filings.toolsExpand Energy 10-Q 2024-06-30
Filed 2024-07-29. 8 sections, 180K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON
Cover and table of contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2024
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File No. 001-13726
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Oklahoma | 73-1395733 | |||||||||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||||||||
| 6100 North Western Avenue, | Oklahoma City, | Oklahoma | 73118 | |||||||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||||||||||||
| (405) | 848-8000 | |||||||||||||
| (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) |
| Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | ||||||||||||||
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | 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 |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer ☒ Accelerated Filer ☐ Non-accelerated Filer ☐
Smaller Reporting Company ☐ 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. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes ☒ No ☐
As of July 25, 2024, there were 131,275,152 shares of our $0.01 par value common stock outstanding.
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2024
| Definitions |
Unless the context otherwise indicates, references to “us,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” “Chesapeake,” the “Company” and “Registrant” refer to Chesapeake Energy Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. All monetary values, other than per unit and per share amounts, are stated in millions of U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified. In addition, the following are other abbreviations and definitions of certain terms used within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:
“ASU” means Accounting Standards Update.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101–1532, as amended.
“Bankruptcy Court” means the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
“Bbl” or “Bbls” means barrel or barrels.
“Bcf” means billion cubic feet.
“Chapter 11 Cases” means, when used with reference to a particular Debtor, the case pending for that Debtor under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court, and when used with reference to all the Debtors, the procedurally consolidated Chapter 11 cases pending for the Debtors in the Bankruptcy Court.
“Class A Warrants” means warrants to purchase 10 percent of the common stock (after giving effect to the Rights Offering, but subject to dilution by the Management Incentive Plan, the Class B Warrants, and the Class C Warrants), at an initial exercise price per share of $27.63. The Class A Warrants are exercisable from the Effective Date until February 9, 2026.
“Class B Warrants” means warrants to purchase 10 percent of the common stock (after giving effect to the Rights Offering, but subject to dilution by the Management Incentive Plan and the Class C Warrants), at an initial exercise price per share of $32.13. The Class B Warrants are exercisable from the Effective Date until February 9, 2026.
“Class C Warrants” means warrants to purchase 10 percent of the common stock (after giving effect to the Rights Offering, but subject to dilution by the Management Incentive Plan), at an initial exercise price per share of $36.18. The Class C Warrants are exercisable from the Effective Date until February 9, 2026.
“Confirmation Order” means the order confirming the Fifth Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Chesapeake Energy Corporation and its Debtor Affiliates, Docket No. 2915, entered by the Bankruptcy Court on January 16, 2021.
“Current Period” means the six months ended June 30, 2024.
“Current Quarter” means the three months ended June 30, 2024.
“DD&A” means depreciation, depletion and amortization.
“Debtors” means the Company, together with all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries that have filed the Chapter 11 Cases.
“Effective Date” means February 9, 2021.
“ESG” means environmental, social and governance.
“FASB” means Financial Accounting Standards Board.
“G&A” means general and administrative expenses.
“GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
“General Unsecured Claim” means any Claim against any Debtor that is not otherwise paid in full during the Chapter 11 Cases pursuant to an order of the Bankruptcy Court and is not an Administrative Claim, a Priority Tax Claim, an Other Priority Claim, an Other Secured Claim, a Revolving Credit Facility Claim, a FLLO Term Loan
Facility Claim, a Second Lien Notes Claim, an Unsecured Notes Claim, an Intercompany Claim, or a Section 510(b) Claim.
“LNG” means liquefied natural gas.
“LTIP” means the Chesapeake Energy Corporation 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
“MBbl” means thousand barrels.
“Mcf” means thousand cubic feet.
“Mcfe” means one thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalent, with one barrel of oil or NGL converted to an equivalent volume of natural gas using the ratio of one barrel of oil or NGL to six Mcf of natural gas.
“MMcf” means million cubic feet.
“MMcfe” means million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent.
“NGL” means natural gas liquids.
“NYMEX” means New York Mercantile Exchange.
“OPEC+” means Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus.
“Petition Date” means June 28, 2020, the date on which the Debtors commenced the Chapter 11 Cases.
