CALGARY,
AB, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Vermilion
Energy Inc. ("Vermilion", "We", "Our", "Us" or the "Company") (TSX:
VET) (NYSE: VET) is pleased to report operating and condensed
financial results for the year ended December 31,
2023.
The audited financial statements, management discussion and
analysis and annual information form for the year
ended December 31, 2023 will be available on the System
for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval Plus ("SEDAR+") at
www.sedarplus.ca, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml, and on
Vermilion's website at www.vermilionenergy.com.
Highlights
Q4 2023 Results
- Q4 2023 fund flows from operations ("FFO")(1) was
$372 million ($2.27/basic share)(2) and exploration
and development ("E&D") capital expenditures(3) were
$143 million, resulting in free cash
flow ("FCF")(4) of $229
million ($1.40/basic
share)(5).
- Net debt(6) decreased by $164
million in Q4 2023 to $1.1
billion, the lowest level in a decade and a 50% reduction
from the peak in 2020. In addition, Vermilion returned $45 million to shareholders comprised of
$16 million of dividends and
$29 million of share buybacks.
- Production during the fourth quarter of 2023 averaged 87,597
boe/d(8), comprised of 54,216 boe/d(8) from
our North American assets and 33,381 boe/d(8) from
our International assets.
- Q4 2023 production benefited from a full quarter of production
from Australia and Ireland following maintenance downtime in the
prior quarter, as well as increased production in the Netherlands due to new production from our
2023 drilling program.
Year End 2023 Results
- 2023 FFO(1) was $1,143
million ($6.98/basic
share)(2) and E&D capital expenditures(3)
were $590 million, resulting in
FCF(4) of $552 million
($3.37/basic
share)(5).
- Net debt(6) decreased by $266
million in 2023 to $1.1
billion, representing a trailing net debt-to-FFO
ratio(7) of under 1.0 times. In addition, Vermilion
returned $160 million to
shareholders, comprised of $65
million in dividends and $95
million of share buybacks.
- Reported a 2023 net loss of $238
million ($1.45/basic share)
driven by non-cash impairment charges and dispositions, partially
offset by strong price realization and acquisition activity.
Excluding non-cash impairments, net earnings were $536 million ($3.27/basic share).
- Production during 2023 averaged 83,994 boe/d(8),
which was at the mid-point of our 2023 guidance range. Strong
performance across many of our business units served to offset
wildfire-related downtime in Canada and maintenance downtime in
Australia.
- Year-end 2023 proved developed producing ("PDP") reserves were
173 mmboe(9) and total proved plus probable ("2P")
reserves were 430 mmboe(9), reflecting a reserve life
index of 5.6 years and 14.0 years, respectively.
- The after-tax net present value of PDP reserves, discounted at
10%, is $3.2 billion(9)
and the after-tax net present value of 2P reserves, discounted at
10%, is $5.7 billion(9),
or $28.72 per basic
share(9) after deducting year-end net debt.
Outlook
- In conjunction with our Q4 2023 release, we announced a
quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per
share, payable on April 15, 2024 to
shareholders of record on March 28,
2024. This quarterly cash dividend represents a 20% increase
over the prior quarterly dividend.
- Given our strong financial position and continued operational
momentum, we are increasing our capital return target to 50% of
excess FCF and will manage to this target on a full-year basis
versus our previous effective date of April
1, 2024. Year-to-date, we have repurchased and retired 1.4
million shares and plan to increase the pace of share buybacks
starting immediately.
- Construction of the 16,000 boe/d Mica
Montney battery is progressing as planned and remains on
schedule for a mid-year start-up. With the additional capacity
provided by this battery, we are able to move forward with the
growth phase of our Mica Montney
asset, and have drilled six wells on our 16-28 BC pad that will be
completed and ready for tie-in during Q2 2024.
- We continued to advance our deep gas exploration and
development plans in Germany, with
drilling operations nearly complete on the first well of our
program. We expect to reach total depth in the coming weeks and
will then move the rig to the next location, where the second well
of our program will be drilled during Q2 2024.
- In Croatia, we drilled the
first exploration well on the SA-7 block in Q1 2024 and reached
total measured depth of 2,371 metres, where we discovered
hydrocarbons in multiple zones. We plan to evaluate and test these
zones during the second quarter while commencing drilling on the
second of four wells planned on the SA-7 block this year.
Construction of the gas plant on the SA-10 block is progressing as
planned and remains on schedule for a mid-year start-up.
