UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):  May 9, 2018

 

COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.

 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

5300 Town and Country Boulevard

Suite 500

Frisco, Texas 75034

(Address of principal executive offices)

(972) 668-8800

(Registrant's Telephone No.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

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On May 9, 2018, Comstock Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”) entered into a Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) with Arkoma Drilling L.P. and Williston Drilling, L.P. (collectively, the “Partnerships”), pursuant to which the Company will acquire interests in certain oil and gas properties located in North Dakota (the “Assets”) from the Partnerships in exchange for a total of up to 88,571,429 newly issued shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, $0.50 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) of the Company, subject to adjustment.  Upon completion of the transactions contemplated under the Contribution Agreement, the Partnerships will own approximately 84% of the Company's pro forma outstanding Common Stock.

 

The Assets

 

The Company has valued the Assets at $620.0 million.  The effective date for the acquisition of the Assets is April 1, 2018.  There is no debt associated with the Assets.  

 

Representations, Warranties and Covenants

 

The Contribution Agreement contains customary representations and warranties by the parties thereto. The representations and warranties of the parties included in the Contribution Agreement survive the closing of the transactions, with certain fundamental representations and warranties surviving indefinitely.

 

The Contribution Agreement contains customary pre-closing covenants of the parties, including the obligation of the Company and the Partnerships to conduct their respective businesses in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and to refrain from taking certain specified actions, subject to certain exceptions. The Company has also agreed not to take certain actions likely to solicit or lead to other offers or proposals relating (a) to the acquisition of a business or assets of the Company or any other person exceeding certain specified thresholds, (b) a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in any person beneficially owning more than fifteen percent of the total voting power of the equity securities of the Company or (c) a merger, reorganization, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, or similar transaction exceeding certain specified thresholds (each of clauses (a), (b), and (c), an “Alternate Proposal”).

 

Preemptive Rights

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Contribution Agreement, after the closing of the transactions, the Partnerships will have preemptive purchase rights in connection with any future proposed offering by the Company of securities, with certain specified exceptions, for so long as the Partnerships continue to own an aggregate of 15% of the Common Stock of the Company.

 

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Registration Rights

 

Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, the Company will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Partnerships pursuant to which the Company will agree to register the Shares issued to the Partnerships.

 

Conditions to the Parties’ Obligations under the Contribution Agreement

 

The closing of the Contribution Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as well as approval by the Company's stockholders of (i) the issuance of the Shares of Common Stock and (ii) amendments to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to (a) increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock of the Company, (b) permit stockholders to act by written consent of the majority so long as the Partnerships own a majority of the Common Stock, and (c) to the extent permitted by applicable law, renounce any interest by the Company in the business opportunities of the Partnerships and their affiliates  (items (i) and (ii) together, the “Stockholder Approvals”).  The Stockholder Approvals are required in order to issue the Shares of Common Stock to the Partnerships.  

 

Additionally, the obligations of the Partnerships are subject to the Company obtaining a new revolving credit facility and a new senior unsecured notes issuance, in each case (i) having such terms as are acceptable to the Partnerships and (ii) in an amount as will be sufficient to discharge certain existing indebtedness of the Company (the “Debt Financing”).

 

There can be no assurance that these closing conditions will be satisfied.

 

Termination Rights

 

The Contribution Agreement contains certain customary termination rights, including, among others, in the event of the following: (i) if the closing has not occurred by October 31, 2018 (the “Outside Date”); (ii) by mutual written agreement of the Company and the Partnerships; (iii)  if the Stockholder Approvals are not obtained; (iv) if the consummation of the transactions is prohibited by law; and (v) for breach of a representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement by a party which has not been cured by the earlier of (x) 30 days following written notice from the other party of such breach and (y) the Outside Date.

 

Additionally, the Contribution Agreement may be terminated (a) by the Company prior to receiving the Stockholder Approvals in order to enter into an unsolicited Alternate Proposal meeting certain specified criteria and subject to certain exceptions (a “Superior Proposal”) and (b) by the Partnerships, if the board of directors of the Company has changed its recommendation for the stockholders of the Company to approve the items subject to the Stockholder Approvals or if the Company or its affiliates have failed to fulfill certain obligations under the Contribution Agreement.  

 

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In the event the Contribution Agreement is terminated in connection with the events in the preceding clauses (a) or (b), or if the Company enters into or takes certain other actions with respect to an Alternate Proposal, the Company will be obligated to pay a termination fee of up to $12.4 million to the Partnerships.  

