Suncor Announces Early Tender Results and Increase of Tender Offers for Certain Outstanding Series of Notes

Rhea-AI Summary

Suncor announced early tender results for its Tender Offers to purchase certain outstanding notes for cash. The company increased the Pool 1 Maximum Amount from C$700 million to C$1 billion and maintained the Pool 2 Maximum Amount at C$100 million. As of the early tender date, significant amounts of various notes have been tendered. For Pool 1, Suncor expects to accept all 6.50% Notes due 2038 and 6.80% Notes due 2038 on a prorated basis. For Pool 2, it will accept all 3.10% Series 6 Medium Term Notes due 2029, 3.00% Series 5 Medium Term Notes due 2026, and 5.35% Notes due 2033, with 5.95% Notes due 2035 accepted on a prorated basis. The Tender Offers will expire on October 18, 2024. Suncor plans to fund the purchases with cash on hand and expects to make payments on October 7, 2024. All accepted notes will be retired and canceled.

Positive

• Increased Pool 1 Maximum Amount from C$700 million to C$1 billion.
• Significant tendering of various notes, indicating strong interest.
• Funding purchases with cash on hand, showing financial stability.

Negative

• Expected proration for 6.80% Notes due 2038 and 5.95% Notes due 2035 due to high tender amounts.
• No acceptance for Pool 1 Notes tendered after the early tender date.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Suncor's tender offer for its outstanding notes is a significant financial move aimed at managing its debt profile. The company has increased the maximum purchase amounts for both Pool 1 and Pool 2 notes, signaling strong demand from noteholders and Suncor's willingness to buy back more debt than initially planned.

Key points:

• Pool 1 maximum amount increased from C$700 million to C$1 billion in principal
• Pool 2 maximum amount adjusted from C$100 million purchase price to C$100 million in principal
• High participation rates, especially for 6.50% and 6.80% Notes due 2038
• Proration expected for some note series due to oversubscription

This debt repurchase could improve Suncor's balance sheet by reducing long-term liabilities and potentially lowering interest expenses. However, it will also decrease cash reserves. The strong demand suggests investors are willing to cash out, possibly due to attractive pricing or expectations of rising interest rates.

For shareholders, this move may be viewed positively as it demonstrates proactive debt management, but the impact on Suncor's liquidity position should be monitored.

Bond Market Specialist

The tender offer's structure and execution reveal important insights about Suncor's debt management strategy and market conditions:

• Prioritizing longer-dated notes (2038 maturities) suggests a focus on reducing long-term debt obligations
• Oversubscription indicates attractive pricing for noteholders, likely above current market values
• Early settlement option (October 7) shows Suncor's readiness to quickly reduce debt
• Use of cash on hand for purchases may impact short-term liquidity but improves debt ratios

The company's ability to increase the tender size reflects strong financial position and market confidence. However, the need to prorate acceptances for some notes hints at potential limits to this strategy.

For investors, this tender offer presents an opportunity to reassess Suncor's credit profile. The reduction in outstanding debt could lead to improved credit ratings and lower borrowing costs in the future, benefiting both bondholders and equity investors. The market's response to this tender offer may also provide valuable insights into investor sentiment towards energy sector debt.

Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - October 3, 2024) - Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX: SU) (NYSE: SU) ("Suncor") announced today the early tender results for its tender offers to purchase for cash certain of its outstanding series of notes (the "Tender Offers").

Suncor also announced that it has increased the previously announced Pool 1 Maximum Amount (as defined below) from C$700,000,000 aggregate purchase price, excluding accrued and unpaid interest, to C$1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount and the Pool 2 Maximum Amount (as defined below) from C$100,000,000 aggregate purchase price, excluding accrued and unpaid interest, to C$100,000,000 aggregate principal amount.

