BY Fraser Tennant
In a deal which creates the largest crude oil and natural gas producer from unconventional shale in the Permian Basin, Concho Resources Inc. is to acquire RSP Permian, Inc. in a transaction valued at approximately $9.5bn.
Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, shareholders of RSP will receive 0.320 shares of Concho common stock in exchange for each share of RSP common stock. Upon closing of the transaction, Concho shareholders will own approximately 74.5 percent of the combined company and RSP shareholders will own approximately 25.5 percent.
The deal is also expected to: (i) expand Concho’s strategic portfolio in the Permian Basin to approximately 640,000 net acres; (ii) drive significant operational synergies through development optimisation, shared infrastructure and capital efficiencies, with a present value of more than $2bn; (iii) realise over $60m in annual corporate level savings; (iv) enhance Concho’s three-year annualised production growth outlook within cash flow from operations; and (v) reinforce Concho’s leadership position as the premier Permian pure-play company.
The transaction has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of each company.
“I am extremely proud of the RSP team and the high-quality position we built in the Permian Basin,” said Steve Gray, chief executive of RSP. “As RSP has grown and we have seen the resource play develop in the Permian, we have come to recognise that combining with a company with the scale, investment grade balance sheet and operational excellence of Concho will unlock even more value for shareholders. The combined company will have the vision and necessary financial strength to efficiently develop the tremendous resource potential of these assets with large-scale projects.”
Expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2018, the transaction is subject to the approval of both Concho and RSP shareholders, the satisfaction of certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Upon closing, Concho’s board will be expanded to 11 directors and will include one independent member of the RSP board.
Concho will continue to be headquartered in Midland, Texas.
Tim Leach, chairman and chief executive of Concho, said: “This combination allows us to consolidate premier assets that seamlessly fold into our drilling programme, enhance our scale advantage and reinforce our leadership position in the Permian Basin, all while strengthening our platform for delivering predictable growth and returns.”