MIDLAND, Texas, July  01, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) (&#34;Viper&#34; or the &#34;Company&#34;), a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:FANG) (&#34;Diamondback&#34;), today

VNOM

Viper Energy, Inc., a Subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc., Has Completed Its Acquisition of Riverbend Mineral and Royalty Interests

Viper Energy completes Riverbend acquisition, expanding Permian mineral rights via cash and equity

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>MIDLAND, Texas, July  01, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) (&amp;#34;Viper&amp;#34; or the &amp;#34;Company&amp;#34;), a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:FANG) (&amp;#34;Diamondback&amp;#34;), today</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>Viper Energy closed the Riverbend Acquisition, paying $337 million in cash plus about 3.7 million VNOM Class A shares for Riverbend&#039;s mineral and royalty interests. The deal is financed with cash on hand and borrowings, with customary post-closing adjustments. It broadens VNOM&#039;s Permian exposure and could boost cash flow if benefits materialize, though leverage and dilution risks require scrutiny.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>Viper Energy completes Riverbend Acquisition for $337M cash and ~3.7M VNOM shares.</li><li>Funding via cash on hand and credit facility borrowings; post-closing adjustments apply.</li><li>Acquisition expands VNOM&#039;s mineral and royalty footprint in the Permian.</li><li>Forward-looking statements highlight risks to realizing anticipated benefits and leverage impact.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>Viper Energy, Inc. (VNOM)</strong>: Completing acquisition; expands mineral/royalty portfolio; dilution risk from stock portion.</li><li><strong>Diamondback Energy, Inc. (FANG)</strong>: Parent company; strategic alignment; potential impact on overall capital allocation and leverage.</li><li><strong>Riverbend Oil &amp; Gas IX, L.L.C. (N/A)</strong>: Seller; holds mineral and royalty interests acquired by Viper.</li><li><strong>Riverbend Oil &amp; Gas IX (AIV), L.L.C. (N/A)</strong>: Seller; part of Riverbend entities involved in the transaction.</li><li><strong>ROG IX, L.L.C. (N/A)</strong>: Seller; asset transfer related to Riverbend group.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>M&amp;A</h3>
    <p>M&amp;A activity within the oil and gas space; VNOM expands its Permian mineral/royalty footprint via a cash-and-stock deal, likely influencing asset mix, leverage and cash flow dynamics over time.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>Riverbend deal size and equity component may dilute VNOM&#039;s share count.</li><li>Debt-funded portion could pressure near-term leverage and covenants.</li><li>Expanded Permian mineral/royalty base could stabilize cash flow amid oil cycles.</li><li>Forward-looking risk disclosures may cap upside if expected benefits delay.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>Date: July 1, 2026</li><li>Acquirer: Viper Energy, a Diamondback subsidiary; VNOM ticker</li><li>Target: Riverbend Oil &amp; Gas IX, L.L.C. and affiliates (mineral/royalty interests)</li><li>Consideration: $337 million cash plus ~3.7 million VNOM Class A shares</li><li>Post-closing adjustments apply</li><li>Financing: cash on hand and borrowings under Viper&#039;s credit facility</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Near-term neutral to modestly bullish; monitor accretion versus dilution and leverage over the next 1–2 quarters.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/styles/gnw_nitf.css"></link><p align="justify">MIDLAND, Texas, July  01, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VNOM">VNOM</a>) ("Viper" or the "Company"), a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FANG">FANG</a>) ("Diamondback"), today announced that Viper has completed its previously announced acquisition of all of the equity interests of Riverbend Oil &amp; Gas IX, L.L.C., an entity owning certain mineral and royalty interests, from Riverbend Oil &amp; Gas IX (AIV), L.L.C. and ROG IX, L.L.C. (such acquisition, the "Riverbend Acquisition") in exchange for $337 million in cash and approximately 3.7 million shares of Viper’s Class A common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. The cash portion of the Riverbend Acquisition was funded through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under the Company’s credit facility.</p>  <p align="justify"><strong>About Viper Energy, Inc.</strong></p>  <p align="justify">Viper is a corporation formed by Diamondback to own, acquire and exploit oil and natural gas properties in North America, with a focus on owning and acquiring mineral and royalty interests in oil-weighted basins, primarily the Permian Basin. For more information, please visit www.viperenergy.com.</p>  <p align="justify"><strong>About Diamondback Energy, Inc.</strong></p>  <p align="justify">Diamondback is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland, Texas focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves primarily in the Permian Basin in West Texas. For more information, please visit www.diamondbackenergy.com.</p>  <p align="justify"><strong>Forward-Looking Statements</strong></p>  <p align="justify">This communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the results to differ materially from such statements. All statements, other than historical facts, that address activities that Viper assumes, plans, expects, believes, intends or anticipates (and other similar expressions) will, should or may occur in the future, including the anticipated benefits of the Riverbend Acquisition, Viper’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. When used herein, the words "may," "could," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project" and similar expressions and the negative of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words.</p>  <p align="justify">Factors that could cause the outcomes to differ materially include (but are not limited to): Viper’s ability to realize the expected benefits of the Riverbend Acquisition in a timely manner, or at all; changes in supply and demand levels for oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids and the resulting impact on commodity prices; developmental activity by other operators; and those risks described in Viper’s periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including in Item 1A of Viper’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, subsequent Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings Viper makes with the SEC, which can be obtained free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and Viper’s website at www.viperenergy.com/investors/overview.</p>  <p align="justify">In light of these factors, the events anticipated by Viper’s forward-looking statements may not occur at the time anticipated or at all. Viper cannot predict all risks, nor can it assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by any forward-looking statements it may make. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication or, if earlier, as of the date they were made. Viper does not intend to, and disclaims any obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements unless required by applicable law.</p>  <p align="justify"><strong>Investor Contact</strong></p>  <p align="justify">Viper Energy:<br></br>Chip Seale<br></br>+1 432.247.6218<br></br>cseale@viperenergy.com</p>  <p align="justify">Source: Viper Energy, Inc.; Diamondback Energy, Inc.</p> <img alt="" class="__GNW8366DE3E__IMG" src="https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/ti?nf=OTc1NTg4MyM3Njg1MTU2IzIwMDU4MzE="></img> <br></br><img alt="" src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/Y2JkOTE1NjctY2ZiNS00MWZjLTgwMDgtYzEzMzE1ODcwOTY4LTEwMTc0MDQtMjAyNi0wNy0wMS1lbg==/tiny/Viper-Energy-Inc-.png" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></img><p><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/15d2b8d3-c693-47f9-8a98-d2315f0643b0"><img src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/15d2b8d3-c693-47f9-8a98-d2315f0643b0/small/vnom-logo-2-jpg.jpg" border="0" width="150" height="81" alt="Primary Logo"></img></a></p>

Viper Energy closed the Riverbend Acquisition, paying $337 million in cash plus about 3.7 million VNOM Class A shares for Riverbend's mineral and royalty interests. The deal is financed with cash on hand and borrowings, with customary post-closing adjustments. It broadens VNOM's Permian exposure and could boost cash flow if benefits materialize, though leverage and dilution risks require scrutiny.

Viper Energy, Inc., a Subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc., Has Completed Its Acquisition of Riverbend Mineral and Royalty Interests

AI Summary

Sentiment Rationale

Trading Thesis

Market-Moving

Key Facts

Companies Mentioned

M&A

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