The story so far
The events that changed the company's story, in plain English, each written against everything known about the company at the time. The dot shows whether it was good, bad or neutral for shareholders.
shares on issue market cap (log scale)
2021201m shares · US$648m market cap
- 17 Dec
CONTANGO OIL & GAS CO terminated the registration of a class of securities, ending its reporting obligation for them.
listing compliance notice
201m shUS$648m - 8 Dec
CONTANGO OIL & GAS CO's exchange filed to remove a class of its securities from listing.
listing compliance notice
201m shUS$648m
201985.9m shares · US$239m market cap
- 1 Oct
Contango agreed to buy assets from White Star Petroleum, including about 315,000 net acres in the STACK, Anadarko and Cherokee areas of Oklahoma, for about $132.5 million in cash, subject to adjustments. It paid a $12.5 million deposit and owes $120.0 million at closing, which it expects in the fourth quarter of 2019. A bankruptcy court approved the sale on September 30, 2019. This is the Pending Acquisition that the September 2019 stock offering was raised to help pay for; the deal can still fail if closing conditions are not met.
material agreement
85.9m shUS$239m - 18 Sept
Contango raised money in two ways: a public offering of 44,736,842 common shares plus 6,710,526 more bought by underwriters (net about $46.13 million), and a $7.5 million private sale of 789,474 Series A preferred shares to entities tied to director John C. Goff. The preferred shares convert automatically to common once more shares are authorized and shareholders approve. The proceeds are meant mainly for the cash due on a pending acquisition, with the rest going to repay revolver debt or short-term investments. Contango also signed a new JPMorgan-led revolving credit facility with a $65 million borrowing base maturing September 17, 2024, which resolves the October 2019 maturity of the old RBC facility. The large share issuance dilutes existing holders.
capital raising announcement
34.4m shUS$33.7m - 18 June
Contango and its lenders, led by Royal Bank of Canada, amended the credit agreement, setting the borrowing base at $85 million with $75 million currently available. The company said it is still in talks about refinancing or replacing the facility, which matures October 1, 2019, and that there is no assurance a deal will be reached on acceptable terms. This is a continuation of the 2013 credit agreement, now with a firm maturity date approaching; the next borrowing base review is August 1, 2019.
debt financing
34.4m shUS$73.7m - 17 June
CONTANGO OIL & GAS CO's exchange filed to remove a class of its securities from listing.
listing compliance notice
34.4m shUS$73.7m - 14 June
Contango changed its legal home from Delaware to Texas by merging into a wholly owned Texas subsidiary on June 14, 2019, after shareholders approved it at the annual meeting. Each share converted one-for-one into a share of the new company, which keeps the MCF ticker on NYSE American, and the board and officers carry over. Shareholders also approved raising authorized shares from 55,000,000 to 105,000,000 (100,000,000 common, 5,000,000 preferred), and re-elected six directors including new names Wilkie S. Colyer, Jr. and John C. Goff. Shareholder rights now fall under Texas law, which differs in some ways from Delaware's.
business combination
34.4m shUS$73.7m
201825.6m shares · US$129m market cap
- 20 Nov
Contango sold new common stock in an underwritten public offering through Cowen and Intrepid Partners. The base deal was up to 7,500,000 shares, and underwriters bought an extra 1,096,068 shares; net proceeds were about $32.7 million. The money is to reduce borrowings under the revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes, including possible acquisitions. Existing shareholders are diluted by the new shares, and the company agreed not to sell more stock for 90 days. The filing also adds reserve-engineer consents (including for its 37% interest in Exaro Energy III) tied to the registration statement.
material agreement
25.6m shUS$129m
201725.5m shares · US$62.2m market cap
- 1 Dec
In a November 30, 2017 update, Contango said it expects a one-rig program in 2018 on its Southern Delaware Basin acreage (6,775 net acres) in Pecos County, Texas, and put proved reserves at $254M PV-10 as of October 1. It also reported a borrowing base of $115M with about $79.2M drawn at September 30, 2017, 2018 oil hedges, and drilling and completion updates on the Crusader, Ragin Bull and River Rattler wells. It attributed heavy trading the day before partly to a large holder selling and partly to its removal from the S&P SmallCap 600 index. The acreage is larger than the roughly 5,000 net acres bought in 2016 (inference: it was added to since); the filing does not say how.
production update
25.5m shUS$62.2m
201619.6m shares · US$181m market cap
- 29 July
On July 26, 2016 Contango closed its purchase of half of the seller's interest in about 12,100 gross undeveloped acres (about 5,000 net) in the Southern Delaware Basin of Texas. It paid $10 million cash at closing, owes another $10 million in carried well costs over 14 months, and up to $5 million in contingent fees once additional wells are spud after six are drilled. This is the acquisition the July 2016 share offering was meant to fund, and it begins a new Texas oil area for the company.