“Plan” means the Fifth Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Chesapeake Energy Corporation and its Debtor Affiliates, attached as Exhibit A to the Confirmation Order.
“Prior Period” means the six months ended June 30, 2023.
“Prior Quarter” means the three months ended June 30, 2023.
“Rights Offering” means the common stock rights offering for the Rights Offering Amount consummated by the Debtors on the Effective Date.
“Southwestern” means Southwestern Energy Company.
“Southwestern Merger” means Chesapeake’s planned merger with Southwestern, which, subject to satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions, including certain regulatory approvals, is targeted to close in the second half of 2024.
“SEC” means United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
“Warrants” means collectively, the Class A Warrants, Class B Warrants and Class C Warrants.
“/Bbl” means per barrel.
“/Mcf” means per Mcf.
“/Mcfe” means per Mcfe.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
| ($ in millions, except per share data) | June 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,019 | $ | 1,079 | ||||||||||
| Restricted cash | 76 | 74 | ||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 350 | 593 | ||||||||||||
| Derivative assets | 361 | 637 | ||||||||||||
| Other current assets | 207 | 226 | ||||||||||||
| Total current assets | 2,013 | 2,609 | ||||||||||||
| Property and equipment: | ||||||||||||||
| Natural gas and oil properties, successful efforts method | ||||||||||||||
| Proved natural gas and oil properties | 12,105 | 11,468 | ||||||||||||
| Unproved properties | 1,800 | 1,806 | ||||||||||||
| Other property and equipment | 512 | 497 | ||||||||||||
| Total property and equipment | 14,417 | 13,771 | ||||||||||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization | (4,413) | (3,674) | ||||||||||||
| Total property and equipment, net | 10,004 | 10,097 | ||||||||||||
| Long-term derivative assets | 19 | 74 | ||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax assets | 995 | 933 | ||||||||||||
| Other long-term assets | 577 | 663 | ||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 13,608 | $ | 14,376 | ||||||||||
| Liabilities and stockholders' equity | ||||||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 274 | $ | 425 | ||||||||||
| Accrued interest | 39 | 39 | ||||||||||||
| Derivative liabilities | 7 | 3 | ||||||||||||
| Other current liabilities | 611 | 847 | ||||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 931 | 1,314 | ||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, net | 2,021 | 2,028 | ||||||||||||
| Long-term derivative liabilities | 3 | 9 | ||||||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations, net of current portion | 264 | 265 | ||||||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 19 | 31 | ||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 3,238 | 3,647 | ||||||||||||
| Contingencies and commitments (Note 5) | ||||||||||||||
| Stockholders' equity: | ||||||||||||||
| Common stock, $0.01 par value, 450,000,000 shares authorized: 131,252,107 and 130,789,936 shares issued | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 5,768 | 5,754 | ||||||||||||
| Retained earnings | 4,601 | 4,974 | ||||||||||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 10,370 | 10,729 | ||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 13,608 | $ | 14,376 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions, except per share data) | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues and other: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Natural gas, oil and NGL | $ | 378 | $ | 649 | $ | 967 | $ | 2,102 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Marketing | 136 | 611 | 448 | 1,263 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Natural gas and oil derivatives | (11) | 159 | 161 | 1,089 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gains on sales of assets | 2 | 472 | 10 | 807 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues and other | 505 | 1,891 | 1,586 | 5,261 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Production | 49 | 89 | 108 | 220 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gathering, processing and transportation | 154 | 207 | 327 | 471 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 18 | 40 | 47 | 109 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exploration | 3 | 8 | 5 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marketing | 141 | 611 | 464 | 1,262 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 47 | 31 | 94 | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Separation and other termination costs | 23 | 3 | 23 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 348 | 376 | 747 | 766 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other operating expense, net | 16 | 9 | 33 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 799 | 1,374 | 1,848 | 2,924 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations | (294) | 517 | (262) | 2,337 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (20) | (22) | (39) | (59) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses on purchases, exchanges or extinguishments of debt | (2) | — | (2) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income | 21 | 23 | 41 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total other income (expense) | (1) | 1 | — | (26) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | (295) | 518 | (262) | 2,311 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | (68) | 127 | (61) | 531 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (227) | $ | 391 | $ | (201) | $ | 1,780 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings (loss) per common share: |
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
| Introduction |
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is intended to provide a reader of our financial statements with management’s perspective on our financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and certain other factors that may affect our future results. The following discussion should be read together with the condensed consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report and the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of our 2023 Form 10-K.
