CONE Midstream to Acquire Remaining 25% Additional Interest in Anchor Systems
November 16 2016 - 6:00AM
CONE Midstream Partners LP (NYSE:CNNX) (the “Partnership”) today
announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire an
additional 25% ownership interest in CONE Midstream DevCo I LP,
commonly referred to as the “Anchor Systems”. The
transaction, which is expected to close before the end of the
fourth quarter, is for a total purchase consideration of $248
million, comprised of $140 million in cash and issuance of
approximately 5.2 million common limited partnership units to our
Sponsors. The cash portion of the purchase consideration will
be funded through borrowings under the Partnership’s $250 million
revolving credit facility(1), which had $41 million drawn as of
September 30, 2016. The Partnership currently owns a 75%
interest in the Anchor Systems, and acquisition of the remaining
25% ownership interest will increase the Partnership’s ownership
share of the Anchor Systems to 100%(2). The interest is being
acquired from CONE Gathering LLC, which is jointly owned by
subsidiaries of our Sponsors, CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CNX) and
Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NBL).
John T. Lewis, Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive officer of CONE Midstream GP LLC, said, “We are pleased
to announce our first dropdown transaction. This acquisition
demonstrates our commitment to grow CNNX over the long term, the
supportive nature of our relationship with our Sponsors, and our
Sponsors' confidence in the continued future growth of CONE.
“We project acquisition of the remaining 25%
ownership interest in the Anchor Systems will be immediately
accretive to our unitholders,” continued Mr. Lewis. “The
financial impact of the acquisition is not included in our current
EBITDA or DCF guidance and, depending on the timing of transaction
closing, will be additive to those projected results. The
anticipated increase in distributable cash flow is expected to
increase our future cash distribution coverage and enhance our
ability to continue to grow our quarterly cash distributions over
time. Using a combination of debt and equity financing for
this transaction keeps our balance sheet strong and leaves
additional debt capacity for financing growth through new organic
projects and third party opportunities. We continue to view
our very robust distribution coverage and low leverage as important
positive attributes that set CONE Midstream apart from others in
the industry.”
The terms of the transaction were approved by
the Board of Directors of CONE Midstream GP LLC (the “General
Partner”) following prior approval by the Board of Director's
Conflicts Committee, which consists entirely of independent
directors. The Conflicts Committee engaged Evercore Partners to act
as its independent financial advisor and to render a fairness
opinion, and Locke Lord LLP to act as its legal advisor.
_______________
(1) The Partnership's revolving debt
facility has an accordion feature which provides for an increase in
potential total borrowing capacity to $500 million.
(2) Following the close of the announced
transaction, the Partnership will own a 100% interest in CONE
Midstream DevCo I LP (the “Anchor Systems”). It will continue
to own a 5% interest in CONE Midstream DevCo II LP (the “Growth
Systems”), and a 5% interest in CONE Midstream DevCo III LP (the
“Additional Systems”). CONE Gathering LLC, which is jointly
owned by subsidiaries of CONSOL Energy Inc. and Noble Energy, Inc.,
will continue to own 95% interests in each of the Growth Systems
and Additional Systems.
CONE Midstream Partners is a growth-oriented
master limited partnership formed by CONSOL Energy Inc.(NYSE:CNX)
and Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NBL), whom we refer to as our
Sponsors, to own, operate, develop and acquire natural gas
gathering and other midstream energy assets to service our
Sponsors' production in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and
West Virginia. Our assets include natural gas gathering
pipelines and compression and dehydration facilities, as well as
condensate gathering, collection, separation and stabilization
facilities. More information is available at our website
www.conemidstream.com.
This news release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.
Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer
to future events or conditions or that include the words
"project", "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate"
and other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future
events and trends and that do not relate to historical matters
identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve
certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to
predict, and there can be no assurance that actual outcomes and
results will not differ materially from those expected by our
management. Factors that could cause our actual results to
differ materially from the results contemplated by such
forward-looking statements include, among others: the acquisition
of an additional 25% interest in the Anchor Systems may not close
as anticipated; the effects of changes in market prices of natural
gas, NGLs and crude oil on our Sponsors’ drilling and development
plans on our dedicated acreage and the volumes of natural gas and
condensate that are produced on our dedicated acreage; changes in
our Sponsors’ drilling and development plans in the Marcellus Shale
and Utica Shale; our Sponsors’ ability to meet their drilling and
development plans in the Marcellus Shale and Utica Shale; the
demand for natural gas and condensate gathering services; changes
in general economic conditions; competitive conditions in our
industry; actions taken by third-party operators, gatherers,
processors and transporters; our ability to successfully implement
our business plan; and our ability to complete internal growth
projects on time and on budget. You should not place undue reliance
on our forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking
statements reflect our good faith beliefs at the time they are
made, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors, including the factors described
under “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which may
cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ
materially from anticipated future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise
any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise,
unless required by law.
Contact: Stephen R. Milbourne
CONE Midstream Partners Investor Relations
Phone: 724-485-4408
Email: smilbourne@conemidstream.com
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