Details of the Tender Offers

Suncor initially offered to purchase for cash: (i) up to C$700,000,000 aggregate purchase price, excluding accrued and unpaid interest (the "Pool 1 Maximum Amount"), of its 6.50% Notes due 2038 and 6.80% Notes due 2038 (collectively, the "Pool 1 Notes") and (ii) up to C$100,000,000 aggregate purchase price, excluding accrued and unpaid interest (the "Pool 2 Maximum Amount" and, together with the Pool 1 Maximum Amount, the "Maximum Amounts"), of its 3.10% Series 6 Medium Term Notes due 2029, 3.00% Series 5 Medium Term Notes due 2026, 6.00% Notes due 2042, 5.35% Notes due 2033, 5.95% Notes due 2035, 5.00% Series 7 Medium Term Notes due 2030 and 5.39% Series 4 Medium Term Notes due 2037 (collectively, the "Pool 2 Notes" and, together with the Pool 1 Notes, the "Notes"), subject to prioritized acceptance levels listed in the table below ("Acceptance Priority Levels") and the terms and conditions of the Tender Offers.

Suncor has amended such Tender Offers to increase the previously announced Pool 1 Maximum Amount from C$700,000,000 aggregate purchase price, excluding accrued and unpaid interest, to C$1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount and the Pool 2 Maximum Amount from C$100,000,000 aggregate purchase price, excluding accrued and unpaid interest, to C$100,000,000 aggregate principal amount. All other terms of the Tender Offers as previously announced in the offer to purchase dated September 19, 2024 (as amended and supplemented hereby, the "Offer to Purchase") remain unchanged. Suncor refers investors to the Offer to Purchase for the complete terms and conditions of the Tender Offers.

As of the previously announced early tender date and time of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 2, 2024 (the "Early Tender Date"), according to information provided by Global Bondholder Services Corporation, in its capacity as information agent and tender agent for the Tender Offers for the US$ Notes (as defined below), and Computershare Investor Services Inc., in its capacity as tender agent for the Tender Offers for the C$ Notes (as defined below), the aggregate principal amount of each series of Notes listed in the table below had been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in each Tender Offer. Withdrawal rights for the Notes expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Early Tender Date.

	Title of Security(1)	CUSIP/ISIN	Principal Amount Outstanding	Maximum Amount	Acceptance Priority Level(2)	Principal Amount Tendered at Early Tender Date
Pool 1 Tender Offers	6.50% Notes due 2038	867229AE6 / US867229AE68	US$954,042,000	C$1,000,000,000 (3)	1	US$478,505,000
	6.80% Notes due 2038(4)	71644EAJ1 / US71644EAJ10	US$881,081,000		2	US$569,818,000
Pool 2 Tender Offers	3.10% Series 6 Medium Term Notes due 2029	86721ZAP4 / CA86721ZAP41	C$78,743,000	C$100,000,000(3)	1	C$13,355,000
	3.00% Series 5 Medium Term Notes due 2026	86721ZAM1 / CA86721ZAM10	C$115,182,000		2	C$19,568,000
	6.00% Notes due 2042(5)	13643EAH8, C18885AF7 / US13643EAH80, USC18885AF71	US$31,625,000		3	US$0
	5.35% Notes due 2033(4)	716442AH1 / US716442AH16	US$118,367,000		4	US$27,860,000
	5.95% Notes due 2035(4)	71644EAG7 / US71644EAG70	US$199,271,000		5	US$70,795,000
	5.00% Series 7 Medium Term Notes due 2030	86721ZAQ2 / CA86721ZAQ24	C$154,041,000		6	C$38,183,000
	5.39% Series 4 Medium Term Notes due 2037	86721ZAB5 / CA86721ZAB54	C$279,124,000		7	C$53,915,000

 

