SilverBow has refused to enter into good faith negotiations or undertake substantive due diligence to assess the best path forward for unlocking value on behalf of all shareholders – necessitating the need for fresh perspectives in the Boardroom
Kimmeridge to focus on electing three highly-qualified, independent nominees to SilverBow’s Nine-Person Staggered Board at 2024 Annual Meeting
NEW YORK and DENVER, April 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Kimmeridge, an alternative asset manager focused on the energy sector and the largest shareholder of SilverBow Resources (“SilverBow” or the “Company”) holding 12.9% of outstanding shares, today issued the following statement:
On February 21, 2024, Kimmeridge met with SilverBow’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and proposed eight different potential strategic transactions the Company could pursue to establish a foundation for long-term value creation in light of continued underperformance. At the Board’s invitation, on March 13, 2024, Kimmeridge delivered a financed, premium proposal to combine Kimmeridge Texas Gas (“KTG”) and SilverBow with an associated $500 million equity investment (the “Proposal”).
The combination would have created a preeminent pure-play Eagle Ford shale operator with an estimated enterprise value of approximately $3.6 billion. The accretive transaction offered SilverBow shareholders a unique opportunity to participate in the compelling upside of a larger and more resilient company that would have been uniquely positioned to drive growth and lead the next phase of consolidation in the Eagle Ford.
Since then, Kimmeridge has published comprehensive financial and operational data on KTG, pre-populated a data room, and made itself available for good faith discussions towards a potential combination. The Board has done the opposite – rejected the Proposal via its proxy solicitation materials and then claimed the need for more information. SilverBow has not taken the steps that any reasonable counterparty would – they haven’t even asked for access to our data room. Likewise, the Company has not suggested any counterproposals or alternative structures that it would prefer.
Kimmeridge most recently asked the Board to provide a clear view of the Company’s relative value and the terms under which they would be willing to transact. Based on public statements made by the Company, the Board has such valuation information on hand, yet the Company has not responded. It appears that SilverBow is not willing to seriously engage in any discussions of mergers in which it would be the smaller party. Instead, the Board and management team are focused on maintaining their positions and compensation.
Given SilverBow’s lack of engagement, Kimmeridge sees no pathway towards a transaction by the April 26, 2024 deadline that we had put forward more than a month ago. As a result, we are withdrawing the Proposal and will be focused on providing solutions for SilverBow’s broken governance. The only way SilverBow will maximize value for all shareholders and reach its long-term potential is by introducing new, independent, and experienced perspectives to the Board.
The nominees we have put forward are committed to conducting a thorough and unbiased evaluation of all potential paths to value creation – and are bound by none of them, including our prior Proposal. Their only fiduciary duty is to advance the best interests of all SilverBow shareholders.
In the weeks ahead, we look forward to engaging with fellow shareholders, who face an important choice at the upcoming 2024 Annual Meeting.
Additional information
Additional information regarding Kimmeridge’s definitive proxy statement can be found at www.Kimmeridge.com/sbow/.
About Kimmeridge
Founded in 2012 by Ben Dell, Dr. Neil McMahon and Henry Makansi, Kimmeridge is an alternative asset manager focused on the energy sector. The firm is differentiated by its direct investment approach, deep technical knowledge, active portfolio management, proven sustainability track record and proprietary research and data gathering.
Media
Daniel Yunger / Anntal Silver / Emma Cloyd
Kekst CNC
Kekst-KTG@kekstcnc.com
Investors
John Ferguson
Saratoga Proxy Consulting LLC
jferguson@saratogaproxy.com
(212) 257-1311
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in any state to any person. The information herein contains “forward-looking statements”. Specific forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and include, without limitation, words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “potential,” “targets,” “forecasts,” “seeks,” “could,” “should” or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans or goals are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and assumptions. There can be no assurance that any idea or assumption herein is, or will be proven, correct or that any of the objectives, plans or goals stated herein will ultimately be undertaken or achieved. If one or more of such risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Kimmeridge underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, the actual results may vary materially from outcomes indicated by these statements. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Kimmeridge that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated will ever be achieved.
Important Information
Kimmeridge Energy Management Company, LLC, KEF Investments, LP, KEF Fund V Investments, LP, Benjamin Dell, Alexander Inkster, Neda Jafar, Denis Laloy, Noam Lockshin, Henry Makansi, Neil McMahon, Douglas E. Brooks, Carrie M. Fox and Katherine L. Minyard (collectively, the “Participants”) have filed a definitive proxy statement and accompanying GOLD proxy card (the “Proxy Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to be used to solicit proxies in connection with the 2024 annual meeting of shareholders of SilverBow Resources, Inc. (the “Company”). Shareholders of the Company are advised to read the Proxy Statement and other documents related to the solicitation of proxies with respect to the Company by the Participants because they contain important information, including additional information related to the Participants and a description of their direct or indirect interests by security holdings or otherwise. Such materials will be made available at no charge on the SEC’s website, https://www.sec.gov.
