SM Energy Reports 2016 Results And 2017 Operating Plan: Driving Growth From Top Tier Assets

DENVER, Feb. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SM Energy Company ("SM Energy" or the "Company") (NYSE: SM) announces today fourth quarter and full year 2016 financial and operating results, year-end 2016 reserves and the Company's 2017 operating plan. Highlights include:

• transformative second half of 2016; more than $6 billion in completed or announced transactions that reposition the Company to have a top tier asset base in both the Midland Basin and Eagle Ford
• positioned in 2017 with significant liquidity; enter 2017 with revolving line of credit undrawn plus expected proceeds from announced divestitures
• 2017 operating plan that targets near 150% growth in Midland Basin production and near 50% improvement in the Company's operating margin per Boe, for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared with the fourth quarter of 2016
• three-year operating and financial plan that is expected to generate more than 15% production CAGR from retained assets for 2016-2019, while aligning expected capital expenditures and cash flow from operations beginning in 2019
• outstanding initial performance from wells on acquired Midland Basin assets, with new wells to date exceeding the Company's acquisition assumptions by more than 30%

President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Ottoson comments: "It is an understatement that 2016 was an exciting and transformational year for our Company, accomplished in a challenging macro-economic environment. We commence 2017 with a plan focused entirely on development of top tier oil, natural gas and NGL assets.  During 2016, we acquired substantial assets in the Midland Basin, where we believe we have the ability to create value through optimized drilling and completions and to drive margin expansion that we expect will deliver growing cash flows per debt-adjusted share in the coming years.

"Our Midland Basin assets are already demonstrating value creation through the outstanding performance of our recently completed wells.  Our current 2017 operating plan focuses on completion optimization, testing to prepare for increased density drilling, and further delineation of our acreage position. This plan, combined with increasing our activity in 2018 and beyond, is expected to be the primary driver of accelerating value creation.

"During 2017, we anticipate completing the process of coring up our asset portfolio, which will result in short term contraction of our production profile in favor of long term, higher margin production growth. We expect that proceeds from planned assets sales will help fund our accelerated drilling program and allow us to maintain high levels of liquidity while reducing debt.   We have a clear strategy and visible path to our objective of being a highly focused premier operator of top tier assets."

2017 OPERATING PLAN AND GUIDANCE

The Company's strategy in 2017 is to drive growth in production from its highest margin assets and to deliver increasing cash flow, while reducing its outstanding debt. Key assumptions in the Company's 2017 operating plan include:

• Total capital spend* (costs incurred less ARO, capitalized interest and acquisitions) of approximately $875 million. Total capital spend assumptions include modest increases for higher vendor costs (under a largely flat oil price scenario), specifically for pressure pumping.
  • Permian – Drill approximately 100 wells and complete approximately 80 wells (gross, operated)
  • Eagle Ford – Drill approximately 25 wells and complete approximately 35 wells (gross, operated)
  • Williston – No capital allocation
  • Facilities – Approximately $50-$55 million is included for facilities build-out
• Actual asset divestiture timing: Third-party operated Eagle Ford asset sale assumed to close at the end of February 2017 and the Divide County, North Dakota asset sale assumed to close at the end of the second quarter of 2017.
• Actual average commodity price projections:
  • 2017 WTI oil $55.00, Henry Hub natural gas $3.30, NGLs $27.50
• Actual hedges: Based on the production guidance mid-point, the Company has hedges in place for approximately 65% of oil production, 85% of natural gas production and 75% of NGL production (hedges are ethane, propane, butanes and gasoline)

*Total capital spend is a non-GAAP measure. The Company is unable to present quantitative reconciliation of this forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure to costs incurred in oil and gas producing activities without unreasonable effort, because acquisition costs are inherently unpredictable. Acquisition costs could be significant in future periods and would depend on a wide variety of factors outside the Company's control. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this number.

2017 guidance:

• Total capital spend: $875 million.
• Production: 40-43 MMBoe, with oil approximately 29% of quarterly commodity mix through the year as new production begins to offset asset sales. Due to the timing of asset sales and development activity, total Company production will decline through the third quarter of 2017.
• LOE: ~$4.00 per Boe, with 1H17 exceeding the average and 2H17 below the average as high cost asset sales are completed. Includes ad valorem taxes.
• Transportation: $5.50-$5.75 per Boe, with higher costs in the first quarter of 2017 as high cost asset sales are completed.
• Production taxes: ~$1.25 per Boe or 4.0-4.5%.
• G&A: $120-130 million, including approximately $18-23 million of non-cash compensation.
• Capitalized overhead/Exploration: $65-70 million, before dry hole expense, all of which is included in capital expenditure guidance.
• DD&A: $13.00-15.00 per Boe.

