Offer to Purchase for Cash
Up to
$1.275 Billion Aggregate Purchase
Price for
6.500% Senior Notes due 2048, 5.500%
Senior Notes due 2028,
4.50% Senior Notes due 2029
and 7.500% Senior Notes due 2030
Solicitation of Consents to Proposed Reporting
Amendments to the Indentures Governing
6.500% Senior
Notes due 2048 and 5.500% Senior Notes due 2028
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 25,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT Corporation (NYSE: EQT)
("EQT" and, collectively with its subsidiaries, the "Company")
today announced that its indirect wholly owned subsidiary, EQM
Midstream Partners, LP ("EQM"), has commenced a tender offer (the
"Tender Offer") to purchase for cash EQM's outstanding 6.500%
Senior Notes due 2048 (the "2048 Notes"), 5.500% Senior Notes due
2028 (the "2028 Notes"), 4.50% Senior Notes due 2029 (the "2029
Notes") and 7.500% Senior Notes due 2030 (the "2030 Notes" and,
collectively with the 2048 Notes, the 2028 Notes and the 2029
Notes, the "Notes") for an aggregate purchase price, excluding
accrued and unpaid interest, of up to $1.275
billion (the "Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price"). Subject to
the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price, the amounts of each series of
Notes that are purchased will be determined in accordance with the
acceptance priority levels set forth in the table below (the
"Acceptance Priority Levels"), with "1" being the highest
Acceptance Priority Level and "4" being the lowest Acceptance
Priority Level. In addition, no more than $300.0 million aggregate principal amount (the
"2030 Notes Tender Cap") of the 2030 Notes will be purchased in the
Tender Offer.
The following table sets forth some of the terms of the Tender
Offer:
Title of
Notes
|
CUSIP
Number
|
Principal
Amount
Outstanding
|
Series
Tender
Cap
|
Acceptance
Priority
Level
|
Tender Offer
Consideration(1)(2)
|
Early
Tender
Premium(1)
|
Total
Consideration(1)(2)(3)
|
6.500% Senior Notes due
2048
|
26885BAE0
|
$550,000,000
|
N/A
|
1
|
$1,007.50
|
$50.00
|
$1,057.50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.500% Senior Notes due
2028
|
26885BAC4
|
$850,000,000
|
N/A
|
2
|
$971.25
|
$50.00
|
$1,021.25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.50% Senior Notes due
2029
|
26885BAK6 /
U26886AC2
|
$800,000,000
|
N/A
|
3
|
$937.50
|
$50.00
|
$987.50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.500% Senior Notes due
2030
|
26885BAN0 /
U26886AF5
|
$500,000,000
|
$300,000,000
|
4
|
$1,035.00
|
$50.00
|
$1,085.00
|
___________
|
(1)
|
Per $1,000 principal
amount of Notes accepted for purchase.
|
(2)
|
Does not include
accrued and unpaid interest, which will be paid in addition to the
Tender Offer Consideration or the Total Consideration, as
applicable.
|
(3)
|
Includes the Early
Tender Premium.
|
Concurrently with the Tender Offer, EQM is soliciting consents
(the "Consent Solicitation") from holders of the 2028 Notes and
from holders of the 2048 Notes to proposed amendments to the
indenture governing the 2028 Notes (the "2028 Notes Indenture") and
the indenture governing the 2048 Notes (the "2048 Notes
Indenture"), respectively (the "Proposed Amendments" and such
consents being solicited are each a "Consent" and collectively, the
"Consents"). EQM is not soliciting any consents from holders of the
2029 Notes or the 2030 Notes to amend the indentures governing such
notes. The Proposed Amendments would amend the 2028 Notes Indenture
and the 2048 Notes Indenture by modifying the reporting covenant
contained therein so that EQT would provide financial statements
and other information required thereby in lieu of EQM.
Holders of 2028 Notes and holders of 2048 Notes may not tender
their 2028 Notes or 2048 Notes, respectively, without delivering
their Consents and may not deliver their Consents without tendering
their 2028 Notes or 2048 Notes, respectively. Each holder who
validly tenders their 2028 Notes or 2048 Notes pursuant to the
Tender Offer will be deemed to have validly delivered their related
Consent to the Proposed Amendments.
The Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation are being made
upon and are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the
Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated
November 25, 2024 (as it may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Offer to Purchase
and Consent Solicitation Statement"). The Tender Offer and the
Consent Solicitation will expire at 5:00
p.m., New York City time,
on December 30, 2024, unless extended
(such date and time, as the same may be extended, the "Expiration
Date") or earlier terminated by EQM. Tendered Notes may not be
withdrawn, and delivered Consents may not be revoked, after
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 9, 2024, unless extended by EQM (such
date and time, as the same may be extended, the "Withdrawal
Deadline"), except in certain limited circumstances where
additional withdrawal or revocation rights are required by law. In
this news release and the Offer to Purchase and Consent
Solicitation Statement, all Notes that have been validly tendered
and not validly withdrawn are referred to as having been "validly
tendered" and all Consents that have been validly delivered and not
validly revoked as having been "validly delivered."
In order to receive the applicable Total Consideration set forth
in the table above (the "Total Consideration"), holders of Notes
must validly tender their Notes on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on December 9,
2024, unless extended by EQM (such date and time, as the
same may be extended, the "Early Tender Date"). The Total
Consideration includes an early tender premium of $50 per $1,000
principal amount of Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the
Tender Offer (the "Early Tender Premium"). Holders of Notes who
validly tender their Notes after the Early Tender Date but on or
prior to the Expiration Date, and whose Notes are accepted for
purchase, will receive only the applicable Tender Offer
Consideration set forth in the table above (the "Tender Offer
Consideration"), which is equal to the applicable Total
Consideration minus the Early Tender Premium.
In addition to the applicable Total Consideration or the
applicable Tender Offer Consideration, as the case may be, holders
whose Notes are purchased in the Tender Offer will receive accrued
and unpaid interest on such Notes from and including the last
interest payment date applicable to the relevant series of Notes up
to, but not including, the applicable settlement date for such
Notes accepted for purchase.
EQM reserves the right, but is under no obligation, subject to
the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the Tender Offer,
to accept for purchase and make payment for Notes validly tendered
on or prior to the Early Tender Date, at any point following the
Early Tender Date and before the Expiration Date (such date, the
"Early Settlement Date"). The Early Settlement Date, if any, will
be determined at EQM's option and will be a date following the
Early Tender Date on which all conditions to the Tender Offer have
been satisfied or waived by EQM. The Early Settlement Date, if any,
is currently expected to be December 30,
2024, assuming all conditions to the Tender Offer have been
either satisfied or waived by EQM on or prior to such date. With
respect to Notes validly tendered prior to or at the Expiration
Date that have not previously settled on the Early Settlement Date,
if any, EQM will accept for purchase and make payment on such Notes
on a date that is promptly following the Expiration Date (currently
expected to be January 2, 2025, which
is the second business day following the Expiration Date).
Subject to the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price, all Notes
validly tendered on or prior to the Early Tender Date having a
higher Acceptance Priority Level (lower numerical value) will be
accepted for purchase before any tendered Notes having a lower
Acceptance Priority Level are accepted for purchase, and all Notes
validly tendered after the Early Tender Date having a higher
Acceptance Priority Level will be accepted for purchase before any
Notes tendered after the Early Tender Date having a lower
Acceptance Priority Level are accepted for purchase. However,
subject to the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price and the 2030 Notes
Tender Cap, Notes validly tendered on or prior to the Early Tender
Date will be accepted for purchase in priority to any Notes
tendered after the Early Tender Date even if such Notes tendered
after the Early Tender Date have a higher Acceptance Priority Level
than Notes tendered on or prior to the Early Tender Date.
Tendered Notes may be subject to proration if the aggregate
purchase price, excluding accrued and unpaid interest, for
Notes validly tendered is greater than the Maximum Aggregate
Purchase Price, with equal proration applied for Notes having the
same Acceptance Priority Level, if applicable (and depending on
whether such Notes were tendered on or prior to, or after, the
Early Tender Date), and tendered 2030 Notes may be subject to
proration if the aggregate principal amount of the 2030 Notes
validly tendered is greater than the 2030 Notes Tender Cap.
