UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 12b-25 SEC File Number
1-13726
NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING
For Period Ended: June 30, 1997
(Check one): X Form 10-K Form 20-F Form 11-K Form 10-Q
Form N-SAR
If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked above,
identify the Item(s) to which the notification relates: Not applicable
PART I - REGISTRANT INFORMATION
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
6100 North Western Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118
(Address of principal executive office)
PART II - RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c)
If the subject report could not be filed without unreasonable effort or
expense and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the
following should be completed. (Check box if appropriate) X
(a) The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III of this
form could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or expense.
(b) The subject annual report will be filed on or before the fifteenth
calendar day following the prescribed due date; and
(c) The accountant's statement or other exhibit required by Rule
12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.
PART III - NARRATIVE
State below in reasonable detail the reasons why the Form 10-K could not be
filed within the prescribed time period.
The Company's results of operation for the fourth quarter and fiscal year
ended June 30, 1997 were materially and adversely affected by a $236
million writedown of its oil and gas assets. Following its announcement on
June 27, 1997 of recent negative drilling results and the expected
impairment of assets, eight purported class action suits have been filed
against the Company and certain of its officers and directors. The Company
is in the process of selecting defense counsel and evaluating the claims.
This process has taken considerable management attention. As a result, the
Company has been unable without unreasonable effort to complete the Form
10-K for filing within the prescribed time period. As a result, the
Company has not yet completed its financial statements for its fiscal year
ended June 30, 1997. The Company expects to file its 1997 Form 10-K within
the 15-day extension afforded by Rule 12b-25.
As described in Exhibit 99, Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., the Company's
independent auditors, concur with the Company's statements set forth above.
Registrant respectfully requests extension of the time prescribed to file
the portions of its 1997 annual report on Form 10-K detailed above,
pursuant to Form 12b-25.
PART IV - OTHER INFORMATION
(1) Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard to this
notification
Marcus C. Rowland 405 848-8000
Vice President - Chief (Area code) (Telephone Number)
Financial Officer
(Name)
(2) Have all other periodic reports required under Section 13 or 15(d) or
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 been filed? If answer is no, identify
report(s). X Yes No
(3) Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations
from the corresponding period for the last fiscal year will be reflected by
the earnings statements to be included in the subject report or portion
thereof? X Yes No
If so, attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both narratively
and quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons why a reasonable
estimate of the results cannot be made. See below explanation.
On August 28, 1997, the Company announced that it expected to report a net
loss of $183 million for fiscal 1997, compared to net income of $23 million
in fiscal 1997. This release was filed as part of a current report on Form
8-K on September 9, 1997 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Exhibits: Exhibit 99 - Independent Auditors' letter accompanying Form
12b-25.
SIGNATURES
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION has caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
MARCUS C. ROWLAND
By: Marcus C. Rowland
Vice President - Chief Financial
Officer
Date: September 29, 1997
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description Method of Filing
99 Independent Auditors' Filed herewith electronically
Letter accompanying
Form 12b-25
COOPERS & LYBRAND COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P. a professional services firm 15 North Robinson, Suite 400 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102 telephone (405) 236-5800 facsimile (405) 232-5238 September 29, 1997 Mr. Marc Rowland Chesapeake Energy Corporation 6104 N. Western Oklahoma City, OK 73118 Dear Mr. Rowland: You have furnished us with a copy of your "Notification of Late Filing" on Form 12b-25 dated September 29, 1997. We are in agreement with the comments under Part III of the Form with respect to the reasons why we are unable to furnish our report on the consolidated financial statements of Chesapeake Energy Corporation for the inclusion in the Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1997. Yours very truly, COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.