Vitesse Energy, Inc. (NYSE: VTS) (“we,” “our,” “Vitesse,” or
“the Company”) today announced the Company’s 2023 financial and
operating results and declared a quarterly cash dividend.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per common share to
be paid on March 29, 2024
- Net loss of $19.7 million and Adjusted Net Income(1) of $53.6
million
- Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $157.0 million
- Cash flow from operations of $141.9 million and Free Cash
Flow(1) of $60.7 million
- Production of 11,889 barrels of oil equivalent (“Boe”) per day
(68% oil), an increase of 15% from 2022, and fourth quarter 2023
production of 13,652 Boe per day (72% oil)
- Total cash development capital expenditures and acquisition
costs of $120.5 million
- Total debt of $81.0 million and Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA
ratio(1) of 0.51
(1) Non-GAAP financial measure; see reconciliation schedules at
the end of this release
MANAGEMENT COMMENTS
Bob Gerrity, Vitesse’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
commented, “During our first year as a publicly traded company, we
followed through on our strategy of returning capital to
stockholders by paying a $2.00 per share fixed dividend. Our
allocation of capital to the highest return opportunities also
resulted in production growth during the year, while maintaining
our conservative leverage profile. Going forward, we believe our
significant inventory of organic development locations and access
to attractive self-sourced deal flow position us to both continue
the return of capital strategy and pursue accretive growth
opportunities.”
STOCKHOLDER RETURNS
Vitesse’s Board of Directors declared its first quarter 2024
cash dividend for Vitesse’s common stock of $0.50 per share for
stockholders of record as of March 15, 2024, which will be paid on
March 29, 2024.
On December 29, 2023, the Company paid its fourth quarter cash
dividend of $0.50 per share to common stockholders of record as of
December 15, 2023.
FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS
Net loss for 2023 was $19.7 million and Adjusted Net Income was
$53.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $157.0 million. See “Non-GAAP
Financial Measures” below.
Oil and natural gas production during 2023 averaged 11,889 Boe
per day. For the fourth quarter, oil and natural gas production
averaged 13,652 Boe per day. Sequentially this represents 24%
growth over third quarter 2023, reflecting the impact of the
Company’s acquisition of additional oil and natural gas interests
previously announced in October 2023. Oil represented 68% of
production and 93% of total oil and natural gas revenue for the
year. Total revenue, including the effects of realized hedges, for
2023 was $235.1 million.
Vitesse’s average realized oil and natural gas prices before
hedging were $73.59 per Bbl and $1.88 per Mcf, respectively, during
2023. For the year, the Company had hedges covering 49% of oil
production and its realized oil price with hedging was $73.99 per
Bbl.
Lease operating expenses in 2023 were $39.5 million, or $9.11
per Boe. General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses for 2023
totaled $23.9 million, or $5.52 per Boe, which included $6.8
million of costs related to the spin-off from Jefferies Financial
Group Inc. on January 13, 2023 (the “Spin-Off”). Excluding these
costs, G&A would have been $3.94 per Boe.
RESERVES
Proved developed reserves at December 31, 2023 increased 5% from
December 31, 2022 to 28.5 million Boe. Total proved reserves
decreased 7% to 40.6 million Boe (70% proved developed). The
decrease in proved reserves was attributable to the removal of
undeveloped drilling locations related to the pace of development
in North Dakota. To comply with SEC guidelines, proved undeveloped
reserves are limited to those locations that are reasonably certain
to be developed over the next five years. A portion of the increase
in proved developed reserves was the result of Vitesse adding 1.5
million Boe of reserves that were not classified as proved
undeveloped at December 31, 2022, but were part of its unproven
inventory of drilling locations.
Total proved reserves at December 31, 2023 had an associated
Standardized Measure of $575.7 million and PV-10 value of $682.1
million (79% proved developed). The decrease in Standardized
Measure and PV-10 from 2022 is primarily related to the reduction
in the benchmark oil and natural gas prices used in accordance with
the SEC’s rules regarding reserve reporting from $94.14/Bbl to
$78.21/Bbl for oil and $6.36/MMBtu to $2.64/MMBtu for natural gas,
along with a decrease in NGL prices that contributed to the
reduction in realized natural gas price from $7.98/Mcf in 2022 to
$1.71/Mcf. These benchmark prices represent an average price equal
to the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the first day of
the month prices for each of the preceding 12 months and are
adjusted for location and quality differentials, unless prices are
defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based on
future conditions (“SEC Pricing”). Vitesse’s Standardized Measure,
PV-10 and proved reserves at year-end 2022 did not include the
reserves of Vitesse Oil, LLC (“Vitesse Oil”), which was acquired as
part of the Spin-Off.