We are an independent exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of properties to produce natural gas, oil and NGL from underground reservoirs. We own a large portfolio of onshore U.S. unconventional natural gas assets, including interests in approximately 5,100 natural gas wells as of June 30, 2024. Our natural gas resource plays are the Marcellus Shale in the northern Appalachian Basin in Pennsylvania (“Marcellus”) and the Haynesville/Bossier Shales in northwestern Louisiana (“Haynesville”). Our liquids-rich resource play was in the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas (“Eagle Ford”). During 2023, we completed our exit from Eagle Ford through three separate divestiture transactions, with aggregate proceeds from these three transactions exceeding $3.5 billion, subject to customary post-closing adjustments.
Our strategy is to create shareholder value through the responsible development of our significant resource plays while continuing to be a leading provider of affordable, reliable, lower carbon energy to markets in need. We continue to focus on improving margins through operating efficiencies and financial discipline and improving our ESG performance. To accomplish these goals, we intend to allocate our human resources and capital expenditures to projects we believe offer the highest cash return on capital invested, to deploy leading drilling and completion technology throughout our portfolio, and to take advantage of acquisition and divestiture opportunities to strengthen our portfolio. We also intend to continue to dedicate capital to projects that reduce the environmental impact of our production activities. We continue to seek opportunities to reduce cash costs (production, gathering, processing and transportation and general and administrative), through operational efficiencies and improving our production volumes from existing wells.
Leading a responsible energy future is foundational to Chesapeake's success. Our core values and culture demand we continuously evaluate the environmental impact of our operations and work diligently to improve our ESG performance across all facets of our Company. Our path to answering the call for affordable, reliable, lower carbon energy begins with our goal to achieve net zero GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2035. To meet this challenge, we have set meaningful goals including:
-
Reduce our methane intensity to 0.02% by 2025 (achieved approximately 0.02% in 2023 for our natural gas assets); and
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Reduce our GHG intensity to 3.0 metric tons CO2 equivalent per thousand barrel of oil equivalent by 2025 (achieved approximately 2.1 in 2023 for our natural gas assets).
In conjunction with the goals set above, we have received independent certification of our operated natural gas production under the MiQ methane standard and EO100™ Standard for Responsible Energy Development as responsibly sourced gas, and we intend on maintaining certifications. The independent certification of our production as responsibly sourced provides a verified approach to tracking our progress towards our commitment to reduce our methane intensity, as well as supporting our overall objective of achieving net-zero GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2035.
| Recent Developments |
Southwestern Merger Agreement
On January 10, 2024, Chesapeake and Southwestern entered into an all-stock agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”). Southwestern is an independent energy company engaged in development, exploration and production activities, including related marketing activities, within its operating areas in the Appalachia and Haynesville shale plays. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Southwestern Merger, each eligible share of Southwestern common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time will be automatically converted into the right to receive 0.0867 of a share of Chesapeake’s common stock. Our Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of Southwestern both approved the Merger Agreement. At separate special meetings each held on June 18, 2024, Chesapeake’s stockholders approved the issuance of Chesapeake’s common stock to the stockholders of Southwestern in connection with the Merger, and Southwestern’s stockholders approved the Merger Agreement. Subject to the obtaining of certain regulatory approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions, the Southwestern Merger is targeted to close in the second half of 2024.
Divestitures
On January 17, 2023, we entered into an agreement to sell a portion of our Eagle Ford assets to WildFire Energy I LLC for approximately $1.425 billion, subject to post-closing adjustments. This transaction closed on March 20, 2023 (with an effective date of October 1, 2022) and resulted in the recognition of a gain of approximately $337 million.