($M except as
indicated)
|
Q4
2023
|
Q3
2023
|
Q4
2022
|
2023
|
2022
|
Financial
|
|
|
|
|
|
Petroleum and natural
gas sales
|
522,969
|
475,532
|
842,693
|
2,022,555
|
3,476,394
|
Cash flows from
operating activities
|
343,831
|
118,436
|
495,195
|
1,024,528
|
1,814,220
|
Fund flows from
operations (1)
|
372,117
|
270,218
|
284,220
|
1,142,611
|
1,634,865
|
Fund
flows from operations ($/basic share) (2)
|
2.27
|
1.65
|
1.74
|
6.98
|
10.00
|
Fund
flows from operations ($/diluted share) (2)
|
2.27
|
1.62
|
1.70
|
6.98
|
9.71
|
Net (loss)
earnings
|
(803,136)
|
57,309
|
395,408
|
(237,587)
|
1,313,062
|
Net
(loss) earnings ($/basic share)
|
(4.91)
|
0.35
|
2.42
|
(1.45)
|
8.03
|
Cash flows used in
investing activities
|
132,932
|
170,404
|
168,053
|
576,435
|
1,059,292
|
Capital expenditures
(3)
|
142,887
|
125,639
|
169,305
|
590,191
|
551,817
|
Acquisitions
(10)
|
25,724
|
5,238
|
4,558
|
273,018
|
539,713
|
Dispositions
|
14,855
|
—
|
—
|
197,007
|
—
|
Asset retirement
obligations settled
|
28,937
|
13,582
|
16,508
|
56,966
|
37,514
|
Repurchase of
shares
|
28,736
|
11,645
|
—
|
94,838
|
71,659
|
Cash dividends
($/share)
|
0.10
|
0.10
|
0.08
|
0.40
|
0.28
|
Dividends
declared
|
16,227
|
16,367
|
13,058
|
65,248
|
45,769
|
% of
fund flows from operations (11)
|
4 %
|
6 %
|
5 %
|
6 %
|
3 %
|
Payout
(12)
|
188,051
|
155,588
|
198,871
|
712,405
|
635,100
|
% of
fund flows from operations (12)
|
51 %
|
58 %
|
70 %
|
62 %
|
39 %
|
Free cash flow
(4)
|
229,230
|
144,575
|
114,915
|
552,420
|
1,083,048
|
Long-term
debt
|
914,015
|
966,505
|
1,081,351
|
914,015
|
1,081,351
|
Net debt
(6)
|
1,078,567
|
1,242,522
|
1,344,586
|
1,078,567
|
1,344,586
|
Net debt to four
quarter trailing fund flows from operations
(7)
|
0.9
|
1.2
|
0.8
|
0.9
|
0.8
|
Operational
|
Production
(8)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crude oil and condensate (bbls/d)
|
32,866
|
31,417
|
38,915
|
31,727
|
37,530
|
NGLs
(bbls/d)
|
7,412
|
7,344
|
7,497
|
7,296
|
7,961
|
Natural gas (mmcf/d)
|
283.91
|
263.80
|
234.23
|
269.83
|
238.18
|
Total (boe/d)
|
87,597
|
82,727
|
85,450
|
83,994
|
85,187
|
Average realized
prices
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crude oil and condensate ($/bbl)
|
107.91
|
106.94
|
115.02
|
102.43
|
123.89
|
NGLs
($/bbl)
|
33.38
|
27.77
|
39.93
|
31.54
|
45.95
|
Natural gas ($/mcf)
|
8.48
|
6.32
|
17.43
|
8.17
|
18.99
|
Production mix (% of
production)
|
|
|
|
|
|
%
priced with reference to WTI
|
29 %
|
34 %
|
38 %
|
33 %
|
38 %
|
%
priced with reference to Dated Brent
|
17 %
|
13 %
|
18 %
|
13 %
|
16 %
|
%
priced with reference to AECO
|
31 %
|
34 %
|
30 %
|
33 %
|
30 %
|
%
priced with reference to TTF and NBP
|
23 %
|
19 %
|
14 %
|
21 %
|
16 %
|
Netbacks
($/boe)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating netback (13)
|
57.48
|
49.30
|
70.00
|
49.22
|
70.15
|
Fund
flows from operations ($/boe) (14)
|
48.83
|
35.76
|
35.08
|
37.90
|
52.65
|
Operating expenses
|
15.35
|
16.26
|
16.81
|
17.03
|
15.75
|
General and administration expenses
|
2.60
|
2.77
|
1.65
|
2.68
|
1.86
|
Average reference
prices
|
|
|
|
|
|
WTI
(US $/bbl)
|
78.32
|
82.26
|
82.65
|
77.63
|
94.23
|
Dated Brent (US $/bbl)
|
84.05
|
86.76
|
88.71
|
82.62
|
101.19
|
AECO
($/mcf)
|
2.30
|
2.61
|
4.64
|
2.64
|
5.25
|
TTF
($/mcf)
|
17.45
|
14.11
|
38.36
|
17.40
|
48.35
|
Share information
('000s)
|
Shares outstanding -
basic
|
162,271
|
163,666
|
163,227
|
162,271
|
163,227
|
Shares outstanding -
diluted (15)
|
166,456
|
167,904
|
168,616
|
166,456
|
168,616
|
Weighted average shares
outstanding - basic
|
163,335
|
163,946
|
163,105
|
163,719
|
163,489
|
Weighted average shares
outstanding - diluted (15)
|
163,335
|
166,392
|
167,397
|
163,719
|
168,426
|
(1)
|
Fund flows from
operations (FFO) is a total of segments measure comparable to net
(loss) earnings that is comprised of sales less royalties,
transportation, operating, G&A, corporate income tax, PRRT,
windfall taxes, interest expense, realized gain (loss) on
derivatives, realized foreign exchange gain (loss), and realized
other income (expense). The measure is used to assess the
contribution of each business unit to Vermilion's ability to
generate income necessary to pay dividends, repay debt, fund asset
retirement obligations, and make capital investments. FFO does not
have a standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be
comparable to similar measures provided by other issuers. More
information and a reconciliation to primary financial statement
measures can be found in the "Non-GAAP and Other Specified
Financial Measures" section of this document.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Fund flows from
operations per share (basic and diluted) are supplementary
financial measures and are not standardized financial measures
under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures
disclosed by other issuers. They are calculated using FFO (a total
of segments measure) and basic/diluted shares outstanding. The
measure is used to assess the contribution per share of each
business unit. More information and a reconciliation to primary
financial statement measures can be found in the "Non-GAAP and
Other Specified Financial Measures" section of this
document.
|
|
|
(3)
|
Capital expenditures is
a non-GAAP financial measure that is the sum of drilling and
development costs and exploration and evaluation costs from the
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. More information and a
reconciliation to primary financial statement measures can be found
in the "Non-GAAP and Other Specified Financial Measures" section of
this document.
|
|
|
(4)
|
Free cash flow (FCF)
and excess free cash flow (EFCF) are non-GAAP financial measures
comparable to cash flows from operating activities. FCF is
comprised of FFO less drilling and development and exploration and
evaluation expenditures and EFCF is FCF less payments on lease
obligations and asset retirement obligations settled. More
information and a reconciliation to primary financial statement
measures can be found in the "Non-GAAP and Other Specified
Financial Measures" section of this document.
|
|
|
(5)
|
Free cash flow per
basic share is a non-GAAP supplementary financial measure and is
not a standardized financial measure under IFRS and may not be
comparable to similar measures disclosed by other issuers. It is
calculated using FCF and basic shares outstanding.
|
|
|
(6)
|
Net debt is a capital
management measure comparable to long-term debt and is comprised of
long-term debt (excluding unrealized foreign exchange on swapped
USD borrowings) plus adjusted working capital (defined as current
assets less current liabilities, excluding current derivatives and
current lease liabilities). More information and a reconciliation
to primary financial statement measures can be found in the
"Non-GAAP and Other Specified Financial Measures" section of this
document.
|
|
|
(7)
|
Net debt to trailing
FFO is a supplementary financial measure and is not a standardized
financial measure under IFRS. It may not be comparable to similar
measures disclosed by other issuers and is calculated using net
debt (capital management measure) and FFO (total of segment
measure). The measure is used to assess the ability to repay debt.
