Results of Fundraising

RNS Number : 4281P

Diversified Energy Company PLC

09 February 2023

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN ARE RESTRICTED, FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, AND DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION, OFFER OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICES AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE UK VERSION OF REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014 ON MARKET ABUSE ("UK MAR"), AS IT FORMS PART OF UK DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018.

9 February 2023

Diversified Energy Company PLC

("Diversified" or the "Company")

Results of Fundraising

DIVERSIFIED ENERGY COMPANY PLC (LSE: DEC), is pleased to announce that it has successfully raised gross proceeds of US$163.0 million (approximately £134.9 million) (US$156.4 million net of expenses, approximately £129.4 million net of expenses), by way of a placing of new ordinary shares (the "Placing") of £0.01 each in the Company (the " Placing Shares ") and an offer by the Company on the REX Platform of new ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the Company (the "Retail Offer") (the "Retail Offer Shares", together with the Placing Shares the "Fundraising Shares"). The Placing and the Retail Offer shall together constitute the "Fundraising".

The Fundraising was completed at a price of 105 pence per Fundraising Share the ("Fundraising Price"). The Fundraising Shares will, subject to the passing of the Resolutions at the General Meeting and Admission, represent 15.2% of the Company's existing ordinary share capital, or 128,444,000 new Ordinary Shares in total (126,737,763 Placing Shares, 1,706,237 Retail Offer Shares). The Fundraising Price is equal to a 5.2% discount from the closing mid-market price on 8 February 2023.

The Company consulted with and received strong support from many of its largest shareholders prior to the Fundraising. Consistent with each of its prior placings, the Company respected the principles of pre-emption, so far as possible, through the allocation process, both in the Placing and the Retail Offer. The Company's management team actively participated in the structuring and allocation of the Fundraising.

The Company announced on 8 February 2023 that it had entered into a purchase agreement to acquire certain upstream assets and related infrastructure in its Central Region from Tanos Energy Holdings II LLC ("Tanos", and such acquisition, the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition is expected to close on 1 March 2023. Should the Acquisition proceed, it is expected to have a deemed effective date of 1 February 2023.

Subject to completion, the Company will use the net proceeds from the Fundraising to partially fund the US$250 million consideration (the "Acquisition Consideration") pursuant to the Acquisition. The remainder of the Acquisition Consideration will be funded from undrawn funds available from the Company's existing Revolving Credit Facility. The Fundraising is not conditional on the completion of the Acquisition. Should the Company complete the Fundraising, but not complete the Acquisition, the Company will determine the most appropriate use of the net proceeds, including potentially investing in other acquisition opportunities aligned with its stated strategy.

Posting of Circular and Notice of General Meeting

The Fundraising Shares will be settled in two tranches. The first tranche of Fundraising Shares (the "Firm Shares") will be issued under the Company's existing shareholder authorities (representing approximately 9.99% of the Company's existing share capital) and is expected to settle on 14 February 2023. The issue of the second tranche of Fundraising Shares (the "Conditional Shares"), comprising Fundraising Shares in excess of the Company's existing shareholder authorities, is conditional on shareholder approval at a General Meeting. Therefore, the Company intends to convene a shareholder meeting, expected to be held on or around 27 February 2023, to approve the allotment of the Conditional Shares on a non-pre-emptive basis. Diversified will publish a Notice of General Meeting setting out the shareholder resolutions requiring approval for allotment of the Conditional Shares on a non-pre-emptive basis, and the Board's recommended support for it, later today.

Settlement of the Fundraising Shares

Settlement for, and Admission of, the 84,212,278 Firm Shares is expected to take place on or before 8.00 a.m. on 14 February 2023. Settlement for, and Admission of, the 44,231,722 Conditional Shares is expected to take place on or before 8.00 a.m. on 28 February 2023, subject to the Shareholders approving the allotment of the Conditional Shares on a non-pre-emptive basis at the General Meeting. Settlement of the Fundraising is conditional upon, amongst other things, Admission becoming effective and upon the Placing Agreement not being terminated in accordance with its terms.

The Fundraising Shares will be issued credited as fully paid and will, on issue, rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions thereafter declared, made or paid on the enlarged share capital from Admission. The Fundraising Shares will be eligible for the Q3 2022 dividend of 4.375 cents per share, as well as all future dividends. The ex-dividend date of the Q3 2022 dividend is 2 March 2023 and the Q3 Dividend is expected to be paid on 28 March 2023.

Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited, Tennyson Securities and Peel Hunt LLP are acting as joint global coordinators and bookrunners in connection with the Placing.

Total Voting Rights

Following Admission of the Firm Shares, the Company's total issued share capital will consist of 927,178,031 Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each in the Company . The Company does not hold any Ordinary Shares in treasury. Therefore, following Admission of the Firm Shares, the total number of voting rights in Diversified Energy Company Plc will be 927,178,031. This figure may be used by Shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change in their interest in, the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

Capitalised terms not otherwise defined in the text of this Announcement have the meanings given in the Company's Fundraising announcement dated 8 February 2023.

Commenting on the Fundraising, CEO, Rusty Hutson said:

"Grateful for strong support from our existing holders and excited to welcome new investors to Diversified, I am pleased with the results of today's fundraise that positions the Company to add high-quality, accretive assets to our portfolio. The assets we are acquiring are accretive to earnings and cash flow and strengthen our balance sheet as we start the year. As we turn towards the work of closing this transaction, I would like to thank our employees for their work for all stakeholders and say that we look forward to welcoming members of the Tanos team to the Diversified family who will join our efforts to optimize and steward these assets for years to come."

Diversified Energy Company PLC Doug Kris, Vice President, Investor Relations https://www.div.energy/	+ 1 [phone]
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Joint Global Coordinator, Joint Broker) Callum Stewart Jason Grossman Simon Mensley Ashton Clanfield	[phone]
Tennyson Securities (Joint Global Coordinator, Joint Broker) Peter Krens Edward Haig-Thomas	[phone]
Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Global Coordinator, Joint Broker) Richard Crichton David McKeown Georgia Langoulant Sohail Akbar	[phone]
FTI Consulting (Financial Public Relations) Ben Brewerton Sara Powell	[phone]

IMPORTANT NOTICES

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT (TOGETHER, THIS "ANNOUNCEMENT") IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE INTO THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (COLLECTIVELY, THE "UNITED STATES")). THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD OR TRANSFERRED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF SECURITIES IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM ANY PART OF AN OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, SUBSCRIBE FOR OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE ANY SECURITIES IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN OR ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE RESTRICTIONS MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTIONS.

NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN IS BEING MADE IN ANY SUCH JURISDICTION OR ELSEWHERE.

No action has been taken by the Company, Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt"), Tennyson Securities, a trading name of Shard Capital Partners LLP ("Tennyson Securities") or Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited ("Stifel" and, together with Peel Hunt and Tennyson Securities, the "Joint Global Coordinators") or any of their respective affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers , partners, employees , advisers or agents or, in the case of the Joint Global Coordinators, persons connected with them as defined in FSMA (collectively, "Representatives") that would permit an offer of the new ordinary shares of the Company to be issued pursuant to the Placing (the " Placing Shares ") in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons receiving this Announcement are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions contained in this Announcement. The distribution of this Announcement and the Placing and/or the offer or sale of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any action. Persons distributing any part of this Announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so.

This Announcement has not been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority or the London Stock Exchange.

Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the Placing. 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 "EU 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, as amended from time to time (the "UK Prospectus Regulation") 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. By accepting the terms of this Announcement, you represent and agree that you are a Relevant Person, if in the United Kingdom, or a Qualified Investor, if in a member state of the EEA. 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 Placing 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 and no such offering document or prospectus is required (in accordance with the EU Prospectus Regulation or UK Prospectus Regulation ) to be published.

Certain statements in this Announcement are forward-looking statements with respect to the Company's expectations, intentions and projections regarding its future performance, strategic initiatives, anticipated events or trends and other matters that are not historical facts and which are, by their nature, inherently predictive, speculative and involve risks and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about operating performance, strategic initiatives, objectives, market position, industry trends, general economic conditions, expected expenditures, expected cost savings and financial results, are forward-looking statements. Any statements contained in this Announcement that are not statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which may use words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "intends", "projects", "indicates" ( or the negative thereof ) and similar expressions , are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties . There are a number of factors including, but not limited to, commercial, operational, economic and financial factors, that could cause actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements . Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond the Company's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as changes in taxation or fiscal policy, future market conditions, currency fluctuations, price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas, drilling and production results, reserves estimates, environmental and physical risks, the behaviour of other market participants, the actions of governments or governmental regulators, or other risks factors, such as changes in the political, social and regulatory framework in which the Company operates or in economic or technological trends or conditions, including inflation, recession and consumer confidence, on a global, regional or national basis. Given these risks and uncertainties , readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements . Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of such statements and, except as required by the FCA, the London Stock Exchange or applicable law, the Company, the Joint Global Coordinators and their respective Representatives undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