SEC PRICING PROVED RESERVES
(1)
RESERVES VOLUMES
PV-10 (3)
RESERVE
CATEGORY
OIL (MBbls)
NATURAL GAS (MMcf)
TOTAL (MBoe) (2)
%
AMOUNT (in thousands)
%
PDP Properties
17,981
58,911
27,799
68%
$ 521,494
77%
PDNP Properties
459
1,292
675
2%
15,108
2%
PUD Properties
9,303
16,907
12,121
30%
145,468
21%
Total
27,743
77,110
40,595
100%
$ 682,070
100%
(1)
Oil and natural gas reserve quantities and
related discounted future net cash flows are valued as of December
31, 2023 based on an average WTI price of $78.21 per barrel of oil
and Henry Hub price of $2.64 per MMBtu of natural gas. Under SEC
guidelines, these prices represent the average prices per barrel of
oil and per MMBtu of natural gas at the beginning of each month in
the twelve-month period prior to the end of the reporting period,
which are adjusted for location and differentials.
(2)
MBoe are computed based on a conversion
ratio of one Boe for each barrel of oil and one Boe for every 6 Mcf
of natural gas.
(3)
PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure that
does not include the effects of income taxes on future net
revenues, and is not intended to represent fair market value of our
oil and natural gas properties. For a definition of and
reconciliation of PV-10 to its nearest GAAP financial measure, see
the reconciliation schedule at the end of this release.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
As of December 31, 2023, Vitesse had $0.6 million in cash and
$81.0 million of borrowings outstanding on its revolving credit
facility, which had a borrowing base of $245.0 million with an
aggregate elected commitment of $180.0 million. Vitesse had total
liquidity of $99.6 million as of December 31, 2023, consisting of
cash and committed borrowing availability under the revolving
credit facility. On January 17, 2024, the Company increased the
elected commitments to $210.0 million and added a fifth lender to
the syndicate of banks.
During 2023, Vitesse spent $84.8 million on development capital
expenditures and $35.7 million on acquisitions of oil and gas
properties, primarily in North Dakota.
OPERATIONS UPDATE
As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned an interest in 256
gross (6.7 net) wells that were either drilling or in the
completion phase, and another 421 gross (9.9 net) locations that
had been permitted for development at the end of the year.
2024 ANNUAL GUIDANCE
Vitesse reaffirms its preliminary 2024 outlook, which is set
forth below.
2024 Guidance
Annual Production (Boe per day)
12,500 - 13,500
Oil as a Percentage of Annual
Production
67% - 71%
Total Cash Capital Expenditures ($ in
millions)
$90 -$110
FULL YEAR 2023 RESULTS
Vitesse Energy, LLC is the “predecessor” of Vitesse for
financial reporting purposes. As a result, unless otherwise
indicated, the 2022 financial and operating data presented or
referred to in this release are those of Vitesse Energy, LLC and do
not include the financial and operating data of Vitesse Oil, which
was acquired as part of the Spin-Off. The following table sets
forth selected financial and operating data for the periods
indicated.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
31,
INCREASE (DECREASE)
($ in thousands, except per unit
data)
2023
2022
AMOUNT
PERCENT
Financial and Operating
Results:
Revenue
Oil
$
218,396
$
233,622
$
(15,226
)
(7
%)
Natural gas
15,509
48,268
(32,759
)
(68
%)
Total revenue
$
233,905
$
281,890
$
(47,985
)
(17
%)
Operating Expenses
Lease operating expense
$
39,514
$
31,133
$
8,381
27
%
Production taxes
21,625
24,092
(2,467
)
(10
%)
General and administrative
23,934
19,833
4,101
21
%
Depletion, depreciation, amortization, and
accretion
81,745
63,732
18,013
28
%
Equity-based compensation
32,233
(10,766
)
42,999
*nm
Interest Expense
$
5,276
$
4,153
$
1,123
27
%
Income Tax Expense
$
61,946
$
—
$
61,946
*nm
Commodity Derivative Gain
(Loss)
$
12,484
$
(30,830
)
$
43,314
140
%
Production Data:
Oil (MBbls)
2,968
2,575
393
15
%
Natural gas (MMcf)
8,232
7,274
958
13
%
Combined volumes (MBoe)
4,340
3,787
553
15
%
Daily combined volumes (Boe/d)
11,889
10,376
1,513
15
%
Average Realized Prices before
Hedging:
Oil (per Bbl)
$
73.59
$
90.73
$
(17.14
)
(19
%)
Natural gas (per Mcf)
1.88
6.64
(4.76
)
(72
%)
Combined (per Boe)
53.90
74.43
(20.53
)
(28
%)
Average Realized Prices with
Hedging:
Oil (per Bbl)
$
73.99
$
72.66
$
1.33
2
%
Natural gas (per Mcf)
1.88
6.56
(4.68
)
(71
%)
Combined (per Boe)
54.17
61.99
(7.82
)
(13
%)
Average Costs (per Boe):
Lease operating expense
$
9.11
$
8.22
$
0.89
11
%
Production taxes
4.98
6.36
(1.38
)
(22
%)
General and administrative
5.52
5.24
0.28
5
%
Depletion, depreciation, amortization, and
accretion
18.84
16.83
2.01
12
%
COMMODITY HEDGING
Vitesse hedges a portion of its expected annual oil production
volumes to increase the predictability and certainty of its cash
flow and to help maintain a strong financial position to support
our dividend. Vitesse does not currently have hedges in place on
