InterOil plunged 37% after the oil and gas exploration and production company finally ended years of struggle by accepting a deal with France's Total (NYSE: TOT ) to help it develop its Papua New Guinea properties. The deal involves Total buying a majority stake in the oil and gas fields for $613 million up front, and Total will proceed with helping to build and operate a liquefied natural gas project in order to export natural gas from the island nation to energy-hungry countries across the Asia-Pacific region. InterOil could earn $212 million in milestone payments and also variable amounts if natural gas production exceeds certain thresholds, but investors clearly wanted more despite the lack of leverage InterOil has after failing to close a deal with ExxonMobil despite extended negotiation.
EWC Price at posting:
39.5¢ Sentiment: None Disclosure: Held