On February 17, 2023, we entered into an agreement to sell a portion of our remaining Eagle Ford assets to INEOS Energy for approximately $1.4 billion, subject to post-closing adjustments. This transaction closed on April 28, 2023 (with an effective date of October 1, 2022) and resulted in the recognition of a gain of approximately $470 million.
On August 11, 2023, we entered into an agreement to sell the final portion of our remaining Eagle Ford assets to SilverBow Resources, Inc. (“SilverBow”) for approximately $700 million, subject to post-closing adjustments. Subject to the satisfaction of certain commodity price triggers, we may receive up to an additional $50 million cash consideration shortly following the first anniversary of the transaction close date. This transaction closed on November 30, 2023 (with an effective date of February 1, 2023) and resulted in the recognition of a gain of approximately $140 million.
LNG Agreement
On February 13, 2024, we announced our entrance into an LNG export deal that includes executed Sales and Purchase Agreements (“SPA”) for long-term liquefaction offtake. Under the SPAs, we will purchase approximately 0.5 million tonnes of LNG per annum from Delfin LNG LLC at a Henry Hub price with a contract targeted start date in 2028, then deliver to Gunvor Group Ltd., on a free on board basis with the sales price linked to the Japan Korea Market for a period of 20 years.
Investments - Momentum Sustainable Ventures LLC
During the fourth quarter of 2022, we entered into an agreement with Momentum Sustainable Ventures LLC to build a new natural gas gathering pipeline and carbon capture and sequestration project, which will gather natural gas produced in the Haynesville Shale for re-delivery to Gulf Coast markets, including LNG export. The pipeline is expected to have an initial capacity of 1.7 Bcf/d expandable to 2.2 Bcf/d. The carbon capture portion of the project anticipates capturing and permanently sequestering up to 2.0 million tons per annum of CO2. The natural gas gathering pipeline is projected for a potential in-service date in 2025, and the carbon sequestration portion of the project is subject to regulatory approvals. Through the end of the Current Period, we
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The primary objective of the following information is to provide forward-looking quantitative and qualitative information about our exposure to market risk. The term market risk relates to our risk of loss arising from adverse changes in natural gas, oil and NGL prices and interest rates. These disclosures are not meant to be precise indicators of expected future losses, but rather indicators of reasonably possible losses. The forward-looking information provides indicators of how we view and manage our ongoing market risk exposures.
Commodity Price Risk
Our results of operations and cash flows are impacted by changes in market prices for natural gas, oil and NGL, which have historically been volatile. To mitigate a portion of our exposure to adverse price changes, we enter into various derivative instruments. Our natural gas, oil and NGL derivative activities, when combined with our sales of natural gas, oil and NGL, allow us to predict with greater certainty the revenue we will receive. We believe our derivative instruments continue to be highly effective in achieving our risk management objectives.
We determine the fair value of our derivative instruments utilizing established index prices, volatility curves and discount factors. These estimates are compared to counterparty valuations for reasonableness. Derivative transactions are also subject to the risk that counterparties will be unable to meet their obligations. This non-performance risk is considered in the valuation of our derivative instruments, but to date has not had a material impact on the values of our derivatives. Future risk related to counterparties not being able to meet their obligations has been partially mitigated under our commodity hedging arrangements that require counterparties to post collateral if their obligations to us are in excess of defined thresholds. The values we report in our financial statements are as of a point in time and subsequently change as these estimates are revised to reflect actual results, changes in market conditions and other factors. See Note 11 of the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report for further discussion of the fair value measurements associated with our derivatives.
Our natural gas revenues during the Current Period, excluding any effect of our derivative instruments, were $967 million. We did not have any oil or NGL revenues during the Current Period. Based on production, natural gas revenues for the Current Period would have increased or decreased by approximately $97 million, for a 10% increase or decrease in prices. As of June 30, 2024, the fair value of our natural gas derivatives was a net asset of $337 million. As of June 30, 2024, we did not have any open oil or NGL derivative positions. A 10% increase in forward natural gas prices would decrease the valuation of natural gas derivatives by approximately $175 million, while a 10% decrease would increase the valuation by approximately $178 million. This fair value change assumes volatility based on prevailing market parameters at June 30, 2024. Additionally, should oil prices not meet the average target prices specified within the contingent payment from SilverBow, we may not receive any payment from the up to $50 million contingent consideration arrangement. See Note 11 of the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report for further information on our open derivative positions, including information about the contingent consideration arrangement.