Information in this document is included by reference; refer to the
"Non-GAAP and Other Specified Financial Measures" section of this
document.
|
|
|
(8)
|
Please refer to
Supplemental Table 4 "Production" of the accompanying Management's
Discussion and Analysis for disclosure by product type.
|
|
|
(9)
|
Estimated gross proved,
developed and producing, total proved, and total proved plus
probable reserves as evaluated by McDaniel & Associates
Consultants Ltd. ("McDaniel") in a report dated March 5, 2024 with
an effective date of December 31, 2023 (the "2023 McDaniel Reserves
Report"). See Vermilion's annual information form for the year
ended December 31, 2023 for additional information, including
reserve pricing assumptions. Per share metrics calculated using
basic shares outstanding at December 31, 2023.
|
|
|
(10)
|
Acquisitions is a
non-GAAP financial measure that is calculated as the sum of
acquisitions and acquisitions of securities from the Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows, Vermilion common shares issued as
consideration, the estimated value of contingent consideration, the
amount of acquiree's outstanding long-term debt assumed, and net
acquired working capital deficit or surplus. More information and a
reconciliation to primary financial statement measures can be found
in the "Non-GAAP and Other Specified Financial Measures" section of
this document.
|
|
|
(11)
|
Dividends % of FFO is a
supplementary financial measure that is not standardized under IFRS
and may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other
issuers, calculated as dividends divided by FFO. The ratio is used
by management as a metric to assess the cash distributed to
shareholders. Reconciliation to primary financial statement
measures can be found in the "Non-GAAP and Other Specified
Financial Measures" section of this document.
|
|
|
(12)
|
Payout and payout % of
FFO are a non-GAAP financial measure and a non-GAAP ratio,
respectively, that are not standardized under IFRS and may not be
comparable to similar measures disclosed by other issuers. Payout
is comparable to dividends declared and is comprised of dividends
declared plus drilling and development costs, exploration and
evaluation costs, and asset retirement obligations settled, while
the ratio is calculated as payout divided by FFO. More information
and a reconciliation to primary financial statement measures can be
found in the "Non-GAAP and Other Specified Financial Measures"
section of this document.
|
|
|
(13)
|
Operating netback is a
non-GAAP financial measure comparable to net earnings and is
comprised of sales less royalties, operating expense,
transportation costs, PRRT, and realized hedging gains and losses.
More information and a reconciliation to primary financial
statement measures can be found in the "Non-GAAP and Other
Specified Financial Measures" section of this document.
|
|
|
(14)
|
Fund flows from
operations per boe is a supplementary financial measure that is not
standardized under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar
measures disclosed by other issuers, calculated as FFO by boe
production. Fund flows from operations per boe is used by
management to assess the profitability of our business units and
Vermilion as a whole. More information and a reconciliation to
primary financial statement measures can be found in the "Non-GAAP
and Other Specified Financial Measures" section of this
document.
|
|
|
(15)
|
Diluted shares
outstanding represent the sum of shares outstanding at the period
end plus outstanding awards under the Long-term Incentive Plan
("LTIP"), based on current estimates of future performance factors
and forfeiture rates.
|
Message to Shareholders
We made significant progress in 2023 towards our debt reduction
and asset high-grading initiatives, while also advancing key growth
projects in Canada, Germany, and Croatia. We closed the Corrib acquisition in
Ireland and completed the
disposition of select non-core assets in southeast Saskatchewan early in the year. These
transactions further strengthened our asset base by adding more low
emission, premium-priced European natural gas to our portfolio
while divesting less efficient, higher cost assets in Canada. With this high-graded asset base, we
were able to deliver on the midpoint of our annual production
guidance of 84,000 boe/d despite wildfire-related downtime in
Western Canada and unplanned
downtime in Australia. Our ability
to meet annual production guidance highlights the advantages of
operating a diversified portfolio as we were able to reallocate
capital to offset the production impacts in Canada and Australia. With strong operational performance
in the fourth quarter, we achieved average production of 87,597
boe/d in Q4 2023, representing a 6% increase over the prior
quarter.
Vermilion generated $1.1 billion
of fund flows from operations ("FFO") in 2023, representing the
second strongest year in the history of the company. After
accounting for E&D capital expenditures, we generated
$552 million of free cash flow
("FCF"), of which 29%, or $160
million ($0.98 per share), was
returned directly to shareholders through an increased dividend and
share buybacks, and an additional $266
million ($1.62/share) was
returned indirectly through debt reduction. Q4 2023 FFO and FCF was
$372 million and $229 million, respectively, representing a 38%
and 59% increase over the prior quarter, primarily due to higher
production from our high-margin Australia and Ireland business units and tax adjustments.
Net debt decreased by $266 million in
2023 to end the year at $1.1 billion,
which is the lowest level in a decade and represents 0.9 times our
annual FFO. This is a key milestone for the company as it aligns
with our internal leverage target of one times net debt to FFO or
less, and positions us for increasing shareholder returns,
including a 20% increase to our quarterly dividend effective Q1
2024, previously announced with our 2024 budget.
