Warburg Pincus and Kayne Anderson to Sell WildFire Energy to Magnolia Oil & Gas for $4.06 Billion

Magnolia Oil & Gas (NYSE: MGY) agreed to acquire privately held WildFire Energy from sponsors Warburg Pincus and Kayne Anderson for approximately $4.06 billion.

Rhea-AI Summary

Magnolia Oil & Gas (NYSE: MGY) agreed to acquire privately held WildFire Energy from sponsors Warburg Pincus and Kayne Anderson for approximately $4.06 billion. Magnolia’s board of directors has unanimously approved the transaction, which remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

WildFire, formed in 2019 with backing from Warburg Pincus, Kayne Anderson and management, focuses on oil and gas assets in the Austin Chalk, Eagle Ford and Woodbine formations in South Texas. The company currently produces about 53 Mboe/d (~70% oil) across roughly 810,000 net acres. Closing is anticipated in late Q3 2026. Jefferies and BofA Securities are serving as financial advisors to WildFire, with Troutman Pepper Locke as legal advisor.

Positive

• $4.06 billion agreed acquisition of WildFire Energy by Magnolia Oil & Gas
• Targets WildFire’s 53 Mboe/d (~70% oil) production base in South Texas
• Access to approximately 810,000 net acres in Austin Chalk, Eagle Ford and Woodbine

Negative

• None.

News Explained

Magnolia’s agreed WildFire acquisition remains subject to closing conditions; because the release gives no cash, debt, or equity funding terms, its effect on existing ownership and liquidity cannot yet be established, and the active shelf does not commit an offering.

Argus Jul 21 session 6 alerts

-1.72% close to close 10.2x rel. volume Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – MGY

+5.0% Peak in 9 hr 32 min

$5.04B Market Cap

On Jul 21, the day this news came out, MGY closed 1.72% below the previous close. Argus tracked a peak move of +5.0% during that session. Our momentum scanner recorded 6 alerts for this stock that day. Relative volume reached 10.2x the daily average during tracking.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Jul 21 session.

Key Figures

Transaction value: $4.06 billion Company formation: 2019 Production: 53 Mboe/d +3 more

Transaction value

$4.06 billion

Sale of WildFire Energy to Magnolia

Company formation

2019

WildFire partnership formation

Production

53 Mboe/d

Current WildFire production

Oil production mix

70% oil

WildFire production mix

Net acreage

810,000 net acres

WildFire asset position

Closing timing

late-Q3 2026

Anticipated transaction closing

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jul 20

5 events

1. Jul 20

   Acquisition announcement

   24h Move

   -6.3%

   WildFire acquisition announced with expected cash flow accretion and annual synergies

2. Jul 08

   Earnings call scheduling

   24h Move

   +2.1%

   Second-quarter 2026 results conference call scheduled for August 6

3. May 06

   First-quarter earnings

   24h Move

   -1.8%

   Quarterly results included positive earnings, production and free cash flow figures

4. May 01

   Dividend announcement

   24h Move

   -0.5%

   Quarterly cash dividend of $0.165 per common share announced

5. Apr 01

   Earnings call scheduling

   24h Move

   -4.4%

   First-quarter 2026 results conference call scheduled for May 7

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

mboe/d

1 terms

mboe/d technical

"Today, the Company produces 53 Mboe/d (~70% oil) across ~810,000 net acres"

Mboe/d stands for "million barrels of oil equivalent per day." It measures how much energy from oil and other sources a company produces or consumes each day, kind of like counting how many large bottles of energy drink you could fill in a day. This helps everyone understand how big or active an energy company is.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Founded in partnership with Kayne Anderson and Warburg Pincus in 2019, WildFire Energy has become a leading private, large-scale oil-weighted platform

NEW YORK and HOUSTON, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kayne Anderson and Warburg Pincus announced an agreement to sell WildFire Energy ("WildFire" or the "Company") to Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation ("Magnolia") (NYSE: MGY) for approximately $4.06 billion. The acquisition has been unanimously approved by Magnolia's board of directors.

WildFire is an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, development and optimization of oil and gas assets in the Austin Chalk, Eagle Ford, and Woodbine formations of South Texas. Warburg Pincus, Kayne Anderson, and the WildFire management team partnered together in 2019 to form the Company, and since then, have grown the business into one of the largest privately owned oil & gas producers in the United States.

Over the course of the partnership, WildFire expanded its position through a series of strategic acquisitions, starting with the acquisition of Hawkwood Energy in 2021, as well as a highly effective organic growth strategy. Today, the Company produces 53 Mboe/d (~70% oil) across ~810,000 net acres and has built a leading platform characterized by top-tier well performance, inventory depth, capital efficiency, and strong free cash flow generation.

"Our team has worked hard to build a differentiated business with high-quality assets, disciplined operations and a strong culture of execution. We are excited for the opportunities ahead for Magnolia and believe this transaction positions the asset for continued success," said Anthony Bahr, Chief Executive Officer of WildFire. "We appreciate the support and partnership of Kayne Anderson and Warburg Pincus, which have been instrumental in helping WildFire grow into the platform it is today," added Steve Habachy, President and Chief Operating Officer of WildFire.