Interest Rate Risk
Our exposure to interest rate changes relates primarily to borrowings under our Credit Facility. Interest is payable on borrowings under the Credit Facility based on floating rates. See Note 4 of the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of Part 1 of this report for additional information. As of June 30, 2024, we did not have any outstanding borrowings under our Credit Facility.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b). Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded as of June 30, 2024 that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
| Item 1. Legal Proceedings |
Litigation and Regulatory Proceedings
We are involved in various regulatory proceedings, lawsuits and disputes arising in the ordinary course of our business operations, including commercial disputes, personal injury claims, royalty claims, property damage claims and contract actions. The majority of the legal proceedings that were in existence prior to the Petition Date were settled during the Chapter 11 Cases or will be resolved in connection with the claims reconciliation process before the Bankruptcy Court. Any allowed claim related to such prepetition litigation will be treated in accordance with the Plan.
In connection with the Southwestern Merger, two lawsuits have been filed by purported stockholders of the Company or Southwestern against the Company and/or the members of the Company’s board of directors: Gerald Joseph Lovoi v. Chesapeake Energy Corp., et al., No. 1:24-cv-01896 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 13, 2024); Jeffrey Schantz v. Gass et al., No. 155009/2024 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. May 30, 2024). Included in one or both of the complaints were allegations that the defendants violated Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and were negligent in misrepresenting or omitting material facts under Florida common law, because the registration statement filed in connection with the Southwestern Merger allegedly omitted or misstated material information. On June 10, 2024, the complaint in the Supreme Court of the State of New York was dismissed. On June 24, 2024, the complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York was dismissed.
See Note 5 of the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report for information regarding our estimation and provision for potential losses related to litigation and regulatory proceedings. Based on management’s current assessment, we are of the opinion that no pending or threatened lawsuit or dispute relating to our business operations is likely to have a material adverse effect on our future consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The final resolution of such matters could exceed amounts accrued, however, and actual results could differ materially from management’s estimates.
Environmental Contingencies
The nature of the natural gas and oil business carries with it certain environmental risks for us and our subsidiaries. We have implemented various policies, programs, procedures, training and audits to reduce and mitigate such environmental risks. We conduct periodic reviews, on a company-wide basis, to assess changes in our environmental risk profile. Environmental reserves are established for environmental liabilities for which economic losses are probable and reasonably estimable. We manage our exposure to environmental liabilities in acquisitions by using an evaluation process that seeks to identify pre-existing contamination or compliance concerns and address the potential liability. Depending on the extent of an identified environmental concern, we may, among other things, exclude a property from the transaction, require the seller to remediate the property to our satisfaction in an acquisition or agree to assume liability for the remediation of the property.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our business has many risks. Factors that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results or liquidity and the trading price of our common stock are described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our 2023 Form 10-K. This information should be considered carefully, together with other information in this report and other reports and materials we file with the SEC.
| Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
Repurchases of Equity Securities
We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock during the quarter ended June 30, 2024.
| Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
None.
| Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures |
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
During the three months ended June 30, 2024, no director or officer of the Company adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.
Item 6. Exhibits
The exhibits listed below in the Index of Exhibits are filed, furnished or incorporated by reference pursuant to the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K.
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
| Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description | Form | SEC File Number | Exhibit | Filing Date | Filed or Furnished Herewith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 32.2 | Mohit Singh, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101 INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101 SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101 CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101 DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101 LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101 PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * | Annexes, schedules and certain exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted annexes, schedules and exhibits upon request by the SEC. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Signatures
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 thereunto duly authorized.
| CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION | |||||||||||
| Date: July 29, 2024 | By: | /s/ DOMENIC J. DELL’OSSO, JR. | |||||||||
| Domenic J. Dell’Osso, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||
| Date: July 29, 2024 | By: | /s/ MOHIT SINGH | |||||||||
| Mohit Singh Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |