February 20, 2025
Diversified Energy Company
PLC
("Diversified" or the "Company")
Diversified Energy Announces
Pricing of Offering of Ordinary Shares
Diversified Energy Company PLC (LSE:
DEC; NYSE: DEC) ("Diversified" or the "Company"), an independent energy
company focused on natural gas and liquids production,
transportation, marketing and well retirement, today announces the
pricing of its previously announced underwritten public offering
(the "Offering") of
8,500,000 ordinary shares (the "Shares") at a public offering price of
$14.50 per Share for total gross proceeds of approximately $123.3
million. The Offering is expected to settle on February 21, 2025,
subject to customary closing conditions. In addition, Diversified
has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an
additional 850,000 ordinary shares at the public offering price,
less underwriting discount.
Citigroup and Mizuho are acting as
joint book-running managers and underwriters for the Offering.
KeyBanc Capital Markets, Truist Securities, Jefferies and Raymond
James are also acting as joint book-running managers and
underwriters for the Offering. Johnson Rice & Company,
Pickering Energy Partners, Stephens Inc. and Stifel are acting as
co-managers and underwriters for the Offering.
The Company intends to use the net
proceeds from the Offering to repay a portion of the debt expected
to be incurred by the Company in connection with the proposed
acquisition of Maverick Natural Resources, LLC, as announced on
January 27, 2025 (the "Acquisition"). In the event that the
Acquisition does not close, the Company intends to use the net
proceeds from the Offering to repay debt and for general corporate
purposes. The consummation of the Offering is not conditioned upon
the completion of the Acquisition, and the completion of the
Acquisition is not conditioned upon the consummation of the
Offering.
A shelf registration statement
relating to these securities was filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 11, 2025 and became
effective upon filing. Copies of the registration statement can be
accessed through the SEC's website free of charge at www.sec.gov. A
preliminary prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus
relating to and describing the terms of the Offering were filed
with the SEC and are available free of charge by visiting EDGAR on
the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. When available, copies of the
final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus related
to the Offering can be accessed through the SEC's website free of
charge at www.sec.gov or obtained free of charge from either of the
joint book-running managers for the Offering: Citigroup, c/o
Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood,
NY 11717 (Tel: 800-831-9146); or Mizuho Securities USA LLC,
Attention: Equity Capital Markets Desk, at 1271 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, NY 10020, or by email at
US-ECM@mizuhogroup.com.
This announcement does not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy
our ordinary shares nor shall there be any sale of securities, and
shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the
securities laws of that jurisdiction.
In connection with the admission of
the Shares to listing on the equity shares (commercial companies)
category of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority
and to trading on the main market for listed securities of the
London Stock Exchange ("Admission"), the Company intends to
publish a prospectus as required under the UK version of Regulation
(EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of UK law by virtue of the European
Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Applications will be made to the FCA
and LSE for Admission, and Admission is expected to become
effective at 8:00 am (London time) on February 24, 2025.
Post Transaction Report
In accordance with the Statement of
Principles (November 2022) published by the Pre-Emption
Group, Diversified announces the following post transaction
report in connection with the Offering.
Name of Issuer
|
Diversified Energy Company
PLC
|
Transaction Details
|
The Company issued 8,500,000 new
Ordinary Shares (the "Shares"), representing 16.6% of the
Company's ordinary share capital as of 14 February
2025.
Admission of the Shares representing
16.6% of the Company's ordinary share capital as of 14
February 2024 is expected to occur at 8.00 am (London
time) on 24 February 2024.
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
The directors of the Company intend
to use the net proceeds from the Offering to repay a portion of the
debt expected to be incurred by the Company in connection with the
proposed acquisition of Maverick Natural Resources, LLC, as
announced on 27 January 2025 (the "Acquisition"). In the event that the
Acquisition does not close, the Company intends to use the net
proceeds from the Offering to repay debt and for general corporate
purposes.
|
Quantum of Proceeds
|
Total gross proceeds from the
Offering, amounted to US$123.3
million (approximately £97.9 million), approximately
US$118.3 million net of expenses (approximately £93.9
million net of expenses).
|
Discount
|
The Offering was completed at a
price of US$14.50 per Share, representing a 3.4% percent
discount from the NYSE closing price of US$15.01 per Share on 19
February 2025 (being the last business day prior to the pricing of
the Offering).
|
Allocations
|
Soft pre-emption has been adhered to
in the allocations process, where possible. Management was involved
in the allocations process, which has been carried out in
compliance with the MIFID II Allocation requirements.
|
Consultation
|
The Underwriters undertook a
pre-launch wall-crossing process, including consultation with major
shareholders, to the extent reasonably practicable and permitted by
law.
|
U.K. Retail Investors
|
Following discussions between the
Underwriters and the Company, it was decided that a retail offer
would not be included in the Offering. The Offering structure was
chosen to minimize cost, time to completion and
complexity.