its expected natural gas production volumes. Vitesse has 42% of its
2024 oil production hedged at the midpoint of guidance at a
weighted average price of $78.86/Bbl. The following table
summarizes Vitesse’s open oil commodity derivative swap contracts
scheduled to settle after December 31, 2023, including those
entered into in February 2024.
SETTLEMENT
PERIOD
OIL (Bbls)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICE
$
Swaps-Crude Oil
2024:
Q1
402,498
$
79.03
Q2
382,500
$
79.13
Q3
327,500
$
78.50
Q4
280,000
$
78.65
2025:
Q1
195,000
$
73.49
Q2
90,000
$
75.30
The following table presents Vitesse’s settlements on commodity
derivative instruments and unsettled gains and losses on open
commodity derivative instruments for the periods presented:
YEAR END
DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands)
2023
2022
Realized gain (loss) on commodity
derivatives (1)
$
1,166
$
(47,124
)
Unrealized gain (loss) on commodity
derivatives (1)
11,318
16,294
Total commodity derivative gain (loss)
$
12,484
$
(30,830
)
(1)
Realized and unrealized gains and losses
on commodity derivatives are presented herein as separate line
items but are combined for a total commodity derivative gain (loss)
in the consolidated statements of operations included below.
Management believes the separate presentation of the realized and
unrealized commodity derivative gains and losses is useful because
the realized cash settlement portion provides a better
understanding of Vitesse’s hedge position.
2023 EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL
In conjunction with Vitesse’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
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
An updated corporate slide presentation that may be referenced
on the conference call will be posted prior to the conference call
on Vitesse’s website, www.vitesse-vts.com, in the “Investor
Relations” section of the site, under “News & Events,” sub-tab
“Presentations.”
Those wishing to listen to the conference call may do so via the
Company’s website or by phone as follows:
Website:
https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=1s51nvgu
Dial-In Number: 877-407-0778
(US/Canada) and 201-689-8565 (International)
Conference ID: 13744289 - Vitesse
Energy Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings Call
Replay Dial-In Number: 877-660-6853
(US/Canada) 201-612-7415 (International)
Replay Access Code: 13744289 -
Replay will be available through March 5, 2024
UPCOMING INVESTOR EVENTS
Vitesse management will be participating in the Roth Conference
in Dana Point, CA, March 17 - 19, 2024.
ABOUT VITESSE ENERGY, INC.
Vitesse Energy, Inc. is focused on returning capital to
stockholders through owning financial interests as a non-operator
in oil and gas wells drilled by leading US operators.
More information about Vitesse can be found at
www.vitesse-vts.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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 and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of
historical facts included in this release regarding Vitesse’s
financial position, operating and financial performance, business
strategy, dividend plans and practices, guidance, plans and
objectives of management for future operations, and industry
conditions 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
Vitesse’s control) that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements,
including the following: changes in oil and natural gas prices; the
pace of drilling and completions activity on Vitesse’s properties;
Vitesse’s ability to acquire additional development opportunities;
potential acquisition transactions; integration and benefits of
property acquisitions, or the effects of such acquisitions on
Vitesse’s cash position and levels of indebtedness; changes in
Vitesse’s reserves estimates or the value thereof; disruptions to
Vitesse’s business due to acquisitions and other significant
transactions; infrastructure constraints and related factors
affecting Vitesse’s properties; cost inflation or supply chain
disruption; ongoing legal disputes over and potential shutdown of
the Dakota Access Pipeline; the impact of general economic or
industry conditions, nationally and/or in the communities in which
Vitesse conducts business, including central bank policy actions,
bank failures and associated liquidity risks; changes in the
interest rate environment, legislation or regulatory requirements;
conditions of the securities markets; Vitesse’s ability to raise or
access capital; cyber-related risks; changes in accounting
principles, policies or guidelines; and financial or political
instability, health-related epidemics, acts of war (including the
armed conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine) or terrorism, and
other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technical
factors affecting Vitesse’s operations, products and prices.
