UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

  

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 5, 2024 (April 4, 2024)

 

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Oklahoma		1-13726		73-1395733
(State or Other Jurisdiction		(Commission		(IRS Employer
of Incorporation)		File Number)		Identification No.)

 

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73118

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (405) 848-8000

 

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

x

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: 

 

Title of Each Class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share		CHK		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Class A Warrants to purchase Common Stock		CHKEW		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Class B Warrants to purchase Common Stock		CHKEZ		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Class C Warrants to purchase Common Stock		CHKEL		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

 

 

Item 8.01

Other Events

 

As previously announced, on January 10, 2024, Chesapeake Energy Corporation (“Chesapeake”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Southwestern Energy Company (“Southwestern”), Hulk Merger Sub, Inc., (“Merger Sub Inc”), and Hulk LLC Sub, LLC, each a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake, pursuant to which, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub Inc will merge with and into Southwestern (the “Merger”), with Southwestern surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake.

 

The Merger is conditioned on, among other things, the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”). Pursuant to the HSR Act, Chesapeake and Southwestern filed notification and report forms with the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”).

 

On April 4, Chesapeake and Southwestern each received a request for additional information and documentary materials (the “Second Request”) from the FTC in connection with the FTC’s review of the Merger. Issuance of the Second Request extends the waiting period imposed by the HSR Act until 30 days after Chesapeake and Southwestern have substantially complied with the Second Request, unless that period is extended voluntarily by the parties or terminated sooner by the FTC. Chesapeake and Southwestern will continue to work cooperatively with the FTC in its review of the Merger, and now expect that the Merger will be completed in the second half of 2024, subject to the fulfillment of the other closing conditions, including approvals of Chesapeake and Southwestern shareholders.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “cause,” “continue,” “could,” “depend,” “develop,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “guidance,” “have,” “impact,” “implement,” “increase,” “intends,” “lead,” “maintain,” “may,” “might,” “plans,” “potential,” “possible,” “projected,” “reduce,” “remain,” “result,” “scheduled,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would” and other similar words or expressions. The absence of such words or expressions does not necessarily mean the statements are not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Chesapeake’s and Southwestern’s current views about future events. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed transaction between Chesapeake and Southwestern, the expected closing of the proposed transaction and the timing thereof and the proforma combined company and its operations, strategies and plans, integration, debt levels and leverage ratio, capital expenditures, cash flows and anticipated uses thereof, synergies, opportunities and anticipated future performance, expected accretion to earnings and free cash flow and anticipated dividends. Information adjusted for the proposed transaction should not be considered a forecast of future results. Although we believe our forward-looking statements are reasonable, statements made regarding future results are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous assumptions, uncertainties and risks that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.

 

Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from the results stated or implied in the forward-looking statements included in this report due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to: 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 Chesapeake’s common stock in connection with the proposed transaction; the possibility that the stockholders of Southwestern may not approve the Merger Agreement; the risk that Chesapeake 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 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 Chesapeake’s 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 the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of Chesapeake and Southwestern to retain and hire key personnel, on the ability of Chesapeake to attract third-party customers and maintain its relationships with derivatives counterparties and on Chesapeake’s operating results and businesses generally; 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; 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 and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected; the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas, the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves; the ability to replace reserves; environmental risks, drilling and operating risks, including the potential liability for remedial actions or assessments under existing or future environmental regulations and litigation; exploration and development risks; the effect of future regulatory or legislative actions on the companies or the industry in which they operate, including the risk of new restrictions with respect to oil and natural gas development activities; the risk that the credit ratings of the combined business may be different from what the companies expect; the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals and other risks inherent in Chesapeake’s and Southwestern’s businesses; public health crises, such as pandemics and epidemics, and any related government policies and actions; the potential disruption or interruption of Chesapeake’s or Southwestern’s operations due to war, accidents, political events, civil unrest, severe weather, cyber threats, terrorist acts, or other natural or human causes beyond the Chesapeake’s or Southwestern’s control; and the combined company’s ability to identify and mitigate the risks and hazards inherent in operating in the global energy industry. Other unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this report could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.

 

All such factors are difficult to predict and are beyond Chesapeake’s or Southwestern’s control, including those detailed in Chesapeake’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that are available on its website at http://investors.chk.com/ and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and those detailed in Southwestern’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that are available on Southwestern’s website at https://ir. swn.com/CorporateProfile/default.aspx and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Chesapeake and Southwestern undertake no obligation to publicly correct or update the forward-looking statements in this report, in other documents, or on their respective websites to reflect new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. All such statements are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

 

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS;

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

 

In connection with the Merger between Chesapeake and Southwestern, Chesapeake has filed and will file relevant materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). On February 21, 2024, Chesapeake filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Form S-4”) to register the shares of Chesapeake common stock to be issued in connection with the Merger. The Form S-4 includes a proxy statement of Southwestern that also constitutes a prospectus of Chesapeake. The information in the Form S-4 is not complete and may be changed. After the Form S-4 is declared effective, a definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to stockholders of Chesapeake and Southwestern. This communication is not a substitute for the Form S-4, proxy statement or prospectus or any other document that Chesapeake or Southwestern (as applicable) has filed or may file with the SEC in connection with the Merger. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, INVESTORS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE FORM S-4, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CHESAPEAKE, SOUTHWESTERN, THE MERGER, THE RISKS RELATED THERETO AND RELATED MATTERS.

 

Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the Form S-4 and the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing important information about Chesapeake or Southwestern, without charge at the SEC’s Internet website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Chesapeake may be obtained free of charge on Chesapeake’s website at http://investors.chk.com/. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Southwestern may be obtained free of charge on Southwestern’s website at https://ir.swn.com/CorporateProfile/default.aspx.

 

Participants in Solicitation

 

Chesapeake and Southwestern and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction contemplated by the joint proxy statement/prospectus. Information regarding Chesapeake’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of Chesapeake’s securities is set forth in Chesapeake’s filings with the SEC, including Chesapeake’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, which was filed with the SEC on April 28, 2023. To the extent such person’s ownership of Chesapeake’s securities has changed since the filing of Chesapeake’s proxy statement, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC thereafter. Information regarding Southwestern’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of Southwestern’s securities is set forth in Southwestern’s filings with the SEC, including Southwestern’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and its Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule DEF 14A, which was filed with the SEC on April 5, 2023. To the extent such person’s ownership of Southwestern’s securities has changed since the filing of Southwestern’s proxy statement, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC thereafter. Additional information regarding the interests of those persons and other persons who may be deemed participants in the proxy solicitations may be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials that will be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction when such documents become available. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph.

 

 

No Offer or Solicitation

 

This report relates to the proposed transaction between Chesapeake and Southwestern. This report is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance, exchange or transfer of the securities referred to in this document in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

	CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
	By:	/s/ Domenic J. Dell’Osso, Jr.
	Domenic J. Dell’Osso, Jr.
	President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Date:      April 5, 2024

 

[Signature Page to Form 8-K]