In particular, no statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast or profit estimate and no statement of a financial metric (including estimates of adjusted EBITDA, profit before tax, free cash flow or net debt) should be interpreted to mean that any financial metric for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published position of the Company and its subsidiaries. Certain statements in this Announcement may contain estimates. The estimates set out in this Announcement have been prepared based on numerous assumptions and forecasts, some of which are outside of the Company's influence and/or control, and is therefore inherently uncertain and there can be no guarantee or assurance that it will be correct. The estimates have not been audited, reviewed, verified or subject to any procedures by the Company's auditors. Undue reliance should not be placed on them and there can be no guarantee or assurance that they will be correct.

Each of the Joint Global Coordinators is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA"). Each of the Joint Global Coordinators is acting exclusively for the Company and for no one else in connection with the Placing and will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this Announcement) as a client in relation to the Placing 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 Placing or any other matters referred to in this Announcement.

This Announcement is being issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by or on behalf of any of the Joint Global Coordinators (apart from the responsibilities or liabilities that may be imposed by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA") or the regulatory regime established thereunder) or by their respective affiliates or any of their respective Representatives for the contents of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or their respective advisers or any other statement made or purported to be made by or on behalf of any of the Joint Global Coordinators or any of their respective affiliates or any of their respective Representatives in connection with the Company, the Placing Shares or the Placing and any responsibility and liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise therefor is expressly disclaimed. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by any of the Joint Global Coordinators or any of their respective affiliates or any of their respective Representatives as to the accuracy, fairness, verification, completeness or sufficiency of the information or opinions contained in this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or their respective advisers, and any liability therefor is expressly disclaimed.

This Announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning any investor's options with respect to the Placing. Recipients of this Announcement should conduct their own investigation, evaluation and analysis of the business, data and other information described in this Announcement. This Announcement does not identify or suggest, or purport to identify or suggest, the risks (direct or indirect) that may be associated with an investment in the Placing Shares. The price and value of securities can go down as well as up. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The contents of this Announcement are not to be construed as legal, business, financial or tax advice. Each investor or prospective investor should consult with his or her or its own legal adviser, business adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser for legal, business, financial or tax advice.

Any indication in this Announcement of the price at which the Company's shares have been bought or sold in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. Persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser. No statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow of the Company for the current or future financial periods would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow of the Company.

The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange.

In connection with the Placing, the Joint Global Coordinators and any of their respective affiliates or any of their respective Representatives, acting as investors for their own account, may take up a portion of the Placing Shares in the Placing as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell for the own accounts or otherwise deal for their own account in such Placing Shares and other securities of the Company or related investments in connection with the Placing or otherwise. Accordingly, references to Placing Shares being offered, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any issue or offer to, or acquisition, placing or dealing by, the Joint Global Coordinators and any of their respective affiliates and their respective Representatives acting in such capacity. In addition, the Joint Global Coordinators and any of their respective affiliates or their respective Representatives may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts for difference) with investors in connection with which the Joint Global Coordinators and any of their respective affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of shares. The Joint Global Coordinators 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.

By participating in the Placing, each Placee will be deemed to have read and understood the Company's announcement dated 8 February 2023 in its entirety, to be participating in the Placing and making an offer to acquire and acquiring Placing Shares on the terms and conditions set out in Appendix 1 to the announcement and to be providing the representations, warranties, undertakings and acknowledgements contained in Appendix 1 to the announcement.

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.

This Announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with applicable law and regulation in the United Kingdom and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this Announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws and regulations of any jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom.

UK Product Governance Requirements

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK Product Governance Rules"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any 'manufacturer' (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance Rules) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such Placing Shares are: (a) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook ("COBS"); and (b) eligible for distribution through all permitted distribution channels (the "UK target market assessment"). Notwithstanding the UK target market assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The UK target market assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the UK target market assessment, the Joint Global Coordinators will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.

For the avoidance of doubt, the UK target market assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of COBS 9A and COBS 10A, respectively; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own UK target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

EU Product Governance Requirements

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any 'manufacturer' (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the Joint Global Coordinators will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

Dealing Codes:

Ticker: DEC

ISIN for the Ordinary Shares: GB00BYX7JT74

SEDOL for the Ordinary Shares: BYX7JT7

Company's legal entity identifier: 213800YR9TFRVHPGOS67

 

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