First quarter of 2017 guidance:

• Production of approximately 11.0-11.4 MMBoe. Lower sequential production from the fourth quarter of 2016 is primarily the result of: assets sold that contributed to fourth quarter production, including Raven/Bear Den on December 1, 2016; the expected sale of the third-party operated Eagle Ford assets at the end of February 2017; normal declines in the Eagle Ford and Divide County, which will not be offset by new wells due to minimal operated and third-party operated completion activity; all of which will be partially offset by increased production from the Midland Basin.
• Completion of approximately 17 wells during the quarter. The total number of completions each quarter is affected by pad drilling.
• Total capital spend of approximately $200 million, plus $60 million for the acquisition of additional Permian Basin acreage announced in the fourth quarter of 2016 and closed in January 2017.

2016 IN REVIEW

FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR RESULTS

As previously announced, fourth quarter and full year 2016 production were:

By region:

Fourth quarter production of 13.4 MMBoe was down sequentially from the third quarter of 2016, primarily due to transaction timing, including various non-core asset sales completed late in the third quarter of 2016 and the closing of the Raven/Bear Den asset sale on December 1, 2016, which were partly offset by a partial quarter of production from acquired assets. Production from retained assets included increased production from Midland Basin assets offset by slowed activity in the Eagle Ford at both operated and third-party operated assets. Fourth quarter of 2016 production was down from 14.9 MMBoe in the fourth quarter of 2015, primarily due to reduced activity in the Eagle Ford and asset sales, partially offset by a 160% increase in Permian Basin production. Full year 2016 production totaled 55.3 MMBoe, down from 64.2 MMboe in 2015. Production from retained assets (Midland Basin, Operated Eagle Ford and retained Powder River Basin) was 36.0 MMBoe in 2016.

Operating costs for the fourth quarter and full year were:

Cash production costs totaled $11.34 per Boe in the fourth quarter, up sequentially from the third quarter at $10.78 per Boe, primarily due to higher LOE expense in the Permian Basin due to one-time costs associated with integrating the Rock Oil operations to SM Energy's systems and standards, as well as significantly increased charges from the third-party operator in the Eagle Ford for both LOE and transportation. Cash production costs declined slightly from $11.36 per Boe in the prior year period. Full year 2016 cash production costs averaged $10.82 per Boe compared with $11.27 per Boe in 2015.

Fourth quarter of 2016 general and administrative expense was $33.3 million and included $5.0 million in non-cash stock-based compensation and $2.2 million in one-time charges associated with office closure and re-organization. Full year 2016 general and administrative expense was $126.4 million and included $20.5 million in non-cash stock-based compensation and $5.1 million in one-time charges associated with office closures and re-organization. General and administrative expenses declined in 2016 compared with 2015, primarily due to consolidation of regional offices and reduced headcount.

The Company's GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $200.9 million or $2.20 per diluted common share compared with the fourth quarter of 2015 net loss of $340.3 million, or $5.01 per diluted common share. The year-over-year lower fourth quarter net loss is primarily due to lower impairment and abandonment charges taken in the 2016 period at $151.2 million versus $448.2 million in the 2015 period. In addition, the cash production margin increased 67% in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared with the fourth quarter of 2015 due to higher commodity prices and lower costs. Full year 2016 net loss was $757.7 million, or $9.90 per diluted common share, compared with $447.7 million, or $6.61 per diluted common share in 2015.

As discussed below, adjusted EBITDAX, adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) per diluted common share are non-GAAP measures. Please reference the reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures at the end of this release.

The Company's adjusted EBITDAX for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $186.2 million, compared with $216.3 million in the prior year period. The 2015 period benefited from significantly higher realized gains from hedging activity, $124.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 versus $23.2 million in fourth quarter of 2016, which more than offset the higher production revenue and production margins realized in 2016.  For the full year 2016, adjusted EBITDAX was $790.8 million compared with $1,124.8 million in 2015. Higher 2015 adjusted EBITDAX was predominantly driven by 14% higher full year production, a higher pre-hedge margin per Boe and $512.6 million in realized hedge gains (versus $329.5 million in 2016).

The Company's adjusted net loss for the fourth quarter was $28.7 million, or $0.31 per diluted common share, compared with $61.1 million, or $0.90 per diluted common share, in the fourth quarter of 2015. The 2016 period benefited from a 20% decline in DD&A per Boe. Full year 2016 adjusted net loss was $142.4 million, or $1.86 per diluted common share, compared with $35.9 million, or $0.53 per diluted common share, in 2015.

