Stalking horse
Stone Energy is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company (E&P) headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, drilling mainly in the Gulf of Mexico but also has a presence in the Marcellus/Utica Shale with 86,000 acres of leases. Stone quit actively drilling in the Marcellus in 2015, and filed for bankruptcy last October. As part of the bankruptcy filing, Stone signed a deal with Tug Hill (at one time closely associated with Chief Oil & Gas) to sell those 86,000 acres to Tug Hill for $350 million (see Stone Energy Enters Bankruptcy, Sells Marc/Utica Assets for $350M). The deal with Tug Hill is called a "stalking horse bid," which means Tug Hill would get the deal if no one else came along and bid higher. Someone did come along and bid higher--EQT. Yesterday EQT said it has won with the highest bid at $527 million ($6,128/acre) to take over all 86,000 of Stone's Marcellus/Utica acres. The stalking horse is dead...
To view this content, log into your member account. (Not a member? Join Today!)
