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HOUSTON, TX -- (Marketwire) -- 05/09/12 -- EV Energy Partners, L.P. (EVEP) today announced results for the first quarter 2012 and filed its Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

First Quarter 2012 Results

Adjusted EBITDAX for the quarter was $64.5 million, a 27 percent increase over the first quarter of 2011 and an 18 percent increase versus the fourth quarter of 2011. Distributable Cash Flow for the quarter was $34.6 million, a 10 percent increase over the first quarter of 2011 and a 12 percent increase versus the fourth quarter of 2011. The increases in Adjusted EBITDAX and Distributable Cash Flow, which are described in the attached table under "Non-GAAP Measures," are primarily due to acquisitions completed during 2011.

Production for the first quarter of 2012 was 10.3 Bcf of natural gas, 285 MBbls of crude oil and 423 MBbls of natural gas liquids, or 14.5 Bcfe. This represents a 47 percent increase from first quarter 2011 production of 9.9 Bcfe and a 30 percent increase from the fourth quarter 2011 production of 11.1 Bcfe, primarily due to acquisitions completed during 2011.

For the first quarter of 2012, EVEP reported a net income of $28.6 million, or $0.69 per basic and diluted weighted average limited partner unit outstanding. Included in net income were $11.7 million of unrealized gains on commodity and interest rate derivatives, $0.6 million of non-cash realized losses related to derivatives acquired in a December 2010 acquisition that settled during the quarter, a $1.2 million non-cash charge to lease operating expense related to oil in tanks purchased in connection with 2011 acquisitions, $2.2 million of dry hole and exploration costs, a $0.6 million impairment charge primarily related to non-core assets sold during the quarter, $0.6 million of non-cash deferred income taxes and $4.3 million of non-cash costs contained in general and administrative expenses. Also contained in general and administrative expenses were $1.8 million of costs associated with the annual vesting of phantom units during the first quarter and $0.2 million of acquisition related due diligence and transaction costs.

The $11.7 million unrealized gain on derivatives for the first quarter of 2012 was due to the decrease in future natural gas and NGL prices, partially offset by the increase in future crude oil prices that occurred from December 31, 2011 to March 31, 2012 and the effect of such price changes on the mark-to-market valuation of EVEP's outstanding commodity derivatives which extend through December 2015.

For the first quarter of 2011, EVEP reported a net loss of $34.0 million, or ($1.14) per basic and diluted weighted average limited partner unit outstanding. Included in net loss were $54.6 million of unrealized losses on commodity and interest rate derivatives, a $1.6 million impairment charge related to non-core assets sold during the quarter and $2.1 million of non-cash costs contained in general and administrative expenses. Also contained in general and administrative expenses were $1.0 million of costs associated with the annual vesting of phantom units during the first quarter and $0.3 million of acquisition related due diligence and transaction costs. For the fourth quarter of 2011, net income was $9.7 million, or $0.27 per basic and diluted weighted average limited partner unit outstanding. Included in net income were $2.3 million of unrealized gains on commodity and interest rate derivatives, $1.1 million non-cash realized losses related to derivatives acquired in a December 2010 acquisition that settled during the quarter, $10.5 million of dry hole and exploration costs, $4.4 million of impairment costs primarily related to assets held for sale, a $4.0 million gain on the sale of assets related to Utica Shale acreage and $3.2 million of non-cash costs contained in general and administrative expenses. Also contained in general and administrative expenses were approximately $2.3 million of acquisition related due diligence and transaction costs.

Mark Houser, President and CEO, said, "We are pleased with this quarter's results, the completion of our common unit and Senior Notes offerings with proceeds used to repay bank debt incurred to fund 2011 acquisitions, and our progress in integrating these acquisitions. Preparations continue for the launch, expected by the end of this quarter, of the process to sell or monetize all or a portion of our approximately 150,000 Utica Shale net working interest acres in Ohio. Our Utica Shale drilling program for the year has also begun, with one well recently completed and a second well in the drilling stage."

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

EVEP's financial statements and related footnotes are available on our first quarter 2012 Form 10-Q, which was filed today and is available through the Investor Relations/SEC Filings section of the EVEP web site at http://www.evenergypartners.com.

Conference Call

As announced on April 26, 2012, EV Energy Partners, L.P. will host an investor conference call Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Investors interested in participating in the call may dial (480) 629-9771 (quote conference ID 4534936) at least 5 minutes prior to the start time, or may listen live over the internet through the investor relations section of the EVEP web site at http://www.evenergypartners.com.

EV Energy Partners, L.P., is a master limited partnership engaged in acquiring, producing and developing oil and gas properties. More information about EVEP is available at http://www.evenergypartners.com.

