Occidental Petroleum Corporation, which operates an Option 2 retail electric provider in Texas (Occidental Power Marketing LP) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Carl C. Icahn and affiliated entities (the “Icahn Group”) to add three new Icahn designated directors to Occidental’s Board.

Pursuant to the agreement, effective immediately Andrew Langham, Nicholas Graziano and Margarita Paláu-Hernández have been appointed to Occidental’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) as new independent directors. Existing directors Spencer Abraham, Eugene Batchelder, Margaret M. Foran and Elisse B. Walter will retire from the Board effective at the Company’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2020 Annual Meeting”). With today’s appointments and planned retirements and the previously announced appointment of Stephen I. Chazen as Chairman of the Board, following the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Board will be comprised of 11 directors, 10 of whom are independent.

Carl C. Icahn commented: “We believe Oxy is a good company with good assets. We are pleased to have reached this settlement and can now focus on working with Steve Chazen to enhance value for all Oxy stockholders.”

Occidental has also adopted certain corporate governance-enhancing amendments to its amended and restated by-laws, effective immediately, and agreed to recommend that the Occidental stockholders adopt amendments to Occidental’s restated certificate of incorporation at the 2020 Annual Meeting that enhance stockholder rights to act by written consent, call special meetings and nominate directors.

The new directors will be represented on the committees of the Board and newly formed committees as set forth in the agreement. The Board has also agreed to create an Oversight Committee that will include two of the Icahn directors. The Oversight Committee will work closely with management to provide regular Board input and oversight, and, along with the Board, will be apprised of any inquiries or indications of interest relating to the Company or its assets.

The Icahn Group has withdrawn its slate of director nominees and stockholder proposals at the 2020 Annual Meeting and agreed to vote in favor of the Board’s director nominees and amendments to Occidental’s restated certificate of incorporation that enhance Occidental’s corporate governance. The Icahn Group owns approximately 9.9% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.

Under the agreement, the Icahn Group will petition the Delaware Supreme Court to withdraw its pending appeal before the Court relating to the Icahn Group’s books and records request under Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Icahn Group has also agreed to certain other customary voting and standstill provisions.

Messrs. Langham and Graziano and Ms. Paláu-Hernández will each initially serve a term expiring at the 2020 Annual Meeting and the Company has agreed to include each of them on its slate of nominees for election as directors at the 2020 Annual Meeting.

The complete agreement by and among Occidental, the Icahn Group and the other parties thereto will be filed on a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Tags:
Oxy   Occidental Power Marketing   Texas  

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