As a result of the progress achieved on debt reduction, we are
now able to accelerate our return of capital. The return of capital
framework outlined with our 2024 budget release in December
contemplated a capital return target of 30% of excess FCF ("EFCF")
in Q1 2024, increasing to 50% of EFCF effective April 1, 2024. Given our strong financial
position and continued operational momentum, we now plan to
increase our capital return target to 50% of EFCF on a full-year
basis for 2024 with a corresponding increase in share buybacks
starting immediately, as we continue to believe share buybacks
represent a competitive use of capital.
Our disciplined focus on strengthening the balance sheet and
high-grading the asset base, along with diligent capital
allocation, has made the company much stronger and much more
resilient today. We ended 2023 with a strong balance sheet and have
continued our operational momentum from the fourth quarter into
2024. Our 2024 capital program is well underway and we are very
pleased with how things are progressing on our three key growth
initiatives in Canada,
Germany and Croatia. The development of our gas prospects
in Germany and Croatia will increase our exposure to
premium-priced European gas, while the expansion of our Montney
infrastructure in Canada will set
the stage for long-term development and growth of this asset. We
are excited about Vermilion's outlook and believe we have a robust
portfolio capable of generating strong compounded returns for our
shareholders through a combination of modest annual production
growth, a resilient and growing base dividend and share
buybacks.
We would like to thank all our stakeholders for their ongoing
support and contributions, and we look forward to providing further
updates on our 2024 operational and financial results as the year
progresses.
Q4 2023 Operations Review
North America
Production from our North American operations averaged 54,216
boe/d(1) in Q4 2023, a decrease of 4% from the previous
quarter due to natural declines in both Canada and the
United States.
In the Deep Basin, we drilled five (5.0 net), completed five
(5.0 net), and brought on production four (4.0 net) Mannville liquids-rich conventional natural
gas wells. At Mica we drilled the initial four (4.0 net) Montney
liquids-rich shale gas wells on our BC lands as part of our winter
drilling program in advance of the expected start-up of our 8-33 BC
battery in mid-2024. In Saskatchewan, we completed and brought on
production one (1.0 net) light and medium crude oil well, while in
the United States, we participated
in the drilling of six (2.0 net) non-operated light and medium
crude oil wells in Wyoming.
Construction of the 16,000 boe/d Mica
Montney battery is progressing as planned and remains on
schedule for a mid-year start-up. Once operational, this battery
will more than double our Montney infrastructure capacity to
approximately 20,000 boe/d. With this additional capacity, we are
able to move forward with the growth phase of our Mica Montney asset, and to date have drilled
eight of the 11 planned wells on or offsetting our recent 16-28 BC
pad. The two wells that were previously drilled on this pad and
brought on production in March 2023
have produced nearly 700,000 boe combined to the end of
February 2024, including over 215,000
barrels of liquids (83% light crude oil). Six of the new wells are
expected to be completed and ready for tie-in during Q2 2024 to
align with the start-up of the new battery.
International
Production from our International operations averaged 33,381
boe/d(1) in Q4 2023, an increase of 29% over the
previous quarter primarily due to a full quarter of production at
our Australia and Ireland operations following maintenance
downtime in the prior quarter, as well as increased production in
the Netherlands due to new
production from our 2023 drilling program.
We continued to advance our deep gas exploration and development
plans in Germany, with drilling
operations nearly complete on our first well of our program. We
expect to reach total depth in the coming weeks and will then move
the rig to the next location, where the second well of our program
will be drilled during Q2 2024.
In Croatia, construction of the
gas plant on the SA-10 block is progressing as planned and remains
on schedule for start-up mid-year. This gas plant will facilitate
production from the SA-10 block where we have previous gas
discoveries. Subsequent to year-end, we commenced drilling on the
first exploration well on the SA-7 block and reached total measured
depth of 2,371 metres, where we discovered hydrocarbons in multiple
zones. We plan to evaluate and test these zones during the second
quarter while commencing drilling on the second of four wells
planned on the SA-7 block this year. In addition, we recently
signed a farmout agreement with the INA Group to jointly develop
the SA-7 block. INA is the largest integrated oil and gas company
in Croatia and brings local
expertise and access to existing infrastructure that will play a
critical role in developing this asset.
2023 Reserves Update
Our 2023 proved developed producing ("PDP") reserves decreased
by 8% from the prior year to 172.7 mmboe(2) while our
total proved plus probable ("2P") reserves decreased by 18% from
the prior year to 429.8 mmboe(2), primarily due to
dispositions, production, and technical revisions, including
technical revisions resulting from capital allocation decisions.
Early in the year, we divested a non-core asset in southeast
Saskatchewan which accounted for
11.6 mmboe of the PDP reduction and 32.4 mmboe of the 2P reduction.
During the second half of the year we divested non-core assets in
the USA, contributing 0.7 mmboe to
the PDP reduction and 13.9 mmboe of the 2P reduction. The closing
of the Corrib acquisition in Ireland in Q1 2023 added 12.5 mmboe of premium
priced European gas to our PDP reserves and 17.2 mmboe to our 2P
reserves.
Over the past couple years, we have placed a great deal of focus
on asset high-grading and advancing several key growth projects
within our portfolio to increase FCF per share. As a result, some
of our near-term capital allocation priorities have shifted, with a
greater emphasis on funding our Mica
Montney development and Germany exploration program. With this in
mind, we have updated future capital allocation estimates to align
with our long-term capital priorities, including our return of
capital framework. As a result, we have removed or divested
reserves associated with undeveloped locations that are not
prioritized for investment under our current plans. The assets most
impacted by these capital allocation decisions are located in the
USA and Saskatchewan. Approximately 40% of the 2P
technical revisions relate to capital allocation decisions and
therefore, some of these formerly assigned reserves could be
recognized at a future date if they align with our capital
allocation parameters at that time. In addition, we expect to
recognize additional reserves over time from our Mica Montney and Germany exploration program as we develop
these assets.
