Linn Energy LLC And LinnCo, LLC Announce Early Termination Of Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period for Definitive Merger Agreement With Berry Petroleum Company

Linn Energy LLC and LinnCo, LLC announced that they have received early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, in connection with their proposed merger with Berry Petroleum Company, which was announced on February 21, 2013. The termination of this waiting period, which is effective as of March 13, 2013, satisfies one of the conditions to closing for LINN Energy and LinnCo's proposed acquisition of Berry Petroleum Company. The transaction is subject to other closing conditions, including the approval of the shareholders of Berry and LinnCo and the unitholders of LINN Energy. Subject to satisfaction of these other closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close by June 30, 2013. As previously announced on February 21, 2013, LINN Energy, LLC, LinnCo, LLC, and Berry Petroleum Company have signed a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which LINN and LinnCo will acquire all of Berry's outstanding shares for total consideration of approximately $4.3 billion, including the assumption of debt. The transaction, which is structured as a stock-for-stock merger of Berry with LinnCo followed by the acquisition of the Berry assets by LINN, is expected to be tax-free to Berry shareholders. This transaction represents the first ever acquisition of a public C-Corp by an upstream LLC or MLP.