1. The 6.50% Notes due 2038, 6.80% Notes due 2038, 6.00% Notes due 2042, 5.35% Notes due 2033 and 5.95% Notes due 2035 are referred to herein as the "US$ Notes." The 3.10% Series 6 Medium Term Notes due 2029, 3.00% Series 5 Medium Term Notes due 2026, 5.00% Series 7 Medium Term Notes due 2030 and 5.39% Series 4 Medium Term Notes due 2037 are referred to herein as the "C$ Notes."
2. Subject to the Maximum Amounts and proration, if applicable, the principal amount of each series of Notes that is purchased in each Tender Offer will be determined in accordance with the applicable Acceptance Priority Level (in numerical priority order) specified in this column in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase.
3. C$1,000,000,000 represents the maximum aggregate principal amount being purchased in respect of the Pool 1 Notes that may be purchased in the Tender Offers. C$100,000,000 represents the maximum aggregate principal amount being purchased in respect of the Pool 2 Notes that may be purchased in the Tender Offers. For purposes of calculating the portion of the Maximum Amounts attributable to each series of US$ Notes, the aggregate principal amount of US$ Notes tendered in the applicable Tender Offer shall be converted to Canadian dollars based on the exchange rate of one U.S. dollar for Canadian dollars, as shown on the FXC page displayed on the Bloomberg Pricing Monitor at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Price Determination Date (as defined below).
4. Such Notes were issued by Petro-Canada; Suncor assumed the obligations for such Notes in 2009.
5. Such Notes were issued by Canadian Oil Sands Limited; Suncor assumed the obligations for such Notes in 2016.

The terms and conditions of the Tender Offers are described in the Offer to Purchase. Suncor expects to elect to exercise its right to make payment on October 7, 2024 (the "Early Settlement Date") for Notes validly tendered prior to or at the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase. Suncor intends to fund the purchase of validly tendered and accepted Notes on the Early Settlement Date with cash on hand.

Because the Pool 1 Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to or at the Early Tender Date have an aggregate principal amount that is expected to exceed the Pool 1 Maximum Amount, Suncor does not expect to accept for purchase all Pool 1 Notes that have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to or at the Early Tender Date. Rather, subject to the Pool 1 Maximum Amount and the Acceptance Priority Levels set forth in the table above, in each case as further described in the Offer to Purchase, Suncor expects to accept for purchase all of the 6.50% Notes due 2038 validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to or at the Early Tender Date. Suncor expects to accept for purchase the 6.80% Notes due 2038 validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to or at the Early Tender Date on a prorated basis using a proration factor to be announced following the determination of the Total Consideration (as defined below). As described further in the Offer to Purchase, Notes tendered and not accepted for purchase will be promptly credited to the tendering holder's account. Additionally, because the Pool 1 Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to or at the Early Tender Date have an aggregate principal amount that is expected to exceed the Pool 1 Maximum Amount, Suncor does not expect to accept for purchase any Pool 1 Notes tendered after the Early Tender Date on a subsequent settlement date. The Tender Offers for the Pool 1 Notes will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 18, 2024, or any other date and time to which Suncor extends the applicable Tender Offer, unless earlier terminated.

Because the Pool 2 Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to or at the Early Tender Date have an aggregate principal amount that is expected to exceed the Pool 2 Maximum Amount, Suncor does not expect to accept for purchase all Pool 2 Notes that have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to or at the Early Tender Date. Rather, subject to the Pool 2 Maximum Amount and the Acceptance Priority Levels set forth in the table above, in each case as further described in the Offer to Purchase, Suncor expects to accept for purchase all of the 3.10% Series 6 Medium Term Notes due 2029, 3.00% Series 5 Medium Term Notes due 2026 and 5.35% Notes due 2033 validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to or at the Early Tender Date. Suncor expects to accept for purchase the 5.95% Notes due 2035 validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to or at the Early Tender Date on a prorated basis using a proration factor to be announced following the determination of the Total Consideration. Suncor does not expect to accept for purchase any 5.00% Series 7 Medium Term Notes due 2030 or 5.39% Series 4 Medium Term Notes due 2037. As described further in the Offer to Purchase, Notes tendered and not accepted for purchase will be promptly credited to the tendering holder's account. Additionally, because the Pool 2 Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to or at the Early Tender Date have an aggregate principal amount that is expected to exceed the Pool 2 Maximum Amount, Suncor does not expect to accept for purchase any Pool 2 Notes tendered after the Early Tender Date on a subsequent settlement date. The Tender Offers for the Pool 2 Notes will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 18, 2024, or any other date and time to which Suncor extends the applicable Tender Offer, unless earlier terminated.

