Reported Earlier, Diversified Energy To Buy Birch Permian For $1.8B In Its Largest Deal Ever

Diversified Energy Company (NYSE:DEC, LSE: DEC))) ("Diversified", "DEC", or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the execution of definitive acquisition agreements to acquire Birch Permian Holdings, Inc. and certain affiliated companies (collectively "Birch"), a leading independent oil and gas producer with operations in the Permian Basin (the "Acquisition"), from affiliates of Elliott Investment Management L.P. (the "Sellers"). The Acquisition represents a strategic expansion of Diversified’s Permian footprint, adding a scaled, operated position of proved developed producing ("PDP") assets in the heart of America’s most productive oil basin. The acquired assets are expected to deliver strong, durable free cash flow and potential synergies from their contiguous location within Diversified’s existing footprint. Importantly, the Acquisition establishes Diversified as a premier operator of Permian assets, creating a core, concentrated position for potential future consolidation of additional PDP assets as Permian Basin production continues to mature, representing a significant long-term opportunity for growth in PDP consolidation and operations.

Additionally, the Acquisition represents a step change for Diversified and further solidifies the Company's vertically integrated, four-basin PDP operating model. With an estimated 35% increase in production(a) volume from relatively low decline assets, and estimated 55% increase in Adjusted EBITDA(b), Diversified expects to become an increasingly significant operator and marketer of oil and natural gas in the United States. Pro forma gross volumes under Diversified Energy’s operated control are expected to reach approximately 2.5 Bcfepd (~1.6 Bcfepd net). With the closing of the Acquisition, Diversified believes it will be well-positioned for meaningful commercial opportunities across commodity streams.

The Board determined the Acquisition to be in the best interests of the shareholders of the Company.

The Acquisition is valued at approximately $1.8 billion, which will be primarily funded through an issuance of an Asset Backed Securitization ("ABS") of approximately $1.5 billion through our partnership with Carlyle's Asset-Backed Finance and Capital Markets teams ("Carlyle"), along with other customary financing sources, including available liquidity under Diversified’s revolving credit facility. The Company expects to close the Acquisition during the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Further, Carlyle and Diversified have agreed to expand the scale of their strategic partnership from the original $2 billion framework to a broader collaboration through which the parties may pursue up to $10 billion of potential PDP acquisition opportunities over time, subject to mutual agreement and transaction-specific approvals.

The expansion of our partnership with Carlyle is a testament to the attractive and broad opportunity set in PDP consolidation, Diversified's operational excellence, and the strong working relationship with the Carlyle organization.

Permian Transaction Rationale

• Building a Scaled Permian PDP Consolidation Platform: The Acquisition creates a significant PDP asset base in the Permian Basin and establishes Diversified as a scaled operator within the basin. This enhanced operating presence is expected to provide an expanded platform for future consolidation as the Permian matures and an increasing inventory of long-life producing assets becomes available, well-suited to Diversified’s PDP-focused acquisition strategy.
• High-Quality, Low-Decline Assets with Integrated Infrastructure: Birch provides a geographically dense, mature, predictable production base of 480 net wells with lower decline characteristics, which closely align with Diversified’s operating model. The concentrated acreage position is further supported by integrated production and water infrastructure, is expected to provide greater operational control, lower unit costs, and opportunities to capture margin across the value chain.
• Accretive Acquisition with Durable, High-Margin Cash Flow: The Acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive on key per-share financial metrics and add approximately $548 million of annualized Adjusted EBITDA(b) from a high-margin asset base. The combination of vertical integration, low operating costs, ~80% EBITDA margins, and a mature production profile is expected to support durable free cash flow generation.
• Increases Scale, Expands Commercial Opportunity: The Acquisition, Diversified’s largest acquisition to date, will represent another significant expansion in Diversified’s scale, increasing production(a) by ~35% and Adjusted EBITDA(b) by ~55%, while bringing pro-forma gross sales volumes from Diversified to ~2.5 Bcfepd. This increased scale will materially enhance Diversified’s relevance as a producer and marketer of oil, natural gas, and NGLs, creating opportunities for the Company’s in-house marketing organization to optimize pricing, transportation, market access, and commercial arrangements.
• EOR Adds a New Lever for Portfolio Optimization and Upside: Birch’s existing enhanced oil recovery ("EOR") capabilities provide Diversified with an additional avenue to extend asset lives, improve recoveries, and generate incremental returns from its producing asset base as part of the Company’s Portfolio Optimization Program ("POP"). With more than 150 permitted EOR locations and encouraging results from initial pilot programs, Diversified believes these capabilities may provide meaningful upside potential beyond the value attributed to the assets’ existing production and cash flows.
  