The PDP and 2P reserve life index at December 31, 2023 is 5.6 years and 14.0 years,
respectively, both of which are in line with our long-term average
and appropriately reflect the conventional composition of our asset
base. The after-tax net present value of PDP reserves, discounted
at 10%, is $3.2 billion(2)
and the after-tax net present value of 2P reserves, discounted at
10%, is $5.7 billion(2),
or $28.72 per basic
share(3) after deducting year-end net debt.
The following table provides a summary of company interest
reserves by reserve category and region on an oil equivalent basis.
Please refer to Vermilion's 2023 Annual Information Form for the
year ending December 31, 2023 ("2023
Annual Information Form") for detailed information by country and
product type.
BOE
(mboe)
|
Proved Developed
Producing
|
Proved Developed
Non-Producing
|
Proved
Undeveloped
|
Proved
|
Probable
|
Proved Plus
Probable
|
North
America
|
112,204
|
5,450
|
78,031
|
195,685
|
120,355
|
316,040
|
International
|
60,502
|
6,892
|
5,305
|
72,700
|
41,098
|
113,798
|
Vermilion
|
172,706
|
12,342
|
83,336
|
268,385
|
161,453
|
429,838
|
The following table provides a reconciliation of changes in
company interest reserves by reserve category and region. Please
refer to Vermilion's 2023 Annual Information Form for detailed
information by country and product type and for an explanation
concerning the reserve change categories. The following tables may
not total due to rounding.
PDP
(mboe)
|
North
America
|
International
|
Vermilion
|
December 31,
2022
|
133,879
|
54,738
|
188,617
|
Discoveries
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Extensions &
Improved Recovery
|
5,399
|
293
|
5,692
|
Technical
Revisions
|
2,931
|
2,706
|
5,637
|
Acquisitions
|
2,791
|
12,548
|
15,339
|
Dispositions
|
(12,456)
|
—
|
(12,456)
|
Economic
Factors
|
194
|
339
|
533
|
Production
|
(20,534)
|
(10,122)
|
(30,656)
|
December 31,
2023
|
112,204
|
60,502
|
172,706
|
1P
(mboe)
|
North
America
|
International
|
Vermilion
|
December 31,
2022
|
244,670
|
68,461
|
313,129
|
Discoveries
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Extensions &
Improved Recovery
|
23,735
|
692
|
24,428
|
Technical
Revisions
|
(28,211)
|
729
|
(27,483)
|
Acquisitions
|
2,812
|
12,548
|
15,360
|
Dispositions
|
(27,361)
|
—
|
(27,361)
|
Economic
Factors
|
575
|
395
|
969
|
Production
|
(20,534)
|
(10,122)
|
(30,657)
|
December 31,
2023
|
195,685
|
72,699
|
268,385
|
2P
(mboe)
|
North
America
|
International
|
Vermilion
|
December 31,
2022
|
412,044
|
110,744
|
522,790
|
Discoveries
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Extensions &
Improved Recovery
|
27,280
|
25
|
27,305
|
Technical
Revisions
|
(59,548)
|
(2,951)
|
(62,500)
|
Acquisitions
|
3,613
|
17,209
|
20,823
|
Dispositions
|
(47,310)
|
—
|
(47,310)
|
Economic
Factors
|
495
|
(1,107)
|
(612)
|
Production
|
(20,534)
|
(10,122)
|
(30,657)
|
December 31,
2023
|
316,040
|
113,799
|
429,838
|
Additional information about our 2023 McDaniel Reserves Report
can be found in our 2023 Annual Information Form on our website at
www.vermilionenergy.com and on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca.
Outlook and Guidance Update
Our Q1 2024 capital program is progressing as planned with a
primary focus on Montney drilling and battery construction,
Germany exploration drilling and
Croatia gas plant construction.
Most of the production from the Q1 2024 activity will not be on
stream until mid-year or later, and as a result we expect Q1 2024
production to be in the range of 83,000 to 85,000 boe/d.
Organizational Update
Mr. Bryce Kremnica has stepped
down as Vice President of North
America. We would like to thank Mr. Kremnica for his many
contributions to Vermilion over the past 18 years. Mr. Randy McQuaig has been promoted to Vice
President, North America and will
become a member of Vermilion's Executive Committee. Mr. McQuaig has
been with Vermilion since 2013 and most recently held the position
of Director of Canada Business Unit Assets, a position he has held
since 2021. Mr. McQuaig has 30 years of operations and executive
management experience, and has a Bachelor of Science degree in
Petroleum Engineering from the University of
Alberta.
Commodity Hedging
Vermilion hedges to manage commodity price exposures and
increase the stability of our cash flows. In aggregate, as of
March 6, 2024, we have 33% of our
expected net-of-royalty production hedged for 2024. With respect to
individual commodity products, we have hedged 46% of our European
natural gas production, 28% of our crude oil production, and 29% of
our North American natural gas volumes for 2024, respectively.
Please refer to the Hedging section of our website under Invest
With Us for further details using the following link:
https://www.vermilionenergy.com/invest-with-us/hedging.
(Signed "Dion Hatcher")
Dion Hatcher
President & Chief Executive Officer
March 6, 2024
(1)
|
Please refer to
Supplemental Table 4 "Production" of the accompanying Management's
Discussion and Analysis for disclosure by product type.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Estimated gross proved,
developed and producing, total proved, and total proved plus
probable reserves as evaluated by McDaniel & Associates
Consultants Ltd. ("McDaniel") in a report dated March 5, 2024 with
an effective date of December 31, 2023 (the "2023 McDaniel Reserves
Report"). Net present value of discounted cash flows as provided in
the 2023 McDaniel Reserves Report. See Vermilion's annual
information form for the year ended December 31, 2023 for
additional information, including reserve pricing
assumptions.
|
|
|
(3)
|
Per share metrics
calculated using basic shares outstanding at December 31, 2023,
refer to Highlights table for additional information.