"WildFire represents a rare combination of high-quality underdeveloped assets, market opportunity and a strong management team with the unique capabilities to acquire, optimize and scale oil and gas assets," said Ryan Dalton, Managing Director at Warburg Pincus. "Anthony, Steve, Drew, and the broader WildFire team have executed that strategy with discipline and focus, building a differentiated platform with significant scale, strong performance and durable growth potential. We are proud to have supported WildFire's development and believe Magnolia is an excellent steward for the Company's next chapter," added Jeff Luse, Managing Director at Warburg Pincus.

"WildFire built one of the premier privately-owned upstream businesses in North America through thoughtful acquisitions, operational excellence and a relentless focus on long-term value creation. This extraordinary outcome reflects the vision, hard work and dedication of WildFire's management team and we are proud to have partnered with them at Kayne Anderson," said Danny Weingeist, Managing Partner at Kayne Anderson. "It has been a privilege to partner with Anthony, Steve, Drew and the entire WildFire team to build a truly differentiated company, and we are incredibly proud of what we accomplished together. We congratulate the entire WildFire organization on this outstanding achievement and wish Magnolia continued success with these exceptional assets," added Mark Teshoian, Managing Partner at Kayne Anderson.

The proposed transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, with anticipated closing in late-Q3 2026.

In connection with the sale, WildFire has retained Jefferies LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. as financial advisors. Troutman Pepper Locke served as WildFire's legal advisor.

About WildFire Energy

WildFire Energy is an independent energy company headquartered in Houston, Texas, focused on the acquisition, development and optimization of oil and gas assets in the Austin Chalk, Eagle Ford and Woodbine formations. The Company was formed in 2019 with funding from Warburg Pincus, Kayne Anderson and management.

About Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus LLC is the pioneer of global growth investing. A private partnership since 1966, the firm has the flexibility and experience to focus on helping investors and management teams achieve enduring success across market cycles. Today, the firm has more than $105 billion in assets under management, and more than 225 companies in its active portfolio, diversified across stages, sectors, and geographies. Warburg Pincus has invested in more than 1,100 companies across its private equity, real estate, and capital solutions strategies.

The firm is headquartered in New York with more than 15 offices globally. For more information, please visit www.warburgpincus.com or follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.

About Kayne Anderson

Kayne Anderson, founded in 1984, is a leading alternative investment management firm focused on real estate, credit, infrastructure, and energy. With a team defined by an entrepreneurial and resilient culture, Kayne Anderson's investment philosophy is to pursue cash flow-oriented niche strategies where knowledge and sourcing advantages enable us to deliver above average, risk-adjusted investment returns. Kayne manages $41 billion in assets (as of 3/31/2026) for institutional investors, family offices, high net worth and retail clients and employs 350 professionals. For more information, please visit www.kaynecapital.com.

About Magnolia Oil & Gas

Magnolia (MGY) is a publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production company with operations primarily in South Texas in the core of the Eagle Ford Shale and Austin Chalk formations. Magnolia focuses on generating value for shareholders by delivering steady, moderate annual production growth resulting from its disciplined and efficient philosophy toward capital spending. The Company strives to generate high pre‐tax margins and consistent free cash flow allowing for strong cash returns to our shareholders. For more information, visit www.magnoliaoilgas.com. 

Media Contacts

Warburg Pincus
Sarah Bloom, Director, Communications
sarah.bloom@warburgpincus.com

Kayne Anderson
Gracie Hanson, Managing Director, Marketing
publicrelations@kayneanderson.com 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/warburg-pincus-and-kayne-anderson-to-sell-wildfire-energy-to-magnolia-oil--gas-for-4-06-billion-302830110.html

SOURCE Warburg Pincus LLC

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did Magnolia Oil & Gas (NYSE: MGY) announce regarding WildFire Energy on July 21, 2026?

Magnolia Oil & Gas agreed to acquire WildFire Energy for approximately $4.06 billion. According to Warburg Pincus and Kayne Anderson, Magnolia’s board unanimously approved the deal, which is expected to close in late Q3 2026, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.

How much is Magnolia Oil & Gas paying for WildFire Energy and what are the key deal terms for MGY shareholders?

Magnolia is agreeing to pay about $4.06 billion for WildFire Energy. According to the companies, the transaction has unanimous Magnolia board approval and is conditioned on regulatory clearances and customary closing requirements, with anticipated completion in late Q3 2026 if all conditions are met.

What assets and production will Magnolia Oil & Gas gain from the WildFire Energy acquisition?

If completed, Magnolia will gain WildFire’s roughly 53 Mboe/d production, about 70% oil. According to WildFire Energy, the business spans approximately 810,000 net acres across the Austin Chalk, Eagle Ford and Woodbine formations in South Texas, representing a large-scale oil-weighted platform.

When is the WildFire Energy sale to Magnolia Oil & Gas expected to close?

The transaction is anticipated to close in late Q3 2026. According to Warburg Pincus and Kayne Anderson, completion depends on receiving required regulatory approvals and satisfying customary closing conditions before the parties can finalize and transfer ownership of WildFire Energy to Magnolia.

Who are the financial and legal advisors on the WildFire Energy sale to Magnolia Oil & Gas (MGY)?

WildFire Energy engaged Jefferies and BofA Securities as financial advisors for the sale. According to WildFire, Troutman Pepper Locke is serving as its legal advisor on the transaction with Magnolia Oil & Gas, supporting execution and regulatory and closing processes.