HOUSTON, May 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Battalion Oil Corporation (NYSE:BATL, "Battalion" or the "Company")) today announced financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2024. Key Highlights Previously announced AGI project online in Q1 2024 and achieved new record of 32 MMcf/d of throughput Drilled and completed two wells in Monument Draw in Q1 2024 Generated first quarter 2024 sales volumes of 12,989 barrels of oil equivalent per day ("Boe/d") Executed a $20.0 million preferred equity raise in March 2024 and an additional $20.0 million preferred equity raise in May 2024 to support drilling program and debt reduction Continuing strategic alternatives initiative and are working toward closing our previously announced merger agreement with Fury Resources Management Comments During the first quarter 2024, the previously announced two well Glacier pad came online and began producing exceptional quantities of oil and gas. These wells came online below cost budget, above projected type curve, with substantial pressure support and 30-day IP's over 1,950 Boe/d and 1,750 Boe/d, respectively. Two additional wells (Rio Bravo pad) were drilled to total depth and completed. These wells are now flowing back. The drilling rig has finished drilling an additional two-well pad (Vermejo pad) in Monument Draw. All operations have been favorable to plan from both a capital and timing perspective.   During the first quarter 2024, the acid gas injection ("AGI") project restarted operations and began taking gas from the Company with approximately 326 MMcf being treated at the AGI facility and approximately 266 MMcf of sweet gas being returned to the Company for sales to its midstream partner. The Company has continued to increase volume sent to the AGI facility. As the AGI facility continues to ramp to full capacity, the Company expects to save up to $2.0 million per month in gas treating costs. Results of Operations Average daily net production and total operating revenue during the first quarter of 2024 were 12,989 Boe/d (48% oil) and $49.9 million, respectively, as compared to production and revenue of 16,200 Boe/d (50% oil) and $65.1 million, respectively, during the first quarter of 2023. The decrease in revenues in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to the first quarter of 2023 is attributable to an approximate 3,211 Boe/d decrease in average daily production and a $2.17 decrease in average realized prices (excluding the impact of hedges). Excluding the impact of hedges, Battalion realized 97.3% of the average NYMEX oil price during the first quarter of 2024. Realized hedge losses totaled approximately $4.4 million during the first quarter 2024. Lease operating and workover expense was $10.55 per Boe in the first quarter of 2024 versus $8.94 per Boe in the first quarter of 2023. The increase in lease operating and workover expense per Boe year-over-year is primarily a result of an inflationary market increase in maintenance, power and chemical costs combined with a decrease in average daily production. Gathering and other expense was $14.62 per Boe in the first quarter of 2024 versus $11.33 per Boe in the first quarter of 2023. The increases in gathering and other expenses per Boe are primarily related to midstream disruptions and plant curtailments as well as an increased percentage of total production requiring H2S treatment and inflationary impacts on costs associated with our own hydrogen sulfide treating plant. General and administrative expenses were $3.44 per Boe in the first quarter of 2024 compared to $3.53 per Boe in the first quarter of 2023. The decrease in general and administrative expense is primarily attributable to a decrease in payroll and benefits in connection with the headcount reduction in 2023 compared with the prior year period partially offset by an increase in audit, legal and transaction costs associated with the potential merger with Fury Resources. For the first quarter of 2024, the Company reported a net loss available to common stockholders of $36.8 million and a net loss of $2.24 per share available to common stockholders. After adjusting for selected items, the Company reported an adjusted diluted net loss available to common stockholders for the first quarter of 2024 of $17.1 million, or an adjusted diluted net loss of $1.04 per common share (see Reconciliation for additional information). Adjusted EBITDA during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was $9.4 million as compared to $26.1 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 (see Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation table for additional information). Liquidity and Balance Sheet On March 27, 2024, 20,000 shares of preferred equity remaining under a support letter obtained in November 2023 were sold for proceeds of $19.5 million, net of discount. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had $190.0 million of indebtedness outstanding and approximately $0.3 million of letters of credit outstanding. Total liquidity on March 31, 2024, made up of cash and cash equivalents, was $48.9 million. On May 13, 2024, 20,000 shares of preferred equity were sold for proceeds of $19.5 million, net of discount. On May 14, 2024, the Company used $17.3 million of the proceeds from the sale of the preferred equity to pay down debt, resulting in $172.7 million of indebtedness outstanding and approximately $0.3 million of letters of credit outstanding. For further discussion on our liquidity and balance sheet, as well as recent developments, refer to Management's Discussion and Analysis and Risk Factors in the Company's Form 10-K. Important Information for Investors and Stockholders This communication is being made in respect of the proposed transaction involving the Company and Fury Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation. In connection with the proposed transaction, the Company intends to file, or has filed, the relevant materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including a proxy statement on Schedule 14A and a transaction statement on Schedule 13e-3 (the "Schedule 13e-3"). Promptly after filing its definitive proxy statement with the SEC, the Company will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each stockholder of the Company entitled to vote at the special meeting relating to the proposed transaction. This communication is not a substitute for the proxy statement, the Schedule 13e-3 or any other document that