Le Lézard
Classified in: Oil industry, Business
Subject: SRP

SandRidge Energy Publishes Letter to Shareholders Regarding Strategic Acquisition of Bonanza Creek


OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SandRidge Energy, Inc. ("SandRidge" or the "Company") (NYSE: SD) today issued a letter to shareholders highlighting the benefits of the acquisition of Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. (NYSE: BCEI). The Company also announced that it will file a registration statement on Form S-4 today, which will communicate the strategic rationale behind the proposed acquisition and contain other important details and analysis regarding the transaction.

In addition, the Company has launched a dedicated website ? www.sandridgeandbonanza.com ? with information regarding the transaction. 

The text of the letter follows:

Dear Fellow SandRidge Shareholders:

On November 15, 2017, the SandRidge Board of Directors and management team announced the acquisition of Bonanza Creek Energy.  This strategic opportunity is immediately accretive and positions us to deliver additional long-term shareholder value by adding high-return and development-ready projects to our Niobrara position.  After a detailed and thorough assessment of Bonanza Creek, we determined this acquisition to be in the best long-term interests of our shareholders.

BONANZA CREEK IS A HIGHLY STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY

The acquisition of Bonanza Creek provides immediate cash flow and high-return development opportunities that allow us to continue generating strong risk-adjusted returns while we delineate our emerging assets.

Our existing assets in the Mid-Continent and Niobrara are in different stages of the development cycle:

This current combination of mature Mississippi Lime assets and emerging North Park and NW STACK assets, in the absence of significant development-ready inventory, results in a higher risk profile.  The expansion of our Niobrara position to include Bonanza Creek's DJ Basin assets considerably improves our risk profile by:

These assets will allow us to accelerate returns and grow cash flow while our emerging assets progress to the development phase. 

Significantly Strengthens Our Financial Profile

The acquisition results in meaningful benefits compared to the Company's standalone plans:

Strong Balance Sheet with Enhanced Liquidity from New $700 Million Credit Facility

To effect the transaction, we chose to use a measured balance of cash and equity and weighed increasing accretion from funding with cash against pro forma leverage and liquidity.  The balance we chose of approximately 53% cash and 47% equity results in significant accretion while maintaining a prudent level of leverage which remains at or below 1.9x over the next three years.

Following the transaction, we expect greater than $300 million of liquidity at closing through a new reserve based loan with an initial borrowing base of $700 million on more favorable terms.  To support the new credit facility, our current agent bank has delivered a highly confident letter to the Company supporting these terms.  The increased borrowing base of $700 million versus the expected borrowing base of $618 million provides enhanced liquidity at closing and indicates the strength of the combined company's proved reserves.

Operational, Technical and Financial Synergies

The acquisition is expected to generate meaningful operational, technical and financial synergies.  Upon closing, we will immediately take the steps necessary to achieve at least $20 million in annual G&A savings and continue to focus on reducing our cost structure. We also expect to capture additional cost savings through operational efficiencies such as:

We also expect to benefit by leveraging the expertise of our combined operational teams to drive improvement in drill-site selection, drilling and completion techniques, well bore design and regulatory and stakeholder relationships across the Niobrara play.

Compelling Acquisition Value

In addition to delivering immediate accretion to cash flow per share and net asset value per share, the transaction is attractively valued.  As highlighted in the table below, the $36.00 per share acquisition price is well within the per share valuation ranges implied by Bonanza Creek's net asset value, historical trading range since emerging from bankruptcy and comparable company EBITDA and production multiples. These multiples compare favorably to recently announced acquisitions in the DJ Basin.


Bonanza Creek 
Valuation Ranges

Implied Value per Share Range
for Bonanza Creek

Historical Trading Range Since Emergence from Bankruptcy

$497 million - $812 million

$24.00 - $39.20

Aggregate Value to 2018 Consensus EBITDA Estimates

4.7x - 6.0x

$31.10 - $39.70

Aggregate Value to Current Production ($/Boepd)

$45,000 - $60,000

$34.34 - $45.78

Net Asset Value

$682 million - $804 million

$32.91 - $38.79

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

A vocal minority of shareholders have attempted to criticize the acquisition by distorting the facts and misleading the investing public.  Their assertions are false and reckless and we believe it is imperative to set the record straight for our investors.

Strategy

? Myth: The Bonanza Creek acquisition is not consistent with SandRidge's stated strategy.

? Fact: The Bonanza Creek acquisition is highly strategic and fits within our stated strategy, which clearly includes opportunistic acquisitions. We articulated our key strategies, including "pursuing opportunistic acquisitions"in Item 1 of our 2017 Annual Report.

Transaction Premium

? Myth: SandRidge is paying a 75% premium.

? Fact: The 75% premium calculation is misleading and based on a $421 million deeply discounted valuation in connection with a rights offering, which in no way reflects the public market valuation immediately prior to the transaction.

? Fact: The transaction actually represents a 17.4% premium to Bonanza Creek's closing price as of November 14, which is easily warranted given the strategic fit of the assets and the $20 million of annual G&A savings and operational synergies we have identified.  

? Fact: The transaction represents only an 8% premium to the equity valuation prepared in connection with Bonanza Creek's restructuring in early 2017, which had a mid-point of $690 million and relied on lower commodity price and total production assumptions than used in our valuation of Bonanza Creek. 

Rights Plan

 ? Myth: This rights plan is designed to prevent large shareholders from campaigning against the Bonanza Creek transaction.

