You only have to look at how secretive they have been with $4m worth of new leases, so you can imagine how secretive they'd be with a $500m plus deal. There is a lot of private equity out there looking for deals, so an experienced team such as MAD doesn't want to advertise what they are looking at. Unfortunately as a consequence the news stream will be very limited.
As carpenter said, the first we'll probably hear of any deal is when it's done. MAD has surrounded itself with quality advisors: EAS, Tudor Pickering Holt, Morgans & Fosters. At least 2 of them have a big incentive carrot (options) to get a deal done. They have done their homework and know asset values & the economics of the shale business. They also have close ties with BHP which has a big presence in the Permian & Eagle Ford. Apart from Yeager, Smith who was appointed in March 2015, was President of BHP's development Petroleum division responsible for world wide drilling & field development.