A. Lee Graham Reporter
Chesapeake Energy Corp. has announced that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has ruled in its favor, enabling the company to redeem $1.3 billion of 6.8 percent senior notes due 2019. The decision, announced on May 8, comes after the company initiated the legal action against The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co. NA, the trustee of the notes, on March 8, 2013. “We are pleased that the court has ruled in Chesapeake’s favor,” said Domenic J. Dell’Osso Jr., Chesapeake’s chief financial officer, commenting in a news release. By refinancing the notes, the company expects to save more than $100 million in interest payments, Dell’Osso said. Following a bench trial, the Hon. Paul A. Engelmayer ruled that Chesapeake’s notice to redeem the notes at par, which was provided on March 15, 2013, was timely and effective pursuant to the special early redemption provision of the notes. With that, Chesapeake said it will proceed with special early redemption of the notes, with payment expected to be made on May 13, 2013 pursuant to the terms of the notice. The redemption is part of a broader refinancing of Chesapeake’s outstanding debt obligations, the company said. Chesapeake Energy Corp., the second-largest natural gas producer behind Irving-based Exxon Mobil Corp. and whose interests include North Texas’ Barnett Shale, focuses on discovering and developing unconventional natural gas and oil fields onshore in the U.S. More information is available at www.chk.com.