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UNITED STATES
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): March 23, 2026
_____________________
California Resources Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Delaware | 001-36478 | 46-5670947 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation) | (Commission
File Number) | (IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
| | | |
| 1 World Trade Center | |
| Suite 1500 | |
| Long Beach | |
| California | 90831 |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (888) 848-4754
_____________________
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:
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| | | | | | | | |
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock | CRC | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company ☐
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. ☐
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On March 23, 2026, California Resources Corporation (the “Company”) completed its previously announced upsized private offering of an additional $350 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.000% senior unsecured notes due 2034 (the “Notes”). The terms of the Notes are governed by the Indenture, dated as of October 8, 2025 (the “Original Indenture”, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 16, 2026 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Original Indenture, the “Indenture”)), by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto (the “Guarantors”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Notes will mature on January 15, 2034. Interest accrues from October 8, 2025 and will be payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing July 15, 2026.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with cash on hand and/or borrowings under its revolving credit facility, to fund the redemption of $350 million in aggregate principal amount of its 8.250% senior unsecured notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”) at a redemption price of 100% thereof, plus the Applicable Premium (as defined in the indenture governing the 2029 Notes) as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption. The redemption of the 2029 Notes is expected to close on March 24, 2026.
The Notes were offered as additional notes under the Indenture, pursuant to which the Company previously issued $400 million aggregate principal amount of 7.000% senior notes due 2034 (the “Existing 2034 Notes”). The Notes have substantially identical terms, other than the issue date and issue price, as the Existing 2034 Notes, and the Notes and the Existing 2034 Notes are treated as a single series of securities under the Indenture and vote together as a single class. Except with respect to Notes offered pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Notes have the same CUSIP and ISIN numbers as, and are fungible with, the Existing 2034 Notes immediately upon issuance.
The Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by all of the Company’s existing subsidiaries that guarantee its obligations under its revolving credit facility and its existing 8.250% senior notes due 2029, and the Notes will be guaranteed by certain of the Company’s future subsidiaries. The Notes and the guarantees thereof are unsecured, rank equally in right of payment with all senior unsecured debt of the Company and the Guarantors and rank senior to all of the existing and future subordinated debt of the Company and the Guarantors.
The Company may, at its option, redeem some or all of the Notes at any time on or after January 15, 2029 at the redemption prices specified in the Indenture. Prior to such time, the Company may, at its option, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes with an amount of cash not greater than the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at the redemption price specified in the Indenture. In addition, before January 15, 2029, the Company may redeem some or all of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus the applicable premium as specified in the Indenture and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. If the Company experiences certain kinds of change of control trigger events, the Company will be required to offer to repurchase the Notes at 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to, but excluding, the date of purchase. The Indenture contains other customary terms, events of default and covenants.
The above description of the Indenture is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Original Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, which are included in Exhibit 4.1 and 4.2 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement.
The information provided under Item 1.01 in this Current Report on Form 8-K regarding the Notes, the Indenture and the related guarantees is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| | | | | | | | |
| Exhibit No. | | Description |
| 4.1 | | Indenture, dated October 8, 2025, by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 8, 2025, and incorporated herein by reference). |
| 4.2 | | First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 16, 2026, by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee. |
| 104 | | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
SIGNATURE
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.
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| California Resources Corporation |
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| | | |
| | | |
| /s/ Michael L. Preston | |
| Name: | Michael L. Preston |
| Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel |
DATED: March 23, 2026
