By Ben Fenwick and Jessica DiNapoli
OKLAHOMA CITY/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The judge overseeing Aubrey McClendon's estate approved a land deal on Friday that will pay off one of the late energy magnate's major creditors, paving the way for the sale of his stake in professional basketball team the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In probate court in Oklahoma City, Judge Richard Kirby approved Jones Energy Inc's plan to purchase 18,000 acres of oil and gas leasehold interests for $136.5 million from the estate. The proceeds from the sale will repay private equity firm Oaktree Capital Group LLC, to whom McClendon owes $85 million, court records show.