Viper Energy Closes $337M Riverbend Mineral Rights Deal
Viper Energy finalized its purchase of Riverbend Oil & Gas IX, paying $337M in cash and 3.7M shares for the mineral and royalty interests.
Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: VNOM), a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: FANG), completed its acquisition of all equity interests in Riverbend Oil & Gas IX, L.L.C. on July 1, 2026, the Midland, Texas-based company announced. The deal, valued at $337 million in cash plus approximately 3.7 million shares of Viper's Class A common stock, transfers a portfolio of mineral and royalty interests to Viper's growing asset base.
Viper funded the cash component through a combination of existing cash on hand and borrowings drawn from its revolving credit facility. The transaction remains subject to customary post-closing adjustments, standard practice for deals of this size in the mineral rights space.
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The closing marks the formal conclusion of a deal Viper had previously announced, extending the company's royalty-interest footprint in what has become an increasingly competitive market for mineral acquisitions in U.S. oil-producing basins. As a pure-play mineral and royalty company, Viper benefits from acquired interests without taking on the capital expenditure burden associated with operating wells directly.
For Diamondback Energy, the parent company, Viper's expansion reinforces a broader strategy of consolidating mineral ownership in key producing regions. Royalty interests generate revenue tied to production volumes without requiring direct operational spending, making them an attractive vehicle for long-term cash flow generation in the current commodity environment.
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