Furthermore, if the Tender Offer is fully subscribed as of the
Early Tender Date, holders who validly tender Notes after the Early
Tender Date will not have any of their Notes accepted for purchase
unless EQM increases the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price. Also,
if, as of the Early Tender Date, holders validly tender 2030 Notes
with an aggregate principal amount equal to or greater than the
2030 Notes Tender Cap, holders who validly tender 2030 Notes after
the Early Tender Date will not have any of their 2030 Notes
accepted for purchase unless EQM increases the 2030 Notes Tender
Cap.
The consummation of the Tender Offer is not conditioned upon any
minimum amount of Notes being validly tendered or Consents being
validly delivered. However, the Tender Offer is subject to, and
conditioned upon, the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions
described in the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation
Statement, including, but not limited to, a financing condition
(i.e., EQM having entered into a new senior unsecured bridge term
loan facility (the "Bridge Facility") and obtaining at least
$2.3 billion of borrowings
thereunder) and the consummation of the midstream joint venture
transaction (the "JV Transaction") between EQM and certain of its
subsidiaries and an affiliate of Blackstone
Credit & Insurance (the "JV Investor").
The Consents of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the outstanding 2028 Notes are required pursuant to the
terms of the 2028 Notes Indenture in order to effectuate the
Proposed Amendments as they relate to the 2028 Notes Indenture, and
the Consents of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the outstanding 2048 Notes are required pursuant to the
terms of the 2048 Notes Indenture in order to effectuate the
Proposed Amendments as they relate to the 2048 Notes Indenture. If
such Consents are obtained, EQM intends to enter into a
supplemental indenture containing the Proposed Amendments
promptly following the Expiration Date, which will immediately
become effective and operative upon execution, and in such case,
holders of 2028 Notes and 2048 Notes that did not validly tender
their Notes prior to the Expiration Date, or at all, will be bound
by the Proposed Amendments.
EQM reserves the right, subject to applicable law, to (i) waive
or modify, in whole or in part, any or all conditions to the Tender
Offer, (ii) extend, terminate or withdraw the Tender Offer and the
Consent Solicitation, (iii) increase or decrease the Maximum
Aggregate Purchase Price or the 2030 Notes Tender Cap, or (iv)
otherwise amend the Tender Offer or the Consent Solicitation in any
respect.
The purpose of the Tender Offer is to reduce the Company's
overall principal amount of debt, and it is expected that Notes
purchased pursuant to the Tender Offer will be retired. EQM intends
to finance the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation with
borrowings under the Bridge Facility, which is expected be repaid
upon consummation of the JV Transaction with a portion of the cash
that will be contributed to the joint venture at such time by the
JV Investor.
The Company will continue to optimize its capital structure and
may repurchase or redeem additional debt securities during or after
the Tender Offer. In addition to the Tender Offer, EQM will redeem
all of its outstanding 6.000% Senior Notes due 2025 (the "2025
Notes") and all of its outstanding 4.125% Senior Notes due 2026
(the "2026 Notes") on December 30,
2024, in each case, pursuant to their terms. Any redemption
of the 2025 Notes or the 2026 Notes would be made solely pursuant
to a redemption notice delivered pursuant to the applicable
indenture governing such notes, and nothing contained in this news
release constitutes a notice of redemption of such notes.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC is acting as the Sole Dealer Manager
for the Tender Offer and the Sole Solicitation Agent for the
Consent Solicitation. Any persons with questions regarding the
Tender Offer should contact RBC Capital Markets, LLC by calling
(877) 381-2099 (toll-free) or (212) 618-7843 (collect) or emailing
liability.management@rbccm.com.
The Information Agent and Tender Agent is Global Bondholder
Services Corporation. Copies of the Offer to Purchase and Consent
Solicitation Statement and any related Tender Offer or Consent
Solicitation materials may be obtained from Global Bondholder
Services Corporation by calling (212) 430-3774 (banks and brokers,
collect) or (855) 654-2015 (all others, toll-free) or by emailing
contact@gbsc-usa.com.
This news release is for informational purposes only. The Tender
Offer and the Consent Solicitation are being made only pursuant to
the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement, and the
information in this news release is qualified by reference to the
Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement. Further, this
news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes or any other securities.
