Amplify Energy Corp. (NYSE: AMPY) (“Amplify,” the “Company,” “us,”
or “our”) announced today that it has entered into a definitive
merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement” and the transactions
contemplated thereby, the “Transaction”) with privately held
Juniper Capital (“Juniper”) to combine with certain Juniper
portfolio companies which own substantial oil-weighted producing
assets and significant leasehold interests in the DJ and Powder
River Basins. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Amplify will
issue Juniper approximately 26.7 million shares of Amplify common
stock(1), par value $0.01 per share, and assume approximately $133
million in net debt(2). Pro forma for the Transaction, Amplify
shareholders will retain approximately 61% of Amplify’s outstanding
equity and approximately 39% will be owned by Juniper. The
transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025,
subject to customary closing conditions, including obtaining the
requisite shareholder and regulatory approvals.
Strategic Rationale and
Benefits
-
Substantially Increases ScaleThe transaction
adds approximately 19 MMBoe of Proved Developed Reserves, with a
PV10 value of over $330 MM(3), and also adds approximately 287,000
net acres in the DJ and Powder River Basins in Wyoming adjacent to
some of the largest publicly traded U.S. oil companies. Over
115,000 of the net acres are operated and held-by-production, with
a high average working interest of approximately 90%. The large
held-by-production position and multi-year term on a majority of
the undeveloped acreage is expected to allow Amplify to
opportunistically develop the assets over time.
- Materially Improves
Operating Metrics and Corporate EfficiencyIn the third
quarter of 2024, average daily production of the acquired assets
was approximately 7,900 net Boe (81% oil, 90% liquids)(4). These
assets generate strong margins with low operating costs, which we
expect to improve operating metrics across the combined company. In
addition, the acquired assets will be integrated into the existing
platform with minimal incremental overhead costs, and the Company
intends to continue streamlining the organization as it optimizes
its portfolio of assets.
- Increases Organic Growth OpportunitiesAmplify
has identified hundreds of potential high-quality, operated
drilling locations to complement Amplify’s existing development
inventory. Target formations include the Codell formation in the DJ
Basin, near properties held by EOG Resources, and multiple
formations including the Parkman, Turner, Niobrara and Mowry in the
Powder River Basin near properties held by EOG Resources, Devon,
Occidental and other large operators.
- Significant Accretion and
SynergiesThe transaction is expected to be significantly
accretive to free cash flow(5) in 2025 and over a 5-year time
horizon. Amplify expects to benefit from material synergies
including from optimizing overhead at the combined operations and
from income tax savings related to the stepped-up basis of the
acquired companies.
- Creates a Focal Area for
Further Consolidation OpportunitiesThe large acreage
position and operating footprint in premier Rocky Mountain Basins
provide the Company with a new core area for future consolidation
opportunities with the potential for accretive bolt-on acquisitions
from smaller private companies or non-core assets of larger
operators. Additionally, the more broadly scaled pro forma asset
base will afford Amplify flexibility in optimizing cash flow and
production across its portfolio.
Martyn Willsher, Amplify’s President and Chief
Executive Officer commented, “We are excited to partner with the
Juniper Capital team in this transformational merger to create
immediate and long-term value for Amplify’s shareholders. This
transaction adds a new oil-rich area with significant current
production and substantial upside to the Company’s asset base.
Juniper’s assets in the Rockies complement Amplify’s ongoing
development of our Beta Field and our strong cash flow from our
legacy onshore assets. We believe that the Rockies area will
experience substantial growth in the coming years, and we look
forward to developing this position, while becoming more
organizationally focused and efficient.”
Edward Geiser, Juniper’s Managing Partner,
added, “The combination of our Rockies assets with Amplify’s
existing operations creates a differentiated public company with
strong cash flow and deep inventory. The combined company will have
the flexibility to grow organically within its existing asset base
and to pursue strategic consolidation in highly economic areas
where few other large companies are currently focused. We believe
Martyn and his team at Amplify are optimally suited to lead the
combined operations, and we are excited about being a long-term
investor in the Company.”
Board of Directors and
Management
Edward (“Eddie”) Geiser and Josh Schmidt, both
partners at Juniper Capital, will join Amplify’s Board of
Directors, replacing two of Amplify’s existing Board members.
Amplify’s management team will lead the combined company and will
supplement the operational team with key hires to support the
Rockies assets.
Chris Hamm, Amplify’s Chairman commented, “We
are delighted to welcome Eddie and Josh to the Amplify Board. The
Juniper team has a long track record of success in the oil and gas
industry, most notably their efforts in leading Ranger Oil
Corporation’s highly successful consolidation strategy in the Eagle
Ford. We look forward to benefiting from their experience and
working closely with them to drive incremental value to Amplify’s
shareholders.”
Advisors
Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. served as Amplify’s
financial advisor for this transaction and Kirkland &
Ellis, LLP served as Amplify’s legal advisors. Wells Fargo served
as Juniper’s financial advisor for this transaction and Gibson,
Dunn & Crutcher LLP served as Juniper’s legal advisors.
About Amplify Energy
Amplify Energy Corp. is an independent oil and
natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, development,
exploitation and production of oil and natural gas properties.
Amplify’s operations are focused in Oklahoma, the Rockies
(Bairoil), federal waters offshore Southern California (Beta), East
Texas / North Louisiana, and the Eagle Ford (Non-op). For more
information, visit www.amplifyenergy.com.
Conference Call
Amplify will host an investor teleconference
today at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss the transaction.
