Rex Energy Reports Second Quarter 2017 Financial and Operational Results

• New BP Energy Company marketing arrangement enhances C3+ pricing structure and stabilizes cash flows on a quarter-to-quarter basis
  
• New marketing arrangement allows Rex to reduce outstanding letters of credit by $14.1 million, creating additional liquidity
• Sale of water line in Warrior North adds ~$8.0 million of liquidity
• 2017 and 2018 natural gas hedged basis differentials now expected to be ($0.35) – ($0.45)
• Twelve Moraine East wells scheduled to be placed into sales in third quarter 2017

                                                                                                                          
STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Aug. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rex Energy Corporation (Nasdaq:REXX) today announced its second quarter 2017 financial and operational results.

Financial Update

Marketing Agreement with BP Energy Company

The company recently entered into a comprehensive marketing arrangement with BP Energy Company, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of BP plc (NYSE:BP), pursuant to which BP Energy Company will market the majority of Rex’s liquid C3+ products stream, and provide credit support on behalf of Rex Energy. The arrangement also enhances several of the company’s existing marketing initiatives in the Butler and Warrior North operating areas.

Beginning January 1, 2018, BP Energy Company will purchase the majority of the company’s C3+ products stream for an extended term. The pricing structure compares favorably to actual 2016 and projected 2017 prices. The new pricing structure will help to mitigate the historical fluctuations between summer and winter pricing and stabilize the company’s quarterly cash flows. As part of the new marketing arrangement, Rex Energy has reduced outstanding letters of credit by approximately $14.1 million, immediately increasing liquidity on the company’s $300 million delayed draw term loan facility. Also, as part of the broader marketing initiatives, BP Energy Company will market a portion of Rex Energy’s Warrior North gas at an improved differential to the current Dom South pricing.

“I’m very excited to expand our existing relationship with BP,” said Tom Stabley, Rex Energy’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The relationship we have developed and grown with BP over the past several years has been a major key to Rex Energy’s success. This is another testament to the confidence placed in the company’s reserves and development capabilities. I look forward to this new, deeper relationship, and to continuing to expand it in the years to come.”

Sale of Salineville Waterline

In July, the company sold its Salineville, OH waterline and related assets to Keystone Clearwater Services (KCS) for a total consideration of approximately $8.0 million. The Salineville waterline provided water for completions in the Warrior North area. In connection with the sale of the waterline, Rex Energy entered into a lease agreement with KCS to secure water services for future completions in the Warrior North area.

Warrior North Area Condensate

Rex Energy has entered into a new term condensate agreement with Marathon Petroleum Corporation pursuant to which the company will receive an improved condensate differential on all of its production in the Warrior North Area beginning September 1, 2017.

Improving Natural Gas Basis Differentials

During the first half of 2017, the company’s realized natural gas prices improved due to tightening differentials in the northeast markets and the full realization of its Gulf Coast transport contracts. The unhedged realized natural gas price for the first half of 2017 was $2.94 and the natural gas basis differential was ($0.24) off of NYMEX.  As a result, the company expects its full-year 2017 natural gas basis differential, including the effects of basis hedging, to improve to ($0.35) – ($0.45) off of NYMEX as compared to the previous estimate of ($0.58) – ($0.68) off of NYMEX.

Second Quarter Financial Results

Operating revenue from continuing operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 was $47.5 million and $99.5 million, respectively, which represents an increase of 52% and 75% over the same periods in 2016. Commodity revenues, including settlements from derivatives, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 were $45.4 million and $94.0 million, respectively, a decrease of 7% and an increase of 7% from the same periods in 2016. Commodity revenues from natural gas liquids (NGLs) and condensate, including settlements from derivatives, represented 39% of total commodity revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2017.

Lease operating expense (LOE) from continuing operations was $29.4 million, or $1.82 per Mcfe for the quarter. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, LOE was approximately $58.3 million, or $1.84 per Mcfe. General and administrative (G&A) expenses from continuing operations were $4.3 million for the second quarter of 2017, or $0.27 per Mcfe. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, G&A expenses from continuing operations were $8.8 million, or $0.28 per Mcfe. Cash G&A expenses from continuing operations (a non-GAAP measure) for the three months ended June 30, 2017 were $3.8 million, or $0.23 per Mcfe, a 16% increase on a per unit basis as compared to the same period in 2016. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, cash G&A expenses from continuing operations (a non-GAAP measure) were $8.3 million, or $0.26 per Mcfe, consistent on a per unit basis when compared to the same period in 2016.

