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)
October 8, 2015 (October 7, 2015)

SM Energy Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

    

Delaware
001-31539
41-0518430
(State or other jurisdiction
(Commission
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)
File Number)
Identification No.)



1775 Sherman Street, Suite 1200, Denver, Colorado
(Address of principal executive offices)
80203
(Zip Code)


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 861-8140


Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

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 (see General Instruction A.2.):

[_] 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))






Item 1.01    Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On October 7, 2015, SM Energy Company (the “Company”) entered into a Fourth Amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among the Company, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (the “Agent”), and the institutions named therein as lenders.
 
Pursuant to the Amendment, (i) the borrowing base was decreased from $2.4 billion to $2.0 billion as part of the regularly scheduled redetermination, and (ii) a provision was added to clarify that in the event that the borrowing base is reduced below the aggregate commitment, the aggregate commitment will be automatically reduced to an amount equal to such reduced borrowing base.

The foregoing description of the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendment, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 2.03    Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
 
The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.

Item 7.01    Regulation FD Disclosure.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K, the following information, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information and Exhibit be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

On October 7, 2015, the Company issued a press release announcing the semi-annual redetermination of the borrowing base for its senior revolving credit facility and the balance outstanding as of September 30, 2015, for that facility. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)
Exhibits.
 
 
 
Exhibit Number
 
Description
 
10.1
 
Fourth Amendment to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated October 7, 2015, among SM Energy Company, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto
 
99.1
 
Press release of the Company dated October 7, 2015 entitled, “SM Energy Completes Semi-Annual Redetermination of Credit Facility”








SIGNATURES

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.



 
 
 
SM ENERGY COMPANY
 
 
 
 
Date:
October 7, 2015
By:
/s/ DAVID W. COPELAND
 
 
 
David W. Copeland
 
 
 
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary