The merger between oil and gas firms Wintershall Holding GmbH and Deutsche Erdoel AG (DEA) has been completed, creating the largest independent exploration and production company in Europe.
Wintershall DEA will be headquartered in Hamburg, with activities across Europe, Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East. Regulatory approvals have been granted by nine countries including Germany, Norway, the UK and Russia.
“We are a European champion and are making an important contribution to Europe’s energy security,” explains Mario Mehren, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Wintershall Dea.
Following the approvals granted by all relevant authorities, shareholders BASF and LetterOne successfully completed the merger on May 1, 2019. The merger was agreed in September 2018.
In 2018, pro-forma hydrocarbon production of Wintershall and DEA together was 215 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), equivalent to around 590,000 BOE per day.
At the end of 2018, proven reserves on a pro-forma basis stood at 2.4 billion BOE, which leads to a reserve to production ratio of 11 years. As a result of the merger, Wintershall Dea has a regionally balanced footprint with superior growth opportunities in its core regions.
Based on existing exploration and production projects, the company is on track to reach daily production of 750,000 to 800,000 BOE between 2021 and 2023. This is equivalent to an annual production growth rate of 6% to 8%. Growth is expected to come from both the existing portfolio and new production regions.
Wintershall Dea expects to realise synergies of at least €200 million per year as of the third year following the closing of the transaction, in particular from operating and capital expenditure savings.
According to current plans, around 1,000 of the total 4,200 full-time positions are expected to be reduced worldwide. The social partners are currently working on socially compatible solutions regarding the necessary personnel adjustments.