Southwestern Energy Announces First Quarter 2022 Results

Strategically advantaged to deliver more resilient and increased cash flow

SPRING, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN) today announced financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.

• Generated $972 million net cash provided by operating activities, $861 million net cash flow (non-GAAP) and $317 million free cash flow (non-GAAP)
• Reduced debt by $508 million, consistent with disciplined capital allocation framework, utilizing free cash flow and seasonal working capital changes
• Reported total production of 425 Bcfe, or 4.7 Bcfe per day, including 4.2 Bcf per day of gas and 91 MBbls per day of liquids
• Operational performance on track; invested $544 million of capital consistent with front-end loaded plan to bring 32 wells to sales during the quarter
• Completed responsibly sourced gas well certifications of all Appalachia production; Haynesville certifications expected to be complete by year-end; progressing continuous monitoring project across the portfolio
• In April, announced Amended and Restated Credit Agreement; becomes unsecured upon receipt of an investment grade rating, maturity extended to 2027 and borrowing base increased to $3.5 billion while retaining elected commitments of $2.0 billion

“Southwestern Energy delivered another strong quarter following the timely and successful integration of our Haynesville assets, highlighting the strength of the Company’s strategically positioned business. Our amended and restated credit agreement is evidence of our progress to achieving investment grade. We believe our increasing and more resilient free cash flow generation capability coupled with our improved business and financial risk profile has created real value for our shareholders,” said Bill Way, Southwestern Energy President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Recent global events underscore the importance of energy security and highlight the vital role of US natural gas, both domestically and globally. Today, SWN is differentially positioned to help meet the growing global demand for US natural gas as the second largest natural gas-focused producer in the US, already delivering 1.5 Bcf per day directly to LNG. Our strategically advantaged transportation portfolio enables the Company to reach diversified premium markets, including the capability of delivering approximately 65% of natural gas production to the LNG corridor and Gulf Coast. This marketing advantage is complemented by our deep Tier 1 inventory, strong and improving financial and credit profile, and an enterprise-wide commitment to RSG,” continued Way.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2022, Southwestern Energy recorded a net loss of $2.7 billion, or ($2.40) per diluted share, primarily due to the mark-to-market of unsettled derivatives. Excluding this and other one-time items, adjusted net income (non-GAAP) was $447 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) was $905 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was $972 million, net cash flow (non-GAAP) was $861 million and free cash flow (non-GAAP) was $317 million.

The Company utilized free cash flow generated in the first quarter of 2022 for debt reduction. In January, the Company retired the remaining $201 million of senior notes due March 2022. As of March 31, 2022, Southwestern Energy had total debt of $4.9 billion and net debt to adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) of 1.7x. At the end of the quarter, the Company had access to $1.7 billion of liquidity, with $174 million of borrowings under its revolving credit facility and $147 million in outstanding letters of credit. In January 2022, the Company received an upgrade to its long-term debt issuer rating from S&P to BB+, placing the Company one notch below investment grade credit rating.

In April 2022, the Company announced an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement that extended the maturity date of its existing credit facility by three years to April 2027 with an aggregate maximum revolving credit amount and borrowing base of $3.5 billion, and no change to elected commitments of $2.0 billion. The Agreement provides for the release of subsidiary guarantors and collateral, as well as other terms consistent with standard “fall away” provisions, upon receipt of an investment grade rating from either S&P or Moody’s and the satisfaction of certain other conditions. Furthermore, upon receipt of two investment grade ratings from S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, the Agreement provides for terms consistent with investment grade peers, including the replacement of all financial covenants with a debt to capitalization financial covenant. Returning to investment grade remains a key financial objective for the Company, aligned with its strategic priorities.

As indicated in the table below, first quarter 2022 weighted average realized price, including $0.25 per Mcfe of transportation expenses, was $4.88 per Mcfe excluding the impact of derivatives. Including derivatives, weighted average realized price (including transportation) for the first quarter was up 28% from $2.54 per Mcfe in 2021 to $3.24 per Mcfe in 2022 primarily due to higher commodity prices including an 84% increase in NYMEX Henry Hub and a 63% increase in WTI. First quarter 2022 weighted average realized price before transportation expense and excluding the impact of derivatives was $5.13 per Mcfe.

