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T. BOONE PICKENS, JR.
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BRIEFING INFORMATION
SCHEDULE
10:45 am | INFORMAL MEETING WITH FACULTY AND GRADUATE STUDENTS |
11:45 am | LUNCH WITH SMALL REPRESENTATION OF FACULTY AND STUDENTS |
1:30 pm | EXECUTIVE LECTURE |
2:20 pm
RECEPTION WITH STUDENTS AND FACULTY SPONSORED BY THE GRADUATE BUSINESS COUNCIL
3:15 pm | DEPART FOR AIRPORT |
THE LECTURE SERIES/AUDIENCE
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE EXECUTIVE LECTURE SERIES IS TO EXPOSE MASTERS STUDENTS TO THE THINKING, MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCES AND ACTIVITIES OF A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING A WIDE VARIETY OF FIELDS AND INDUSTRIES. APPROXIMATELY 120-150 STUDENTS AND FACULTY ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND. APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE AUDIENCE IS EXPECTED TO BE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.
PHIL WOOD, EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE AND FORMER EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF CITIES SERVICE, MAY INTRODUCE YOU.
JOHN TOLLEFSON IS THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND PARKER LESSIG IS THE ASSOCIATE DEAN.
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS REPRESENTING THE JOURNAL WORLD OF LAWRENCE AND KANSAS CITY STAR MAY BE IN ATTENDANCE.
TOPIC
PARKER LESSIG SUGGESTS THAT YOUR COMMENTS ADDRESS THE CITIES SERVICE ACQUISITION ATTEMPT AND AN OUTLOOK FOR THE INDUSTRY.
LECTURE OUTLINE - HIGHLIGHTS
I. INTRODUCTION
A. ADDRESS TWO TOPICS (1) OUTLOOK FOR INDUSTRY, AND (2) MESA-CITIES SERVICE ACQUISITION ATTEMPT.
II. THE INDUSTRY IS CHALLENGING
A. 31 YEARS
B. NINE-YEAR INDUSTRY BOOM HAS ENDED
C. MOST NEWS HAS BEEN NEGATIVE
D. EARLY SIGNS OF POSSIBLE RECOVERY
E. ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR TO CONSIDER—DRILLING ACTIVITY HAS DROPPED 50% THIS YEAR. {STRICKEN TEXT: F. INDUSTRY WILL RECOVER—BUT IT WILL BE SLOW.}
G. SHAKEOUT WILL CONTINUE. [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: '83 MAY HIT BOTTOM—PRICE RECOVERY AND CLEAR OUT GAS PROBLEMS—'85 COULD BE THE YEAR—BUT '85 MAY HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS— NEW ADMINISTRATION?]
III. MAJOR CHANGES ARE IMMINENT FOR THE INDUSTRY—THE CATALYSTS BEING (1) THE IMPORTANCE OF OPTIMUM SIZE AND (2) AWARENESS OF SHAREHOLDERS.
A. THE OPTIMUM SIZE OF AN OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION COMPANY IS A SIZE IN WHICH PERSONNEL AND CASH FLOW ARE BALANCED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT ALLOWS THE COMPANY TO INCREASE ITS RESERVES ANNUALLY IN THE MOST ECONOMIC MEANS POSSIBLE THROUGH EXPLORATION SUCCESS AND/OR ACQUISITION. [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: IMPORTANT (EXPAND)]
B. GOAL OF MANAGEMENT. [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: REPLACE]
C. MANAGERS OF DEPLETABLE ASSETS.
D. {STRICKEN TEXT: INCUMBANT} [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: REPLACE] INCREASE RESERVES ANNUALLY.
E. MANY COMPANIES ARE LIQUIDATING.
F. OUR BUSINESS IS SIMPLE: WE MUST PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE RESERVE BASE AND THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED—EITHER BY EXPLORATION SUCCESS OR BY ACQUISITION.
