Centennial Resource Development and Colgate Energy to Combine, Creating $7.0 Billion Permian Basin Pure-Play
Key Highlights
- High-quality, complementary asset base with differentiated inventory depth to support sustainable free cash flow growth
- Positioned to significantly increase cash returns to shareholders, with over
$1 billion of expected free cash flow1 in 2023 at current strip prices - Highly accretive to key financial metrics, including cash flow, free cash flow and net asset value per share
- Strong balance sheet with expected leverage2 below 1.0x at year-end 2022
Sean Smith to serve as Executive Chair of the Board;Will Hickey andJames Walter to serve as Co-CEOs- Significant equity ownership of combined management team aligns with shareholders
- Shared commitment to prioritizing ESG with continued focus on reducing environmental impact
Management Commentary
“This transformative combination significantly increases scale and drives accretion across all our key financial and operating metrics. Colgate’s complementary, high-margin assets are a natural fit for Centennial, creating the largest pure-play E&P company in the
“The Colgate and Centennial teams have each demonstrated a track record of execution through the years, and we are excited to assume leadership roles in the new company to build upon that success and guide the next phase of value creation. Both companies have established strong financial and operational cultures, and we expect the combined company will be a top-tier, low-cost operator that is able to deliver better margins and shareholder returns,” said
“The merger of Colgate and Centennial is compelling from a financial, operational and strategic standpoint, establishing a leading
Transaction Details
The approximately
The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is expected to close in the second half of 2022. The company intends to provide detailed forward-looking guidance for the remainder of 2022 at or shortly after closing of the transaction.
Differentiated E&P Platform
- Return of Capital. The scaled cash flow base and balance sheet of the combined company provides clear line of sight to significant near-term shareholder returns.
- Combining Best Practices. The combined company intends to integrate leading-edge operational practices from two, highly skilled teams with proven track records. This leveraging of best practices from both organizations positions the combined company for continued success.
- Deep Inventory of High-Return Locations. The combined company’s adjacent acreage position, coupled with its high-return inventory supports a highly capital-efficient development plan and provides operational flexibility. Upon closing, the combined company will have over 15-years of drilling inventory, assuming its current drilling pace.
- Maximizing Shareholder Alignment. Upon closing, the combined company will have one of the largest management ownership interests of any public E&P company, with the management team owning approximately 12% of the pro forma total shares outstanding. As a result, the company will be highly focused on increasing shareholder value.
- Commitment to ESG and Sustainability. As both companies have demonstrated significant reductions in emissions intensity and natural gas flaring to date, ESG excellence will continue to be a core competency of the combined company.
Colgate Overview
Founded in 2015, Colgate has exhibited an exceptional value-creation track record under the leadership of its current Co-CEOs,
Leadership and Governance
Upon closing,
Following the merger, Centennial’s Board of Directors will be expanded to eleven directors, consisting of
“Centennial and Colgate are a clear strategic fit, combining two complementary acreage footprints in the core of the
Immediately following the closing, existing Centennial shareholders will own approximately 53% of the combined company, and existing Colgate owners will own approximately 47% of the combined company. Centennial’s largest shareholder, Riverstone, which currently owns approximately 25% of Centennial’s outstanding shares, has executed a Voting and Support Agreement in connection with the transaction. The closing of the merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Centennial shareholders and regulatory approvals.
Advisors
Citi is serving as financial advisor and
Conference Call and Webcast
Centennial and Colgate will host a joint conference call on
About the Companies
Colgate is a privately held, independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release regarding the proposed business combination between Centennial and Colgate (the “Merger”) or the strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management of Centennial, Colgate and/or the combined company are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words “could,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “goal,” “plan,” “target” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Centennial’s and Colgate’s ability to effect the Merger; the expected benefits and timing of the Merger; future dividends and share repurchases; and future plans, expectations, and objectives for the combined company’s operations after completion of the Merger, including statements about strategy, synergies, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues, projected production, projected costs, prospects, plans, and objectives of management. While forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses that management of Centennial and Colgate believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, whether actual results and developments will meet such expectations and predictions depends on a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, and financial condition to differ materially from such expectations. Any forward-looking statement made in this news release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all of them. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investors as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, the Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Merger, and the other documents filed by Centennial from time to time with the
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This press release relates to the proposed Merger between Centennial and Colgate. In connection with the proposed Merger, Centennial will file with the
Participants in Solicitation
Centennial, Colgate and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with certain matters related to the Merger and may have direct or indirect interests in the Merger. Information about Centennial’s directors and executive officers is set forth in Centennial’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the
(1) The company does not provide guidance on the items used to reconcile between forecasted free cash flow to forecasted net cash provided by operating activities due to the uncertainty regarding timing and estimates of certain items. Therefore, we cannot reconcile forecasted free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities without unreasonable effort.
(2) The company does not provide guidance on the items used to reconcile between forecasted net debt-to-LTM EBITDAX (or "leverage") to forecasted long-term debt, net, or forecasted net income due to the uncertainty regarding timing and estimates of certain items. Therefore, we cannot reconcile forecasted leverage to long-term debt, net, or net income without unreasonable effort.
Contact:
Sr. Director, Investor Relations
(832) 240-3265
ir@cdevinc.com

Source: Centennial Resource Development