SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 31, 2018 (October 31, 2018)

 

ConocoPhillips

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-32395

 

01-0562944

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

600 North Dairy Ashford
Houston, Texas

 

77079

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (281) 293-1000

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o                Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o                Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o                Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o                Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company   o

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o

 

 

 


 

ITEM 5.02                          DEPARTURE OF DIRECTOR OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS

 

On October 31, 2018, Al Hirshberg announced his decision to retire as executive vice president, Production, Drilling and Projects of ConocoPhillips.  Mr. Hirshberg will remain in his position as executive vice president, Production, Drilling and Projects until January 1, 2019.

 

In connection with Mr. Hirshberg’s retirement, the following changes to the ConocoPhillips executive leadership team will be effective January 1, 2019:

 

·                  Matt Fox, currently executive vice president, Strategy, Exploration and Technology, will become executive vice president and chief operating officer.  Mr. Fox will have responsibility for worldwide exploration and production operations, corporate planning and technology.

 

·                  Don E. Wallette, Jr., currently executive vice president, Finance, Commercial and chief financial officer, will be named executive vice president and chief financial officer.  Mr. Wallette will have responsibility for the finance, commercial, acquisitions and divestitures, and information technology functions.

 

The information regarding Messrs. Fox and Wallette required under Items 401(b), (d) and (e) of Regulation S-K is included under “Executive Officers of the Registrant” on page 26 of ConocoPhillips’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2017, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 20, 2018, and is incorporated herein by reference. Messrs. Fox and Wallette will participate in the compensation programs described under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 45 of ConocoPhillips’ Proxy Statement relating to its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, as filed with the SEC on April 2, 2018, which description is incorporated herein by reference.  There have been no related party transactions involving either of Messrs. Fox and Wallette (or any of their immediate family members) during the period since December 31, 2016.

 

The press release issued by ConocoPhillips on October 31, 2018 announcing these changes is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 9.01                      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

 

(d)    Exhibits:

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

Press Release issued by ConocoPhillips on October 31, 2018

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

CONOCOPHILLIPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kelly B. Rose

 

 

Name:

Kelly B. Rose

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, Legal,

Date: October 31, 2018

 

 

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

600 North Dairy Ashford Road

Houston, TX 77079-1175

Media Relations: 281-293-1149

www.conocophillips.com/media

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

Oct. 31, 2018

 

ConocoPhillips Announces Executive Leadership Retirement and Realignment

 

HOUSTON - ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) today announced the retirement of Al Hirshberg as executive vice president, Production, Drilling and Projects after more than 35 years of industry service, including eight years with ConocoPhillips. In conjunction with Hirshberg’s retirement, the company also announced the realignment of executive leadership responsibilities, as follows:

 

·                  Matt Fox, currently executive vice president, Strategy, Exploration and Technology, will be named executive vice president and chief operating officer. Matt will have responsibility for worldwide exploration and production operations, corporate planning and technology. Fox has over 30 years of industry experience in a broad range of technical and leadership roles, including leading ConocoPhillips’ exploration and production operations from 2012-2016.

 

·                  Don Wallette, Jr., currently executive vice president, Finance, Commercial and chief financial officer, will be named executive vice president and chief financial officer. Don will have responsibility for the finance, commercial, acquisitions and divestitures, and information technology functions. Wallette has over 30 years of experience and has served in several technical and leadership roles in ConocoPhillips, including leading the company’s business development function from 2012-2016.

 

These appointments are effective on Jan. 1, 2019. Hirshberg will remain in his current position until that date to provide support during the transition of his responsibilities. Fox and Wallette will continue to report to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ryan Lance.

 

“Al has been an impactful member of our leadership team and I want to thank him for his many contributions to ConocoPhillips,” said Ryan Lance. “Al played a valuable role in our launch as an independent exploration and production company and in the successful execution of our business strategy. We wish him the best in retirement. By taking on expanded roles, Matt and Don will provide strong continuity within the executive leadership team for delivering our disciplined, returns-focused value proposition to all stakeholders.”

 

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About ConocoPhillips

 

ConocoPhillips is the world’s largest independent E&P company based on production and proved reserves. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, ConocoPhillips had operations and activities in 17 countries, $71 billion of total assets, and approximately 11,100 employees as of Sept. 30, 2018. Production excluding Libya averaged 1,221 MBOED for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018, and proved reserves were 5.0 billion BOE as of Dec. 31, 2017. For more information, go to www.conocophillips.com.

 

Contacts

 

Daren Beaudo (media)

281-293-2073

daren.beaudo@conocophillips.com

 

Mark Keener (investors)

281-293-5000

mark.a.keener@conocophillips.com

 


 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

 

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to future events and anticipated results of operations, business strategies, and other aspects of our operations or operating results. In many cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “should,” “will,” “expect,” “objective,” “projection,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “effort,” “target” and other similar words. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Where, in any forward-looking statement, the company expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, there can be no assurance that such expectation or belief will result or be achieved. The actual results of operations can and will be affected by a variety of risks and other matters including, but not limited to changes in commodity prices; changes in expected levels of oil and gas reserves or production; operating hazards, drilling risks, unsuccessful exploratory activities; difficulties in developing new products and manufacturing processes; unexpected cost increases or technical difficulties in constructing, maintaining, or modifying company facilities; international monetary conditions and exchange rate fluctuations; changes in international trade relationships, including the imposition of trade restrictions or tariffs relating to crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, LNG, natural gas liquids and any materials or products (such as aluminum and steel) used in the operation of our business; our ability to collect payments when due under our settlement agreement with PDVSA; our ability to liquidate the common stock issued to us by Cenovus Energy Inc. at prices we deem acceptable, or at all; our ability to complete the sale of our announced dispositions or acquisitions on the timeline currently anticipated, if at all; the possibility that regulatory approvals for our announced dispositions or acquisitions will not be received on a timely basis, if at all, or that such approvals may require modification to the terms of our announced dispositions, acquisitions or our remaining business; business disruptions during or following our announced dispositions or acquisitions, including the diversion of management time and attention; the ability to deploy net proceeds from our announced dispositions in the manner and timeframe we currently anticipate, if at all; potential liability for remedial actions under existing or future environmental regulations; potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation; limited access to capital or significantly higher cost of capital related to illiquidity or uncertainty in the domestic or international financial markets; and general domestic and international economic and political conditions; as well as changes in tax, environmental and other laws applicable to our business. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting our business generally as set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless legally required, ConocoPhillips undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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