Chevron Corporation announced on Monday that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Hess Corporation to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Hess in an all-stock transaction valued at $53 billion, or $171 per share based on Chevron’s closing price on October 20, 2023. Under the terms of the agreement, Hess shareholders will receive 1.0250 shares of Chevron for each Hess share. The total enterprise value, including debt, of the transaction is $60 billion.
The acquisition of Hess upgrades and diversifies Chevron’s already advantaged portfolio and will now include the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. This license, operated by ExxonMobil, is an extraordinary asset with industry leading cash margins and low carbon intensity that is expected to deliver production growth into the next decade.
Hess’ Bakken assets add another leading U.S. shale position to Chevron’s DJ and Permian basin operations and further strengthen domestic energy security. The combined company is expected to grow production and free cash flow faster and for longer than Chevron’s current five-year guidance.
In addition, John Hess is expected to join Chevron’s Board of Directors.
“This combination positions Chevron to strengthen our long-term performance and further enhance our advantaged portfolio by adding world-class assets,” said Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth. “Importantly, our two companies have similar values and cultures, with a focus on operating safely and with integrity, attracting and developing the best people, making positive contributions to our communities and delivering higher returns and lower carbon.”
Pierre Breber, Chevron’s CFO, said building on the company’s track record of successful transactions, the addition of Hess is expected to extend further Chevron’s free cash flow growth. “With greater confidence in projected long-term cash generation, Chevron intends to return more cash to shareholders with higher dividend per share growth and higher share repurchases.”
CEO of Hess Corp., John Hess, said this strategic combination brings together two strong companies to create a premier integrated energy company. “I am proud of our people and what we have achieved as a company, which has one of the industry’s best growth portfolios including Guyana, the world’s largest oil discovery in the last 10 years, and the Bakken shale, where we are a leading oil and gas producer.”
Since 2015, over 11 billion oil equivalent barrels have been found at Stabroek Block. Two production projects are ongoing, a third will come online within weeks, and two more developments are under construction. A sixth is also awaiting approval.
Hess said Chevron has a world-class diversified portfolio of assets and one of the industry’s strongest balance sheets and cash return profiles.
“I believe our strategic combination creates a company that is stronger in every respect, with the leadership, asset portfolio and financial resources to lead us through the energy transition and deliver significant shareholder value for years to come,” Hess said.
Transaction Benefits
- Strong strategic fit:
- Guyana – 30% ownership in more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent discovered recoverable resource with high cash margins per barrel, strong production growth outlook and potential exploration upside.
- Bakken – 465,000 net acres of high-quality, long-duration inventory supported by the integrated assets of Hess Midstream.
- Complementary Gulf of Mexico assets and steady free cash flow from Southeast Asia natural gas business.
- Accretive to cash flow per share and extends growth into 2030s:
- Expected to be accretive to cash flow per share in 2025 after achieving synergies and start-up of the fourth floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel in Guyana.
- Increases Chevron’s estimated five-year production and free cash flow growth rates and expected to extend such growth into the next decade.
- Increases cash returned to shareholders:
- In January, Chevron expects to recommend an increase to its first quarter dividend per share of 8% to $1.63, which will be subject to the approval of the Chevron Board of Directors.
- Post closing, Chevron intends to increase share repurchases by $2.5 billion to the top end of its guidance range of $20 billion per year in a continued upside oil price scenario.
- Capital and cost efficient:
- The combined company’s capital expenditures budget is expected to be between $19 and $22 billion.
- With a stronger portfolio after closing, Chevron expects to increase asset sales and generate $10 to $15 billion in before-tax proceeds through 2028.
- The transaction is expected to achieve run-rate cost synergies around $1 billion before tax within a year of closing.
Transaction Details
The acquisition consideration is structured with 100 percent stock utilizing Chevron’s equity. In aggregate, upon closing of the transaction, Chevron will issue approximately 317 million shares of common stock. Total enterprise value of $60 billion includes net debt and book value of non-controlling interest.
The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is expected to close in the first half of 2024. The acquisition is subject to Hess shareholder approval. It is also subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
The transaction price represents a premium of 10.3% on a 20-day average based on closing stock prices on October 20, 2023.
Advisors
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is acting as lead financial advisor to Chevron. Evercore also advised Chevron. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is acting as legal advisor to Chevron. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as lead financial advisor to Hess. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC also advised Hess. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is acting as legal advisor to Hess.