 ? Fact: The rights plan provides no such restriction.  It is designed to protect the rights of all SandRidge shareholders, enabling them to fully review the merits of the proposed acquisition of Bonanza Creek and vote on the transaction.  It also protects all of our shareholders from anyone gaining control of SandRidge without payment of a control premium.  Importantly, the rights plan expires after one year unless terminated earlier by our shareholders at next year's annual meeting.

Board of Directors

? Myth: The Board is entrenched.

? Fact: Our independent directors have been in office for just over one year and were vetted and approved by the Company's creditors in connection with its restructuring in 2016.  

? Fact: These same independent directors were reelected at our most recent annual meeting by SandRidge shareholders?most of whom were prior creditors?with greater than 97% of the shares voting in favor.  All Board members are subject to election by the shareholders annually.  

? Fact: SandRidge Board members have a strong track record in the energy and private equity space, with professional experience ranging from 20-40 years per Board member.  All directors have public company experience.

COMMITTED TO SHAREHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

As shareholders, you have an important decision to make regarding the Bonanza Creek acquisition.  We urge you to make this decision only after careful analysis of all of the facts.  The preliminary proxy statement, investor presentation and other materials detailing the acquisition are being made available at www.sandridgeandbonanza.com, and we urge you to review these materials. After fully considering the rationale for the Bonanza Creek transaction and the detailed analysis that supports the Board's decision to recommend it to shareholders, we are confident that you will agree that this transaction is immediately accretive and in the best long-term interests of SandRidge and all of its shareholders.

In closing, we look forward to continuing to engage in constructive dialogue with shareholders and to answering your questions, which you can submit to our Investor Relations team at [email protected] or by calling 405-429-5515. 

Thank you, and have a wonderful holiday season,

John V. Genova

James D. Bennett

Chairman of the Board

President and Chief Executive Officer

About SandRidge Energy, Inc.
SandRidge Energy, Inc. (NYSE: SD) is an oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with its principal focus on developing high-return, growth-oriented projects in the U.S. Mid-Continent and Niobrara Shale.

Important Information for Investors and Shareholders
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed merger, SandRidge Energy, Inc. ("SandRidge") will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") a registration statement on Form S-4, which will include a preliminary prospectus of SandRidge and a preliminary joint proxy statement of Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. ("Bonanza Creek") and SandRidge. SandRidge and Bonanza Creek also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed merger. After the registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC, a definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to the shareholders of Bonanza Creek and the shareholders of SandRidge. SHAREHOLDERS OF BONANZA CREEK AND SANDRIDGE ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED MERGER THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER. Investors will be able to obtain free copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents containing important information about SandRidge and Bonanza Creek, once such documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by SandRidge will be available free of charge on SandRidge's internet website at www.sandridgeenergy.com under the tab "Investor Relations" and then under the tab "SEC Filings" or by contacting SandRidge's Investor Relations Department at (405) 429-5515. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Bonanza Creek will be available free of charge on Bonanza Creek's internet website at www.bonanzacrk.com under the tab "For Investors" and then under the tab "SEC Filings" or by contacting Bonanza Creek's Investor Relations Department at (720) 440-6136.

Details regarding valuation estimates and projections of future results can be found in the Company's registration statement filed today with the SEC on Form S-4.  The calculations presented in this letter give effect to the full $20 million in additional annual G&A cost savings, which the Company believes are reasonably achievable.   

Participants in the Solicitation
Bonanza Creek, SandRidge, their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Bonanza Creek is set forth in Bonanza Creek's public filings with the SEC, including its Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 28, 2017, June 12, 2017 and August 4, 2017 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2017, filed with the SEC on November 9, 2017. Information about the directors and executive officers of SandRidge is set forth in SandRidge's public filings with the SEC, including its definitive proxy statement on Form DEF 14A filed with the SEC on April 28, 2017 and its Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 28, 2017 and August 1, 2017. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus of SandRidge and Bonanza Creek, white proxy cards and other relevant materials filed with the SEC. Free copies of these documents can be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This communication may contain certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "predict," "potential," "pursue," "outlook," "continue," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "target," "forecast," and other words and terms of similar meaning. For example, statements regarding future results regarding the benefits of the transaction, closing of the proposed merger, and future financial results and operational plans are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the companies' control, which could cause actual benefits, results, effects and timing to differ materially from the results predicted or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the failure to receive requisite shareholder approval, satisfy closing conditions or obtain regulatory approvals; uncertainties as to the timing of the closing; changes to business relationships, competitive responses, the inability to achieve anticipated synergies, unexpected costs, charges, expenses or difficulties, the outcome of any litigation and the inability to retain key personnel, each related to the proposed merger; the uncertainty of financial performance following completion of the proposed merger; and any changes in general economic or industry specific conditions. SandRidge cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in SandRidge's and Bonanza Creek's public filings with the SEC, which are available at the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov. Each forward looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and SandRidge undertakes no obligation to publicly update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof.

CONTACT:
Justin M. Lewellen
Director of Investor Relations
SandRidge Energy, Inc.
123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
+1 (405) 429-5515

David A Kimmel
Director of Communications
SandRidge Energy, Inc.
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
+1 (405) 429-5599

MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
Toll-free: 800-322-2885.
Collect: +1 (212) 929-5500
Attn: Dan Burch / Paul Schulman

Media Contact:
SVC
Bryan Locke, +1 (312) 895-4700, [email protected]
Kelly Kimberly, +1 (832) 680-5120, [email protected]

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc. logo. (PRNewsFoto/SandRidge Energy, Inc.)

SOURCE SandRidge Energy, Inc.


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