HOUSTON and MIDLAND, Texas,Jan. 16, 2017(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --Noble Energy, Inc.(NYSE:NBL) and Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.(NYSE:CWEI) today announced that the Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved and the companies have executed a definitive agreement under which Noble Energy will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Clayton Williams Energy for $2.7 billion in Noble Energy stock and cash.

David L. Stover, Noble Energy's Chairman, President and CEO, stated, "We have been very disciplined in assessing expansion opportunities in the Delaware Basinand are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement withClayton Williams Energy. This transaction brings all the key elements we value: excellent rock quality, a large contiguous acreage position adjacent to our own, and robust midstream opportunities, reinforcing theDelaware Basinas a long-term value and growth driver for Noble Energy. This combination creates the industry's second largestSouthern Delaware Basinacreage position and provides more than 4,200 drilling locations on approximately 120,000 net acres, with over 2 billion barrels of oil equivalent in net unrisked resource. In addition to the benefits driven by larger scale, the midstream assets and planned buildout provide significant synergies and substantial dropdown potential in association with our ownership inNoble Midstream Partners."

Stover concluded, "We are rapidly accelerating activity in 2017, starting the year with four rigs operating in theSouthern Delaware Basin- three on Noble Energy's acreage and one on theClayton Williams Energyposition. A second rig is planned to be added to the new acreage in the second quarter, following closing of the transaction, and a third later in the year, in order to exit 2017 with a combined six rigs running in theDelaware Basin. Following our ramp of activity in 2017, the acquired assets are expected to be self-funding and accretive to Noble Energy's earnings and cash flow per share beginning next year. This is an excellent fit forNoble Energy, and we expect the transaction to generate substantial shareholder value. We look forward to a smooth and seamless integration of Clayton Williams Energy."

Clayton W. Williams, Jr., Chairman and CEO ofClayton Williams Energy, stated, "I am very proud of the company we have built over the past 25 years and I am pleased thatNoble Energywill be leading the development of our properties going forward. Noble Energy's long track record of operational excellence and value creation, as well as its reputation as a tremendous corporate citizen, make it the ideal partner for us. We look forward to being shareholders ofNoble Energyand benefiting from its world class asset portfolio."

Acquisition Highlights

• 71,000 highly contiguous net acres in the core of theSouthern Delaware BasininReevesandWardcount ies inTexas(directly adjacent to Noble Energy's existing 47,200 net acres). In addition, there are an additional 100,000 net acres in other areas of thePermian Basin.
• 80% average working interest in theSouthern Delawareposition, with more than 95% of the acreage operated.
• 2,400Delaware Basingross drilling locations identified, targeting the Upper and Lower Wolfcamp A zones, along with the Wolfcamp B and C. The average lateral length of the future locations is 8,000 feet.
• Total estimated net unrisked resource potential on the acreage of over 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent in the Wolfcamp zones, with significant upside potential in other zones.
• Noble Energy's outlook is to increase production on the acquired assets from 10 MBoe/d currently (70% oil) to approximately 60 MBoe/d in 2020 in the Company's base plan.
• Highly competitive economics, with Wolfcamp A wells (estimated ultimate recovery of 1.0 million barrels of oil equivalent for a 7,500 foot lateral) generating approximately 60% to 90% before-tax rate of return at base and upside plan pricing, respectively.
• The acquiredDelaware Basinacreage is largely undedicated to third-party oil and gas gathering and water systems, and approximately 12,500 acres are dedicated from a third-party operator.
• Existing midstreamDelaware Basinassets include over 300 miles of oil, natural gas, and produced water gathering pipelines (over 100 miles for each product).

Additional Transaction Details

Clayton Williams Energyshareholders will receive 2.7874 shares ofNoble Energycommon stock and$34.75in cash for each share of common stock held. In the aggregate, this totals 55 million shares ofNoble Energystock and$665 millionin cash. While the aggregate amount of cash and stock in the transaction will not change, on an individual basis shareholders will be able to elect to receive cash or stock, subject to proration. The value of the transaction, based on Noble Energy's closing stock price as ofJanuary 13, 2017, is approximately$139perClayton Williams Energyshare, or$3.2 billionin the aggregate, including the assumption of approximately$500 millionin net debt.

The per share consideration represents a 21% premium to the average closing share price ofClayton Williams Energyover the past 30 days, and a 34% premium to the price onJanuary 13, 2017, the last day of trading prior to the transaction.

Noble Energyintends to fund the cash portion of the acquisition through a draw on its revolving credit facility. As of the end of 2016, the Company's$4 billionfacility was completely undrawn. Through ongoing portfolio management / optimization,Noble Energyanticipates the Company will generate in excess of$1 billionin proceeds in 2017.

The Company also anticipates retiring outstanding debt ofClayton Williams Energyassumed as part of the transaction at or following the closing. This, along with general and administrative cost elimination, will result in annual cost synergies toNoble Energyof approximately$75 million.

As part of the Company's valuation assessment,Noble Energyidentified significant value relating to existing production and midstream opportunities. After adjusting for these items and net debt assumed, the purchase price represents approximately$32,000per coreSouthern Delawareacre. The midstream valuation reflects the planned infrastructure buildout and the value of future cash flows.