No recommendation is made as to whether holders should tender any
Notes in response to the Tender Offer (and, if applicable, deliver
Consents in response to the Consent Solicitation). Holders of Notes
must make their own decision as to whether to participate in the
Tender Offer and, if applicable, the Consent Solicitation and, if
so, the principal amount of Notes to tender.
Investor Contact
Cameron
Horwitz
Managing Director, Investor Relations & Strategy
412.445.8454
Cameron.Horwitz@eqt.com
About EQT Corporation
EQT Corporation is a premier,
vertically integrated American natural gas company with production
and midstream operations focused in the Appalachian Basin. We are
dedicated to responsibly developing our world-class asset base and
being the operator of choice for our stakeholders. By leveraging a
culture that prioritizes operational efficiency, technology and
sustainability, we seek to continuously improve the way we produce
environmentally responsible, reliable and low-cost energy. We have
a longstanding commitment to the safety of our employees,
contractors, and communities, and to the reduction of our overall
environmental footprint. Our values are evident in the way we
operate and in how we interact each day – trust, teamwork, heart,
and evolution are at the center of all we do.
Cautionary Statements
This news release contains
certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Statements that do
not relate strictly to historical or current facts are
forward-looking. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
forward-looking statements contained in this news release
specifically include statements regarding EQM's plans and
expected timing with respect to the Tender Offer, the Consent
Solicitation, the JV Transaction, the 2025 Notes and the 2026
Notes.
These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected
results. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The
Company has based these forward-looking statements on current
expectations and assumptions about future events, taking into
account all information currently known by it. While the Company
considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they
are inherently subject to significant business, economic,
competitive, regulatory and other risks and uncertainties, many of
which are difficult to predict and beyond its control. These risks
and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, volatility of
commodity prices; the costs and results of drilling and operations;
uncertainties about estimates of reserves, identification of
drilling locations and the ability to add proved reserves in the
future; the assumptions underlying production forecasts; the
quality of technical data; the Company's ability to appropriately
allocate capital and other resources among its strategic
opportunities; access to and cost of capital; the Company's hedging
and other financial contracts; inherent hazards and risks normally
incidental to drilling for, producing, transporting and storing
natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and oil; operational risks
and hazards incidental to the gathering, transmission and storage
of natural gas as well as unforeseen interruptions; cyber security
risks and acts of sabotage; availability and cost of drilling rigs,
completion services, equipment, supplies, personnel, oilfield
services and sand and water required to execute the Company's
exploration and development plans, including as a result of
inflationary pressures; risks associated with operating primarily
in the Appalachian Basin; the ability to obtain environmental and
other permits and the timing thereof; construction, business,
economic, competitive, regulatory, judicial, environmental,
political and legal uncertainties related to the development and
construction by the Company or its joint ventures of pipeline and
storage facilities and transmission assets and the optimization of
such assets; the Company's ability to renew or replace expiring
gathering, transmission or storage contracts at favorable rates, on
a long-term basis or at all; risks relating to the Company's joint
venture arrangements; government regulation or action, including
regulations pertaining to methane and other greenhouse gas
emissions; negative public perception of the fossil fuels industry;
increased consumer demand for alternatives to natural gas;
environmental and weather risks, including the possible impacts of
climate change; risks related to the Company's ability to integrate
the operations of Equitrans Midstream Corporation ("Equitrans
Midstream") in a successful manner and in the expected time period
and the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits and
projected synergies of the Company's merger with Equitrans
Midstream (the "Equitrans Midstream Merger") will not be
realized or will not be realized within the expected time period;
and disruptions to the Company's business due to recently completed
or pending divestitures, acquisitions and other significant
strategic transactions, including the Equitrans Midstream Merger
and the pending JV Transaction. These and other risks and
uncertainties are described under the "Risk Factors" section and
elsewhere in EQT's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2023, the "Risk Factors"
section in EQT's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and
other documents EQT subsequently files from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Company may be
subject to currently unforeseen risks that may have a materially
adverse impact on it.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on
which such statement is made, and, except as required by law, the
Company does not intend to correct or update any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
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SOURCE EQT Corporation (EQT-IR)