G. INCREASING RESERVES IS NOT ENOUGH BY ITSELF—MUST INCREASE THEM PROFITABLY.
H. FINDING COSTS—ACQUISITION COSTS.
I. KNOWING THE IMPORTANCE OF OPTIMUM SIZE AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
J. MANAGEMENTS MUST BE WILLING TO MAKE DECISIONS TO ADJUST SIZE.
K. OPTIMUM SIZE ADJUSTMENTS MAY INCREASE SIZE OR MAY DOWN SIZE THE COMPANY.
L. DOWN SIZING IS A TOUGH DECISION FOR MOST MANAGEMENTS.
M. MESA ADJUSTMENTS.
N. SECOND CATALYST FOR CHANGE IS STOCKHOLDERS.
O. PERIOD OF AWARENESS.
P. AWARE OF DEPLETABLE ASSETS.
Q. VOCAL IN CRITICISM.
R. STOCK OPTIONS—DECISIONS TO PERPETUATE JOBS.
IV. MESA-CITIES SERVICE ACQUISITION ATTEMPT.
A. AGEE - YOUNG LION; PICKENS—REGIONAL GEOLOGIST FOR SOUTHWEST KANSAS.
B. MESA IS "ACQUISITION MINDED."
C. INTEREST IN CITIES SERVICE BEGAN IN 1976.
D. PHIL WOOD QUOTE IN NEW YORK TIMES.
E. 1980-1981—ACCUMULATED STOCK
F. CITIES ACTIONS—CALLING PARTNERS AND FILING LAWSUITS.
G. MESA NEEDED PARTNERS.
H. BANKERS MEETING—JUNE 1 DATE REVEALED.
I. MESA COULDN'T MAKE JUNE 1 DATE, BUT "NO ONE. TOLD CITIES."
J. MAY 27—DISMEMBERMENT NEWS RELEASE BY CITIES.
K. MAY 28—$17 TENDER OFFER
L. MESA HAD GOOD DEFENSE STRATEGY (SUPER MAJORITY AND STAGGERED BOARD) BUT NO PARTNERS.
M. MAY 31—MEMORIAL DAY—BEAR HUG
N. CS CALLS TO PROSPECTIVE PARTNERS
O. FLOM/DOME-CONOCO/LAUNCHED ON JUNE 7
P. MESA STRATEGIES TO SOLVE TIMING PROBLEM
Q. JUNE 17—CS STOCK TOOK OFF INDICATING WHITE KNIGHT.
R. WASSERSTEIN STRATEGY
S. JUNE 18—GULF WENT FOR CS AND WASSERSTEIN WAS READY TO COMPLETE THE DOUBLE PLAY WITH MESA.
T. CONVERSATION WITH JIMMY LEE
U. WATERMELON
V. CHANGES NEEDED IN LAWS TO PERMIT STOCKHOLDERS OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE ON ACQUISITION OFFERS.
V. QUESTIONS
T. BOONE PICKENS, JR., REMARKS: UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS EXECUTIVE LECTURE SERIES
I. INTRODUCTION
[HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: LYDIA CHAVEZ—WATERMELON—LAST DAY]
A. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND INTRODUCTION.
[HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: I ENVY PHIL—MAGNIFICENT CAMPUS]
B. (PERSONAL COMMENTS)
1. [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: I TOLD PHIL I WOULD BE GLAD TO COME TO KU FOR A TALK. WE LOOKED FORWARD TO THE VISIT & ALWAYS ENJOY
VISITING WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS & FACULTY—I AM VERY INTERESTED & INVOLVED WITH HIGHER EDUCATION IN TEX & OKLA.]
2.
3.
C. I WILL ADDRESS TWO TOPICS TODAY: (1) THE OUTLOOK FOR THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY AND (2) A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE MESA-CITIES SERVICE ACQUISITION ATTEMPT {STRICKEN TEXT: S}.
D. I WILL THEN BE PLEASED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
II. MANY OF YOU HERE TODAY MAY BE CONSIDERING CAREERS IN THE OIL AND GAS BUSINESS. IF SO, YOU ARE PROBABLY ALREADY AWARE THAT IT IS A TOUGH AND CHALLENGING INDUSTRY, BUT ONE IN WHICH YOU MAY RECEIVE GREAT SATISFACTION AND REWARD.
A. I'VE BEEN IN THE OIL AND GAS BUSINESS FOR 31 YEARS. I CAN PROBABLY, COUNT ON ONE HAND THE NUMBER OF YEARS WE HAVE "LINED 'UM UP AND RUN OVER 'UM."
B. WE'RE GOING THROUGH A TOUGH PERIOD AGAIN. THE INDUSTRY BOOM, WHICH STARTED IN 1973 WITH THE OIL EMBARGO, AND WAS SPURRED BY A TWELVE-FOLD INCREASE IN PRICES ORCHESTRATED BY OPEC, CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT THIS YEAR.
C. CONSEQUENTLY, MOST NEWS ABOUT THE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN NEGATIVE THIS YEAR.
D. BUT, WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE SOME EARLY SIGNS OF A POSSIBLE RECOVERY.
E. ANOTHER FACTOR THAT SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED IN THE ANALYSIS IS THAT DRILLING ACTIVITY HAS DROPPED BY ALMOST 50% THIS YEAR IN THE U.S.—IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE DEMAND INCREASES...AND WITH IT ANOTHER POSSIBLE PRICE HIKE BY OPEC.
