Investing.com -- Energean’s stock dropped more than 7% on Monday, as concerns mounted over the potential collapse of its planned asset sale to Carlyle.
The company confirmed that key regulatory approvals for the transaction remain outstanding, raising the risk that the deal may not go through before the March 20 deadline.
Energean had announced the sale of its Egypt, Italy, and Croatia assets to Carlyle for up to $945 million, a move intended to streamline operations and accelerate cash flow.
However, the sale is contingent on regulatory clearances in Italy and Egypt, as well as antitrust approvals.
With no guarantee that these conditions will be met, the possibility of the deal falling apart has weighed on the stock.
While the company emphasized that it remains committed to the sale, it also sought to reassure the market by reaffirming its dividend policy.
Energean has pledged to return at least $1 billion to shareholders by the end of 2025, regardless of the outcome of the transaction.
Analysts at Stifel noted that if the deal is scrapped, Energean would retain cash-generating assets, mitigating any major downside to its net asset value.
However, the uncertainty surrounding the sale appears to have overshadowed that perspective, contributing to Monday’s decline.
Shares of Energean had already been under pressure in recent months, with the stock down over 8% in the past year.