APRIL 30, 2024

OKLAHOMA CITY, April 30, 2024 – Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:CHK) today reported first quarter 2024 financial and operating results.

•Net income of $26 million, or $0.18 per fully diluted share; adjusted net income(1) of $80 million, or $0.56 per share

•Net cash provided by operating activities of $552 million

•Adjusted EBITDAX(1) of $508 million; free cash flow(1) of $131 million

•Delivered $112 million in adjusted free cash flow(1) yielding combined quarterly base and variable dividend of $0.715 per common share to be paid in June 2024

•Produced approximately 3.20 bcf/d net (100% natural gas); building productive capacity with 46 combined DUCs and deferred TILs at the end of the quarter

•Reaffirmed credit facility borrowing base and increased aggregate commitments to $2.5 billion

Nick Dell’Osso, Chesapeake’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Today’s results show the strength of our portfolio and strategy, further demonstrating that our company was built to withstand demand cycles. As we build productive capacity, we continue to focus on capital discipline and prudently respond to today’s market conditions. We remain excited about our pending combination with Southwestern which we expect will close in the second half of this year. The merger positions us to expand America’s energy reach to markets that are increasingly turning to natural gas to meet the growing demand for reliable, affordable, lower carbon energy to domestic and international consumers.”

Chesapeake generated $552 million of operating cash flow and $112 million of adjusted free cash flow(1) during the first quarter. Chesapeake plans to pay its base and variable dividends on June 5, 2024 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 16, 2024.

Including the first quarter base and variable declared dividends, Chesapeake has returned more than $3.4 billion to shareholders since 2021 through dividends and share buybacks.

Chesapeake’s net production in the first quarter was approximately 3.20 bcfe per day (100% natural gas), utilizing an average of nine rigs to drill 28 wells and place 29 wells on production while building an inventory of 24 drilled but uncompleted (DUCs) wells and 22 deferred turn in lines (TILs). Chesapeake is currently operating eight rigs and two completion crews. The company plans to drop an additional rig in the Marcellus around mid-year.

Given continued weak market dynamics, the company is executing its previously disclosed plan to defer completions and new well turn in lines, building short-cycle, capital efficient productive capacity which can be activated when supply and demand imbalances correct. At the end of the first quarter the company had 50 DUCs, approximately twice its normal average at current rig counts, and 22 deferred TILs. For the full-year, the company expects to drill 95 — 115 wells and place 30 — 40 wells on production, which is consistent with previous guidance.

In February, Chesapeake announced the signing of long-term LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements (SPAs). Under the SPAs, Chesapeake will purchase approximately 0.5 million tonnes per annum (“mtpa”) of LNG from Delfin LNG at a Henry Hub linked price with a targeted contract start date in 2028. Chesapeake will then deliver the LNG to Gunvor on a free-on-board basis with the sales price linked to the Japan Korea Marker (“JKM”) for a period of 20 years. These volumes represent 0.5 mtpa of the previously announced up to 2 mtpa HOA with Gunvor. The company continues to pursue additional LNG agreements to deliver on its LNG strategy.

In April 2024, the company's borrowing base was reaffirmed and the aggregate commitments under our Credit Facility were increased by $500 million to $2.5 billion in total. Additionally, the sublimit available for the issuance of letters of credit were increased by $300 million to $500 million in total.

The company continues to work on direct emission reductions while also investing in adjacent technology and businesses to meet its 2035 Scope 1 and Scope 2 net zero commitment. The company achieved its 2025 interim GHG and methane intensity target last year and successfully recertified all assets under the MiQ and EO100™ standards, maintaining 100% independent responsibly sourced gas certification across its entire portfolio.

Chesapeake’s culture of operational excellence and safety resulted in a ~40% year-over-year combined TRIR improvement, to an industry leading 0.14. Additionally, IR Magazine recognized Chesapeake for Best ESG Reporting by a small to mid-cap company, for the quality and depth of its 2022 sustainability report. The company’s 2023 sustainability report is expected to be published later this quarter.

Chesapeake plans to conduct a conference call to discuss its recent financial and operating results at 9:00 am EDT on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The telephone number to access the conference call is 1-888-317-6003 or 1-412-317-6061 for international callers. The passcode is 9185107.

The company’s 2024 first quarter financial and operational results, along with non-GAAP measures that adjust for items typically excluded by certain securities analysts, are available on the company’s website. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP measures. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures and other disclosures are provided with the supplemental financial tables available on the company’s website at www.chk.com. Management’s updated guidance for 2024 can be found on the company’s website at www.chk.com.

•conservation measures and technological advances could reduce demand for natural gas and oil;

•negative public perceptions of our industry;

•competition in the natural gas and oil exploration and production industry;

•the volatility of natural gas, oil and NGL prices, which are affected by general economic and business conditions, as well as increased demand for (and availability of) alternative fuels and electric vehicles;

•risks from regional epidemics or pandemics and related economic turmoil, including supply chain constraints;

•write-downs of our natural gas and oil asset carrying values due to low commodity prices;

•significant capital expenditures are required to replace our reserves and conduct our business;

•our ability to replace reserves and sustain production;

•uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of natural gas, oil and NGL reserves and projecting future rates of production and the amount and timing of development expenditures;

•drilling and operating risks and resulting liabilities;

•our ability to generate profits or achieve targeted results in drilling and well operations;

•leasehold terms expiring before production can be established;

•risks from our commodity price risk management activities;

•uncertainties, risks and costs associated with natural gas and oil operations;

•our need to secure adequate supplies of water for our drilling operations and to dispose of or recycle the water used;

•pipeline and gathering system capacity constraints and transportation interruptions;

