Chesapeake’s Biggest Investor Says Stock 70% Undervalued
Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK)’s largest investor said shares of the U.S. natural-gas producer facing a $22 billion cash-flow shortfall are 70 percent undervalued.
Southeastern Asset Management, which holds a 13.9 percent stake in Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake, said the share price implies a gas price below that of benchmark futures contracts traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Memphis, Tennessee- based Southeastern commented in a U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission filing today.
The stock price also doesn’t reflect any value for Chesapeake’s portfolio of unproven reserves, Southeastern said.
Southeastern CEO O. Mason Hawkins urged Chesapeake’s board to “be open to any offers to acquire the whole company” in a May 7 letter to directors. He also said any offer would have to recognize “the longer-term value of the company.”
Chesapeake fell 4.1 percent to $17.61 at the close in New York. The shares have declined 21 percent this year amid growing investor mistrust of Chief Executive Officer Aubrey McClendon’s use of personal stakes in company-operated wells to obtain private loans.
McClendon is being forced to step down from the chairman’s role and half the non-executive directors will be replaced later this month by nominees of Southeastern and billionaire investor Carl Icahn.
To contact the reporter on this story: Joe Carroll in Chicago at jcarroll8@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Susan Warren at susanwarren@bloomberg.net
Southeastern Asset Management Inc CEO O. Mason Hawkins
Matthew Staver/Bloomberg
Southeastern Asset Management, Chesapeake Energy Corp.'s largest investor, says stock is 70% undervalued.
Southeastern Asset Management, Chesapeake Energy Corp.'s largest investor, says stock is 70% undervalued. Photographer: Matthew Staver/Bloomberg
June 8 (Bloomberg) -- Neal Dingmann, an analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, talks about the outlook for Chesapeake Energy Corp. He speaks with Pimm Fox on Bloomberg Television's "Taking Stock." (Source: Bloomberg)
Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon
F. Carter Smith/Bloomberg
Chesapeake Energy Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Aubrey McClendon is being forced to step down from the chairman’s role.
Chesapeake Energy Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Aubrey McClendon is being forced to step down from the chairman’s role. Photographer: F. Carter Smith/Bloomberg
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