(code #: EVEP/G)

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by EVEP based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of EVEP, which may cause our actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These include risks relating to financial performance and results, availability of sufficient cash flow to pay distributions and execute our business plan, prices and demand for natural gas and oil, our ability to replace reserves and efficiently develop our current reserves and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected as described in the EVEP's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and EVEP undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


Operating Statistics

                                                    Three Months Ended
                                                         March 31,
                                               -----------------------------
                                                    2012           2011
                                               -------------- --------------
Production data:
  Oil (MBbls)                                             285            208
  Natural gas liquids (MBbls)                             423            270
  Natural gas (MMcf)                                   10,263          7,004
                                               -------------- --------------
  Net production (MMcfe)                               14,513          9,871
Average sales price per unit: (1)
  Oil (Bbl)                                    $       100.05 $        89.88
  Natural gas liquids (Bbl)                             46.42          48.06
  Natural gas (Mcf)                                      2.79           3.99
  Mcfe                                                   5.29           6.04
Average unit cost per Mcfe:
  Production costs:
    Lease operating expenses (2)               $         1.97 $         1.76
    Production taxes                                     0.23           0.27
                                               -------------- --------------
    Total                                                2.20           2.03
Asset retirement obligations accretion expense           0.08           0.10
Depreciation, depletion and amortization                 1.69           1.78
General and administrative expenses                      0.83           0.87

 (1) Prior to the effects of net commodity derivative gains or losses

 (2) Lease operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012
     contains $1.2 million ($0.08 per mcfe) of non-cash charges related to
     oil in tanks purchased in connection with 2011 acquisitions.



Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in $ thousands)
(unaudited)

                                                 March 31,     December 31,
                                                    2012           2011
                                               -------------  -------------
                    ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                    $      34,425  $      30,312
  Accounts receivable:
    Oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids
     revenues                                         45,486         36,926
    Related party                                      2,354              -
    Other                                                696            459
  Derivative asset                                    92,483         81,772
  Other current assets                                 1,914          3,084
  Assets held for sale                                    69          6,597
                                               -------------  -------------
    Total current assets                             177,427        159,150

Oil and natural gas properties, net of
 accumulated depreciation, depletion, and
 amortization; March 31, 2012, $268,644;
 December 31, 2011, $244,092                      1,815,984      1,768,529
Other property, net of accumulated
 depreciation and amortization; March 31,
 2012, $486; December 31, 2011, $447                  1,363          1,345
Long-term derivative asset                            60,295         57,643
Other assets                                          24,849         16,557
                                               -------------  -------------
Total assets                                   $   2,079,918  $   2,003,224
                                               =============  =============

        LIABILITIES AND OWNERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
    Third party                                $      54,695  $      34,705
    Related party                                          -            870
  Derivative liability                                 1,355            618
  Liabilities held for sale                                -            602
                                               -------------  -------------
    Total current liabilities                         56,050         36,795

Asset retirement obligations                          93,520         90,803
Long-term debt                                       734,167        953,023
Long-term liabilities                                  1,131          2,564
Long-term derivative liability                         1,549              -

Commitments and contingencies

Owners' equity:
  Common unitholders - 38,447,350 units and
   34,173,650 units issued and outstanding as
   of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011,
   respectively                                   1,203,464        935,435

  Class B unitholders - 3,873,357 units issued
   and outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and
   December 31, 2011                                     (35)          232
  General partner interest                            (9,928)       (15,618)
                                               -------------  -------------
    Total owners' equity                           1,193,501        920,039
                                               -------------  -------------
Total liabilities and owners' equity           $   2,079,918  $   2,003,224
                                               =============  =============



Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in $ thousands, except per unit data)
(unaudited)

                                                    Three Months Ended
                                                       March 31,
                                               ----------------------------
                                                    2012           2011
                                               -------------  -------------
Revenues:
  Oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids     $      76,801  $      59,621
  Transportation and marketing-related                   930          1,401
                                               -------------  -------------
    Total revenues                                    77,731         61,022
                                               -------------  -------------

Operating costs and expenses:
  Lease operating expenses                            28,600         17,362
  Cost of purchased natural gas                          645          1,050
  Dry hole and exploration costs                       2,173            403
  Production taxes                                     3,282          2,651
  Asset retirement obligations accretion
   expense                                             1,208            966
  Depreciation, depletion and amortization            24,591         17,564
  General and administrative expenses                 12,117          8,593
  Impairment of oil and natural gas properties           635          1,588
                                               -------------  -------------
    Total operating costs and expenses                73,251         50,177
                                               -------------  -------------

Operating income                                       4,480         10,845

Other income (expense), net:
  Realized gains on derivatives, net                  24,190         15,038
  Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives,
   net                                                11,661        (54,551)
  Interest expense                                   (11,084)        (5,159)
  Other income (expense), net                              4            (80)
                                               -------------  -------------
    Total other income (expense), net                 24,771        (44,752)
                                               -------------  -------------

Income (loss) before income taxes                     29,251        (33,907)
Income taxes                                            (658)           (82)
                                               -------------  -------------
Net income (loss)                              $      28,593  $    ( 33,989)
                                               =============  =============
General partner's interest in net income
 (loss), including incentive distribution
 rights                                        $         572  $       2,254
                                               =============  =============
Limited partners' interest net income (loss)   $      28,021  $    ( 36,243)
                                               =============  =============
Net income (loss) per limited partner unit:
  Basic                                        $        0.69  $       (1.14)
  Diluted                                      $        0.69  $       (1.14)
Weighted average limited partner units
 outstanding:
  Basic                                               40,440         31,696
  Diluted                                             40,760         31,696