Net loss attributable to common shareholders for the three months ended June 30, 2017 was $10.2 million, or $1.03 per basic share. Net loss attributable to common shareholders for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $8.1 million, or $0.83 per basic share. Adjusted net loss, a non-GAAP measure, for the three months ended June 30, 2017 was $9.2 million, or $0.93 per share. Adjusted net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $14.7 million, or $1.50 per share.

EBITDAX from continuing operations, a non-GAAP measure, was $12.4 million for the second quarter of 2017 and $28.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

Reconciliations of adjusted net loss to GAAP net loss, EBITDAX to GAAP net loss and G&A to cash G&A for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, as well as a discussion of the uses of each measure, are presented in the appendix of this release.

Production Results and Price Realizations

Second quarter 2017 production volumes from continuing operations were 177.1 MMcfe/d, consisting of 108.7 MMcf/d of natural gas, 4.8 Mbbls/d of C3+ NGLs, 5.8 Mbbls/d of ethane and 0.8 Mbbls/d of condensate. NGLs (including ethane) and condensate accounted for 39% of net production for the second quarter of 2017. Second quarter production was constrained during the quarter due to unplanned maintenance downtime in the company’s midstream services. The unplanned maintenance downtime adversely effected production during the second quarter by approximately 3.5 MMcfe/d.

Including the effects of cash-settled derivatives, realized prices for the three months ended June 30, 2017 were $2.78 per Mcf for natural gas, $21.62 per barrel for C3+ NGLs, $9.93 per barrel for ethane and $44.35 per barrel for condensate. Before the effects of hedging, realized prices for the three months ended June 30, 2017 were $2.94 per Mcf for natural gas, $23.03 per barrel for C3+ NGLs, $9.96 per barrel for ethane and $42.35 per barrel for condensate.

Including the effects of cash-settled derivatives, realized prices for the six months ended June 30, 2017 were $2.91 per Mcf for natural gas, $23.37 per barrel for C3+ NGLs, $9.84 per barrel for ethane and $45.26 per barrel for condensate. Before the effects of hedging, realized prices for the six months ended June 30, 2017 were $3.05 per Mcf for natural gas, $26.86 per barrel for C3+ NGLs, $9.74 per barrel for ethane and $44.25 per barrel for condensate.

Second Quarter 2017 Capital Investments

For the second quarter of 2017, net operational capital investments were approximately $29.1 million. The company expects to be reimbursed by joint development partners for approximately $13.4 million of previously incurred costs that were not billed until the third quarter of 2017. Capital investments in the second quarter of 2017 funded the drilling of six gross (4.8 net) wells, fracture stimulation of six gross (3.1 net) wells and other projects related to drilling and completing wells in the Appalachian Basin. Net operated capital expenditures for the full-year 2017 are still expected to be within the range of the company’s previously issued guidance of $115.0 million - $130.0 million.

Operational Update

Moraine East Area

In the Moraine East Area, the company drilled two gross (two net) wells, completed six gross (3.1 net) wells and placed into sales four gross (1.4 net) wells in the second quarter of 2017. In addition, the company had nine gross (4.9) net wells awaiting completion at the end of the second quarter.

The company has begun initial sales from its six-well Shields pad. The six wells were drilled to an average lateral length of approximately 8,800 feet and completed in an average of 49 stages. In addition, the company has completed two of the Shields wells with engineered spacing designs as compared to its standard spacing design. The company expects to provide an update on the performance of the pad in the coming weeks.

The company recently finished completing the four wells on the Mackrell pad, which were drilled to an average lateral length of 7,630 feet. The wells are expected to be placed into sales in early September 2017 as scheduled. Lastly, the company recently finished drilling the two-wells on the Frye pad, which were drilled to an average lateral length of approximately 6,300 feet. The two-well Frye pad is currently being completed and is expected to be placed into sales in the third quarter of 2017.

The twelve wells discussed above are all on the eastern side of the Moraine East Area and will be the final delineation of the field.  The company now expects to place additional compression for the Moraine East Area into service in early January 2018, a delay compared to previous estimates of early fourth quarter service, which, in turn, will defer peak production from the area until January 2018.

