Earthstone Energy Update - Dec 22

[dan_s]

December 21, 2018, 2:40 pm EST

Earthstone Energy, Inc. Announces Termination of Sabalo Acquisition and Cancellation of Special Meeting of Stockholders

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Earthstone Energy, Inc. (NYSE: ESTE) (“Earthstone” or the “Company”), today announced that due to the recent significant decline in commodity prices and the related adverse effect on the debt and equity markets, the Company and Sabalo Holdings, LLC (“Sabalo Holdings”) have entered into an agreement to terminate the pending acquisition by the Company of Sabalo Energy, LLC under a Contribution Agreement dated as of October 17, 2018, effective immediately. In addition, the special meeting of Earthstone stockholders scheduled for January 3, 2019 to approve the acquisition has been cancelled. As part of the mutual termination agreement, Earthstone will reimburse Sabalo Holdings for transaction related expenses up to approximately $3.1 million, including costs incurred related to the acquisition of well-bore interests held by Shad Permian, LLC.

[dan_s]

This will drop my valuation of ESTE $3 to $9/share. I will be moving it back to the Small-Cap Growth Portfolio.

Decision to call off the deal is wise and probably based on Sabalo not being willing to lower the purchase price. Sometimes the smartest move a company can make is not closing an acquisition.