On Wednesday, EQT announced the company has floated $3 billion (yikes!) of IOUs–called “notes” in the financial industry–with various due dates and interest rates payable, in order to make a cash payment due as part of their purchase of Rice Energy. The total deal is worth $8.2 billion, with EQT paying $6.7 billion and assuming Rice’s existing debt of $1.5 billion (see EQT Buys Rice Energy in $8.2B Deal, Becomes #1 Gas Producer in US). This deal is moving ahead, over the objections of two different corporate raiders who own a considerable amount of EQT stock (see Proxy Fight: Jana Partners, Atlas Tries to Stop EQT/Rice Deal and Under Pressure, EQT Moves Up Timeline to Explore Splitting Co.). In addition to raising $3 billion in cash from IOUs, EQT is also tapping into its line of credit and the money it has socked away in its checking account to get this deal done…