drilling progress report
19.6m shUS$181m - 27 July
On July 22, 2016 Contango agreed to sell up to 5,750,000 new shares (including 750,000 underwriters' option) through RBC, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and Seaport Global, for net proceeds of about $46.9 million. The money is meant to fund a newly announced Southern Delaware Basin acreage purchase and drilling there, and meanwhile to pay down the revolver; if the purchase does not close, it goes to general corporate purposes. The new shares dilute existing holders, and the company agreed not to sell more stock for 90 days.
material agreement
19.6m shUS$240m
201419.4m shares · US$709m market cap
- 31 Oct
On October 28, 2014 Contango amended its credit agreement a second time. Interest margins are reset to a sliding scale (LIBOR loans 1.50%-2.50%, versus 1.75%-2.75% originally), and the borrowing base is reaffirmed at $275 million. The company may also spend up to $39.215 million buying back its own shares, provided no default exists and borrowing stays at or below 90% of the borrowing base, and it may use loan proceeds for this. This is the first time the credit facility has allowed share buybacks; the earlier terms restricted dividends.
debt financing
19.4m shUS$709m
201315.2m shares · US$558m market cap
- 2 Oct
On October 1, 2013 Contango completed its merger with Crimson, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary. Crimson holders receive 0.08288 Contango shares per share (up to about 3.9 million shares in total), and existing Contango shares stay outstanding. Contango also signed a new four-year secured credit facility of up to $275 million with Royal Bank of Canada as agent, with $110 million borrowed at October 1, and used it to refinance its own $40 million Amegy facility and Crimson's first-lien ($400M capacity) and $175M second-lien loans, which were terminated. The board is now eight members (five Contango, three former Crimson), with Jay Brehmer resigning. Allan Keel became President and CEO, replacing Romano in those roles, and E. Joseph Grady became CFO, replacing Castro. Romano, Castro and Duncan resigned as officers 'in connection with the Merger'. This resolves the pending merger thread and ends the Amegy facility. The filing text shown is cut off, so other items (charter changes, vote results) are not visible.
asset acquisition disposition
15.2m shUS$558m - 23 Aug
Contango filed the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus for the Crimson merger, dated August 22, 2013 and first mailed about August 26. Contango shareholders vote on October 1, 2013 (record date August 20) on issuing shares to Crimson holders, at 0.08288 Contango shares per Crimson share, leaving existing Contango holders with about 79.7% and their shares unchanged. The Peak estate, Brad Juneau and certain executives, holding about 10.6%, have agreed to vote in favour, and Crimson holders tied to Oaktree and Crimson executives, about 37.25% of Crimson, have agreed to vote in favour. The Contango board unanimously recommends a yes vote. This fills in the meeting dates left blank in the earlier drafts, and the Crimson support figure is now 37.25% where the context had held about 38.8%.
business combination
15.2m shUS$587m - 14 June
Contango filed the Form S-4 registration statement for the Crimson merger, the first step toward the shareholder votes. It registers up to 4,005,056 Contango shares (48,323,547 Crimson shares and equity awards x 0.08288), and repeats that existing Contango holders would own about 79.7% afterward and Crimson holders 20.3%. The document is preliminary: meeting dates and the voting-support percentages are blank, and it is not yet effective. Contango shareholders will vote on the share issuance, and existing Contango shares are not exchanged or changed in the merger. This continues the merger announced April 29, 2013.
business combination
15.2m shUS$532m - 1 May
This filing gives the legal terms of the Crimson merger. Closing needs both companies' shareholder votes, an effective Form S-4 registration, and NYSE listing of the new shares, and either side can terminate if it isn't done by October 31, 2013. Termination fees are $28 million if Contango pays and $7 million if Crimson pays. The combined board would have eight directors (five Contango, three Crimson), and holders of about 10.6% of Contango's shares, including the Peak estate, have agreed to vote in favour. It continues the merger announced in the companion 8-K.
business combination
15.2m shUS$572m - 1 May
Contango and Crimson Exploration announced an all-stock merger agreement signed April 29, 2013: each Crimson share converts to 0.08288 Contango shares, leaving Crimson holders with 20.3% of the combined company. Contango would issue about 3.9 million shares and take on about $244 million of Crimson's long-term debt; both companies' shareholders must approve and closing is expected in the third quarter of 2013. Joseph Romano (now Contango's CEO and Chairman) would be Chairman, with Crimson's Allan Keel as CEO. The press release refers to the 'Estate of Kenneth R. Peak', so Peak is no longer alive or leading the company (inference from that wording). This adds onshore Texas oil-and-liquids positions after the 2011 sale of the earlier Texas assets.
business combination
15.2m shUS$572m
201215.4m shares · US$905m market cap
- 5 Apr
On March 31, 2012, Contango formed Exaro Energy III LLC through its subsidiary Contara Company, committing up to $82.5 million over five years alongside partners (total commitments $182.5 million) to develop and acquire non-operated oil and gas properties in Wyoming. Contango owns about 45%, which could fall to about 34% if another party buys about $15 million of its commitment; it expects to fund about $41.3 million in April 2012. This is a new onshore investment after the 2011 sale of the Texas assets.
