EQT Corp. (EQT), Equitrans Midstream (ETRN) to merge
EQT Corporation (NYSE: EQT) and Equitrans Midstream Corporation (NYSE: ETRN) today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement creating a premier vertically integrated natural gas business, with an initial enterprise value over
EQT President and CEO
"This strategic transaction with EQT is the culmination of an exhaustive process conducted by the ETRN board to determine the best strategic path forward for our shareholders, employees, and stakeholders," said
Compelling Strategic and Financial Benefits
- Creates America's first large-scale, integrated natural gas producer with an unrivaled low-cost structure that provides investors with the best risk-adjusted exposure to natural gas prices
- Provides >2,000 miles of irreplaceable pipeline infrastructure with extensive overlap and connectivity in EQT's core area of operations
- Combined company will have 27.6 Tcfe of proved reserves across ~1.9 million net acres with 6.3 Bcfe/d of net production and >8.0 Bcfe/d of gathering throughput across >3,000 miles of pipeline
- Provides pathway to reduce EQT's long-term corporate free cash flow breakeven(1) to less than
$2 per MMBtu, ensuring robust free cash flow generation through all parts of the commodity cycle - Unlocks upside to gas price volatility as pro forma cost structure reduces hedging requirements, positioning EQT shareholders for unmatched price upside
- Cost structure integration materially improves economics of EQT's remaining ~4,000 drilling locations, unlocking industry leading terminal value
- Mitigates operational execution risk with ~90% of operated production flowing through EQT-owned midstream assets on a pro forma basis
- Significantly accretive to free cash flow per share; projected pro forma 2025 to 2029 cumulative free cash flow(1) generation of approximately
$16 billion at recent strip prices
Unlocks Meaningful Value
- Symbiotic nature of the assets is expected to drive
$250 million of annual synergies- Financial and corporate costs:
~$120 million per year - Uptime and production optimization:
~$75 million per year - Capital and operating costs:
~$55 million per year
- Financial and corporate costs:
- Identified upside pathway to
$175 million of additional per annum synergies from optimization of system pressures, integration of water networks, and execution of expansion projects - Integration of contractual volume commitments eliminates $11+ billion of future liabilities, well in excess of assumed debt
- Identified low risk path to more than
$5.0 billion of near-term debt repayment via$3.5 billion of asset sales and organic free cash flow- Long-term debt target of
$7.5 billion - Unwavering commitment to investment grade credit ratings with full vetting of pro forma balance sheet by all three credit rating agencies
- Long-term debt target of
(1) | A non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Disclosures section of this news release for the definition of, and other important information regarding, this non-GAAP financial measure. Free cash flow breakeven is defined as the average |
Transaction Details
Under the terms of the merger agreement, unanimously approved by the Boards of both companies, EQT will acquire Equitrans in an all-stock transaction. Each outstanding share of Equitrans common stock will be exchanged for 0.3504 shares of EQT common stock, representing an implied value of
The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to required regulatory approvals and clearances, approval of the transaction by shareholders of both EQT and Equitrans, and other customary closing conditions. The transaction closing is contingent on FERC authorizing MVP to commence service. Upon the closing of the transaction, three representatives from Equitrans will join EQT's Board of Directors. EQT's executive management team will lead the combined company with headquarters remaining in
Advisors
Guggenheim Securities, LLC acted as lead financial advisor and RBC Capital Markets, LLC acted as a financial advisor to EQT. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as EQT's legal counsel on the transaction. Barclays and Citi served as financial advisors to Equitrans, and Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal counsel to Equitrans.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
EQT and Equitrans will hold a joint conference call to discuss the details of the transaction at