Legacy Butler Operated Area

In the Legacy Butler Operated Area, the company has begun completing the four-well Wilson pad. The four wells were drilled to an average lateral length of approximately 9,300 feet and are expected to be placed into sales in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Warrior North Area

In the Warrior North Area, the company has finished drilling the three-well Jenkins pad. The three wells were drilled to an average lateral length of approximately 6,500 feet and in an average of 13.2 drilling days, the best average the company has achieved in the Warrior North Area. The three wells are expected to be completed at the end of the fourth quarter of 2017.

Third Quarter and Full Year 2017 Guidance

Rex Energy is providing guidance for the third quarter of 2017 and adjusted full-year 2017. Full-year 2017 production guidance has been reduced to 180.0 – 190.0 MMcfe/d due to midstream restrictions and delays in placing the Vaughn and Baird pads into sales in the first half of 2017. The company still expects to achieve its year-end 2017 exit rate production growth rate guidance of 15% - 20% upon the commissioning of its fourth compressor in the Moraine East Area, which is scheduled for January 5, 2018. This will allow the company to remain on target to meet its full-year 2018 production guidance of 255.0 – 265.0 MMcfe/d.  

Conference Call Information
Management will host a live conference call and webcast on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern to review second quarter 2017 financial results and operational highlights. The telephone number to access the conference call is (866) 437-1772.

About Rex Energy Corporation

Headquartered in State College, Pennsylvania, Rex Energy is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with its core operations in the Appalachian Basin. The company’s strategy is to pursue its higher potential exploration drilling prospects while acquiring oil and natural gas properties complementary to its portfolio.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, all statements made in this release, including those relating to the timing and nature of development plans; drilling and completion schedules; anticipated fracture stimulation activities; expected dates for placement of wells into sales; and our financial guidance for third quarter and full year 2017 are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may contain words such as "expected", "expects", "scheduled", "planned", "plans", "anticipates" or similar words, and are based on management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and anticipated future developments, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate. We believe these statements and the assumptions and estimates contained in this release are reasonable based on information that is currently available to us. However, management's assumptions and the company's future performance are subject to a wide range of business risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, and we cannot assure that the company can or will meet the goals, expectations, and projections included in this release. Any number of factors could cause our actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in our forward looking statements, including (without limitation):

• economic conditions in the United States and globally;
• domestic and global demand for oil, NGLs and natural gas;
• volatility in oil, NGL, and natural gas pricing;
• conditions in the domestic and global capital and credit markets and their effect on us;
• the adequacy and availability of capital resources, credit, and liquidity including, but not limited to, access to additional borrowing capacity;
• the success of our business, operational,  financial, and hedging strategies;
• new or changing government regulations, including those relating to environmental matters, permitting, or other aspects of our operations;
• the geologic quality of our properties with regard to, among other things, the existence of hydrocarbons in economic quantities;
• uncertainties inherent in the estimates of our oil and natural gas reserves;
• our ability to increase oil and natural gas production and income through exploration and development;
• drilling and operating risks;
• the success of our drilling and completion techniques in unconventional reservoirs;
• the number of potential well locations to be drilled, the cost to drill them, and the time frame within which they will be drilled;
• the ability of contractors to timely and adequately perform their drilling, construction, well stimulation, completion and production services;
• the availability of equipment, such as drilling rigs, and infrastructure, such as transportation, pipelines, processing and midstream services;
• the effects of adverse weather or other natural disasters on our operations;
• competition in the oil and gas industry in general, and specifically in our areas of operations;
• changes in our drilling plans and related budgets;
• the success of prospect development and property acquisition; and
• uncertainties related to the legal and regulatory environment for our industry, and our own legal proceedings and their outcome.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Further information on the company's risks and uncertainties is available in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and we strongly encourage investors to review those filings.

APPENDIX  
REX ENERGY CORPORATION
NON-GAAP MEASURES

EBITDAX

“EBITDAX” means, for any period, the sum of net income for such period plus the following expenses, charges or income to the extent deducted from or added to net income in such period: interest, income taxes, DD&A, unrealized losses from financial derivatives, non-recurring gains and losses, exploration expenses and other similar non-cash charges, minus all non-cash income, including but not limited to, income from unrealized financial derivatives and gains on asset dispositions, added to net income. EBITDAX, as defined above, is used as a financial measure by our management team and by other users of its financial statements, such as our commercial bank lenders to analyze such things as:

• Our operating performance and return on capital in comparison to those of other companies in our industry, without regard to financial or capital structure;
• The financial performance of our assets and valuation of the entity without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;
• Our ability to generate cash sufficient to pay interest costs, support our indebtedness and make cash distributions to our stockholders; and
• The viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities.