Shareholder Agreements and Timing to Close

Funds managed by Ares Management, L.P., which owned approximately 35% of the outstanding shares ofClayton Williams Energyas ofDecember 31, 2016, have entered into a support agreement to vote in favor of the transaction. Following completion of the transaction, shareholders ofClayton Williams Energyare expected to own approximately 11% of the outstanding shares ofNoble Energy.

Closing is expected in the second quarter of 2017 and is subject to customary regulatory approvals, approval by the holders of a majority ofClayton Williams Energycommon stock, and certain other conditions.

Update on Four-YearPlan

The Company is providing an update to its four-year operating plan (2016 - 2020E). The updated plan includes the development of the acquired acreage, which is estimated to result in production growth from approximately 10 MBoe/d currently to 60 MBoe/d in 2020 in the Company's base plan and to 70 MBoe/d in the upside plan. Rig activity on the new acreage is planned to accelerate from 1 rig currently to 3 rigs by year end 2017 and between 5 rigs (base plan) and 6 rigs (upside plan ) in 2020.

Also included is the impact of an incremental 7,200 net acres acquired through multiple otherDelaware Basintransactions, which closed in early 2017. This acreage represented offsetting sections to and additional working interest in Noble Energy's existing Reeves Country acreage.

Key outcomes of the updated plan through 2020 are:

• Total Delaware Basinnet production grows to 145 MBoe/d in the base plan (73% CAGR) and 180 MBoe/d in the upside plan (83% CAGR), from a combined 10-13 drilling rigs in theDelawarein 2020.
• Noble Energy's onshoreU.S.oil volume CAGR has been raised 5 percentage points, now estimated to grow pro forma at a 28% CAGR in the base plan and 34% CAGR in the upside plan.
• Total company oil volumes now increase at a 16% CAGR in the base plan and 21% CAGR in the upside plan, up 5 percentage points versus theNovember 2016plan.
• Full company production in 2020 is expected to reach 600 MBoe/d in the base plan and nearly 700 MBoe/d in the upside plan. This represents an 11 to 15% CAGR.
• Operating cash flow is now projected to increase at a CAGR of 33% in the base plan and 45% in the upside plan, up 7 percentage points.

The Company's base plan utilizes$50per barrel WTI and Brent and$3per thousand cubic feetHenry Hubnatural gas for 2017, with modest oil price acceleration through 2020. The upside plan adds$10per barrel in commodity price to all periods.

With the anticipated closing of the transaction in the second quarter of 2017,Noble Energynow anticipates an incremental$150 millionin reported 2017 capital to be allocated to theDelaware Basin, bringing totalDelaware Basinreported capital in 2017 to approximately$500 million. Noble Energy's total reported capital program for 2017, excluding Noble Midstream Partners' capital, is now estimated to total between$2.1and$2.5 billion. Total reported company sales volumes for 2017 are now estimated at 410 to 420 MBoe/d. The Company will provide detailed guidance for 2017 in association with is fourth quarter earnings conference call and webcast onFebruary 14, 2017.

Recent Well ResultsforNoble EnergyandClayton Williams Energy

The two most recent Clayton Williams Energy Wolfcamp A completions include the Collier 34-51 1H and the Geltemeyer 297 1H. The Collier 34-51 1H, with a lateral length of 6,284 feet, was completed with approximately 2,250 pounds of proppant per lateral foot. The well is located in the southeastern part of the acreage and produced at an average 30-day rate of more than 2,000 Boe/d and a 90-day rate of more than 1,700 Boe/d, over 80% oil. Drilled to a lateral length of 4,737 feet, the Geltemeyer 297 1H was completed with approximately 2,440 pounds of proppant per lateral foot and produced at an average 30-day rate of 1,217 Boe/d and a 90-day rate of 1,000 Boe/d, also with more than 80% of the production being oil. When normalized to a 7,500 foot lateral, the wells are performing approximately 20-30% higher than the 1.0 MMBoe EUR Wolfcamp A type curve utilized in Noble Energy's acquisition assessment.

Noble Energyrecently commenced production on five newDelaware Basinwells on its acreage utilizing proppant concentrations ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 pounds per lateral foot, including the Company's first Wolfcamp B completion. The wells are in the initial ramp up period and are performing at or above expectations.

Advisors

Petrie Partners Securities, LLCacted as exclusive financial advisor toNoble Energy. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP acted as legal advisor toNoble Energy. Evercore and Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as financial advisors to Clayton Williams Energy. Latham & Watkins LLPacted as legal advisor toClayton Williams Energy.

AboutNoble Energy

Noble Energy(NYSE:NBL) is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company with a diversified high-quality portfolio of bothU.S.unconventional and global offshore conventional assets spanning three continents. Founded more than 80 years ago, the company is committed to safely and responsibly delivering our purpose:Energizing the World, Bettering People's Lives®. For more information, visit www.nobleenergyinc.com.

About Clayton Williams Energy

Clayton Williams Energy(NYSE:CWEI) is an independent energy company located inMidland, Texas.