CAPITAL SPEND

Costs incurred for 2016 were $3,374 million, which included $2,660 million of proved and unproved property acquisitions. Full year 2016 total capital spend (see below for GAAP reconciliation) was $687 million and was allocated 32% to the Permian Basin, 37% to the Eagle Ford, 31% to the Bakken/Three Forks and Powder River Basin. Total capital spend included $590 million for development, $8 million for leasehold, $23 million for infrastructure and $66 million for corporate and exploration costs. Total capital spend was less than guidance primarily as a result of cost savings and operating efficiencies. During 2016, the Company drilled 70 net wells and completed 137 net wells (including third-party operated wells), and acquired assets in the Midland Basin for a total of $2.6 billion.

YEAR-END 2016 PROVED RESERVES

Year-end 2016 proved reserves of 396 MMBoe are calculated in accordance with SEC pricing at $42.75 per barrel of oil NYMEX, $2.47 per MMBtu of natural gas at Henry Hub and $19.50 per barrel of NGLs at Mt. Belvieu. Year-end proved reserves were 27% oil, 27% NGLs and 46% natural gas. 53% were proved developed.

Year-end 2016 proved reserves declined 16%, reflecting a significant reduction in drilling and completion activity compared to the prior year, sales of producing assets and a change in the Company's long-term plan to focus development activity in the Midland Basin (resulting in 5-year rule revisions). Adjusting for divestitures, price revisions and 5-year rule revisions, proved reserves would have increased 11%. During the year, the Company shifted investment to the Midland Basin where proved reserves increased more than 250%. The Company expects its 2017 capital program will focus on development of this area to drive continued, substantial growth in reserves and production.

The table below provides a reconciliation of changes in the Company's proved reserves from year-end 2015 to year-end 2016 (numbers are rounded):

UPCOMING EVENTS

EARNINGS WEBCAST AND CALL

As previously announced, SM Energy will host a webcast and conference call to discuss the 2016 results and the 2017 operating plan at 8:00 a.m. Mountain time/10:00 a.m. Eastern time tomorrow, February 23, 2017. Please join us via webcast at www.SM-Energy.com or by telephone 877-303-1292 (toll free) or 315-625-3086 (international) with passcode 57100689. The webcast and call will also be available for replay. The dial-in replay number is 855-859-2056 (toll free) or 404-537-3406 (international) with passcode 57100689 and is available through March 2, 2017.

A presentation will be posted to the Company's website to accompany this call at www.SM-Energy.com

UPCOMING CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

• March 7, 2017 - Raymond James 38^th Annual Institutional Investors Conference. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Wade Pursell will present at 1:40 p.m. Eastern time. This event will be webcast. The presentation for this event will be posted March 6, 2017.
• March 27, 2017 – Scotia Howard Weil Energy Conference. President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Ottoson will present at 2:20 p.m. Central time. This event is not webcast. The presentation for this event will be posted March 26, 2017.

Investor presentations for these events will be posted to the Company's website at www.SM-Energy.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws. These statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause SM Energy's actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include, among other things, guidance estimates for the first quarter and full year 2017, timing of pending and expected asset sales and expected results from a three-year operating and financial plan and future cash flows per share. General risk factors include the availability, proximity and capacity of gathering, processing and transportation facilities; the volatility and level of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids prices, including any impact on the Company's asset carrying values or reserves arising from price declines; uncertainties inherent in projecting future rates of production or other results from drilling and completion activities; the imprecise nature of estimating oil and gas reserves; uncertainties inherent in projecting future drilling and completion activities, costs or results; the uncertainty of negotiations to result in an agreement or a completed transaction; the uncertain nature of divestiture, joint venture, farm down or similar efforts and the ability to complete any such transactions; the uncertain nature of expected benefits from the actual or expected divestiture, joint venture, farm down or similar efforts; the availability of additional economically attractive exploration, development, and acquisition opportunities for future growth and any necessary financings; unexpected drilling conditions and results; unsuccessful exploration and development drilling results; the availability of drilling, completion, and operating equipment and services; the risks associated with the Company's commodity price risk management strategy; uncertainty regarding the ultimate impact of potentially dilutive securities; and other such matters discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of SM Energy's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in the Company's other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak as of the date of this announcement. Although SM Energy may from time to time voluntarily update its prior forward-looking statements, it disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

SM Energy Company is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in onshore North America.  SM Energy routinely posts important information about the Company on its website.  For more information about SM Energy, please visit its website at www.SM-Energy.com.

SM ENERGY CONTACTS

INVESTORS: Jennifer Martin Samuels, jsamuels@sm-energy.com, 303-864-2507