Additional information concerning potential factors that could
affect future results is included in the section entitled “Item 1A.
Risk Factors” and other sections of Vitesse’s Annual Report on Form
10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as updated from
time to time in amendments and subsequent reports filed with the
SEC, which describe factors that could cause Vitesse’s actual
results to differ from those set forth in the forward looking
statements.
Vitesse 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 Vitesse’s control. Vitesse does not undertake
any duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except
as may be required by the federal securities laws.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Vitesse Energy, LLC is the “predecessor” of Vitesse for
financial reporting purposes. As a result, unless otherwise
indicated, the 2022 financial and operating data presented or
referred to in this release are those of Vitesse Energy, LLC and do
not include the financial and operating data of Vitesse Oil, which
was acquired as part of the Spin-Off.
VITESSE ENERGY, INC.
Consolidated Statements of
Operations
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER
31,
(in thousands, except per share
data)
2023
2022
Revenue
Oil
$
218,396
$
233,622
Natural gas
15,509
48,268
Total revenue
233,905
281,890
Operating Expenses
Lease operating expense
39,514
31,133
Production taxes
21,625
24,092
General and administrative
23,934
19,833
Depletion, depreciation, amortization, and
accretion
81,745
63,732
Equity-based compensation
32,233
(10,766
)
Total operating expenses
199,051
128,024
Operating Income
34,854
153,866
Other Income (Expense)
Commodity derivative gain (loss), net
12,484
(30,830
)
Interest expense
(5,276
)
(4,153
)
Other income
140
20
Total other income (expense)
7,348
(34,963
)
Income (Loss) Before Income
Taxes
$
42,202
$
118,903
(Provision for) Benefit from Income
Taxes
(61,946
)
—
Net (Loss) Income
$
(19,744
)
$
118,903
Net income (loss) attributable to
Predecessor common unit holders
1,832
118,903
Net Loss Attributable to Vitesse
Energy, Inc.
$
(21,576
)
$
—
Weighted average common shares /
Predecessor common unit outstanding – basic
29,556,967
438,625,000
Weighted average common shares /
Predecessor common unit outstanding – diluted
29,556,967
438,625,000
Net (loss) income per common share /
Predecessor common unit – basic
$
(0.73
)
$
0.26
Net (loss) income per common share /
Predecessor common unit – diluted
$
(0.73
)
$
0.26
Net loss per Predecessor non-founder MIUs
classified as temporary equity–basic and diluted
$
—
VITESSE ENERGY, INC.
Consolidated Balance
Sheets
AT DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands except units and
shares)
2023
2022
Assets
Current Assets
Cash
$
552
$
10,007
Revenue receivable
44,915
41,393
Commodity derivatives
10,038
2,112
Prepaid expenses and other current
assets
2,841
841
Total current assets
58,346
54,353
Oil and Gas Properties-Using the
successful efforts method of accounting
Proved oil and gas properties
1,168,378
985,751
Less accumulated DD&A and
impairment
(464,036
)
(382,974
)
Total oil and gas properties
704,342
602,777
Other Property and Equipment—Net
189
114
Other Assets
Commodity derivatives
1,109
1,155
Other noncurrent assets
1,984
2,085
Total other assets
3,093
3,240
Total assets
$
765,970
$
660,484
Liabilities, Redeemable Units and
Equity
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable
$
27,692
$
7,207
Accrued liabilities
32,507
25,849
Commodity derivatives
—
3,439
Other current liabilities
204
184
Total current liabilities
60,403
36,679
Long-term Liabilities
Revolving credit facility
81,000
48,000
Deferred tax liability
64,329
—
Asset retirement obligations
8,353
6,823
Other noncurrent liabilities
5,479
—
Total liabilities
219,564
91,502
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Management Incentive Units
—
4,559
Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value,
5,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued at December 31,
2023
—
—
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 95,000,000
shares authorized; 32,812,007 shares issued at December 31,
2023
328
—
Additional paid-in capital
567,654
—
Accumulated deficit
(21,576
)
—
Predecessor members' equity-common
units-450,000,000 units outstanding
—
564,423
Total liabilities, redeemable units, and
equity
$
765,970
$
660,484
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Vitesse defines Adjusted Net Income (Loss) as net income (loss)
before (i) non-cash gains and losses on unsettled derivative
instruments, (ii) non-cash unit-based compensation, and (iii)
certain other items such as non-cash oil and natural gas property
impairments and material general and administrative costs related
to the Spin-Off; reduced by the estimated impact of income tax
expense.
