Gulfport Energy Announces Pricing Terms of Tender Offer for Its 8.0% Senior Notes Due 2026

Rhea-AI Summary

Gulfport Energy (NYSE: GPOR) has announced the pricing terms for its cash tender offer to purchase all outstanding 8.0% Senior Notes due 2026. The purchase price is set at $1,023.35 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes. The tender offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 9, 2024, unless extended or terminated earlier.

The tender offer is contingent on satisfying certain conditions, including completing a contemporaneous debt financing. Gulfport Energy Operating plans to use the proceeds from this financing to fund the tender offer and redeem any remaining Notes by May 17, 2025. J.P. Morgan Securities is serving as the exclusive Dealer Manager for the tender offer.

Positive

• Gulfport Energy is offering to purchase all outstanding 8.0% Senior Notes due 2026
• The purchase price of $1,023.35 per $1,000 principal amount represents a premium for noteholders
• The company plans to redeem any remaining Notes by May 17, 2025, providing clarity on debt management

Negative

• The tender offer may lead to increased debt through the contemporaneous debt financing
• The transaction could potentially increase the company's interest expenses

Insights

Financial Analyst

Gulfport Energy's tender offer for its 8.0% Senior Notes due 2026 is a strategic move to refinance its debt. The company is offering to purchase the notes at $1,023.35 per $1,000 principal amount, a 2.335% premium over face value. This pricing suggests the company sees value in retiring these high-yield notes early, likely to take advantage of potentially lower interest rates through the planned Debt Financing.

The tender offer, combined with the intention to redeem remaining notes by May 2025, signals Gulfport's proactive approach to managing its debt structure. This could lead to reduced interest expenses and improved financial flexibility. However, the success of this strategy hinges on the terms of the new Debt Financing, which remain undisclosed. Investors should closely monitor the outcome of this refinancing effort, as it could significantly impact Gulfport's future financial health and profitability.

Market Research Analyst

The timing of Gulfport Energy's tender offer is noteworthy, coming amidst a volatile period for energy markets. With natural gas prices fluctuating and the industry facing environmental pressures, Gulfport's move to optimize its debt structure could be seen as a defensive strategy to strengthen its financial position.

The 100% premium offer for early redemption in 2025 suggests confidence in the company's future cash flows. However, this also raises questions about the terms of the new Debt Financing. If Gulfport can secure more favorable terms, it could enhance its competitiveness in the challenging energy sector. Investors should view this as a potential positive, but remain cautious until the details of the new financing are revealed, as they will be important in determining the long-term impact on Gulfport's financial health and market position.

OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gulfport Energy Corporation (NYSE: GPOR) (“Gulfport” or the “Company”) announced today the pricing terms of the previously announced cash tender offer (the “Tender Offer”) to purchase any and all of the outstanding senior notes (the “Notes”) listed in the following table upon the terms and conditions described in the Offer to Purchase, dated September 3, 2024 (the “Offer to Purchase”), of Gulfport Energy Operating Corporation (“Gulfport Operating”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulfport.

Set forth in the table below is the purchase price (the "Purchase Price") for the Notes, as calculated at 2:00 p.m., New York City time, today, September 9, 2024, in accordance with the Offer to Purchase.

Title of Security

CUSIP Numbers

Principal Amount Outstanding

U.S. Treasury Reference Security

Bloomberg Reference Page

Reference Yield

Fixed Spread (basis points)

Purchase Price

8.0% Senior Notes due 2026

402635AQ9 (1145) / 402635AR7 (144A) / 402635AS5 (ACCD INV) / U40347AH6 (Reg S)

$550,000,000

4.250% U.S. Treasury due May 31, 2025

FIT 3

4.453%

0

$1,023.35

If a holder holds Notes in denominations smaller than $1,000 (or holds Notes other than in integral multiples of $1,000), then such holder will receive a prorated amount of the Purchase Price per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes with respect to any Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase that are held in denominations smaller than $1,000 or held other than in integral multiples of $1,000.

