Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
As previously disclosed, on October 3, 2019, EP Energy Corporation (the
"Company"), and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively
with the Company, the "Debtors") filed voluntary petitions (the "Chapter 11
Cases") in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas
(the "Bankruptcy Court") seeking relief under chapter 11 of title 11 of the
United States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code"). The Chapter 11 Cases are being
jointly administered under the caption "In re: EP Energy Corporation, et al.,
Case No. 19-35654." Court filings and other information related to the Chapter
11 Cases are available at the website administered by the claims agent, Prime
Clerk, at https://cases.primeclerk.com/EPEnergy.
Plan Support Agreement
On October 18, 2019, the Debtors entered into a Plan Support Agreement (the
"PSA") with holders of approximately 52.0% of the 8.000% Senior Secured Notes
due 2024 and approximately 79.3% of the 9.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 and
8.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 issued, in each case, by EP Energy LLC and
Everest Acquisition Finance Inc., including affiliates of, or funds managed by,
Elliott Management Corporation ("Elliott"), Apollo Global Management, Inc.
("Apollo" together with Elliott, the "Initial Supporting Noteholders"), Access
Industries, Inc. ("Access"), and Avenue Capital Group (collectively, with the
Initial Supporting Noteholders and Access, the "Supporting Noteholders"), to
support a restructuring on the terms of a chapter 11 plan (the "Plan") described
therein. Capitalized terms used in this section but not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the PSA.
Pursuant to the PSA, the Plan will be implemented in accordance with the plan
term sheet annexed to the PSA, which is premised on (i) an equity rights
offering of up to $475 million (the "Rights Offering"), $463 million of which is
backstopped by the Supporting Noteholders, and (ii) an approximately $629
million exit facility for which, as of October 18, 2019, over 90% of the lenders
under the Company's Prepetition RBL Facility have committed to provide support,
and which the Prepetition RBL Facility and proposed DIP Facility (each as
defined below) will "roll" into on the effective date of the Plan.
As part of the restructuring, the Company may also consummate a private
placement of New Common Shares, subject to dilution by the Jeter Shares and EIP
Shares, for an aggregate purchase price of up to $75 million, in cash, on terms
acceptable to the Company and Initial Supporting Noteholders. In addition,
Apollo and Access may contribute their equity interests in Wolfcamp Drillco
Operating L.P. to the Reorganized Debtors in exchange for the Jeter Shares,
subject to the agreement of the Company, Access, and the Initial Supporting
Noteholders.
Pursuant to the PSA, stakeholders and other parties in interest will receive the
following treatment:
a) Holders of RBL Claims will receive their Pro Rata share of
the Exit Facility as a first lien, second-out term loan under the Exit Credit
Agreement; provided that each holder of an Allowed RBL Claim that elects to
participate in the Exit Facility by the Voting Deadline will receive its Pro
Rata share (with the holders of Allowed DIP Claims) of first lien, first-out
revolving loans under the Exit Credit Agreement and letter of credit
participations under the Exit Credit Agreement.
b) Holders of 1.125L Notes Claims will (i) be reinstated in
the principal amount of $1 billion, provided that the Debtors may, with the
consent of the Initial Supporting Noteholders, deliver a notice of redemption
with respect to, or otherwise voluntarily prepay (including by way of tender
offer), a portion of the 1.125L Notes, or (ii) receive new notes on terms
acceptable to the Initial Supporting Noteholders and the Company.
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c) Holders of 1.25L Notes Claims will (i) be reinstated in
the principal amount of $500 million, provided that the Debtors may, with the
consent of the Initial Supporting Noteholders, deliver a notice of redemption
with respect to, or otherwise voluntarily prepay (including by way of tender
offer), a portion of the 1.25L Notes, or (ii) receive new notes on terms
acceptable to the Initial Supporting Noteholders and the Company.
d) Holders of 1.5L Notes Claims will receive, on account of
the secured portion of such 1.5L Notes Claims, their pro rata share of (i) 99.0%
of the New Common Shares, subject to dilution by the Rights Offering Shares, the
Private Placement, the Commitment Premium (as defined below), the Jeter Shares,
and the EIP Shares, and (ii) the right to participate in the Rights Offering.
e) Holders of Unsecured Claims will receive their pro rata
share of 1.0% of the New Common Shares, subject to dilution by the Rights
Offering Shares, the Commitment Premium, the Private Placement, the Jeter
Shares, and the EIP Shares; provided, that a convenience class may be
established under the Plan (with such Plan provisions being acceptable to the
Initial Supporting Noteholders) to provide distributions up to an aggregate
amount in Cash to be specified under the Plan.
f) Holders of Existing Equity Interests will receive, on
account of available assets of the Company, their pro rata share of $500,000 in
cash.
The Plan will also provide for the establishment of a post-emergence employee
incentive plan on the effective date of the Plan (the "EIP"), consistent with
the terms set forth on Exhibit A-2 to the PSA. All awards issued under the EIP,
including restricted stock units, options, New Common Shares, or other rights
exercisable, exchangeable, or convertible into New Common Shares will be
dilutive of all other equity interests in the Reorganized Debtors. Ten percent
of the New Common Shares, on a fully diluted basis, shall be reserved for
issuance in connection with the EIP.