The applicable U.S. consideration (the "U.S. Total Consideration") offered per US$1,000 principal amount of each series of US$ Notes validly tendered prior to or at the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase pursuant to the applicable Tender Offer will be determined in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase by reference to the applicable fixed spread plus the applicable yield based on the bid-side price of the applicable U.S. reference security as displayed on the applicable Bloomberg Reference Page at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on October 3, 2024 (the "Price Determination Date"). The applicable Canadian consideration (the "Canadian Total Consideration" and, together with the U.S. Total Consideration, the "Total Consideration") offered per C$1,000 principal amount of each series of C$ Notes validly tendered prior to or at the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase pursuant to the applicable Tender Offer will be determined in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase by reference to the applicable fixed spread plus the applicable yield based on the bid-side price of the applicable Canadian reference security as displayed on the applicable Bloomberg Reference Page at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Price Determination Date. Only holders of Notes who validly tendered and did not validly withdraw their Notes prior to or at the Early Tender Date are eligible to receive the applicable Total Consideration, which is inclusive of the applicable early tender payment, for Notes accepted for purchase. Holders will also receive accrued and unpaid interest on Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase from the applicable last interest payment date up to, but not including, the Early Settlement Date.

Promptly following the Price Determination Date, Suncor will issue a news release specifying, among other things, (i) the aggregate principal amount of each series of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn as of the Early Tender Date and expected to be accepted for purchase in each Tender Offer, (ii) the proration factor for the 6.80% Notes due 2038 and the 5.95% Notes due 2035 and (iii) the Total Consideration for each series of Notes expected to be accepted for purchase.

All Notes accepted for purchase will be retired and cancelled and will no longer remain outstanding obligations of Suncor.

The Tender Offers are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, which are specified in the Offer to Purchase. The Tender Offers are not conditioned on any minimum principal amount of Notes being tendered.

Information relating to the Tender Offers

CIBC World Markets Corp., CIBC World Markets Inc. (solely with respect to the Tender Offers for the C$ Notes) (together, "CIBC"), J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Canada Inc. (solely with respect to the Tender Offers for the C$ Notes) (together, "J.P. Morgan"), Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Mizuho Securities Canada Inc. (solely with respect to the C$ Tender Offers) (together, "Mizuho"), RBC Capital Markets, LLC, RBC Dominion Securities Inc. (solely with respect to the Tender Offers for the C$ Notes) (together, "RBC"), Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. ("Scotiabank"), TD Securities (USA) LLC and TD Securities Inc. (solely with respect to the Tender Offers for the C$ Notes) (together, "TD Securities") are acting as the Dealer Managers for the Tender Offers. For additional information regarding the terms of the Tender Offers, please contact CIBC at (800) 282-0822 (toll free) or (212) 455-6427 (collect), J.P. Morgan at (866) 834-4666 (toll free) or (212) 834-4818 (collect), Mizuho at (866) 271-7403 (toll free) or (212) 205-7736 (collect), RBC at (877) 381-2099 (toll free), (212) 618-7843 (collect U.S.) or (416) 842-6311 (collect Canada), Scotiabank at (800) 372-3930 (toll free) or (212) 225-5000 (collect), or TD Securities at (866) 584-2096 (toll free), (212) 827-2842 (collect U.S.) or (416) 982-2243 (collect Canada). Global Bondholder Services Corporation will act as the information agent and the tender agent for the Tender Offers for the US$ Notes. Computershare Investor Services Inc. will act as the tender agent for the Tender Offers for the C$ Notes. Questions or requests for assistance related to the Tender Offers or for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at (855) 654-2014 (toll free) or (212) 430-3774 (collect). You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Tender Offers. The Offer to Purchase can be accessed at the following website: https://www.gbsc-usa.com/suncor.