|
CONTACTS
Diversified Energy Company PLC
|
+1
973 856 2757
|
Doug Kris
|
dkris@dgoc.com
|
Senior Vice President, Investor
Relations & Corporate Communications
|
|
|
|
FTI
Consulting
|
dec@fticonsulting.com
|
U.S. & UK Financial Media
Relations
|
|
About Diversified
Diversified is a leading publicly
traded energy company focused on natural gas and liquids
production, transport, marketing, and well retirement. Through our
unique differentiated strategy, we acquire existing, long-life
assets and invest in them to improve environmental and operational
performance until retiring those assets in a safe and
environmentally secure manner. Recognized by ratings agencies and
organizations for our sustainability leadership, this
solutions-oriented, stewardship approach makes Diversified the
Right Company at the Right Time to responsibly produce energy,
deliver reliable free cash flow, and generate shareholder
value.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
sometimes identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such
as "believe", "expects", "targets", "may", "will", "could",
"should", "shall", "risk", "intends", "estimates", "aims", "plans",
"predicts", "continues", "assumes", "projects", "positioned" or
"anticipates" or the negative thereof, other variations thereon or
comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include
all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number
of places throughout this announcement and include statements
regarding the intentions, beliefs or current expectations of
management or the Company concerning, among other things,
expectations regarding the proposed Offering of securities and the
Acquisition. These forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the
Company's control and all of which are based on management's
current beliefs and expectations about future events, including
market conditions, failure of customary closing conditions and the
risk factors and other matters set forth in the Company's filings
with the SEC and other important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected.
Important Notice to UK and EU Investors
This announcement contains inside
information for the purposes of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014
on market abuse and the UK Version of Regulation (EU) No.
596/2014 on market abuse, as it forms part of UK domestic law by
virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (together,
"MAR"). In addition, market
soundings (as defined in MAR) were taken in respect of the matters
contained in this announcement, with the result that certain
persons became aware of such inside information as permitted by
MAR. Upon the publication of this announcement, the inside
information is now considered to be in the public domain and such
persons shall therefore cease to be in possession of inside
information in relation to the Company and its
securities.
Members of the public are not
eligible to take part in the Offering. This announcement is
directed at and is only being distributed to persons: (a) if in
member states of the European Economic Area, "qualified investors"
within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129
(the "Prospectus
Regulation") ("Qualified
Investors"); or (b) if in the United Kingdom, "qualified
investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the UK version of
Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of UK law by virtue of
the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, who are (i) persons who
fall within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article
19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial
Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), or (ii) persons who fall
within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order; or (c) persons to whom
they may otherwise lawfully be communicated (each such person
above, a "Relevant
Person"). No other person should act or rely on this
announcement and persons distributing this announcement must
satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. This announcement
must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant
Persons, if in the United Kingdom, or Qualified Investors, if in a
member state of the EEA. Any investment or investment activity to
which this announcement or the Offering relates is available only
to Relevant Persons, if in the United Kingdom, and Qualified
Investors, if in a member state of the EEA, and will be engaged in
only with Relevant Persons, if in the United Kingdom, and Qualified
Investors, if in a member state of the EEA.
No offering document or prospectus
will be available in any jurisdiction in connection with the
matters contained or referred to in this announcement in the United
Kingdom and no such offering document or prospectus is required (in
accordance with the Prospectus Regulation or UK Prospectus
Regulation) to be published. The Company will publish a prospectus
in connection with Admission as required under the UK Prospectus
Regulation in due course.
Neither the content of the Company's
website (or any other website) nor the content of any website
accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other
website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this
announcement.
The Company has consulted with a
number of existing shareholders and other investors ahead of the
release of this announcement, including regarding the rationale for
the offering. Consistent with each of its prior offerings, the
Company will respect the principles of pre-emption, so far as is
possible, through the allocation process, in the
Offering.
In connection with the Offering,
Citigroup or any of its agents, may (but will be under no
obligation to), to the extent permitted by applicable law,
over-allot Shares or effect other transactions with a view to
supporting the market price of the Shares at a higher level than
that which might otherwise prevail in the open market.
Citigroup may, for stabilization
purposes, over-allot Shares up to a maximum of 10 per cent. of the
total number of Shares comprised in the Offering. Citigroup will
not be required to enter into such transactions and such
transactions may be effected on any stock market, over-the-counter
market, stock exchange or otherwise and may be undertaken at any
time during the period commencing on the date of adequate public
disclosure of the final price of the securities and ending no later
than 30 calendar days thereafter. However, there will be no
obligation on Citigroup or any of its agents to effect stabilizing
transactions and there is no assurance that stabilizing
transactions will be undertaken. Such stabilizing measures, if
commenced, may be discontinued at any time without prior notice. In
no event will measures be taken to stabilize the market price of
the Shares above the offer price. Save as required by law or
regulation, neither Citigroup nor any of its agents intends to
disclose the extent of any over-allotments made and/or
stabilization transactions conducted in relation to the
Offering.
Citigroup and Mizuho are acting exclusively for the Company and no one
else in connection with the Offering and will not regard any other
person as their respective clients in relation to the Offering and
will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for
providing the protections afforded to their respective clients or
for giving advice in relation to the Offering or the contents of
this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter
referred to herein.
In connection with the
Offering, Citigroup and Mizuho or any of their respective affiliates, acting as
investors for their own accounts, may subscribe for or purchase
Shares and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to
sell or otherwise deal for their own accounts in such Shares and
other securities of the Company or related investments in
connection with the Offering or otherwise. Accordingly, references
in the US prospectus, once published, to the Shares being issued,
offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should
be read as including any issue or offer to, or subscription,
acquisition, placing or dealing by, Citigroup and Mizuho or any of their
respective affiliates acting as investors for their own
accounts. Citigroup and Mizuho or any of their respective affiliates do not intend
to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions
otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory
obligations to do so.
Neither Citigroup nor Mizuho, nor any of their
respective subsidiary undertakings, affiliates or any of their
respective directors, officers, employees, advisers, agents or any
other person accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever
for, or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied,
as to the truth, accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
information or opinions in this announcement (or whether any
information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other
information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries or associated
companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form,
and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss
howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents
or otherwise arising in connection therewith.