Diversified Closes Value Enhancing Asset Sale
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The recent transaction by Diversified Energy Company PLC involving the sale of producing assets in Appalachia to a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is a strategic move that has significant financial implications. The sale resulted in a $200 million inflow, which the company used to repay a portion of its debt, achieving a 12% reduction in net debt. This deleveraging effort is a positive signal to investors, as it indicates a commitment to financial health and may lead to improved credit ratings.
The transaction's valuation at a multiple of 5.7 times the expected hedged 2024 EBITDA of approximately $35 million is noteworthy. This multiple is within a reasonable range for the industry, suggesting that the company managed to secure a fair price for its assets.
Furthermore, the retention of a 20% minority interest and operatorship in the assets suggests a strategic decision to maintain a stake in the asset's future performance. This could provide ongoing benefits without the full burden of operational costs and capital expenditures. The impact on the stock market will depend on investor perception of the company's long-term strategy and its ability to reinvest the liquidity efficiently.
The energy sector is often characterized by high capital expenditure and volatility in commodity prices. Diversified Energy's transaction aligns with the broader industry trend of asset optimization and balance sheet strengthening. By executing this sale and securitization, Diversified Energy is enhancing its liquidity, which could be critical in navigating the cyclical nature of the energy market.
Market participants may view this transaction as an adaptive response to market conditions, potentially leading to a more favorable outlook for the company's shares. The sale of an 80% equity interest in the SPV at $30 million, alongside the Asset Backed Securitization, suggests a strategic approach to capital management, which could be well-received by the market. The reduction in leverage and the focus on sustainability-linked financial instruments also align with the increasing investor demand for responsible corporate behavior and may attract ESG-focused investors.
The structure of the transaction involving a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is a sophisticated financial arrangement that carries both legal and regulatory implications. The use of SPVs is common in asset securitization, allowing companies to isolate financial risk. This transaction will require careful legal management to ensure compliance with securities regulations and to manage the minority interest Diversified retains in the SPV.
The transaction's legal complexities may also involve the transfer of operatorship rights and responsibilities, which must be meticulously documented to prevent future disputes. The legal framework governing the transaction will be crucial in protecting the interests of all parties involved, including the minority stakeholders.
BIRMINGHAM, AL / ACCESSWIRE / January 2, 2024 / Diversified Energy Company PLC (LSE:DEC)(NYSE:DEC) is pleased to announce that it has closed an innovative transaction (the "Transaction") that has allowed the Company to unlock additional value from its current asset base at an attractive multiple while further enhancing liquidity and reducing leverage.
In summary, the Transaction consisted of the Company executing a sale of producing assets in Appalachia (the "Assets") to a Special Purpose Vehicle ("SPV"; DP Lion Equity Holdco LLC) in which Diversified retained a
The implied valuation of the Transaction represents a multiple of 5.7 times the expected hedged 2024 EBITDA of approximately
Rusty Hutson, Jr., CEO of the Company, commented:
"This latest transaction further demonstrates the attractiveness of Diversified's asset base that provides reliable production and consistency of cash flows. At an attractive multiple, this Transaction has provided a path for the Company to unlock additional value from our assets, reduce our outstanding debt, and enhance our liquidity."
For further information, please contact:
Diversified Energy Company PLC | +1 973 856 2757 |
Doug Kris | |
FTI Consulting | |
US & UK Financial Public Relations |
About Diversified Energy Company PLC
Diversified is a leading publicly traded energy company focused on natural gas and liquids production, transport, marketing, and well retirement. Through our 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.
Non-IFRS Financial Measures
The SPV prepares and presents its consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. However, management believes that EBITDA multiple, a non-IFRS financial measure, provides investors with additional useful information in evaluating the transaction. This non-IFRS measure is not intended to be a substitute for any IFRS financial measure and, as calculated, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of performance of other companies in other industries or within the same industry.
We calculate and define EBITDA of the SPV as net income, adjusted to exclude: (1) interest expense, (2) income tax expense, and (3) depreciation and amortization. EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with IFRS. Some of the limitations of EBITDA include that (1) it does not reflect capital commitments to be paid in the future, (2) although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the underlying assets may need to be replaced and EBITDA does not reflect these capital expenditures, (3) it does not reflect tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to us and (4) it does not include certain non-recurring cash expenses that we do not believe are representative of the SPV's business on a steady-state basis. Because of these limitations, when evaluating the SPV's performance, you should consider Adjusted EBITDA alongside other financial measures, including the SPV's net loss and other results stated in accordance with IFRS.
Additionally, management believes that the presentation of the non-IFRS financial measure of PV-10 provides useful information to investors because it is widely used by professional analysts and sophisticated investors in evaluating natural gas and oil companies and properties. PV-10 is not a measure of financial or operating performance under IFRS. PV-10 should not be considered as an alternative to the standardized measure as defined under IFRS. PV-10 differs from the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows because it does not include the effects of income taxes. Neither PV-10 nor the standardized measure represents an estimate of fair market value of our natural gas and oil properties.
In reliance on the exception provided by Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K, we have not reconciled the forward-looking multiple of EBITDA of the SPV or the PV-10 of the Assets included above to the most directly comparable IFRS measure multiple because the comparable IFRS measure is not accessible on a forward-looking basis and the Company is unable to provide such reconciliations, without unreasonable effort, due to the inherent difficulty in predicting, with reasonable certainty, the future impact of items that are outside the control of the SPV or otherwise non-indicative of its or the Assets ongoing operating performance. Preparation of such reconciliations would require a forward-looking balance sheet, statement of income and statement of cash flow, prepared in accordance with IFRS, of the SPV and such forward-looking financial statements are unavailable to the SPV without unreasonable effort.
SOURCE: Diversified Energy Company PLC
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