Interested parties may join the call by dialing (888) 999-5318 at
least 15 minutes before the call begins and providing the
Conference ID: AEC. A presentation providing additional details on
the transaction will be available on the Amplify website
www.amplifyenergy.com prior to the call.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking
statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical
fact, included in this press release that addresses activities,
events or developments that the Company expects, believes or
anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking
statements. Terminology such as “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,”
“intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “continue,” “predict,”
“potential,” “project” and similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but
are not limited to, statements about the Company’s expectations of
plans, goals, strategies (including measures to implement
strategies), objectives and anticipated results with respect
thereto. These statements address activities, events or
developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the
future, including things such as projections of results of
operations, plans for growth, goals, future capital expenditures,
competitive strengths, references to future intentions and other
such references. These forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company’s
actual results or financial condition to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking
statements contained in this press release specifically include the
expectations of plans, strategies, objectives and growth and
anticipated financial and operational performance of the Company
and its affiliates, including whether the conditions to the Mergers
can be satisfied, whether the Mergers will be completed, as
expected or at all, and the timing of Closing. Please read the
Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”), including “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K, and if applicable, the Company’s Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are available on
the Company’s Investor Relations website at
https://www.amplifyenergy.com/investor-relations/default.aspx or on
the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, for a discussion of risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from
those in such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date of this press release. All
forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified in
their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required
by law, the Company undertakes no obligation and does not intend to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future results or otherwise.
Cautionary Note on Reserves and Resource
Estimates
The SEC permits oil and gas companies, in their
filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved, probable and
possible reserves. Any reserve estimates provided in this press
release that are not specifically designated as being estimates of
proved reserves may include estimated reserves or locations not
necessarily calculated in accordance with, or contemplated by, the
SEC’s latest reserve reporting guidelines. You are urged to
consider closely the oil and gas disclosures in the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other reports and filings with
the SEC.
Additional Information and Where to Find
It
This press release relates to the proposed
Transaction between Amplify and Juniper. In connection with the
proposed Transaction, Amplify will file with the SEC a proxy
statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”). Amplify will
also file other documents regarding the proposed Transaction with
the SEC. The Proxy Statement will be sent or given to the Amplify’s
stockholders and will contain important information about the
Transaction and related matters. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE
PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO)
AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IF AND WHEN THEY
BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION
WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTION AND THE OTHER AGREEMENTS
CONTEMPLATED BY THE MERGER AGREEMENT. You may obtain a free copy of
the Proxy Statement (if and when it becomes available) and other
relevant documents filed by Amplify with the SEC at the SEC’s
website at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain Amplify’s documents on
its website at
https://www.amplifyenergy.com/investor-relations/default.aspx.
Participants in the
Solicitation
Amplify, Juniper 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 Transaction and may have direct or
indirect interests in the Transaction. Information about Amplify’s
directors and executive officers is set forth in Amplify’s Proxy
Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2024 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 5, 2024, its Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023,
filed with the SEC on March 7, 2024, and its other documents filed
with the SEC. Other information regarding the participants in the
proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect
interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in
the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with
the SEC regarding the proposed transaction when they become
available. Investors should read the Proxy Statement carefully when
it becomes available before making any voting or investment
decisions. Investors may obtain free copies of these documents
using the sources indicated above.
Footnotes
1) Share consideration calculated based on fully
diluted Amplify shares as of January 13, 2025 including
approximately 39.9 MM shares outstanding plus approximately 1.9 MM
unvested equity awards previously granted under the Amplify
employee incentive plans and measured at target. 2) Net debt
consists of $140 MM outstanding as of 12/31/2024 less $2 MM of cash
and pro-forma of $5 MM of cash to be contributed by Juniper before
the closing date.3) Reserves and PV10 based on DeGolyer and
MacNaughton midyear prepared report effective as of 10/1/2024 and
utilizing strip pricing as of 10/25/2024; (NYMEX WTI, HH) - Bal24:
$71.69, $2.75; 2025: $69.68, $3.25; 2026: $67.55, $3.62. PV-10 is a
non-GAAP financial measure that represents the present value of
estimated future cash inflows from proved oil and natural gas
reserves that are calculated using the unweighted arithmetic
average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior 12 months, less
future development and operating costs, discounted at 10% per annum
to reflect the timing of future cash flows. The most directly
comparable GAAP measure to PV-10 is standardized measure. PV-10
differs from standardized measure in its treatment of estimated
future income taxes, which are excluded from PV-10. Amplify
believes the presentation of PV-10 provides useful information
because it is widely used by investors in evaluating oil and
natural gas companies without regard to specific income tax
characteristics of such entities. PV-10 is not intended to
represent the current market value of our estimated proved
reserves. PV-10 should not be considered in isolation or as a
substitute for the standardized measure as defined under GAAP. The
Company also presents PV-10 at strip pricing, which is PV-10
adjusted for price sensitivities. As GAAP does not prescribe a
comparable GAAP measure for PV-10 of reserves adjusted for pricing
sensitivities, it is not practicable for us to reconcile PV-10 at
strip pricing to a standardized measure or any other GAAP
measure.4) Based on preliminary third quarter 2024 unaudited
results.5) Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that is
derived from the standardized measures of net income or net cash
provided by operating activities. Free cash flow is an important
non-GAAP financial measure for Amplify’s investors since it serves
as an indicator of the Company’s success in providing a cash return
on investment. The GAAP measures most directly comparable to free
cash flow are net income and net cash provided by operating
activities. The Company does not provide guidance on the items used
to reconcile between forecasted free cash flow to forecasted net
income and 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
income or net cash provided by operating activities without
unreasonable effort.
Contacts
Jim Frew -- Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer(832) 219-9044jim.frew@amplifyenergy.com
Michael Jordan -- Director, Finance and
Treasurer(832) 219-9051michael.jordan@amplifyenergy.com
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