The PSA contains certain covenants on the part of the Company and the Supporting
Noteholders, including that the Supporting Noteholders vote in favor of the Plan
and otherwise facilitate the restructuring transactions, subject to the terms of
the PSA. The PSA also provides for termination by each party upon the
occurrence of certain events, including without limitation the failure of the
Company to achieve certain milestones and the termination of the BCA (discussed
further below).
The foregoing description of the PSA is qualified by reference to the full text
of such agreement, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and is
incorporated herein by reference.
Backstop Commitment Agreement
On October 18, 2019 the Debtors entered into a backstop commitment agreement
(the "BCA") with the Supporting Noteholders (the "Commitment Parties") pursuant
to which the Commitment Parties agreed to backstop $463 million of the Rights
Offering. The BCA is subject to Bankruptcy Court approval. Capitalized terms
used in this section but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to such terms in the BCA.
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The Commitment Parties have committed, in connection with the Rights Offering,
to (i) exchange $138 million in principal amount of 1.25 Lien Notes for New EP
Common Shares at the Exchange Purchase Price (the "Exchange Transaction") and
(ii) purchase additional New EP Common Shares at the Cash Purchase Price for
cash consideration of up to $325 million (reduced dollar for dollar for cash
proceeds received in the Rights Offering) (the "Cash Purchase Obligation").
As consideration for the Commitment Parties' backstop commitment, the Commitment
Parties shall be entitled to receive $26 million in the form of New EP Common
Shares issued at the Cash Purchase Price (the "Commitment Premium").
Alternatively, if the BCA is terminated due to certain events specified therein,
the Commitment Parties shall be entitled to receive a $26 million cash
termination fee (the "Termination Fee"). The Commitment Premium and Termination
Fee will be allocated among the Commitment Parties as provided in the BCA.
Prior to November 4, 2019, any holder of 1.5 Lien Notes Claims that is both a
"qualified institutional buyer" and an "accredited investor" may be permitted to
join the Backstop Agreement as an additional Commitment Party and, in such
capacity, (a) to commit to up to its pro rata share (based on its holdings of
1.5 Lien Notes Claims) of the Cash Purchase Obligation (and receive a
corresponding allocation of the Commitment Premium and Termination Fee) and
(b) to the extent that it also holds 1.25 Lien Notes, to commit to participate
in the Exchange Transaction (for which no Commitment Fee or Termination Fee will
be allocated) (subject to certain limitations described in the BCA); provided,
that the aggregate principal amount of 1.25 Lien Notes that may be exchanged by
Additional Commitment Parties in the Exchange Transaction is capped at $33
million.
The Commitment Parties' obligation to backstop the Rights Offering, and the
other transactions contemplated by the BCA, are conditioned upon the
satisfaction (or waiver) of all conditions to the effectiveness of the Plan, and
other conditions precedent set forth in the BCA, including Bankruptcy Court
approval of the BCA. The BCA may be terminated upon the occurrence of certain
. . .
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
In connection with the entry into the PSA and the BCA, the Company issued a
press release on October 18, 2019, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.2
to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information being
furnished under this Item 7.01 pursuant to this Current Report on Form 8-K,
including Exhibit 99.2, shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be
deemed incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other
document filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by
specific reference in such filing.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K includes certain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the
Exchange Act. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause results to differ materially from the Company's expectations, including
the following: risks and uncertainties relating to the Chapter 11 Cases,
including but not limited to, the Company's ability to obtain Bankruptcy Court
approval with respect to motions in the Chapter 11 Cases, the effects of the
Chapter 11 Cases on the Company and on the interests of various constituents,
Bankruptcy Court rulings in the Chapter 11 Cases and the outcome of the Chapter
11 Cases in general, the length of time the Company will operate under the
Chapter 11 Cases, risks associated with third-party motions in the Chapter 11
Cases, the potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company's
liquidity or results of operations; the Company's ability to complete definitive
documentation in connection with any financing and the amount, terms and
conditions of any such financing; the ability of the Company to comply with the
terms of the PSA and/or the BCA; the ability of the Company to obtain requisite
support for the Plan from various stakeholders; the ability of the Company to
confirm and consummate the Plan in accordance with the terms of the PSA; the
effects of disruption from the Chapter 11 Cases making it more difficult to
maintain business and operational relationships, to retain key executives and to
maintain various licenses and approvals necessary for the Company to conduct its
business; the consequences of the acceleration of the Company's debt
obligations; risks related to the trading of the Company's securities on the OTC
Pink Market; as well as the risk factors described in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as updated in the
Company's subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. While the Company
makes these statements in good faith, neither the Company nor its management can
guarantee that anticipated future results will be achieved. The Company assumes
no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made
herein or any other forward-looking statements made by the Company, whether as a
result of new information, future events, or otherwise. All forward-looking
statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on the Company's behalf
are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary
statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and, except as
required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise
publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
See Exhibit Index
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