Operational Results

Total net production for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 was 425 Bcfe, of which 88% was natural gas, 10% NGLs and 2% oil. Capital investments totaled $544 million for the first quarter of 2022, consistent with the Company’s front-end loaded capital program, with 33 wells drilled, 37 wells completed and 32 wells placed to sales.

Appalachia – In the first quarter, total production was 259 Bcfe, with NGL production of 77 MBbls per day and oil production of 14 MBbls per day. The Company drilled 18 wells, completed 17 wells and placed 11 wells to sales with an average lateral length of 12,667 feet.

Haynesville – In the first quarter, total production was 166 Bcf. There were 15 wells drilled, 20 wells completed and 21 wells placed to sales in the quarter with an average lateral length of 8,215 feet.

Second Quarter 2022 Guidance Update

Based on current market conditions, Southwestern expects second quarter production and price differentials to be within the following ranges.

Conference Call

Southwestern Energy will host a conference call and webcast on Friday, April 29, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. Central to discuss first quarter 2022 results. To participate, dial US toll-free 877-883-0383, or international 412-902-6506 and enter access code 6924406. The conference call will webcast live at www.swn.com.

To listen to a replay of the call, dial 877-344-7529, International 412-317-0088, or Canada Toll Free 855-669-9658. Enter replay access code 3957714. The replay will be available until May 6, 2022.

About Southwestern Energy

Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN) is a leading U.S. producer and marketer of natural gas and natural gas liquids focused on responsibly developing large-scale energy assets in the nation’s most prolific shale gas basins. SWN’s returns-driven strategy strives to create sustainable value for its stakeholders by leveraging its scale, financial strength and operational execution. For additional information, please visit www.swn.com and www.swn.com/responsibility.

Forward Looking Statement

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on current expectations. The words “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “estimate,” “continue,” “potential,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “objective,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “effort,” “expect,” “believe,” “predict,” “budget,” “projection,” “goal,” “forecast,” “model,” “target”, “seek”, “strive,” “would,” “approximate,” and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements may be forward looking even in the absence of these particular words.

Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the expectations of plans, business strategies, objectives and growth and anticipated financial and operational performance, including guidance regarding our strategy to develop reserves, drilling plans and programs, estimated reserves and inventory duration, projected production and sales volume and growth rates, commodity prices, projected average well costs, generation of free cash flow, expected benefits from acquisitions, potential acquisitions and strategic transactions, the timing thereof and our ability to achieve the intended operational, financial and strategic benefits of any such transactions or other initiatives. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The estimates and assumptions upon which forward-looking statements are based are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks that are beyond our control. Although we believe the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure you that such statements will be realized or that the events and circumstances they describe will occur. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on any of the forward-looking statements contained herein.

Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in any forward-looking statement are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties incident to the exploration for and the development, production, gathering and sale of natural gas, NGLs and oil, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. These risks include, but are not limited to, commodity price volatility, inflation, lack of availability of drilling and production equipment and services, environmental risks, drilling and other operating risks, legislative and regulatory changes, the uncertainty inherent in estimating natural gas and oil reserves and in projecting future rates of production, cash flow and access to capital, the timing of development expenditures, a change in our credit rating and an increase in interest rates, our ability to maintain leases that may expire if production is not established or profitably maintained, our ability to transport our production to the most favorable markets or at all, any increase in severance or similar taxes, the impact of the adverse outcome of any material litigation against us or judicial decisions that affect us or our industry generally, the effects of weather or power outages, increased competition, the financial impact of accounting regulations and critical accounting policies, the comparative cost of alternative fuels, credit risk relating to the risk of loss as a result of non-performance by our counterparties, impacts of world health events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, cybersecurity risks, geopolitical and business conditions in key regions of the world, our ability to realize the expected benefits from acquisitions, including our mergers with GEP Haynesville, LLC, Montage Resources Corporation and Indigo Natural Resources LLC, and any other factors described under Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

We have no obligation and make no undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Hedging Summary

A detailed breakdown of derivative financial instruments and financial basis positions as of March 31, 2022, including the remainder of 2022 and excluding those positions that settled in the first quarter, is shown below. Please refer to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for complete information on the Company’s commodity, basis and interest rate protection.

Contacts

Investor Contact
Brittany Raiford

Director, Investor Relations

(832) 796-7906

brittany_raiford@swn.com

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