Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC President and Chief Executive Officer, Scott W. Smith, Receives the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2012 Award in the Exploration and Production Category for the Gulf Coast Area

Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC today announced that on June 21, 2012 President and Chief Executive Officer, Scott W. Smith, received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2012 Award in the Exploration and Production category in the Gulf Coast Area. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Scott was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a special gala on June 21st at the Houston Hilton America’s Hotel.

Scott W. Smith commented, "It’s an honor to be chosen for this award and I want to say a special thanks to the Ernst &Young team and the judges for all the hard work that went in to making this such a special event. Much of the credit for this award goes to our dedicated group of employees in the office and in the field whose efforts have helped us to record an enviable growth record in production and distributions since we went public in 2007."

As a Gulf Coast Area award winner, Scott is now eligible for consideration for the National Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 Award. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the National Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 17, 2012. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the United States by SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

In the Gulf Coast Area, sponsors include Fulbright & Jaworski, Lockton, BBVA Compass, SolomonEdwards, ADP, HFBE, Smart Business Magazine, Pierpont Communications.

About Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC

Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC is a publicly traded limited liability company focused on the acquisition, production and development of oil and natural gas properties. The Company's assets consist primarily of producing and non-producing oil and natural gas reserves located in the Permian Basin, South Texas, Mississippi, Big Horn Basin in Wyoming and Montana, the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana and the Arkoma Basin in Arkansas and Oklahoma. More information on Vanguard can be found at www.vnrllc.com.

About Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year®

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 140 cities in more than 50 countries.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 152,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

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This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a US client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.