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)

August 6, 2018

SM Energy Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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.):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Item 8.01 Other Events

On August 6, 2018, SM Energy Company (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that it has commenced a cash tender offer (the “Tender Offer”) to purchase (i) any and all of its 6.500% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”) and (ii) up to an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $85,000,000 of its 6.125% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”). In connection with the Tender Offer, the Company is soliciting consents to eliminate certain covenants with respect to the 2023 Notes, and certain events of default, amend certain other provisions with respect to the 2023 Notes, and reduce the minimum notice of optional redemption required to be given to holders of the 2023 Notes from 30 to 3 business days.  The Tender Offer and related consent solicitation are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement, dated August 6, 2018 (the “Offer to Purchase”).  A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated by reference herein.

Cautionary Statement regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements as defined under the federal securities laws, including the completion of the Tender Offer. Although management believes that expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, these statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other assumptions that are difficult to predict and may be beyond our control, including market conditions and other conditions with respect to the Tender Offer set forth in the Offer to Purchase. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company’s actual results may vary materially from what management anticipated, estimated, projected or expected.

Investors are encouraged to closely consider the disclosures and risk factors contained in the Company’s annual and quarterly reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this report. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

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SIGNATURE

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.

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