  
  
   

Birch Details

• Gross purchase price of ~$1.8 billion
  • Net purchase price to reflect customary purchase price adjustments and effective date cash flows
  • ~PV-14(c) value of PDP reserves and ~3.3x(b) Adjusted EBITDA multiple
• Current net production of ~68 Mboepd (~409 MMcfepd)(a)
  • Production mix of ~38% oil, ~32% NGLs, ~30% gas
  • ~96% operated, ~77% avg. lease NRI
  • Proved reserves of ~1,168 Bcfe(d) and PV-10 of ~$2.0 billion(c)
• Estimated annualized Adjusted EBITDA of ~$548 million(b)
  • Integrated operating position delivers competitive LOE per barrel, estimated to deliver ~80% EBITDA margins 
• Includes ~46,000 net mineral acres of commercially attractive core Permian Basin leasehold with additional opportunity for Portfolio Optimization Program ("POP")
  • 500 gross operated (480 net total) wells
  • ~75% of wells with 2022 vintage or prior
• Integrated midstream footprint across gathering, processing, and water infrastructure
  • 12 primary central production facilities ("CPF’s"), 9 well gathering facilities, 60+ miles of gathering pipeline
  • CPF’s able to process up to 345 Mbblpd of oil and 310 Mmcfpd of gas
  • 5 water disposal facilities and >80 miles of water disposal and recycling pipeline
    
    
    
     

Commenting on the Acquisition, Chairman and CEO Rusty Hutson, Jr. said:

"I am thrilled to announce the acquisition of Birch, a premier Permian Basin operator that represents an important milestone in Diversified's evolution and long-term growth strategy. This $1.8 billion acquisition is our largest in the Company's 25-year history. Birch has assembled one of the highest-quality operated asset positions, combining a concentrated footprint in the core of the Permian, substantial production scale, integrated infrastructure, and a track record of delivering predictable, high-margin cash flows. These assets align exceptionally well with our disciplined approach to acquiring and optimizing long-life energy assets and provide a compelling platform for future value creation for our shareholders.

This transaction will establish Diversified as a scaled operator in the nation's most important oil-producing basin and creates a strategic position from which we can pursue future consolidation opportunities across the Permian Basin. The acquisition is expected to add approximately 68 Mboepd of production, further strengthening our position as a significant operator and marketer of oil and natural gas in the United States, with ever expanding commercial opportunities led by our in-house marketing organization. We believe Diversified's operational expertise, Smarter Asset Management, and Portfolio Optimization Program can further unlock value across this asset base while maintaining the disciplined capital allocation framework that has defined our success.

For 25 years, Diversified has consistently proven our ability to acquire, optimize, and responsibly manage energy assets to create durable shareholder value. As North American resource development matures, we see significant opportunities emerging around long-life PDP assets and infrastructure-rich operated positions. Birch represents a perfect asset base for our focused and proven business model, providing immediate scale, strong cash returns, and a foundation for continued growth in the Permian for many years to come."

Transaction Consideration

The Acquisition will be primarily funded through a combination of a privately rated asset-backed securitization originated and structured by Carlyle of approximately $1.5 billion, supported by the acquired PDP assets, and customary financing sources, including existing liquidity under the Company's revolving credit facility. The Acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals. The Acquisition is subject to a $50 million break fee and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2026.