EXCO Closes Eagle Ford Purchase From Chesapeake

Purchased an undivided 50% interest in undeveloped acreage in the Eagle Ford.

EXCO Resources Inc. (NYSE: XCO) closed the acquisition of producing and undeveloped oil and gas assets in the Eagle Ford from subsidiaries of Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) for US $685 million in cash.

EXCO financed the Eagle Ford acquisition under the company’s recently amended and restated credit agreement which has an initial $1.6 billion borrowing base. The initial borrowing base includes a $1.3 billion revolving facility and a $300 million term loan. The term loan portion of the facility is expected to be replaced with a new term loan containing terms and conditions customary for a transaction of this nature. The credit agreement provides that the initial borrowing base will be reduced by $400 million through the sale of certain selected assets during the next twelve months. The acquisition had an effective date of April 1.

In connection with the closing, EXCO entered into a participation agreement with entities advised by or affiliated with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. LP, including KKR Financial Holdings LLC (NYSE: KFN), and sold an undivided 50% interest in the undeveloped acreage EXCO acquired for $131 million in cash. Proceeds from the sale of properties under the KKR agreement were used to reduce outstanding borrowings under the EXCO Resources credit agreement. After giving effect to the acquisition and the KKR payment, the credit agreement’s initial borrowing base and the $400 million asset sale requirement were reduced by $131 million and $1.3 billion is currently outstanding.

The participation agreement provides that EXCO and KKR will jointly fund future development costs. With respect to each well drilled, EXCO will assign half of its undivided 50% interest in such well to KKR such that KKR will fund and own 75% of each well drilled and EXCO will fund and own 25% of each well drilled. When each quarterly tranche of wells drilled has been on production for one year, EXCO has the right to offer to purchase KKR’s 75% working interest at fair market value, subject to specific well criteria and return hurdles. With respect to the first year or first four quarters of the development program, EXCO would make its first offer for wells that have been online for one year during 4Q 2014. The parties have agreed on 300 identified locations to be drilled over a five year period.

EXCO Resources Inc. is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development and production of onshore U.S. oil and natural gas properties with a focus on shale resource plays. The company is based in Dallas.