|
Non-GAAP and Other Specified Financial Measures
This report and other materials released by Vermilion includes
financial measures that are not standardized, specified, defined,
or determined under IFRS and are therefore considered non-GAAP
or other specified financial measures and may not be comparable to
similar measures presented by other issuers. These financial
measures include:
Total of Segments Measures
Fund flows from operations (FFO): Most directly
comparable to net (loss) earnings, FFO is comprised of sales less
royalties, transportation, operating, G&A, corporate income
tax, PRRT, windfall taxes, interest expense, realized gain (loss)
on derivatives, realized foreign exchange gain (loss), and realized
other income (expense). The measure is used to assess the
contribution of each business unit to Vermilion's ability to
generate income necessary to pay dividends, repay debt, fund asset
retirement obligations and make capital investments.
|
Q4
2023
|
Q4
2022
|
2023
|
2022
|
|
$M
|
$/boe
|
$M
|
$/boe
|
$M
|
$/boe
|
$M
|
$/boe
|
Sales
|
522,969
|
68.64
|
842,693
|
103.99
|
2,022,555
|
67.10
|
3,476,394
|
111.95
|
Royalties
|
(45,148)
|
(5.93)
|
(68,303)
|
(8.43)
|
(191,694)
|
(6.36)
|
(306,017)
|
(9.85)
|
Transportation
|
(22,441)
|
(2.95)
|
(21,976)
|
(2.71)
|
(88,856)
|
(2.95)
|
(78,896)
|
(2.54)
|
Operating
|
(116,937)
|
(15.35)
|
(136,247)
|
(16.81)
|
(513,381)
|
(17.03)
|
(489,034)
|
(15.75)
|
General and
administration
|
(19,810)
|
(2.60)
|
(13,344)
|
(1.65)
|
(80,716)
|
(2.68)
|
(57,677)
|
(1.86)
|
Corporate income tax
expense
|
(19,374)
|
(2.54)
|
(41,958)
|
(5.18)
|
(91,932)
|
(3.05)
|
(208,153)
|
(6.70)
|
Windfall
taxes
|
(249)
|
(0.03)
|
(222,859)
|
(27.50)
|
(78,426)
|
(2.60)
|
(222,859)
|
(7.18)
|
PRRT
|
20,860
|
2.74
|
(5,045)
|
(0.62)
|
20,860
|
0.69
|
(18,318)
|
(0.59)
|
Interest
expense
|
(22,909)
|
(3.01)
|
(22,506)
|
(2.78)
|
(85,212)
|
(2.83)
|
(82,858)
|
(2.67)
|
Realized gain (loss) on
derivatives
|
78,737
|
10.33
|
(43,940)
|
(5.42)
|
234,365
|
7.77
|
(405,894)
|
(13.07)
|
Realized foreign
exchange gain (loss)
|
(5,529)
|
(0.73)
|
18,845
|
2.33
|
(4,532)
|
(0.15)
|
15,195
|
0.49
|
Realized other
(expense) income
|
1,948
|
0.26
|
(1,140)
|
(0.14)
|
(420)
|
(0.01)
|
12,982
|
0.42
|
Fund flows from
operations
|
372,117
|
48.83
|
284,220
|
35.08
|
1,142,611
|
37.90
|
1,634,865
|
52.65
|
Equity based
compensation
|
(7,871)
|
|
(5,377)
|
|
(42,756)
|
|
(44,390)
|
|
Unrealized (loss) gain
on derivative instruments (1)
|
141,126
|
|
549,693
|
|
179,707
|
|
540,801
|
|
Unrealized foreign
exchange (loss) gain (1)
|
4,834
|
|
(47,405)
|
|
12,438
|
|
(84,464)
|
|
Accretion
|
(19,469)
|
|
(16,501)
|
|
(78,187)
|
|
(58,170)
|
|
Depletion and
depreciation
|
(259,012)
|
|
(171,926)
|
|
(712,619)
|
|
(577,134)
|
|
Deferred tax recovery
(expense)
|
110,758
|
|
(196,733)
|
|
190,193
|
|
(288,707)
|
|
Gain on business
combination
|
(5,607)
|
|
—
|
|
439,487
|
|
—
|
|
Loss on
disposition
|
(125,539)
|
|
—
|
|
(352,367)
|
|
—
|
|
Impairment (expense)
reversal
|
(1,016,094)
|
|
—
|
|
(1,016,094)
|
|
192,094
|
|
Unrealized other
expense
|
1,621
|
|
(563)
|
|
—
|
|
(1,833)
|
|
Net (loss)
earnings
|
(803,136)
|
|
395,408
|
|
(237,587)
|
|
1,313,062
|
|
(1)
|
Unrealized gain on
derivative instruments, Unrealized foreign exchange gain (loss),
and Unrealized other expense are line items from the respective
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
|
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Non-GAAP Ratios
Free cash flow (FCF) and excess free cash flow (EFCF):
Most directly comparable to cash flows from operating activities,
FCF is comprised of fund flows from operations less drilling and
development costs and exploration and evaluation cost and EFCF is
comprised of FCF less payments on lease obligations and asset
retirement obligations settled. The measure is used to determine
the funding available for investing and financing activities
including payment of dividends, repayment of long-term debt,
reallocation into existing business units and deployment into new
ventures. EFCF is used to determine the funding available to return
to shareholders after costs attributable to normal business
operations.
