0001193125-23-260296.txt : 20231023 0001193125-23-260296.hdr.sgml : 20231023 20231023060926 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-23-260296 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 425 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20231023 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20231023 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: HESS CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000004447 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: PETROLEUM REFINING [2911] IRS NUMBER: 134921002 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 425 SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-01204 FILM NUMBER: 231338450 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10036 BUSINESS PHONE: 2129978500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10036 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AMERADA HESS CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AMERADA PETROLEUM CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19690727 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: HESS CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000004447 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: PETROLEUM REFINING [2911] IRS NUMBER: 134921002 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 425 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10036 BUSINESS PHONE: 2129978500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10036 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AMERADA HESS CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AMERADA PETROLEUM CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19690727 425 1 d585974d425.htm 425 425

Filed by Hess Corporation

Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933

and deemed to be filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Subject Company: Hess Corporation

Commission File No.: 001-01204

Date: October 23, 2023

The following email was sent by John B. Hess, Chief Executive Officer of Hess Corporation (“Hess”), to Hess employees on October 23, 2023 in connection with the proposed transaction with Chevron.

From:  Hess Communications

Subj:   Sent on behalf of John Hess: Chevron Announces Agreement to Acquire Hess

Our company just announced an agreement to be acquired by Chevron. We will continue to operate as separate companies until the deal officially closes, which is expected by the end of the first half of 2024 subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. I want to let you know personally what is taking place.

Over our company’s proud 90 year history, we have always been guided by our values and making the right long term decisions for our company and our shareholders. We see an outstanding strategic and cultural fit with Chevron, and I am confident that bringing together our two strong companies is the right decision for the future – creating a premier integrated energy company with the people, portfolio and financial resources to lead us through the energy transition and deliver significant value for years to come.

Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth and I will hold a virtual meeting for Hess employees at noon Central time today to talk more about the agreement and next steps. A meeting invitation will follow shortly.

I am so proud of all we have achieved together and grateful for your dedication and commitment to our company’s success over the years. I believe we are starting an exciting new chapter in our company’s history, and I look forward to talking with you later today.

With deep appreciation,

/s/ John B. Hess

*****

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. You can identify these statements and other forward-looking statements in this document by words such as “expects,” “focus,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “targets,” “poised,” “advances,” “drives,” “aims,” “forecasts,” “believes,” “approaches,” “seeks,” “schedules,” “estimates,” “positions,” “pursues,” “progress,” “may,” “can,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “budgets,” “outlook,” “trends,” “guidance,” “commits,” “on track,” “objectives,” “goals,” “projects,” “strategies,” “opportunities,” “potential,” “ambitions,” “aspires” and similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words, but not all forward-looking statements include such words.

Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the consummation of the potential transaction, including the expected time period to consummate the potential transaction, and the anticipated benefits (including synergies) of the potential transaction. All such forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates, expectations and ambitions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the control of Chevron and Hess, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to the risk that regulatory approvals are not obtained or are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated by Chevron and Hess; potential delays in consummating the potential transaction, including as a result of regulatory approvals; Chevron’s ability to integrate Hess’ operations in a successful manner and in the expected time period; the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits and projected synergies of the potential transaction will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; risks that the anticipated tax treatment of the potential transaction is not obtained; unforeseen or unknown liabilities; customer, shareholder, regulatory and other stakeholder approvals and support; unexpected future capital expenditures; potential litigation relating to the potential transaction that could be instituted against Chevron and Hess or their respective directors; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; the effect of the announcement, pendency or completion of the potential transaction on the parties’ business relationships and business generally; risks that the potential transaction disrupts current plans and operations of Chevron or Hess and potential difficulties in Hess employee retention as a result of the transaction, as well as the risk of disruption of Chevron’s or Hess’ management and business disruption during the pendency of, or following, the potential transaction; the receipt of required Chevron Board of Directors’ authorizations to implement capital allocation strategies, including future dividend payments; uncertainties as to whether the potential transaction will be consummated on the anticipated timing or at all, or if consummated, will achieve its anticipated economic benefits, including as a result of risks associated with third party contracts containing material consent, anti-assignment, transfer or other provisions that may be related to the potential transaction which are not waived or otherwise satisfactorily resolved; changes in commodity prices; negative effects of this announcement, and the pendency or completion of the proposed acquisition on the market price of Chevron’s or Hess’ common stock and/or operating results; rating agency actions and Chevron’s and Hess’ ability to access short- and long-term debt markets on a timely and affordable basis; various events that could disrupt operations, including severe weather, such as droughts, floods, avalanches and earthquakes, and cybersecurity attacks, as well as security threats and governmental response to them, and technological changes; labor disputes; changes in labor costs and labor difficulties; the effects of industry, market, economic, political or regulatory conditions outside of Chevron’s or Hess’ control; legislative, regulatory and economic developments targeting public companies in the oil and gas industry; and the risks described in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of (i) Chevron’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and (ii) Hess’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and, in each case, in subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Other unpredictable or factors not discussed in this communication could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements. Neither Chevron nor Hess assumes an obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements as they are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes and that actual performance and outcomes. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act. In connection with the potential transaction, Chevron expects to file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC containing a preliminary prospectus of Chevron that also constitutes a preliminary proxy statement of Hess. After the registration statement is declared effective, Hess will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus to stockholders of Hess. This communication is not a substitute for the proxy statement/prospectus or registration statement or for any other document that Chevron or Hess may file with the SEC and send to Hess’ stockholders in connection with the potential transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF CHEVRON AND HESS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Chevron or Hess through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Chevron will be available free of charge on Chevron’s website at http://www.chevron.com/investors. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Hess will be available free of charge on Hess’ website at http://www.hess.com/investors.

Chevron and Hess and certain of their respective directors, certain of their respective executive officers and other members of management and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the potential transaction under the rules of the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of Chevron is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on February 23, 2023, and its proxy statement for its 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 12, 2023. Information about the directors and executive officers of Hess is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on February 24, 2023, and its proxy statement for its 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 6, 2023. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the potential transaction will be included in the registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.