The full details of the Tender Offers, including complete instructions on how to tender Notes, are included in the Offer to Purchase. Holders are strongly encouraged to carefully read the Offer to Purchase, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, because they contain important information. The Offer to Purchase may be obtained from Global Bondholder Services Corporation, free of charge, by calling (212) 430-3774 (for banks and brokers) or (855) 654-2014 (for all others, toll-free).

This news release does not constitute an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell, or the solicitation of tenders with respect to the Notes. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Tender Offers are being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase made available to holders of the Notes. None of Suncor or its affiliates, their respective boards of directors, the dealer managers, the tender agents, the information agent or the trustee with respect to any series of Notes is making any recommendation as to whether or not holders should tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of their Notes in response to the Tender Offers. Holders are urged to evaluate carefully all information in the Offer to Purchase, consult their own investment and tax advisors and make their own decisions whether to tender Notes in the Tender Offers, and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender.

Legal Advisory - Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements are based on Suncor's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions that were made by the company in light of information available at the time the statement was made and consider Suncor's experience and its perception of historical trends. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements about the aggregate principal amount of Notes exceeding the applicable Maximum Amount; the purchase of the Notes and amount of the consideration paid therefor; the expected source of funds for the Tender Offers; the deadlines, determination dates and settlement dates regarding the Tender Offers; the payment of accrued and unpaid interest; the use of a proration factor in respect of the 6.80% Notes due 2038 and 5.95% Notes due 2035; and the series of Notes to be accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offers.

Forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some that are similar to other oil and gas companies and some that are unique to Suncor. Suncor's actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by its forward-looking statements, so readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them.

Suncor's Management Discussion and Analysis for the Second Quarter of 2024 dated August 6, 2024, its Annual Information Form, Annual Report to Shareholders and Form 40-F, each dated March 21, 2024, and other documents it files from time to time with securities regulatory authorities describe the risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results and such factors are incorporated herein by reference. Copies of these documents are available without charge from Suncor at 150 6th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P 3E3; by referring to suncor.com/FinancialReports or to the company's profile on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca or EDGAR at sec.gov. Except as required by applicable securities laws, Suncor disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Suncor Energy is Canada's leading integrated energy company. Suncor's operations include oil sands development, production and upgrading; offshore oil production; petroleum refining in Canada and the U.S.; and the company's Petro-Canada^TM retail and wholesale distribution networks (including Canada's Electric Highway^TM, a coast-to-coast network of fast-charging EV stations). Suncor is developing petroleum resources while advancing the transition to a lower-emissions future through investments in lower emissions intensity power, renewable feedstock fuels and projects targeting emissions intensity. Suncor also conducts energy trading activities focused primarily on the marketing and trading of crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products and power. Suncor's common shares (symbol: SU) are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.

For more information about Suncor, visit our website at suncor.com.

Media inquiries:
(833) 296-4570
media@suncor.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/225439

FAQ

What are the early tender results for Suncor's tender offers?

Suncor announced early tender results for its tender offers, with significant amounts of various notes tendered.

What is the new Pool 1 Maximum Amount for Suncor's tender offers?

The Pool 1 Maximum Amount has been increased from C$700 million to C$1 billion.

When will Suncor make payment for the tendered notes?

Suncor expects to make payment on October 7, 2024.

What is the expiration date for Suncor's tender offers?

The tender offers will expire on October 18, 2024.

How will Suncor fund the purchase of tendered notes?

Suncor plans to fund the purchase with cash on hand.