EBITDAX is not a calculation based on GAAP financial measures and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) in measuring our performance, nor should it be used as an exclusive measure of cash flows, because it does not consider the impact of working capital growth, capital expenditures, debt principal reductions, and other sources and uses of cash, which are disclosed in our consolidated statements of cash flows.

We have reported EBITDAX because it is a financial measure used by our existing commercial lenders, and because this measure is commonly reported and widely used by investors as an indicator of a company’s operating performance and ability to incur and service debt. You should carefully consider the specific items included in our computations of EBITDAX. While we have disclosed EBITDAX to permit a more complete comparative analysis of our operating performance and debt servicing ability relative to other companies, you are cautioned that EBITDAX as reported by us may not be comparable in all instances to EBITDAX as reported by other companies. EBITDAX amounts may not be fully available for management’s discretionary use, due to requirements to conserve funds for capital expenditures, debt service and other commitments.

We believe that EBITDAX assists our lenders and investors in comparing our performance on a consistent basis without regard to certain expenses, which can vary significantly depending upon accounting methods. Because we may borrow money to finance our operations, interest expense is a necessary element of our costs. In addition, because we use capital assets, DD&A are also necessary elements of our costs. Finally, we are required to pay federal and state taxes, which are necessary elements of our costs. Therefore, any measures that exclude these elements have material limitations.

To compensate for these limitations, we believe it is important to consider both net income determined under GAAP and EBITDAX to evaluate our performance.

For purposes of consistency with current calculations, we have revised certain amounts relating to prior period EBITDAX. The following table presents a reconciliation of our net income to EBITDAX for each of the periods presented.

Adjusted Net Loss

“Adjusted Net Loss” means, for any period, the sum of net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes for the period plus the following expenses, charges or income, in each case, to the extent deducted from or added to net income in the period: unrealized losses from financial derivatives, non-cash compensation expense, dry hole expenses, disposals of assets, impairment and other one-time or non-recurring charges, minus all gains from unrealized financial derivatives, disposal of assets and deferred income tax benefits, added to net income. Adjusted Net Loss is used as a financial measure by Rex Energy's management team and by other users of its financial statements, to analyze its financial performance without regard to non-cash deferred taxes and non-cash unrealized losses or gains from oil and gas derivatives. Adjusted Net Loss is not a calculation based on GAAP financial measures and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) in measuring the company's performance.

Rex Energy reports Adjusted Net Loss because it believes that this measure is commonly reported and widely used by investors as an indicator of a company's operating performance. You should carefully consider the specific items included in the company's computation of this measure. You are cautioned that Adjusted Net Income as reported by Rex Energy may not be comparable in all instances to that reported by other companies.

To compensate for these limitations, the company believes it is important to consider both net income determined under GAAP and Adjusted Net Income.

The following table presents a reconciliation of Rex Energy’s net income from continuing operations to its adjusted net loss for each of the periods presented ($ in thousands):

Cash General and Administrative Expenses

Cash General and Administrative Expenses (Cash G&A) is the difference between GAAP G&A and non-Cash G&A, which is primarily comprised of non-cash compensation expense. Rex Energy has reported Cash G&A because it believes that this measure is commonly reported and widely used by management and investors as an indicator of overhead efficiency without regard to non-cash expenditures, such as stock compensation. Cash G&A is not a calculation based on GAAP financial measures and should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP G&A in measuring the company’s performance. You should carefully consider the specific items included in the company’s computation of this measure. You are cautioned that Cash G&A as reported by Rex Energy may not be comparable in all instances to that reported by other companies.

To compensate for these limitations, the company believes it is important to consider both Cash G&A and GAAP G&A. The following table presents a reconciliation of Rex Energy’s GAAP G&A to its Cash G&A for each of the periods presented (in thousands):

For more information contact: Investor Relations (814) 278-7130 InvestorRelations@rexenergycorp.com