Subsequent Events

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

Subsequent Events

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On January 10, 2024, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (“Chesapeake”), Hulk Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake (“Merger Sub”) and Hulk LLC Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake (“LLC Sub” and together with Merger Sub, the Company and Chesapeake, the “Parties”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Proposed Merger”), with the Company continuing as a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake (the “Surviving Corporation”). Immediately following the time the Proposed Merger becomes effective (the “Effective Time”), the Surviving Corporation will be merged with and into LLC Sub, with LLC Sub continuing as the surviving entity and as a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, upon completion of the Proposed Merger, Southwestern shareholders will receive 0.0867 shares of Chesapeake common stock for one share of Southwestern common stock. The consideration to be paid under the Merger Agreement is subject to adjustment as provided in the Merger Agreement. No fractional shares of Chesapeake common stock will be issued in the Proposed Merger, the holders of shares of Southwestern common stock will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares of Chesapeake common stock, if any, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.

The consummation of the Proposed Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, including: receipt of the required approvals from the stockholders of the Company and Chesapeake, and the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”) and no agreement between or commitment by the Parties and any governmental entity not to consummate the Proposed Merger being in effect. The Company and Chesapeake have each made customary representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement also contains customary pre-closing covenants of the Company and Chesapeake, including, subject to certain exceptions, covenants relating to conducting their respective businesses in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and refraining from taking certain actions, excepting in each case actions expressly permitted or required by the Merger Agreement, required by law or consented to by the other party in writing. The Merger Agreement provides that in the event of termination of the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances, we may be required to reimburse Chesapeake’s expenses up to $55.6 million or pay Chesapeake a termination fee equal to $389 million less any expenses previously paid. Further, Chesapeake may be required to reimburse our expenses up to $37.25 million or pay us a termination fee equal to $260 million less any expenses previously paid.