F. I EXPECT THE INDUSTRY TO RECOVER, BUT IT WILL BE A SLOW, GRADUAL RECOVERY.
G. THE SHAKEOUT PERIOD WILL CONTINUE. {STRICKEN TEXT: MANY WHO RUSHED INTO THE INDUSTRY DURING BOOM TIMES WILL FALL BY THE WAYSIIDE. JOINING THEM WILL BE MANAGEMENTS WHO HAVE NOT OPERATED EFFICIENTLY. ULTIMATELY, THIS SHAKEOUT WILL STRENGTHEN THE INDUSTRY.}
[HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: REMEMBER IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN GOOD OR BAD, YOU SHOULD WIN.] [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: '83 MAY HIT BOTTOM—MUST HAVE PRICE RECOVERY & CLEAR OUT GAS OVERSUPPLY—'84? '85 COULD BE THE YEAR. '84 ELECTION—NEW PROBLEMS TOO THE INDUSTRY.]
III. IF YOU WILL BE ENTERING THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY DURING THIS DECADE, YOU WILL BE ENTERING AN INDUSTRY THAT WILL BE UNDERGOING MANY CHANGES. I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY DISCUSS TWO CATALYSTS FOR THESE CHANGES: (1) OPTIMUM SIZE AND (2) STOCKHOLDER AWARENESS.
A. WHAT DO I MEAN BY OPTIMUM SIZE? THE OPTIMUM SIZE OF AN OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION COMPANY IS A SIZE IN WHICH PERSONNEL AND CASH FLOW ARE BALANCED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT ALLOWS THE COMPANY TO INCREASE ITS RESERVES ANNUALLY IN THE MOST ECONOMICAL WAY POSSIBLE THROUGH EXPLORATION SUCCESS AND/OR ACQUISITION.
B. THE OVERRIDING GOAL OF MANAGEMENT IS TO PROTECT AND EXPAND THE ASSETS OF THE COMPANY AND THE VALUE OF SHAREHOLDERS' INTERESTS.
C. OIL AND GAS COMPANIES, WHETHER LARGE OR SMALL, ARE MANAGERS OF DEPLETABLE ASSETS...THE RESERVES OF OIL AND GAS.
D. TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE AND GROWTH OF THESE ASSETS, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON MANAGEMENTS TO {STRICKEN TEXT: ANNUALLY} [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: REPLACE AND IF POSSIBLE] INCREASE THEIR RESERVES.
E. MANY COMPANIES IN OUR INDUSTRY, HOWEVER, HAVE BEEN LIQUIDATING FOR YEARS—THEY SIMPLY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE THEIR RESERVES. AFTER PAYING CORPORATE AND WINDFALL PROFITS TAXES, THEIR DIVIDEND CHECK TO SHAREHOLDERS IS ACTUALLY A RETURN OF CAPITAL.
F. OUR BUSINESS IS REALLY QUITE SIMPLE: WE MUST PROTECT {STRICKEN TEXT: AND ENHANCE} THE RESERVE BASE AND THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS IN WHICH THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED—EITHER BY EXPLORATION SUCCESS OR BY ACQUISITION.
G. FOR A COMPANY TO INCREASE ITS RESERVES IS NOT ENOUGH BY ITSELF—RESERVES MUST BE INCREASED PROFITABLY.
H. AS LONG AS FINDING COSTS RANGE FROM $8-$41 PER BARREL, AS REPORTED BY A RECENT TENNECO STUDY, AND ACQUISITION COSTS PER BARREL RANGE FROM $3-$6 PER BARREL—MANAGEMENTS MUST CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES TO EXPLORATION. {STRICKEN TEXT: TO ACHIEVE OPTIMUM SIZE.}
I. FOR MANAGEMENTS TO KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF OPTIMUM SIZE AND FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, HOWEVER.
J. MANAGEMENTS WHO KNOW THEIR ASSETS WELL, WHO CAN ANALYZE ACCURATELY AND WHO ARE WILLING TO MAKE [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: THE TOUGH] DECISIONS WILL BE THOSE WHO CAN MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO ACHIEVE OPTIMUM SIZE.
K. OPTIMUM SIZE ADJUSTMENTS ARE NOT ONLY ADJUSTMENTS THAT WILL INCREASE [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: THE] RESERVE BASE—BUT THEY ARE ALSO ADJUSTMENTS THAT MAY DOWN SIZE A COMPANY.
L. BELIEVE ME, MAKING THE DECISION TO DOWN SIZE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE OPTIMUM SIZE IS A REAL CHALLENGE AND TEST FOR MANAGEMENTS.
M. I WILL USE, MESA AS AN EXAMPLE TO HELP ILLUSTRATE THE TYPES OF ADJUSTMENTS THAT MAY BE NECESSARY TO {STRICKEN TEXT: MAINTAIN} [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: ATTAIN] OPTIMUM SIZE.
