Item 8.01 Other Events.
As previously announced, on May 28, 2024, Marathon Oil Corporation (“Marathon Oil”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with ConocoPhillips and Puma Merger Sub Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of ConocoPhillips (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Marathon Oil (the “Merger”), with Marathon Oil surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of ConocoPhillips.
The Merger is conditioned on, among other things, the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”). Pursuant to the HSR Act, Marathon Oil and ConocoPhillips filed notification and report forms with the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) on June 11, 2024.
On July 11, 2024, Marathon Oil and ConocoPhillips each received a request for additional information and documentary materials (together, the “Second Request”) from the FTC in connection with the FTC’s review of the Merger. Issuance of the Second Request extends the waiting period imposed by the HSR Act until 30 days after Marathon Oil and ConocoPhillips have substantially complied with the Second Request, unless that period is terminated sooner by the FTC. Marathon Oil and ConocoPhillips will continue to work cooperatively with the FTC in its review of the Merger, and continue to expect that the Merger will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to the fulfillment of the other closing conditions, including approval of Marathon Oil shareholders.
Forward-Looking Statements
This report includes “forward-looking statements” as defined under the federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact included or incorporated by reference in this communication, including, among other things, statements regarding the proposed business combination transaction between ConocoPhillips (“ConocoPhillips”) and Marathon Oil Corporation (“Marathon”), future events, plans and anticipated results of operations, business strategies, the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, the anticipated impact of the proposed transaction on the combined company’s business and future financial and operating results, the expected amount and timing of synergies from the proposed transaction, the anticipated closing date for the proposed transaction and other aspects of Marathon’s or ConocoPhillips’ operations or operating results are forward-looking statements. Words and phrases such as “ambition,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “budget,” “continue,” “could,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “expect,” “objective,” “projection,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “effort,” “target” and other similar words can be used to identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Where, in any forward-looking statement, Marathon or ConocoPhillips expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to be reasonable at the time such forward-looking statement is made. However, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond Marathon’s or ConocoPhillips’ control. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in the forward-looking statements.
The following important factors and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements: ConocoPhillips’ ability to successfully integrate Marathon’s businesses and technologies, which may result in the combined company not operating as effectively and efficiently as expected; the risk that the expected benefits and synergies of the proposed transaction may not be fully achieved in a timely manner, or at all; the risk that Marathon or ConocoPhillips will be unable to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers and customers; the risk associated with Marathon’s ability to obtain the approval of its stockholders required to consummate the proposed transaction and the timing of the closing of the proposed transaction, including the risk that the conditions to the transaction are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all or the failure of the transaction to close for any other reason or to close on the anticipated terms, including the anticipated tax treatment; the risk that any regulatory approval, consent or authorization that may be required for the proposed transaction is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the proposed transaction; unanticipated difficulties, liabilities or expenditures relating to the transaction; the effect of the announcement, pendency or completion of the proposed transaction on the parties’ business relationships and business operations generally; the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed transaction on the parties’ common stock prices and uncertainty as to the long-term value of Marathon’s or ConocoPhillips’ common stock; risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations of Marathon or ConocoPhillips and their respective management teams and potential difficulties in hiring or retaining employees as a result of the proposed transaction; and other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting Marathon’s or ConocoPhillips’ businesses generally as set forth in their filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