Net Debt is calculated by deducting cash on hand from the amount
outstanding on our revolving credit facility as of the balance
sheet or measurement date.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before expenses
for interest, income taxes, depletion, depreciation, amortization
and accretion, and excludes non-cash unit-based compensation and
non-cash gains and losses on unsettled derivative instruments in
addition to certain other items such as non-cash oil and natural
gas property impairments and material general and administrative
costs related to the Spin-Off.
Vitesse defines Free Cash Flow as cash flow from operations,
adding back changes in operating assets and liabilities, less
development of oil and gas properties.
“PV-10” is the present value of estimated future oil and gas
revenues, net of estimated direct expenses, discounted at an annual
discount rate of 10% to estimate the present value of proved oil
and natural gas reserves. PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure and
is derived from the Standardized Measure, which is the most
directly comparable GAAP measure for proved reserves calculated
using SEC Pricing. PV-10 is a computation of the Standardized
Measure on a pre-tax basis. PV-10 is equal to the Standardized
Measure at the applicable date, before deducting future income
taxes discounted at 10%.
Management believes the use of these non-GAAP financial measures
provides useful information to investors to gain an overall
understanding of financial performance. Specifically, management
believes the non-GAAP financial measures included herein provide
useful information to both management and investors by excluding
certain items that management believes are not indicative of
Vitesse’s core operating results. In addition, these non-GAAP
financial measures are used by management for budgeting and
forecasting as well as subsequently measuring Vitesse’s
performance, and management believes it is providing investors with
financial measures that most closely align to its internal
measurement processes. A reconciliation of each of the non-GAAP
financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is
included below.
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED NET
INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
31,
(in thousands)
2023
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes
$
42,202
Add:
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative
instruments
(11,318
)
Equity-based compensation
32,233
G&A costs related to the Spin-Off
6,818
Adjusted Income Before Adjusted Income Tax
Expense
69,935
Adjusted Income Tax Expense(1)
(16,365
)
Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP)
$
53,570
(1) The Company determined the income tax
impact on the “Adjusted Income Before Adjusted Income Tax Expense”
using the relevant statutory tax rate of 23.4%.
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED
EBITDA AND NET DEBT
AT DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands except for ratio)
2023
Revolving credit facility
$
81,000
Cash
552
Net Debt
$
80,448
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
31,
2023
Net (Loss) Income
$
(19,744
)
Add:
Interest expense
5,276
Provision for Income Taxes
61,946
Depletion, depreciation, amortization, and
accretion
81,745
Equity-based compensation
32,233
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative
instruments
(11,318
)
G&A costs related to the Spin-Off
6,818
Adjusted EBITDA
$
156,956
Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA
ratio
0.51
RECONCILIATION OF FREE CASH
FLOW
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands)
Net cash provided by operating
activities
$
141,942
Add back: changes in operating assets and
liabilities
3,575
Cash flow from operations before changes
in operating assets and liabilities
145,517
Less: development of oil and gas
properties
(84,832
)
Free Cash Flow
$
60,685
RECONCILIATION OF PV-10
The following table reconciles the PV-10 value of Vitesse’s
proved reserves as of December 31, 2023 to the Standardized
Measure.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
31,
(in thousands)
2023
Standardized Measure of Discounted Future
Net Cash Flows
$
575,691
Future Income Taxes, Discounted at 10%
106,379
Pre-Tax Present Value of Estimated
Future Net Revenues (Pre-Tax PV10%)
$
682,070
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INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACT Ben Messier, CFA Director –
Investor Relations and Business Development (720) 532-8232
benmessier@vitesse-vts.com
Vitesse Energy (NYSE:VTS)
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From Oct 2024 to Nov 2024
Vitesse Energy (NYSE:VTS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2023 to Nov 2024