the Company has or may file with the SEC or send to its stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. The relevant materials filed by the Company will be made available to the Company's investors and stockholders at no expense to them and copies may be obtained free of charge on the Company's website at www.battalionoil.com. In addition, all of those materials will be available at no charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Investors and stockholders of the Company are urged to read the proxy statement, the Schedule 13e-3 and the other relevant materials as they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed transaction because they contain important information about the Company and the proposed transaction. Participants in Solicitation The Company and its directors, executive officers, other members of its management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of the Company stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction under SEC rules. Investors and stockholders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of the Company's executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and the proxy statement, the Schedule 13e-3 and other relevant materials that will be, or have been, filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction as they become available. Information concerning the interests of the Company's participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of the Company's stockholders generally, will be set forth in the proxy statement relating to the proposed transaction and the Schedule 13e-3, as they become available. Forward Looking Statements This release contains 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. Statements that are not strictly historical statements constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements about anticipated production, liquidity, capital spending, drilling and completion plans, and forward guidance. Forward-looking statements may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words such as "expects", "believes", "intends", "anticipates", "plans", "estimates", "projects," "potential", "possible", or "probable" or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "should", or "could" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations and involve certain assumptions or estimates that involve various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, those set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and other filings submitted by the Company to the SEC, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or through the Company's website at www.battalionoil.com. Readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date hereof. The Company has no duty, and assumes no obligation, to update forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or changes in the Company's expectations. About Battalion Battalion Oil Corporation is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, production, exploration and development of onshore oil and natural gas properties in the United States. Contact Matthew B. SteeleChief Executive Officer & Principal Financial Officer832-538-0300 BATTALION OIL CORPORATIONCONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)(In thousands, except per share amounts)                   Three Months Ended     March 31,     2024   2023 Operating revenues:             Oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales:             Oil   $ 42,429     $ 54,215   Natural gas     2,047       2,900   Natural gas liquids     5,056       7,158   Total oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales     49,532       64,273   Other     338       869   Total operating revenues     49,870       65,142                 Operating expenses:             Production:             Lease operating     11,586       11,691   Workover and other     888       1,335   Taxes other than income     2,991       3,190   Gathering and other     17,286       16,517   General and administrative     4,071       5,137   Depletion, depreciation and accretion     13,025       16,148   Total operating expenses     49,847       54,018   Income from operations     23       11,124                 Other income (expenses):             Net (loss) gain on derivative contracts     (24,187 )     19,473   Interest expense and other     (7,039 )     (7,786 ) Total other (expenses) income     (31,226 )     11,687   (Loss) income before income taxes     (31,203 )     22,811   Income tax benefit (provision)     —       —   Net (loss) income   $ (31,203 )   $ 22,811   Series A preferred dividends     (5,632 )     (1,492 ) Net (loss) income available to common stockholders   $ (36,835 )   $ 21,319                 Net (loss) income per share of common stock available to common stockholders:             Basic   $ (2.24 )   $ 1.29   Diluted   $ (2.24 )   $ 1.28   Weighted average common shares outstanding:             Basic     16,457       16,393   Diluted     16,457       16,535                     BATTALION OIL CORPORATIONCONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)                      March 31, 2024      December 31, 2023 Current assets:             Cash and cash equivalents   $ 48,941     $ 57,529   Accounts receivable, net     25,987       23,021   Assets from derivative contracts     7,633       8,992   Restricted cash     91       90   Prepaids and other     919       907   Total current assets     83,571       90,539   Oil and natural gas properties (full cost method):             Evaluated     776,504       755,482   Unevaluated     58,909       58,909   Gross oil and natural gas properties     835,413       814,391   Less: accumulated depletion     (458,604 )     (445,975 ) Net oil and natural gas properties     376,809       368,416   Other operating property and equipment:             Other operating property and equipment     4,648       4,640   Less: accumulated depreciation     (1,979 )     (1,817 ) Net other operating property and equipment     2,669       2,823   Other noncurrent assets:             Assets from derivative contracts     3,898       4,877   Operating lease right of use assets     890       1,027   Other assets     20,780       17,656   Total assets   $ 488,617     $ 485,338                 Current liabilities:             Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   $ 63,117     $ 66,525   Liabilities from derivative contracts     28,764       17,191   Current portion of long-term debt     55,106       50,106