Antero Resources Corporation
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(Name of Issuer)
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Common Stock |
(Title of Class of Securities)
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03674X106 |
(CUSIP Number)
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Kathlyne Kiaie
c/o SailingStone Capital Partners LLC
One California Street, 30th Floor
San Francisco, California 94111
(415) 429-5178
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(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
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January 29, 2018 |
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
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1
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NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
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SailingStone Capital Partners LLC
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2
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
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(a)
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☐
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(b)
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☐
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3
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SEC USE ONLY
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4
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SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
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OO
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5
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CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)
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☐
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6
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
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Delaware
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NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
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7
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SOLE VOTING POWER
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34,965,677
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8
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SHARED VOTING POWER
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0
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9
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SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
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34,965,677
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10
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SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
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0
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11
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
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34,965,677
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12
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CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
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☐
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13
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
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11.08%
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14
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
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IA
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1
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NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
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SailingStone Holdings LLC
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2
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
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(a)
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☐
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(b)
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☐
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||||
3
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SEC USE ONLY
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4
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SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
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OO
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5
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CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)
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☐
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6
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
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Delaware
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NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
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7
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SOLE VOTING POWER
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0
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8
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SHARED VOTING POWER
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34,965,677
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9
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SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
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0
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||||
10
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SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
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34,965,677
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|||
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||||
11
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
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34,965,677
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|||
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||||
12
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CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
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☐
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||||
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||||
13
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
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11.08%
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14
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
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HC
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1
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NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
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MacKenzie B. Davis
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2
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
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(a)
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☐
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(b)
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☐
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3
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SEC USE ONLY
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4
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SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
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OO
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5
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CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)
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☐
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6
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
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United States
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NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
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7
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SOLE VOTING POWER
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0
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||||
8
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SHARED VOTING POWER
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34,965,677
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9
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SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
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0
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|||
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||||
10
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SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
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34,965,677
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|||
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||||
11
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
|
|
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34,965,677
|
|
|
|||
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|
||||
12
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CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
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☐
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||
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||||
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||||
13
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
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11.08%
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||||
14
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
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HC; IN
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1
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NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
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Kenneth L. Settles Jr.
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||||
2
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
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(a)
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☐
|
||
(b)
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☐
|
||||
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||||
3
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SEC USE ONLY
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||||
4
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SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
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||
OO
|
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|||
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||||
5
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CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)
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☐
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||||
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||||
6
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
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United States
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NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
7
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SOLE VOTING POWER
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0
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|||
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||||
8
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SHARED VOTING POWER
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34,965,677
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|||
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||||
9
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SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
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0
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|||
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||||
10
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SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
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|
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||
34,965,677
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|||
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|
||||
11
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
|
|
|
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34,965,677
|
|
|
|||
|
|
||||
12
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
|
|
☐
|
||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
13
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
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11.08%
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|||
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||||
14
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
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HC; IN
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This Statement on Schedule 13D relates to the Common Stock (the “Shares”) of Antero Resources Corporation (the “Issuer”). The address of the principal executive offices of the Issuer is 1615 Wynkoop Street, Denver, Colorado 80202.
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This Statement on Schedule 13D is being jointly filed by: (i) SailingStone Capital Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SailingStone”); (ii) SailingStone Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SailingStone Holdings”), which is the general partner of SailingStone GP LP, which is a Delaware limited partnership that serves as managing member of SailingStone; (iii) MacKenzie B. Davis, a United States citizen who is a managing member of SailingStone Holdings and a control person of SailingStone and SailingStone Holdings (“Davis”) and (iv) Kenneth L. Settles Jr., a United States citizen who is a managing member of SailingStone Holdings and a control person of SailingStone and SailingStone Holdings (“Settles”). (SailingStone, SailingStone Holdings, Davis and Settles are sometimes also referred to herein individually as a "Reporting Person" and collectively as the "Reporting Persons"). Further information regarding the identity and background of certain of the Reporting Persons is set forth in Exhibit B which is attached hereto.
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During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons, nor, to the best knowledge of the Reporting Persons, any of their respective executive officers, their respective managing members or any persons controlling their respective managing members has: (1) been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (2) been party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and, as a result of such proceeding, was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
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The Shares herein reported as being beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons were acquired by SailingStone directly acting solely on behalf of its investment advisory clients. SailingStone has purchased a total of 34,965,677 Shares in open-market purchases for an aggregate consideration of $942,909,061 (exclusive of brokerage commissions). To the best knowledge of the Reporting Persons, the funds used in such purchases were from SailingStone’s available investment capital and none of the consideration for such Shares was represented by borrowed funds.
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The Reporting Persons have acquired the Shares for investment purposes and will continue to analyze their investment in the Issuer on an ongoing basis. As part of this investment analysis process, the Reporting Persons reserve the right to engage in discussions with management of the Issuer and with third parties that may have an interest in the business affairs of the Issuer in order to monitor their investment and consider possible strategic alternatives.
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Depending upon such discussions and consideration of strategic alternatives, the Reporting Persons could support one or more of the actions described in subparagraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D. The Reporting Persons reserve the right to formulate other purposes, plans or proposals regarding the Issuer to the extent deemed advisable by the Reporting Persons in light of current market conditions generally and specifically as they relate to the Issuer. The Reporting Persons further reserve the right to add to or reduce their holdings in the Issuer at any time as circumstances warrant without prior notice.
