據鉆探承包商網8月11日報道，日前，切薩皮克能源公司(Chesapeake Energy)已經簽署了收購Vine Energy的最終協議。Vine Energy是一家專注于開發路易斯安那州西北部堆疊海恩斯維爾（Haynesville）和中博西（Mid-Bossier）頁巖區塊的天然氣資產的能源公司。根據截至周二收盤的30天平均匯率，此次收購為零溢價交易，價值約22億美元，相當于每股15.00美元。

　　切薩皮克董事會主席兼臨時首席執行官邁克·威奇特里希（Mike Wichterich）表示，這筆交易加強了切薩皮克的競爭地位，顯著增加了我們的自由現金流預期，深化了我們的優質天然氣庫存，同時保持了我們的資產負債表的實力。通過整合Haynesville, 切薩皮克擁有規模和運營專業知識，能夠迅速成為墨西哥灣沿岸和海外高端市場的主要天然氣供應商。

　　該交易將使切薩皮克累積五年自由現金流預期增加約15億美元，或交易價值的68%，達到約60億美元，或預計企業價值的66%。該公司預計將從運營和資本協同效應中年均節省約5000萬美元。

　　Vine股東將獲得0.2486股切薩皮克普通股的固定對價加上Vine普通股每股1.20美元的現金，總對價為每股15.00美元，包括92%的股票和8%的現金。

　　Vine董事長、總裁兼首席執行官Eric Marsh表示，我們堅信，我們的資產質量，加上切薩皮克投資組合的規模、深度和多樣性，以及我們對ESG卓越的共同堅定不移的承諾，為加速我們合并股東的資本回報提供了重要機會。

　　在2021年第四季度成功完成交易之前，切薩皮克公司的初步計劃是在2022年運營10至12臺鉆機，其中8至9臺鉆機專注于天然氣業務，2至3臺鉆機專注于石油資產。該公司將維持其對嚴格資本再投資戰略的承諾，預計2022年再投資率為50-60%。截至7月30日，按照紐約商品交易所的剝離定價，該初步資本計劃預計將產生25.5億-27.5億美元的調整后息稅折舊攤銷前利潤總額。切薩皮克還預計，該初步資本計劃將導致其2022年年均石油產量與2021年第4季度的平均水平持平。

　　郝芬 譯自 鉆探承包商網

　　原文如下：

　　Chesapeake Energy acquires Vine Energy for $2.2 billion

　　Chesapeake Energy has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Vine Energy, an energy company focused on the development of natural gas properties in the over-pressured stacked Haynesville and Mid-Bossier shale plays in northwest Louisiana. The acquisition is a zero premium transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billion, based on a 30-day average exchange ratio as of Tuesday’s close, equating to $15.00 per share.

　　“This transaction strengthens Chesapeake’s competitive position, meaningfully increasing our free cash flow outlook and deepening our inventory of premium gas locations, while preserving the strength of our balance sheet. By consolidating the Haynesville, Chesapeake has the scale and operating expertise to quickly become the dominant supplier of responsibly sourced gas to premium markets in the Gulf Coast and abroad,” said Mike Wichterich, Chesapeake’s Board Chairman and Interim CEO.

　　The deal will increase Chesapeake’s cumulative five-year free cash flow outlook by approximately $1.5 billion, or 68% of the transaction value, to approximately $6.0 billion, or 66% of pro forma enterprise value. The company will see approximately $50 million in average annual savings expected from operating and capital synergies

　　Vine shareholders will receive fixed consideration of 0.2486 shares of Chesapeake common stock plus $1.20 cash per share of Vine common stock, for total consideration of $15.00 per share, comprising of 92% stock and 8% cash.

　　“We firmly believe that the quality of our assets, combined with the scale, depth and diversity of Chesapeake’s portfolio and our shared unwavering commitment to ESG excellence, provides significant opportunity to accelerate the return of capital to our combined shareholders,” said Eric Marsh, Vine’s Chairman, President and CEO.

　　Pending the successful closing of the transaction in the Q4 2021, Chesapeake’s preliminary plan is to operate 10 to 12 rigs in 2022, with 8 to 9 rigs focused on its gas portfolio and 2 to 3 rigs concentrating on its oil assets. The company will maintain its commitment to a disciplined capital reinvestment strategy, anticipating a 2022 reinvestment rate of 50-60%. At NYMEX strip pricing as of 30 July, this preliminary capital program is anticipated to generate between $2.55 billion to $2.75 billion in total adjusted EBITDAX. Chesapeake also anticipates this preliminary capital program will result in its average annual 2022 oil production remaining flat from Q4 2021 average levels.