Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”), dated as of March 1, 2021, by and among Apache Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), APA Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“APA”), and APA Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of APA (“Merger Sub”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company desires to reorganize into a holding company structure through the merger (the “Merger”) of Merger Sub with the Company, with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of APA, pursuant to Section 251(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”);
WHEREAS, at the Effective Time (as defined herein) of the Merger, each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.625 per share, of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”) shall be converted into one share of common stock, par value $0.625 per share, of APA (the “APA Common Stock”);
WHEREAS, the shares of APA Common Stock shall have the same designations, rights, powers, and preferences, and the qualifications, limitations, and restrictions thereof, as the shares of Company Common Stock;
WHEREAS, the Amended & Restated Certificate of Incorporation of APA (“APA A&R Charter”) and the Amended & Restated Bylaws of APA (“APA A&R Bylaws”), each as in effect immediately following the Effective Time, shall contain provisions identical to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Company Charter”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Company Bylaws”), respectively, each as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than as permitted by Section 251(g) of the DGCL;
WHEREAS, APA and Merger Sub are newly formed corporations organized for the sole purpose of participating in the transactions herein contemplated and actions related thereto, own no assets (other than APA’s ownership of Merger Sub and nominal capital), and have taken no actions other than those necessary or advisable to organize the corporations and to effect the transactions herein contemplated and actions related thereto;
WHEREAS, at or promptly following the Effective Time, the Company and APA will enter into an assignment and assumption agreement (the “Assignment and Assumption Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company will, at the Effective Time, transfer to APA, and APA will assume, from and after the Effective Time, sponsorship of the Stock Incentive Plans, the Award Agreements, and the Other Agreements and Plans (each as defined below) and all of the Company’s rights and obligations thereunder;
WHEREAS, the directors of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time will cease to be directors of the Company and shall instead be the directors of APA immediately following the Effective Time;
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