decline rates from existing wells and the undertaking and outcome of future drilling activity, which may be affected by significant commodity price declines or drilling cost increases. The "standardized measure" of discounted future new cash flows is calculated in accordance with SEC regulations and a discount rate of 10%. The actual results may vary considerably and should not be considered to represent the fair market value of the Company’s proved reserves.

Laredo Petroleum, Inc.
Condensed consolidated statements of operations

Laredo Petroleum, Inc.
Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows

Laredo Petroleum, Inc.
Selected operating data

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(1) BOE is calculated using a conversion rate of six Mcf per one Bbl.
(2) The numbers presented are based on actual results and are not calculated using the rounded numbers presented in the table above.
(3) Realized oil, NGL and natural gas prices are the actual prices received when control passes to the purchaser/customer adjusted for quality, transportation fees, geographical differentials, marketing bonuses or deductions and other factors affecting the price received at the wellhead.
(4) Price reflects the after-effects of our derivative transactions on our average sales prices. Our calculation of such after-effects includes settlements of matured derivatives during the respective periods in accordance with GAAP and an adjustment to reflect premiums incurred previously or upon settlement that are attributable to derivatives that settled during the respective periods.
(5) On a per BOE basis, cash margins are calculated as average price less, (i) lease operating expenses, (ii) production and ad valorem taxes, (iii) transportation and marketing expenses, (iv) midstream service expenses and (v) cash general and administrative.

Laredo Petroleum, Inc.
Costs incurred

The following table presents costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties, with asset retirement obligations included in development costs, for the periods presented: 

Laredo Petroleum, Inc.
Supplemental reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures

Non-GAAP financial measures

The non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA, as defined by us, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Therefore, these non-GAAP measures should be considered in conjunction with net income or loss and other performance measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as operating income or loss or cash flows from operating activities. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP measures, such as net income or loss, operating income or loss or any other GAAP measure of liquidity or financial performance.

Adjusted Net Income (Unaudited)

Adjusted Net Income is a non-GAAP financial measure we use to evaluate performance, prior to income taxes, mark-to-market on derivatives, premiums paid for derivatives, gains or losses on disposal of assets and other non-recurring income and expenses and after applying adjusted income tax expense. We believe Adjusted Net Income helps investors in the oil and natural gas industry to measure and compare our performance to other oil and natural gas companies by excluding from the calculation items that can vary significantly from company to company depending upon accounting methods, the book value of assets and other non-operational factors.

Including a higher weighted-average common shares outstanding in the denominator of a diluted per share computation results in an anti-dilutive per share amount when an entity is in a loss position. As such, our net income (loss) (GAAP) per common share calculation utilizes the same denominator for both basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share. However, our calculation of Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) results in income for both periods presented. Therefore, we believe it appropriate and more conservative to calculate an adjusted diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding utilizing our fully dilutive weighted-average common shares. As such, we present a line item that calculates Adjusted Net Income per adjusted diluted common share.

The following table presents a reconciliation of income (loss) before income taxes (GAAP) to Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP):

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(1) Adjusted income tax expense is calculated by applying a statutory tax rate of 22% for each of the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.

Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited)

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that we define as net income or loss plus adjustments for income taxes, depletion, depreciation and amortization, non-cash stock-based compensation, net, accretion expense, mark-to-market on derivatives, premiums paid for derivatives, interest expense, gains or losses on disposal of assets and other non-recurring income and expenses. Adjusted EBITDA provides no information regarding a company's capital structure, borrowings, interest costs, capital expenditures, working capital movement or tax position. Adjusted EBITDA does not represent funds available for discretionary use because those funds are required for debt service, capital expenditures, working capital, income taxes, franchise taxes and other commitments and obligations. However, our management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to an investor in evaluating our operating performance because this measure:

• is widely used by investors in the oil and natural gas industry to measure a company's operating performance without regard to items excluded from the calculation of such term, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods, the book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired, among other factors;
  
  
• helps investors to more meaningfully evaluate and compare the results of our operations from period to period by removing the effect of our capital structure from our operating structure; and
  
  
• is used by our management for various purposes, including as a measure of operating performance, in presentations to our board of directors and as a basis for strategic planning and forecasting.

There are significant limitations to the use of Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of performance, including the inability to analyze the effect of certain recurring and non-recurring items that materially affect our net income or loss, the lack of comparability of results of operations to different companies and the different methods of calculating Adjusted EBITDA reported by different companies. Our measurements of Adjusted EBITDA for financial reporting as compared to compliance under our debt agreements differ.

The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) (GAAP) to Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP):

¹Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA

Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net debt as of March 31, 2019 divided by trailing twelve-month Adjusted EBITDA ending March 31, 2019 of $568 million. Net debt as of March 31, 2019 was $1.025 billion, calculated as the face value of debt of $1.070 billion reduced by cash and cash equivalents of $45 million.

Contacts:
Ron Hagood:  (918) 858-5504 - RHagood@laredopetro.com 

Source: Laredo Petroleum, Inc.