Distributions declared per unit                $       0.764  $       0.760


Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash
 Flows
(in $ thousands)
(unaudited)
                                                    Three Months Ended
                                                       March 31,
                                               ----------------------------
                                                    2012           2011
                                               -------------  -------------

Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income (loss)                            $      28,593  $     (33,989)
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss)
   to net cash flows provided by operating
   activities:
    Dry hole costs                                       225              2
    Asset retirement obligations accretion
     expense                                           1,208            966
    Depreciation, depletion and amortization          24,591         17,564
    Equity-based compensation                          4,280          2,137
    Impairment of oil and natural gas
     properties                                          635          1,588
    Noncash derivative activity                      (11,661)        54,551
    Deferred income taxes                                581              -
    Other                                              1,714            273
    Changes in operating assets and
     liabilities:
      Accounts receivable                            (11,150)        (8,738)
      Other current assets                               245           (171)
      Accounts payable and accrued liabilities        20,382          1,857
      Other, net                                      (1,144)          (154)
                                               -------------  -------------
Net cash flows provided by operating
 activities                                           58,499         35,886
                                               -------------  -------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
  Acquisitions of oil and natural gas
   properties                                        (36,544)             -
  Additions to oil and natural gas properties        (29,067)       (13,407)
  Proceeds from sale of oil and natural gas
   properties                                          5,489              -
  Investments in unconsolidated affiliates           (11,597)             -
  Settlements from acquired derivatives                1,687              -
                                               -------------  -------------
Net cash flows used in investing activities          (70,032)       (13,407)
                                               -------------  -------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
  Long-term debt borrowings                           35,000              -
  Repayments of long-term debt borrowings           (460,000)      (431,500)
  Proceeds from debt offering                        206,000        292,500
  Loan costs paid                                     (3,929)          (695)
  Proceeds from equity offering                      262,833        147,108
  Offering costs                                        (157)          (248)
  Contributions from general partner                   5,714          3,191
  Distributions paid                                 (29,815)       (26,477)
                                               -------------  -------------
Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing
 activities                                           15,646        (16,121)
                                               -------------  -------------

Increase in cash and cash equivalents                  4,113          6,358
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of
 period                                               30,312         23,127
                                               -------------  -------------
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period      $      34,425  $      29,485
                                               =============  =============

Non-GAAP Measures

We define Adjusted EBITDAX as net income (loss) plus income tax provision, interest expense, net, realized losses on interest rate swaps, depreciation, depletion and amortization, asset retirement obligation accretion expense, non-cash realized losses on commodity derivatives, unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives, non-cash equity compensation, impairments of oil and natural gas properties, write down of crude inventory, and dry hole and exploration costs. Distributable Cash Flow is defined as Adjusted EBITDAX less cash income tax provision, cash interest expense, net, realized losses on interest rate swaps, and estimated maintenance capital expenditures.

Adjusted EBITDAX and Distributable Cash Flow are used by our management to provide additional information and statistics relative to the performance of our business, including (prior to the creation of any reserves) the cash available to pay distributions to our unitholders. These financial measures indicate to investors whether or not we are generating cash flow at a level that can sustain or support an increase in our quarterly distribution rates. Adjusted EBITDAX and Distributable Cash Flow are also quantitative standards used throughout the investment community with respect to performance of publicly-traded partnerships. Adjusted EBITDAX and Distributable Cash Flow should not be considered as alternatives to net income, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDAX and Distributable Cash Flow exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income and operating income and these measures may vary among companies. Therefore, our Adjusted EBITDAX and Distributable Cash Flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.


Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDAX and Distributable
 Cash Flow
(in $ thousands)

                                                    Three Months Ended
                                                      March 31,
                                               ----------------------------
                                                    2012           2011
                                               -------------  -------------

Net income (loss)                              $      28,593  $     (33,989)
Add:
Income taxes                                             658             82
Interest expense, net                                 11,077          5,154
Realized losses on interest rate swaps                 1,116          2,139
Depreciation, depletion and amortization              24,591         17,564
Asset retirement obligation accretion expense          1,208            966
Non-cash realized losses on commodity
 derivatives                                             584              -
Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives             (11,661)        54,551
Non-cash equity compensation expense                   4,280          2,137
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties             635          1,588
Non-cash inventory write down expense                  1,202              -
Dry hole and exploration costs                         2,173            403
                                               -------------  -------------
Adjusted EBITDAX                               $      64,456  $      50,595


Less:
Cash Income taxes                                         78             82
Cash interest expense, net                            10,498          4,935
Realized losses on interest rate swaps                 1,116          2,139
Estimated maintenance capital expenditures (1)        18,141         11,846
                                               -------------  -------------
Distributable Cash Flow                        $      34,623  $      31,593

(1) Estimated maintenance capital expenditures are those expenditures
 estimated to be necessary to maintain the production levels of our oil and
 gas properties over the long term and the operating capacity of our other
 assets over the long term.

    EV Energy Partners, L.P., Houston
Michael E. Mercer
713-651-1144
http://www.evenergypartners.com

Source: EV Energy Partners, L.P.