N. I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT I FORESEE TWO CATALYSTS FOR CHANGE—THE SECOND BEING STOCKHOLDERS.
O. I BELIEVE WE ARE ENTERING A PERIOD OF AWARENESS AMONG STOCKHOLDERS.
P. THE INVESTING PUBLIC IS BECOMING MORE AWARE THAT OIL AND GAS COMPANIES ARE MANAGERS OF DEPLETABLE ASSETS AND THAT RESERVES MUST BE INCREASED TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THEIR INVESTMENT.
Q. STOCKHOLDERS WILL BECOME VOCAL IN THEIR CRITICISM OF MANAGEMENTS WHO DO NOT STRIVE TO ACHIEVE OPTIMUM SIZE.
R. THEY WILL BEGIN TO INSIST THAT MANAGEMENTS BE GIVEN MEANINGFUL STOCK OPTIONS TO HELP ENSURE THAT THEIR DECISIONS WILL REFLECT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THEIR STOCKHOLDERS—RATHER THAN PERPETUATE THEIR JOBS.
IV. THE DISCUSSION OF OPTIMUM SIZE AND STOCKHOLDER INTEREST IS A GOOD TRANSITION TO THE SUBJECT OF THE MESA-CITIES SERVICE ACQUISITION ATTEMPT!
A. AGEE - YOUNG LION; PICKENS—{STRICKEN TEXT: REGIONAL} [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: DISTRICT] GEOLOGIST FOR SOUTHWEST KANSAS.
B. MESA, SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1964, WITH $2 MILLION IN ASSETS, HAS ALWAYS BEEN "ACQUISITION-MINDED."
C. WHY DID WE START LOOKING AT CITIES IN 1976?
D. THIS WAS NOT JUST OUR OPINION—I WOULD LIKE TO READ YOU A QUOTE FROM THE JUNE 11 ISSUE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES: "I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE THAT SOME OF THE CRITICISM IS WARRANTED," SAID PHILIP WOOD, WHO WAS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT CITIES SERVICE UNTIL HE LEFT THE COMPANY LAST DECEMBER..."THEY ARE VERY NICE PEOPLE," HE SAID OF CITIES, "BUT I WOULD HAVE TROUBLE SAYING THAT THE MANAGEMENT WAS BRILLIANT."
E. 1980-1981—MESA STARTED ACCUMULATING CITIES SERVICE STOCK.
F. CS STARTED CALLING PROSPECTIVE PARTNERS OF MESA AND STARTED FILING LAWSUITS IN 1981.
G. MESA HAD A SMALL BALANCE SHEET AND HAD TO TALK TO A LOT OF BANKERS AND PROSPECTIVE PARTNERS.
H. BANKERS MEETING—$1 BILLION CREDIT LINE—JUNE 1 DATE REVEALED.
I. CS WAS TOLD OF JUNE 1 DATE; BUT MESA COULD NOT PUT PARTNERS TOGETHER—"NO ONE TOLD CS."
J. MAY 27—CS NEWS RELEASE ABOUT MESA DISMEMBERING COMPANY.
K. MAY 28—CS ANNOUNCED $17 TENDER OFFER.
L. EVEN THOUGH MESA HAD GOOD DEFENSE STRATEGY—SUPER MAJORITY AND STAGGERED BOARD—MESA HAD NOT FINALIZED ITS FINANCING AND HAD TO DO SOMETHING.
M. MAY 31—MEMORIAL DAY—CALL TO WAIDELICH WITH THE $50 BEAR HUG OFFER AND FILED IT ON JUNE 1.
N. CS CALLS TO PROSPECTIVE PARTNERS
O. JOE FLOM SUGGESTED DOME-CONOCO STRATEGY AND WE WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH OUR DEAL—$45 FOR 15% ON JUNE 7.
1. SEARCH FOR PARTNERS CONTINUED—OXY A GOOD POSSIBILITY.
P. MESA HAD TWO POSSIBLE STRATEGIES TO AFFECT OUR TIME PROBLEM:
Q. ON JUNE 17, CS STOCK TOOK OFF; WE KNEW THEN THAT THEY WERE GOING FOR A WHITE KNIGHT.
R. WASSERSTEIN STRATEGY
S. JUNE 18—WASSERSTEIN SOLD CS TO HIS OTHER CUSTOMER, GULF, THEN MADE A PLAY FOR MESA.
T. CONVERSATION WITH JIMMY LEE
U. WATERMELON.
V. NEED TO CHANGE SOME OF THE RULES—STOCKHOLDER NEEDS A CHANCE TO CONSIDER OFFER.
V. THANK YOU. NOW, I'LL BE PLEASED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.