Chord Energy and Enerplus announced they have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement under which Chord will combine with Enerplus in about an $11 billion stock and cash transaction.
The combined company will have a premier Williston Basin position with deep, low-cost inventory, approximately 1.3 million net acres, combined 4Q23 production of 287 MBoepd, and enhanced free cash flow generation to return capital to shareholders.
Under the terms of the deal, each common share of Enerplus will be exchanged for 0.10125 shares of Chord common stock and $1.84 per share in cash, representing 90% stock and 10% cash consideration. And upon completion of the transaction, Chord shareholders will own approximately 67% of the combined company and Enerplus shareholders will own approximately 33% on a fully diluted basis. The combined company’s enterprise value of about $11 billion includes Enerplus’ net debt, based on the transaction exchange ratio, and the closing share prices for Chord and Enerplus as of February 20, 2024.
The combined company will be positioned to drive value through commodity cycles
1.) Enhances Williston Basin Position with Increased Scale – The combined company is expected to be a premier operator in the Williston Basin, with about 1.3 million net acres (98% Williston) and 4Q23 production of 287 MBoepd (over 90% Williston). And oil is expected to be approximately 56% of the combined company’s production, supporting peer-leading EBITDA margins.
2.) Adds Significant High-Quality Inventory – The combined company is expected to benefit from an enhanced inventory position, increasing its sub $60 WTI breakeven inventory by over 60%, improved returns and resilient free cash flow through commodity cycles. And the pro forma inventory supports approximately 10 years of development at the current pace and expands the company’s opportunities for three-mile lateral development.
3.) Accretive to All Financial Metrics – The deal is expected to be accretive to all metrics, including: i) cash flow per share, ii) free cash flow per share, iii) net asset value and iv) return of capital. And significant synergies allow for additional potential accretion in 2025 and beyond.
4.) Delivers Significant Cost Saving and Synergy Opportunities – The combined company expects to benefit from administrative, capital and operating synergies of up to $150 million per year. And administrative synergies are expected to begin immediately in 2024 and increase in 2025 up to $40 million. The capital synergies are expected to increase up to $55 million during 2025, and operating synergies initiate in 2025 and are expected to increase up to $55 million in 2026. The combined company will utilize best practices to further advance efficiencies across the business. And the after-tax present value of synergies is expected to exceed $750 million.
5.) Supports Top-Tier Shareholder Returns – The combined company is expected to generate meaningful free cash flow from its low-cost asset base, improving efficiencies, and disciplined capital spending with a wide range of commodity price scenarios. And the combined company is expected to generate approximately $1.2 billion of free cash flow with a reinvestment rate of approximately 51% in 2024 at $79/bbl WTI and $2.50/MMBtu NYMEX gas. Following the closing of the deal, Chord is expected to maintain its peer-leading return of capital framework at 75%+ of free cash flow through base and variable dividends and share repurchases.
6.) Creates Stronger Financial Position and Relatively Unlevered Balance Sheet – The combined company is expected to have an improved credit profile and cost of capital, with a strong balance sheet with expected leverage of ~0.2x at close.
7.) Continued ESG Commitment – The combined company will maintain and build upon its commitment to ESG and sustainability excellence and capitalize on combined best practices.
Deal Details
Under the terms of the agreement, Enerplus shareholders will receive 0.10125 shares of Chord common stock and $1.84 in cash for each common share of Enerplus owned at closing. And based on the closing price as of close February 20, 2024, the implied value to each Enerplus share is $18.42. And at this exchange ratio, and the respective companies’ closing share prices on February 20, 2024, the combined company would have an enterprise value of approximately $11 billion. Chord will issue about 20.7 million shares of common stock in the transaction as stock consideration to the holders of Enerplus common shares in accordance with the terms of the arrangement agreement.
KEY QUOTES:
“This combination further strengthens our Williston Basin position and represents a compelling opportunity for both companies’ shareholders. Enerplus’ Williston Basin position brings high-quality inventory, and we are excited to leverage best practices from both companies to create a stronger, more efficient entity. The combined company is expected to benefit from improving returns, capital efficiency, low-cost inventory, and a peer-leading balance sheet, all of which support sustainable free cash flow generation and meaningful shareholder returns. This is also a great opportunity for the employees and stakeholders of both Chord and Enerplus, as we believe the combined company will continue to benefit the communities in which we operate in North Dakota and Montana, including the Fort Berthold Reservation. We look forward to working closely with Enerplus to ensure that the full potential of this combination is realized for the benefit of all of our stakeholders.”
– Danny Brown, Chord Energy’s President and Chief Executive Officer
“This transaction brings together Chord’s and Enerplus’ premier asset bases, operational abilities and technical acumen to create a combined company positioned to drive further success, deliver competitive returns and peer-leading shareholder distributions. Joining forces with Chord will provide Enerplus shareholders with immediate value for their investment and the opportunity to participate in the future upside potential from ownership in the stronger, larger company with enhanced shareholder returns. I want to thank our employees for their dedication and hard work over the years that has allowed us to build such a great organization and reach this exciting milestone.”
– Ian Dundas, Enerplus’ President and Chief Executive Officer