 

 

The foregoing description of the Contribution Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Contribution Agreement, a copy of which will be filed by the Company on a subsequent current report on Form 8-K, and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.  

 

 

The description of the Contribution Agreement described in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02. The Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Contribution Agreement will be issued in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) for transactions not involving a public offering pursuant to Rule 506(b) of Regulation D, as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act.

 

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This communication contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein.  Although the Company believes the expectations in such statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

 

Additional Information and Where to Find It

 

This communication is being made in respect of the proposed transactions involving Arkoma and the Company.  The issuance of the Shares and the amendments to the Articles of Incorporation required in connection with the proposed transaction will be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for their consideration.   In connection therewith, the Company intends to file relevant materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including a definitive proxy statement.  However, such documents are not currently available.  This communication does not constitute a solicitation of any vote or approval.  BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING

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OR ANY INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS.

 

Investors will be able to obtain free of charge the proxy statement (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.  In addition, the proxy statement and the Company's annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge through the Company's website at www.comstockresources.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.

 

Participants in Solicitation

 

The directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees of Comstock are "participants" in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of Comstock in favor the issuance of the Shares and the amendments to the Articles of Incorporation required in connection with the proposed transaction.  Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of Comstock in connection with the proposed transactions will be set forth in the proxy statement and the other relevant documents to be filed with the SEC.  You can find information about Comstock's executive officers and directors in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on April 3, 2017.

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SIGNATURES

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

 

For Immediate Release

 

COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. ENTERS INTO

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH JERRY JONES

 

FRISCO, TEXAS, May 10, 2018 – Comstock Resources, Inc. ("Comstock" or the "Company") (NYSE: CRK) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Arkoma Drilling, L.P. ("Arkoma") and Williston Drilling, L.P. ("Williston") to acquire certain oil and gas assets located in North Dakota in exchange for common stock in the Company.  Arkoma and Williston (collectively, the "Partnerships") are owned by Dallas businessman and owner of the Dallas Cowboys Football Club Ltd., Jerry Jones and his family.

 

The Company has valued the assets to be acquired at approximately $620 million.  The effective date for the acquisition of the assets is April 1, 2018.  There is no debt associated with the assets.  The Partnerships will collectively receive approximately 88.6 million newly issued shares of Comstock common stock based on an agreed upon share price of $7.00 per share, subject to adjustment as provided in the contribution agreement.  Upon completion of the transaction, the Partnerships will own approximately 84% of the Company's pro forma outstanding shares.  The acquisition is subject to approval by the Company's stockholders and satisfaction of certain other closing conditions including the refinancing of the Company's debt.

 

The oil and gas assets to be acquired by Comstock in the transaction are located in North Dakota's Bakken shale basin.  The assets are currently producing 10,500 barrels of oil per day and 20 MMcf of natural gas per day and have proved reserves as estimated by Comstock's independent reserve engineers of 22.5 million barrels of oil and 48.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas.  Comstock will acquire 332 (52.5 net) producing oil wells, 128 (13.0 net) drilled uncompleted wells and ten (3.0 net) undrilled locations in the transaction.  The assets are expected to generate approximately $200 million of operating cash flow in 2018.

 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is acting as financial advisor to Comstock on the transaction.

 

Additional Information and Where to Find It

 

This communication is being made in respect of the proposed transactions involving Partnerships and the Company.  The proposed transaction will be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for their consideration.  In connection therewith, the Company intends to file relevant

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materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including a definitive proxy statement.  However, such documents are not currently available.  This communication does not constitute a solicitation of any vote or approval.  BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR ANY INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.

 

Investors will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.  In addition, the proxy statement and the Company's annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are available free of charge through the Company's website at www.comstockresources.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.

 

Participants in Solicitation

 

The directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees of Comstock may be deemed "participants" in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of Comstock in favor of the proposed transaction.  Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of Comstock in connection with the proposed transaction will be set forth in the proxy statement and the other relevant documents to be filed with the SEC.  You can find information about Comstock's executive officers and directors in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on April 3, 2017.

 

 

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding the proposed transaction discussed herein, Comstock’s ability to consummate the transaction, the benefits of the transaction and Comstock’s future financial performance following the transaction are forward looking statements. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein.  Although the Company believes the expectations in such statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

 

Comstock Resources, Inc. is an independent energy company based in Frisco, Texas and is engaged in oil and gas acquisitions, exploration and development primarily in Texas and Louisiana.  The Company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CRK.