($M)
|
Q4
2023
|
Q4
2022
|
2023
|
2022
|
Cash flows from
operating activities
|
343,831
|
495,195
|
1,024,528
|
1,814,220
|
Changes in non-cash
operating working capital
|
(651)
|
(227,483)
|
61,117
|
(216,869)
|
Asset retirement
obligations settled
|
28,937
|
16,508
|
56,966
|
37,514
|
Fund flows from
operations
|
372,117
|
284,220
|
1,142,611
|
1,634,865
|
Drilling and
development
|
(132,308)
|
(157,849)
|
(569,110)
|
(528,056)
|
Exploration and
evaluation
|
(10,579)
|
(11,456)
|
(21,081)
|
(23,761)
|
Free cash
flow
|
229,230
|
114,915
|
552,420
|
1,083,048
|
Payments on lease
obligations
|
(3,977)
|
(8,019)
|
(17,094)
|
(21,168)
|
Asset retirement
obligations settled
|
(28,937)
|
(16,508)
|
(56,966)
|
(37,514)
|
Excess free cash
flow
|
196,316
|
90,388
|
478,360
|
1,024,366
|
Adjusted working capital: Defined as current assets
less current liabilities, excluding current derivatives and current
lease liabilities. The measure is used to calculate net debt, a
capital measure disclosed above.
|
As at
|
($M)
|
Dec 31,
2023
|
Dec 31,
2022
|
Current
assets
|
823,514
|
714,446
|
Current derivative
asset
|
(313,792)
|
(162,843)
|
Current
liabilities
|
(696,074)
|
(892,045)
|
Current lease
liability
|
21,068
|
19,486
|
Current derivative
liability
|
732
|
55,845
|
Adjusted working
capital
|
(164,552)
|
(265,111)
|
Capital expenditures: Calculated as the sum of
drilling and development costs and exploration and evaluation costs
from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and most directly
comparable to cash flows used in investing activities. We consider
capital expenditures to be a useful measure of our investment in
our existing asset base. Capital expenditures are also referred to
as E&D capital.
($M)
|
Q4
2023
|
Q4
2022
|
2023
|
2022
|
Drilling and
development
|
132,308
|
157,849
|
569,110
|
528,056
|
Exploration and
evaluation
|
10,579
|
11,456
|
21,081
|
23,761
|
Capital
expenditures
|
142,887
|
169,305
|
590,191
|
551,817
|
Operating netback: Most directly comparable to net
earnings and is calculated as sales less royalties, operating
expense, transportation costs, PRRT, and realized hedging gains and
losses presented on a per unit basis. Management assesses operating
netback as a measure of the profitability and efficiency of our
field operations.
Payout and payout % of FFO: A non-GAAP financial
measure and non-GAAP ratio respectively most directly comparable to
dividends declared. Payout is comprised of dividends declared plus
drilling and development costs, exploration and evaluation costs,
and asset retirement obligations settled. The measure is used to
assess the amount of cash distributed back to shareholders and
reinvested in the business for maintaining production and organic
growth. The reconciliation of the measure to primary financial
statement measure can be found below. Management uses payout and
payout as a percentage of FFO (also referred to as the payout or
sustainability ratio).
($M)
|
Q4
2023
|
Q4
2022
|
2023
|
2022
|
Dividends
Declared
|
16,227
|
13,058
|
65,248
|
45,769
|
Drilling and
development
|
132,308
|
157,849
|
569,110
|
528,056
|
Exploration and
evaluation
|
10,579
|
11,456
|
21,081
|
23,761
|
Asset retirement
obligations settled
|
28,937
|
16,508
|
56,966
|
37,514
|
Payout
|
188,051
|
198,871
|
712,405
|
635,100
|
%
of fund flows from operations
|
51 %
|
70 %
|
62 %
|
39 %
|
Acquisitions: The sum of acquisitions and acquisitions of
securities from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows,
Vermilion common shares issued as consideration, the estimated
value of contingent consideration, the amount of acquiree's
outstanding long-term debt assumed, and net acquired working
capital deficit or surplus. We believe that including these
components provides a useful measure of the economic investment
associated with our acquisition activity and is most directly
comparable to cash flows used in investing activities. A
reconciliation to the acquisitions line items in the Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows can be found below.
($M)
|
Q4
2023
|
Q4
2022
|
2023
|
2022
|
Acquisitions, net of
cash acquired
|
2,669
|
3,594
|
142,281
|
510,309
|
Acquisition of
securities
|
17,448
|
964
|
21,603
|
23,282
|
Acquired working
capital deficit
|
5,607
|
—
|
109,134
|
6,122
|
Acquisitions
|
25,724
|
4,558
|
273,018
|
539,713
|
Capital Management Measure
Net debt: Is in accordance with IAS 1 "Presentation
of Financial Statements" and is most directly comparable to
long-term debt. Net debt is comprised of long-term debt (excluding
unrealized foreign exchange on swapped USD borrowings) plus
adjusted working capital and represents Vermilion's net financing
obligations after adjusting for the timing of working capital
fluctuations.
|
As at
|
($M)
|
Dec 31,
2023
|
Dec 31,
2022
|
Long-term
debt
|
914,015
|
1,081,351
|
Adjusted working
capital
|
164,552
|
265,111
|
Unrealized FX on
swapped USD borrowings
|
—
|
(1,876)
|
Net
debt
|
1,078,567
|
1,344,586
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net debt to
four quarter trailing fund flows from operations
|
0.9
|
0.8
|
Supplementary Financial Measures
Net debt to four quarter trailing fund flows from
operations: Calculated as net debt (capital management measure)
over the FFO (total of segments measure) from the preceding four
quarters. The measure is used to assess the ability to repay
debt.
Dividends % of FFO: Calculated as dividends declared
divided by FFO (total of segments measure). The measure is used by
management as a metric to assess the cash distributed to
shareholders.
Fund flows from operations per boe: Calculated as
FFO (total of segments measure) by boe production. Fund flows from
operations per boe is used by management to assess the
profitability of our business units and Vermilion as a
whole.
Management's Discussion and Analysis and Consolidated
Financial Statements
To view Vermilion's Management's Discussion and Analysis and
Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended
December 31, 2023 and 2022, please refer to SEDAR+
(www.sedarplus.ca) or Vermilion's website at
https://www.vermilionenergy.com/invest-with-us/reports-filings.cfm.
