Chesapeake Energy Corporation announced that it has commenced exchange offers (each, an “Offer,” and collectively, the “Offers”) relating to its outstanding (i) Class A warrants (the “Class A warrants”), (ii) Class B warrants (the “Class B warrants”) and (iii) Class C warrants (the “Class C warrants,” and together with the Class A warrants and the Class B warrants, the “warrants”), each to purchase shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“common stock”). The warrant structure was originally implemented as part of the Company’s restructuring. By reducing the potential dilutive impact of the warrants through the Offers, the Company expects to simplify its capital structure, eliminate complexity and align the interests of all equity holders with minimal increase to the fully diluted share count. The Company intends to resume its $2 billion board authorized share repurchase program following the completion of the Offers.
The Company is offering to all holders of the warrants the opportunity to receive a number of shares of common stock to be determined over a ten trading day volume-weighted average trading price measurement period, in each case, for warrants validly tendered and accepted for exchange pursuant to the Offers, as further described in the Company’s Schedule TO and Prospectus/Offers to Exchange.
The offering period for each Offer will continue until 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on September 16, 2022, or such later time and date to which the Company may extend an Offer, as described in the Company’s Schedule TO and Prospectus/Offers to Exchange (each such date, an “Expiration Date”). Tendered warrants may be withdrawn by holders at any time prior to the applicable Expiration Date. The Company may extend or amend an Offer without extending or amending any other Offer.
The Offers are being made pursuant to a Prospectus/Offers to Exchange dated August 18, 2022, and Schedule TO, dated August 18, 2022, each of which has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and more fully set forth the terms and conditions of the Offers.
Chesapeake’s common stock, Class A warrants, Class B warrants and Class C warrants are listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbols “CHK,” “CHKEW,” “CHKEZ” and “CHKEL,” respectively. As of August 17, 2022, there were 120,849,113 shares of common stock, 9,751,853 Class A warrants, 12,290,669 Class B warrants and 11,269,865 Class C warrants outstanding.
The Company has engaged Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Cowen and Company, LLC and Intrepid Partners, LLC as the dealer managers for the Offers. Any questions or requests for assistance concerning the Offers may be directed to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at 1 (212) 723-7914; Cowen and Company, LLC at 1 (646) 562-1010; and Intrepid Partners, LLC at 1 (713) 292-0863. D.F. King & Co., Inc. has been appointed as the information agent for the Offers, and Equiniti Trust Company has been appointed as the exchange agent. Requests for documents should be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc. at 1 (877) 732-3617 (for warrant holders) or 1 (212) 269-5550 (for banks and brokers) or via the following email address: chk@dfking.com.