Exxon Mobil Corporation and InterOil Corporation have announced an agreed transaction worth more than US$2.5 billion, under which ExxonMobil will acquire all of the outstanding shares of InterOil (the ExxonMobil Transaction).
“This agreement will enable ExxonMobil to create value for the shareholders of both companies and the people of Papua New Guinea,” said Rex W. Tillerson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exxon Mobil Corporation. “InterOil’s resources will enhance ExxonMobil’s already successful business in Papua New Guinea and bolster the company’s strong position in liquefied natural gas.”
InterOil Chairman Chris Finlayson said, “Our board of directors thoroughly reviewed the ExxonMobil transaction and concluded that it delivers superior value to InterOil shareholders. They will also benefit from their interest in ExxonMobil’s diverse asset base and dividend stream.”
Under the terms of the agreement with ExxonMobil, InterOil shareholders will receive:
- A payment of US$45 per share of InterOil, paid in ExxonMobil shares, at closing. The number of ExxonMobil shares paid per share of InterOil will be calculated based on the volume weighted average price (VWAP) of ExxonMobil shares over a measuring period of 10 days ending shortly before the closing date (Share Consideration).
- A Contingent Resource Payment (CRP), which will be an additional cash payment of US$7.07 per share for each trillion cubic feet gross resource certification of the Elk-Antelope field above 6.2 trillion ft3, up to a maximum of 10 trillion ft3. The CRP will be paid on the completion of the interim certification process in accordance with the Share Purchase Agreement with Total SA, which will include the Antelope-7 appraisal well, scheduled to be drilled later in 2016. The CRP will not be transferrable and will not be listed on any exchange.
When concluded, this transaction will give ExxonMobil access to InterOil’s resource base, which includes interests in six licenses in Papua New Guinea covering about four million acres, including PRL 15. The Elk-Antelope field in PRL 15 is the anchor field for the proposed Papua LNG project.
ExxonMobil’s more than 40 years of experience in the global LNG business enables it to efficiently link complex elements such as resource development, pipelines, liquefaction plants, shipping and regasification terminals, which it has demonstrated through the PNG LNG project, working closely with co-venturers, national, provincial and local governments, and local communities. ExxonMobil will bring to bear its industry leading performance and strong commitment to excellence as it grows its business in Papua New Guinea.
The PNG LNG project, the first of its kind in the country, was developed by ExxonMobil in challenging conditions on budget and ahead of schedule and is now exceeding production design capacity, demonstrating the company’s leadership in project management and operations.
ExxonMobil will work with co-venturers and the government to evaluate processing of gas from the Elk-Antelope field by expanding the PNG LNG project. This would take advantage of synergies offered by expansion of an existing project to realise time and cost reductions that would benefit the PNG Treasury, the government’s holding in oil search, other shareholders and landowners.
The ExxonMobil Transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of both companies. The InterOil board unanimously recommends that InterOil shareholders approve the ExxonMobil Transaction.