About Vermilion
Vermilion is an international energy producer that seeks to
create value through the acquisition, exploration, development and
optimization of producing assets in North
America, Europe and
Australia. Our business model
emphasizes free cash flow generation and returning capital to
investors when economically warranted, augmented by value-adding
acquisitions. Vermilion's operations are focused on the
exploitation of light oil and liquids-rich natural gas conventional
and unconventional resource plays in North America and the exploration and
development of conventional natural gas and oil opportunities in
Europe and Australia.
Vermilion's priorities are health and safety, the environment,
and profitability, in that order. Nothing is more important to us
than the safety of the public and those who work with us, and the
protection of our natural surroundings. We have been recognized by
leading ESG rating agencies for our transparency on and management
of key environmental, social and governance issues. In addition, we
emphasize strategic community investment in each of our operating
areas.
Vermilion trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol VET.
Disclaimer
Certain statements included or incorporated by reference in this
document may constitute forward-looking statements or information
under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking
statements or information typically contain statements with words
such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend",
"estimate", "propose", or similar words suggesting future outcomes
or statements regarding an outlook. Forward looking statements or
information in this document may include, but are not limited to:
capital expenditures and Vermilion's ability to fund such
expenditures; Vermilion's additional debt capacity providing it
with additional working capital; statements regarding the return of
capital, the flexibility of Vermilion's capital program and
operations; business strategies and objectives; operational and
financial performance; estimated volumes of reserves and resources;
petroleum and natural gas sales; future production levels and the
timing thereof, including Vermilion's 2023 guidance, and rates of
average annual production growth; the effect of changes in crude
oil and natural gas prices, changes in exchange and inflation
rates; significant declines in production or sales volumes due to
unforeseen circumstances; the effect of possible changes in
critical accounting estimates; statements regarding the growth and
size of Vermilion's future project inventory wells expected to be
drilled in 2023; exploration and development plans and the timing
thereof; Vermilion's ability to reduce its debt; statements
regarding Vermilion's hedging program, its plans to add to its
hedging positions, and the anticipated impact of Vermilion's
hedging program on project economics and free cash flows; the
potential financial impact of climate-related risks; acquisition
and disposition plans and the timing thereof; operating and other
expenses, including the payment and amount of future dividends;
royalty and income tax rates and Vermilion's expectations regarding
future taxes and taxability; and the timing of regulatory
proceedings and approvals.
Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a
number of assumptions, all or any of which may prove to be
incorrect. In addition to any other assumptions identified in this
document, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things:
the ability of Vermilion to obtain equipment, services and supplies
in a timely manner to carry out its activities in Canada and internationally; the ability of
Vermilion to market crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas
successfully to current and new customers; the timing and costs of
pipeline and storage facility construction and expansion and the
ability to secure adequate product transportation; the timely
receipt of required regulatory approvals; the ability of Vermilion
to obtain financing on acceptable terms; foreign currency exchange
rates and interest rates; future crude oil, natural gas liquids,
and natural gas prices; and management's expectations relating to
the timing and results of exploration and development
activities.
Although Vermilion believes that the expectations reflected in
such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable,
undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements
because Vermilion can give no assurance that such expectations will
prove to be correct. Financial outlooks are provided for the
purpose of understanding Vermilion's financial position and
business objectives, and the information may not be appropriate for
other purposes. Forward-looking statements or information are based
on current expectations, estimates, and projections that involve a
number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results
to differ materially from those anticipated by Vermilion and
described in the forward-looking statements or information. These
risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the
ability of management to execute its business plan; the risks of
the oil and gas industry, both domestically and internationally,
such as operational risks in exploring for, developing and
producing crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas; risks
and uncertainties involving geology of crude oil, natural gas
liquids, and natural gas deposits; risks inherent in Vermilion's
marketing operations, including credit risk; the uncertainty of
reserves estimates and reserves life and estimates of resources and
associated expenditures; the uncertainty of estimates and
projections relating to production and associated expenditures;
potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or
development projects; Vermilion's ability to enter into or renew
leases on acceptable terms; fluctuations in crude oil, natural gas
liquids, and natural gas prices, foreign currency exchange rates,
interest rates, and inflation rates; health, safety, and
environmental risks; uncertainties as to the availability and cost
of financing; the ability of Vermilion to add production and
reserves through exploration and development activities; the
possibility that government policies or laws may change or
governmental approvals may be delayed or withheld; uncertainty in
amounts and timing of royalty payments; risks associated with
existing and potential future law suits and regulatory actions
against or involving Vermilion; and other risks and uncertainties
described elsewhere in this document or in Vermilion's other
filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities.
The forward looking statements or information contained in this
document are made as of the date hereof and Vermilion undertakes no
obligation to update publicly or revise any forward looking
statements or information, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise, unless required by applicable
securities laws.
This document contains metrics commonly used in the oil and gas
industry. These oil and gas metrics do not have any standardized
meaning or standard methods of calculation and therefore may not be
comparable to similar measures presented by other companies where
similar terminology is used and should therefore not be used to
make comparisons. Natural gas volumes have been converted on the
basis of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of
oil equivalent. Barrels of oil equivalent (boe) may be misleading,
particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of six
thousand cubic feet to one barrel of oil is based on an energy
equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner
tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.
This document may contain references to sustainability/ESG data
and performance that reflect metrics and concepts that are commonly
used in such frameworks as the Global Reporting Initiative, the
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, and the Value
Reporting Foundation (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board).
Vermilion has used best efforts to align with the most commonly
accepted methodologies for ESG reporting, including with respect to
climate data and information on potential future risks and
opportunities, in order to provide a fuller context for our current
and future operations. However, these methodologies are not yet
standardized, are frequently based on calculation factors that
change over time, and continue to evolve rapidly. Readers are
particularly cautioned to evaluate the underlying definitions and
measures used by other companies, as these may not be comparable to
Vermilion's. While Vermilion will continue to monitor and adapt its
reporting accordingly, the Company is not under any duty to update
or revise the related sustainability/ESG data or statements except
as required by applicable securities laws.
Financial data contained within this document are reported in
Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated.
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SOURCE Vermilion Energy Inc.