“Separating these two businesses will allow each to unlock its own potential for growth,” says chairman of the board.
Murphy Oil Corp.’s Board of Directors has approved a plan to spin off to its stockholders its U.S. downstream subsidiary, Murphy Oil USA Inc., into an independent and separately traded company. The corporation has also authorized a special dividend of $2.50 per share for a total dividend of approximately $500 million and a share buyback program of up to $1 billion of the company’s shares of common stock.
Murphy also reaffirmed the plan to divest the UK downstream operations and stated that it is continuing to review possible options with respect to selected assets.
“Today’s announcements are consistent with our commitment to creating value for shareholders,” said Claiborne Deming, chairman of the board for Murphy’s. “Separating these two businesses will allow each to unlock its own potential for growth. We have built two strong but distinct businesses. Murphy will be a pure-play exploration and production company with strong returns and attractive investment opportunities, while Murphy USA will be a leading retailer with over 1,100 retail gasoline outlets. Given its existing positioning in the market, I am confident that Murphy USA will continue to grow the business and drive shareholder value.”
Spinoff Details
Murphy believes that creating two publicly traded companies would offer a number of advantages: Each business would focus on its strategic priorities with financial targets that best fit its own market and opportunities. Each business would be able to allocate resources and deploy capital in a manner consistent with its priorities.
Investors, both current and prospective, would be able to value the two businesses based on their respective financial characteristics and make investment decisions based on those characteristics.
Murphy USA will continue to be a flexible, low-price, high volume fuel seller with key strategic relationships and experienced management. Murphy USA’s business will consist of retail marketing of petroleum products and convenience merchandise through a large chain of retail gasoline stations. Additionally, Murphy USA’s assets will include seven product distribution terminals and two ethanol production facilities in North Dakota and Texas.
Murphy will become an independent exploration and production company with principal activities focused in the U.S., Canada and Malaysia. The company plans to continue its exploration program and offshore development projects complemented by predictable growth in its North America onshore businesses primarily in the Eagle Ford Shale and Seal areas. The UK downstream operations will remain with Murphy until such time as these assets are fully divested.
The spinoff of Murphy USA will be subject to customary conditions, including confirmation of the tax-free nature of the transaction and receipt of customary regulatory approvals. The spin-off will be affected through a distribution of the shares of Murphy USA pro rata to all Murphy stockholders as of a record date to be established by Murphy’s Board of Directors. The spinoff of Murphy USA is expected to be finalized in 2013.
The Board of Directors of Murphy also approved a special dividend of $2.50 per share for a total dividend of approximately $500 million. The dividend is payable on Dec. 3, 2012 to holders of record as of Nov. 16, 2012. This is in addition to the dividend of $0.3125 per share previously announced and also payable on Dec. 3, 2012 to holders of record on Nov. 16, 2012.
Furthermore, the Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $1 billion of the company’s shares of common stock. Murphy may utilize a number of different methods to effect the repurchases, including but not limited to, open market purchases, accelerated share repurchases and negotiated block purchases, and some of the repurchases may be effected through Rule 10b5-1 plans. The timing and amount of repurchases will depend upon several factors, including market, financing and business conditions, and the repurchases may be discontinued at any time.
“We look forward to these two separate well positioned companies growing and prospering in their respective industries,” said Steven CossÃ, Murphy’s president and CEO. “Our strong balance sheet provides the opportunity to enhance value to our shareholders through this special dividend and share repurchase program.”