capital raising announcement
15.4m shUS$905m
2011
- 18 May
Contango sold substantially all of its onshore Texas assets to Patara Oil & Gas LLC for $40.0 million on May 13, 2011 (effective April 1, 2011). This includes the Panola County wells from the Conterra/Patara joint venture started in late 2009. Patara's CEO, B.A. Berilgen, is a Contango director, so this is a related-party sale, though the filing says the price was set by arm's-length negotiation. The company expects a roughly $0.3 million pre-tax loss and says it will use the proceeds to help fund its 2011 capital program.
asset acquisition disposition
2008
- 9 Apr
On April 3, 2008 Contango bought more working interest in Dutch (Eugene Island 10) and the Mary Rose leases from two companies for $100 million, adding 21 Bcfe of proved reserves. This lifts its working interest to 47.05% in Dutch and an average 53.21% in Mary Rose, bringing like-kind exchange purchases to $309 million, and a partly-owned subsidiary (Republic Exploration LLC) has handed its interests to the company directly. The company also said its board authorized Merrill Lynch to seek proposals to buy Dutch and Mary Rose; if an acceptable offer arrives, it would likely sell Contango to the buyer while spinning the remaining assets to shareholders in a new company, Contango Energy Company. Any deal is subject to terms, approvals and, if needed, a shareholder vote. Audited statements and pro forma information for the acquired interests are still to be filed (waiver requested April 8, 2008).
asset acquisition disposition
- 8 Feb
The sale of Contango's 10% limited partnership interest in Freeport LNG Development LP to Turbo LNG LLC, an affiliate of Osaka Gas, closed on Feb 5, 2008 for $68 million. Of that, $20.3 million repaid the Royal Bank of Scotland debt and another $20.0 million repaid a private investment firm (the secured term loan with Centaurus Capital is the likely lender, an inference), leaving $27.7 million for working capital. Management says it now has over $150 million of cash and $60 million of available borrowing capacity, and still plans to put $109 million into a like-kind exchange. This completes the January 2008 agreement.
asset acquisition disposition
- 5 Feb
The sale of the Eastern core Fayetteville Shale properties to XTO Energy closed on Jan 30, 2008, and Contango received about $128 million. This completes the January 2008 agreement and, with the Western core sale to Petrohawk, ends Contango's Fayetteville Shale holdings. Management intends to use a large percentage of the proceeds for another like-kind exchange purchase of oil and gas properties; the press release puts the taxable proceeds to be invested that way at about $109 million, and says the cash earns 3.5% in the meantime.
asset acquisition disposition
- 10 Jan
On Jan 4, 2008 Contango and its partners agreed to sell the Eastern core of their Arkansas Fayetteville Shale properties (about 20,000 acres) to XTO Energy for $236 million, about $128 million of it for Contango's 11,200 net acres. Closing is expected in January 2008; this would sell the Fayetteville acreage Contango kept after the Petrohawk sale, and the company plans to seek another like-kind exchange with the proceeds.
material agreement
- 10 Jan
On Jan 7, 2008 Contango agreed to sell its 10% limited partnership interest in Freeport LNG Development LP to a major Asian utility company for about $68 million, subject to the buyer's board approval and customary conditions. Management says it will repay the $20 million Royal Bank of Scotland term loan with the proceeds and keep the rest for working capital. The release also reports the three Dutch wells were shut in by condensate line leaks, with lost cash flow estimated at about $5 million.
material agreement
- 9 Jan
On Jan 3, 2008 Contango's subsidiary bought additional working interests in the Dutch (Eugene Island 10) discovery and the five Mary Rose State of Louisiana leases from three companies for $200 million, adding 29 Bcfe of estimated proved reserves. The press release says this qualifies as the like-kind exchange for the Western Fayetteville sale proceeds, and raises Contango's working interest to 42.88% in Dutch and an average 48.65% in Mary Rose. Audited financial statements and pro forma information for the acquired properties are still to be filed.
asset acquisition disposition
2007
- 28 Dec
The Western core Fayetteville Shale sale to Petrohawk closed on Dec 21, 2007, and Contango received $199.2 million. It intends to use the money to buy oil and gas properties through a 1031 like-kind exchange, and expects a profit of about $162.4 million on the sale in the December 2007 quarter, assuming the exchange succeeds. This completes the November 2007 agreement.
asset acquisition disposition
- 29 Nov
Contango and its partners agreed on Nov 26, 2007 to sell the Western core of their Arkansas Fayetteville Shale properties (24,078 acres) to Petrohawk for $343 million, about $200 million of it for Contango's roughly 14,200 net acres. Closing is expected in December 2007, and Contango keeps its interest in the Eastern core; the company says the sale is part of its previously announced review of strategic alternatives.
material agreement