In addition to the Purchase Price, holders whose Notes are purchased pursuant to the Tender Offer will also receive accrued and unpaid interest thereon from the last interest payment date up to, but not including, the initial date on which Gulfport Operating makes payment for such Notes, which date is currently expected to be September 13, 2024, assuming that the Tender Offer is not extended or earlier terminated.

The Tender Offer is being made pursuant to the terms and conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, copies of which may be obtained from D.F. King & Co., Inc., the tender agent and information agent for the Tender Offer, by calling (888) 626-0988 or, for banks and brokers, (212) 269-5550. Copies of the Offer to Purchase and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery are also available at the following web address: www.dfking.com/GPOR; or by requesting via email at GPOR@dfking.com.

The Tender Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, today unless extended or earlier terminated (such time and date, as the same may be extended, the “Expiration Time”). Tendered Notes may be withdrawn at any time before the Expiration Time. Holders of Notes must validly tender and not validly withdraw their Notes (or comply with the procedures for guaranteed delivery) before the Expiration Time to be eligible to receive the Purchase Price for their Notes.

Settlement for all Notes tendered prior to the Expiration Time or pursuant to a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is expected to be September 13, 2024, assuming that the Tender Offer is not extended or earlier terminated.

There can be no assurance that any Notes will be purchased. The Tender Offer is conditioned upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the completion of a contemporaneous debt financing (the “Debt Financing”) by Gulfport Operating on terms and conditions (including, but not limited to, the amount of proceeds raised in such financing) satisfactory to Gulfport Operating and Gulfport. The Tender Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum amount of Notes being tendered. The Tender Offer may be amended, extended, terminated or withdrawn.

Gulfport Operating intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the Debt Financing to fund the Tender Offer and to redeem the remaining Notes on or prior to May 17, 2025, the par call date for the Notes, at a redemption price of 100.000% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the redemption date.

Gulfport Operating has retained J.P. Morgan Securities LLC to serve as the exclusive Dealer Manager for the Tender Offer. Questions regarding the terms of the Tender Offer may be directed to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Liability Management Group, U.S. toll free at (866) 834-4666 or collect at (212) 834-4045.

This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any Notes in the Tender Offer and does not constitute a notice of redemption for the Notes.

About Gulfport

Gulfport is an independent natural gas-weighted exploration and production company focused on the exploration, acquisition and production of natural gas, crude oil and NGL in the United States with primary focus in the Appalachia and Anadarko basins. Our principal properties are located in eastern Ohio targeting the Utica and Marcellus formations and in central Oklahoma targeting the SCOOP Woodford and SCOOP Springer formations.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are statements other than statements of historical fact. They include statements regarding the Debt Financing and the use of proceeds therefrom, including the Tender Offer and the timing and outcome thereof. Although Gulfport believes the expectations and forecasts reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, Gulfport can give no assurance they will prove to have been correct. They can be affected by inaccurate or changed assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Important risks, assumptions and other important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Gulfport’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and any updates to those factors set forth in Gulfport’s subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K. Gulfport undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240909976003/en/

Investor Contact:

Jessica Antle – Vice President, Investor Relations

jantle@gulfportenergy.com

405-252-4550

Source: Gulfport Energy Corporation

FAQ

What is the purchase price for Gulfport Energy's 8.0% Senior Notes due 2026 in the tender offer?

The purchase price for Gulfport Energy's 8.0% Senior Notes due 2026 in the tender offer is $1,023.35 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes.

When does Gulfport Energy's tender offer for its 8.0% Senior Notes due 2026 expire?

Gulfport Energy's tender offer for its 8.0% Senior Notes due 2026 expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 9, 2024, unless extended or terminated earlier.

What is the ticker symbol for Gulfport Energy ?

The ticker symbol for Gulfport Energy is GPOR, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

What condition is Gulfport Energy's tender offer subject to?

Gulfport Energy's tender offer is subject to the completion of a contemporaneous debt financing on terms satisfactory to Gulfport Energy Operating and Gulfport Energy