•our plans to participate in the LNG export industry;

•terrorist activities and/or cyber-attacks adversely impacting our operations;

•risks from failure to protect personal information and data and compliance with data privacy and security laws and regulations;

•disruption of our business by natural or human causes beyond our control;

•a deterioration in general economic, business or industry conditions;

•the impact of inflation and commodity price volatility, including as a result of armed conflict and instability in Europe and the Middle East, along with the effects of the current global economic environment, on our business, financial condition, employees, contractors, vendors and the global demand for natural gas and oil and on U.S. and global financial markets;

•our inability to access the capital markets on favorable terms;

•the limitations on our financial flexibility due to our level of indebtedness and restrictive covenants from our indebtedness;

•our actual financial results after emergence from bankruptcy may not be comparable to our historical financial information;

•risks related to acquisitions or dispositions, or potential acquisitions or dispositions, including risks related to the pending merger with Southwestern, such as the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the possibility that our stockholders may not approve the issuance of our common stock in connection with the proposed transaction; the possibility that the stockholders of Southwestern may not approve the merger agreement; the risk that we or Southwestern may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the proposed transaction, or required governmental and regulatory approvals may delay the merger or result in the imposition of conditions that could cause the parties to abandon the merger; the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all; risks related to limitation on our ability to pursue alternatives to the merger; risks related to change in control or other provisions in certain agreements that may be triggered upon completion of the merger; risks related to the merger agreement’s restrictions on business activities prior to the effective time of the merger; risks related to loss of management personnel, other key employees, customers, suppliers, vendors, landlords, joint venture partners and other business partners following the merger; risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of our common stock or Southwestern’s common stock; the risk of any unexpected costs or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; the risk of any litigation relating to the proposed transaction; the risk that problems may arise in successfully integrating the businesses of the companies, which may result in the combined company not operating as effectively and efficiently as expected; and the risk that the combined company may be unable to achieve synergies or other anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction or it may take longer than expected to achieve those synergies or benefits;

•our ability to achieve and maintain ESG certifications, goals and commitments;

•legislative, regulatory and ESG initiatives, addressing environmental concerns, including initiatives addressing the impact of global climate change or further regulating hydraulic fracturing, methane emissions, flaring or water disposal;

•federal and state tax proposals affecting our industry;

•risks related to an annual limitation on the utilization of our tax attributes, which is expected to be triggered upon completion of the merger, as well as trading in our common stock, additional issuances of common stock, and certain other stock transactions, which could lead to an additional, potentially more restrictive, annual limitation; and

•other factors that are described under Risk Factors in Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

As a supplement to the financial results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, Chesapeake’s quarterly earnings releases contain certain financial measures that are not prepared or presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures include Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, Adjusted EBITDAX, Free Cash Flow, Adjusted Free Cash Flow and Net Debt. A reconciliation of each financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is included in the tables below. Management believes these adjusted financial measures are a meaningful adjunct to earnings and cash flows calculated in accordance with GAAP because (a) management uses these financial measures to evaluate the company’s trends and performance, (b) these financial measures are comparable to estimates provided by certain securities analysts, and (c) items excluded generally are one-time items or items whose timing or amount cannot be reasonably estimated. Accordingly, any guidance provided by the company generally excludes information regarding these types of items.

Chesapeake's definitions of each non-GAAP measure presented herein are provided below. Because not all companies or securities analysts use identical calculations, Chesapeake’s non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies or securities analysts.

Adjusted Net Income: Adjusted Net Income is defined as net income (loss) adjusted to exclude unrealized (gains) losses on natural gas and oil derivatives, (gains) losses on sales of assets, and certain items management believes affect the comparability of operating results, less a tax effect using applicable rates. Chesapeake believes that Adjusted Net Income facilitates comparisons of the company's period-over-period performance, which many investors use in making investment decisions and evaluating operational trends and performance. Adjusted Net Income should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss) as presented in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share: Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share is defined as diluted earnings (loss) per common share adjusted to exclude the per diluted share amounts attributed to unrealized (gains) losses on natural gas and oil derivatives, (gains) losses on sales of assets, and certain items management believes affect the comparability of operating results, less a tax effect using applicable rates. Chesapeake believes that Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share facilitates comparisons of the company's period-over-period performance, which many investors use in making investment decisions and evaluating operational trends and performance. Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, earnings (loss) per common share as presented in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted EBITDAX: Adjusted EBITDAX is defined as net income (loss) before interest expense, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, exploration expense, unrealized (gains) losses on natural gas and oil derivatives, separation and other termination costs, (gains) losses on sales of assets, and certain items management believes affect the comparability of operating results. Adjusted EBITDAX is presented as it provides investors an indication of the company's ability to internally fund exploration and development activities and service or incur debt. Adjusted EBITDAX should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss) as presented in accordance with GAAP.

Free Cash Flow: Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less cash capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow is a liquidity measure that provides investors additional information regarding the company's ability to service or incur debt and return cash to shareholders. Free Cash Flow should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, or any other measure of liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow: Adjusted Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less cash capital expenditures and cash contributions to investments, adjusted to exclude certain items management believes affect the comparability of operating results. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is a liquidity measure that provides investors additional information regarding the company's ability to service or incur debt and return cash to shareholders and is used to determine Chesapeake's quarterly variable dividend. Adjusted Free Cash Flow should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, or any other measure of liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP.

Net Debt: Net Debt is defined as GAAP total debt excluding premiums, discounts, and deferred issuance costs less cash and cash equivalents. Net Debt is useful to investors as a widely understood measure of liquidity and leverage, but this measure should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, total debt presented in accordance with GAAP.