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Based on the most recently available filing information submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Issuer, there are 315,631,989 Shares of the Issuer outstanding. As of January 29, 2018, the Reporting Persons collectively may be deemed to beneficially own 34,965,677 Shares, which represents 11.08% of the outstanding Shares. The number of Shares which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons are as follows:
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Shares Deemed to be
Beneficially Owned By: |
Nature of
Ownership |
Percentage
of Class |
(A) SailingStone:
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34,965,677
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Sole Voting and Sole Dispositive Power (1)
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11.08%
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(B) SailingStone Holdings:
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34,965,677
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Shared Voting and Shared Dispositive Power (2)
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11.08%
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(C) Davis:
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34,965,677
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Shared Voting and Shared Dispositive Power (3)
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11.08%
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(D) Settles:
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34,965,677
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Shared Voting and Shared Dispositive Power (4)
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11.08%
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(1)
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Such Shares are owned by investment advisory clients of SailingStone. By reason of its investment advisory relationship with such clients, SailingStone is deemed to have sole voting and sole dispositive power over such Shares. The economic interest in such Shares is held by such clients.
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(2)
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Because SailingStone Holdings is the general partner of SailingStone GP LP which serves as managing member of SailingStone, SailingStone Holdings could be deemed to share the power to vote and dispose or direct the disposition of such Shares.
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(3)
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Because Davis is a managing member of SailingStone Holdings and a control person of SailingStone Holdings and SailingStone, he could be deemed to share the power to vote and dispose or direct the disposition of such Shares.
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(4)
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Because Settles is a managing member of SailingStone Holdings and a control person of SailingStone Holdings and SailingStone, he could be deemed to share the power to vote and dispose or direct the disposition of such Shares.
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TRANSACTIONS
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Information regarding transactions in the Shares that have been effected by the Reporting Persons during the last sixty days are set forth in Exhibit C which is attached hereto.
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None.
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Exhibit A - Joint Filing Agreement of the Reporting Persons
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Exhibit B - Executive Officers and Control Persons of the Reporting Persons
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Exhibit C - Transactions in Securities of the Issuer During the Past Sixty Days by the Reporting Persons
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Exhibit D - Letter to the Board of Directors of the Issuer
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SailingStone Capital Partners LLC*
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Date: January 29, 2018 |
By:
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/s/ Kathlyne Kiaie
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Name: Kathlyne Kiaie
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Title: Chief Compliance Officer
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SailingStone Holdings LLC*
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Date: January 29, 2018 |
By:
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/s/ MacKenzie B. Davis
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Name: MacKenzie B. Davis
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Title: Managing Member |
MacKenzie B. Davis* | ||
Date: January 29, 2018 |
By:
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/s/ MacKenzie B. Davis
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Name: MacKenzie B. Davis
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Kenneth L. Settles Jr.*
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Date: January 29, 2018 |
By:
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/s/ Kenneth L. Settles Jr.
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Name: Kenneth L. Settles Jr.
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SailingStone Capital Partners LLC
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Date: January 29, 2018 |
By:
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/s/ Kathlyne Kiaie
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Name: Kathlyne Kiaie
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Title: Chief Compliance Officer
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SailingStone Holdings LLC
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Date: January 29, 2018 |
By:
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/s/ MacKenzie B. Davis
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Name: MacKenzie B. Davis
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Title: Managing Member
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MacKenzie B. Davis
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Date: January 29, 2018 |
By:
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/s/ MacKenzie B. Davis
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Name: MacKenzie B. Davis
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Kenneth L. Settles Jr.
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Date: January 29, 2018 |
By:
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/s/ Kenneth L. Settles Jr.
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Name: Kenneth L. Settles Jr.
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SailingStone Capital Partners LLC is an investment adviser organized as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware. Its address is:
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One California Street, 30th Floor
San Francisco, California 94111 |
The officers of SailingStone Capital Partners LLC are:
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Name
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Title
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Kathlyne K. Kiaie
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Chief Compliance Officer
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James E. Klescewski
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Chief Financial Officer
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Reporting
Person |
Sale/
Purchase |
Date
|
No. of
Shares |
Average Price Per
Share |
SailingStone
|
Sale
|
11/30/2017
|
109,775
|
$18.97
|
SailingStone
|
Sale
|
12/1/2017
|
69,240
|
$19.26
|
SailingStone
|
Purchase
|
12/12/2017
|
150,000
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$18.58
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SailingStone
|
Sale
|
12/12/2017
|
273,275
|
$18.63
|
SailingStone
|
Purchase
|
12/13/2017
|
41,370
|
$18.36
|
SailingStone
|
Sale
|
12/13/2017
|
280,665
|
$18.38
|
SailingStone
|
Sale
|
12/18/2017
|
160,080
|
$18.21
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SailingStone
|
Sale
|
12/19/2017
|
24,840
|
$17.90
|
SailingStone
|
Sale
|
1/3/2018
|
20
|
$19.93
|
SailingStone
|
Sale
|
1/5/2018
|
18,460
|
$19.34
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SailingStone
|
Purchase
|
1/19/2018
|
348,620
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$18.62
|
1)
|
accelerate debt reduction
|
2)
|
implement a material share repurchase program
|
3)
|
eliminate potential conflicts of interest resulting from the current corporate structure, and
|
4)
|
improve the ability of Antero to take advantage of future dislocations in the markets
|
|
|
Ken Settles, Portfolio Manager
|
MacKenzie Davis, Portfolio Manager
|