History
A blank-check company that became a Permian Basin oil producer, grew through the 2022 Colgate and 2023 Earthstone mergers, and by 2026 held a $3.0 billion unsecured credit facility.
2016: From blank cheque to oil producer
The company began as Silver Run Acquisition Corporation, a blank-check company (a shell that raises money to buy a business later). It completed a $500 million IPO on NASDAQ on 29 February 2016. In July it agreed to buy about 89% of Centennial Resource Production, a Southern Delaware Basin oil and gas company, from NGP-affiliated sellers. Riverstone Holdings backed the deal with an estimated $810 million equity commitment and was to become the largest shareholder, with about 51%. Capital World and Fidelity funds added $200 million. An August amendment set the cash consideration at about $1.19 billion.
The deal closed on 11 October 2016, and the company was renamed Centennial Resource Development, Inc. In November it replaced its auditor with KPMG. In December it agreed to buy Silverback Exploration's Reeves County, Texas assets for $855 million cash. It funded the purchase with a $910 million private placement of shares, including $430 million from Riverstone, plus a larger credit line. The purchase closed on 29 December.
2017-2019: Second basin, more debt
In May 2017 Centennial agreed to buy Northern Delaware Basin properties from GMT Exploration for about $350 million, its entry into that area. It paid for them with a $341 million private placement of 23.5 million Class A shares at $14.50, and the deal closed on 9 June 2017.
From then on it leaned on debt. In November 2017 its lenders raised the credit line's borrowing base (the amount lenders will lend against its reserves) from $350 million to $575 million. The company then sold $400 million of 5.375% notes due 2026 and repaid credit line borrowings. In May 2018 it signed a new five-year credit facility with an $800 million initial borrowing base. In March 2019 it issued $500 million of 6.875% notes due 2027.
2020-2021: The oil price crash
In February 2020 Centennial agreed to sell its water infrastructure to WaterBridge for $150 million. The COVID-19 oil price crash then hit. Nasdaq warned in April and again in August that the stock had traded below the $1 minimum bid price, which risked delisting. Lenders cut the borrowing base to $700 million. The WaterBridge sale was terminated in May after WaterBridge failed to close, and Centennial believed it could keep the $10 million deposit. Also in May, noteholders swapped about $254 million of the 2026 and 2027 notes for $127 million of new 8.00% second-lien notes, accepting a discount to move up the repayment queue.
By March 2021, as the oil market recovered, it issued $150 million of 3.25% exchangeable notes due 2028, which can convert into shares.
2022: The Colgate merger
In February 2022 Centennial signed a new credit facility and launched a $350 million share buyback, after reporting $138 million of net income for 2021. In May it agreed a "merger of equals" with Colgate Energy Partners. Colgate's owner would receive 269.3 million Class C shares plus $525 million in cash, leaving existing shareholders with about 51%. Shareholders approved the deal on 29 August, and it closed on 8 September 2022. The company was renamed Permian Resources Corporation and based in Midland, Texas.
2023-2024: Earthstone and balance-sheet repair
In August 2023 Permian Resources agreed to buy Earthstone Energy in an all-stock deal valued at about $4.5 billion including debt. Each Earthstone share converted into 1.446 Permian Resources shares. The deal closed on 3 November 2023, with about 211 million shares issued to Earthstone holders. Its operating subsidiary raised $1 billion of 7.000% notes due 2032 in two steps, in September and December 2023.
In August 2024 it issued $1.0 billion of 6.25% notes due 2033 and used part of the proceeds to retire $300 million of 7.75% notes due 2026. In November it closed the Barilla Draw acquisition (about 29,500 net acres), raised its quarterly dividend 150% to $0.15 a share and received credit rating upgrades from Moody's, S&P and Fitch.
2025-2026: A new holding company
In August 2025 the company called for redemption its 3.25% exchangeable notes. In December it announced a reorganization under a new holding company, PRC NewCo Inc. Holders of operating-company units would surrender their Class C shares and receive 48,916,754 new Class A shares. The reorganization completed on 7 January 2026. The new parent took the Permian Resources Corporation name, the prior entity became Permian Resources Holdings, and certain operating-company unit holders had their Class C shares cancelled and exchanged their units one-for-one for new Class A shares. On 20 January the company deregistered its securities with the SEC. On 6 May 2026 it replaced its credit agreement with a $3.0 billion unsecured revolving facility maturing in 2031.
Written from the 53 story beats below (2016 to 6 May 2026), which come from the company's own announcements and filings.