ENSCO TO ACQUIRE ATWOOD OCEANICS

Ensco plc and Atwood Oceanics, Inc. jointly announced today that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Ensco will acquire Atwood in an all-stock transaction. The definitive merger agreement was unanimously approved by each company’s board of directors. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Atwood shareholders will receive 1.60 shares of Ensco for each share of Atwood common stock for a total value of $10.72 per Atwood share based on Ensco’s closing share price of $6.70 on 26 May 2017.
The transaction will join two leading offshore drillers – combining long-established histories of operational, safety and technical expertise with high-quality assets that cover the world’s most prolific offshore drilling basins. The acquisition will strengthen Ensco’s position as the leading offshore driller with exposure to deep- and shallow-water markets that span six continents. Upon closing, Ensco will add six ultra-deepwater floaters, including four of the most capable drillships in the industry, and five high-specification jackups. The combined company will have a fleet of 63 rigs, comprised of ultra-deepwater drillships, versatile deep- and mid-water semisubmersibles and shallow-water jackups, along with a diverse customer base of 27 national oil companies, supermajors and independents. The combined company’s fleet will be among the most technologically advanced in the industry and will meet the deep- and shallow-water drilling requirements of an expanded base of clients around the world. Within the fleet of 26 floating rigs (semisubmersibles and drillships) are 21 ultra-deepwater drilling rigs, capable of drilling in water depths of 7,500? or greater, with an average age of five years – establishing this fleet among the youngest and most capable in the industry. The jackup fleet will be the largest in the world, composed of 37 rigs, including 27 premium units. These jackups are all equipped with many of the advanced features requested by clients for shallow-water drilling programs, such as increased leg length, expanded cantilever reach, greater hoisting capacity and offline handling capabilities. The combined company will be among the most geographically diverse drillers with current operations and drilling contracts spanning six continents in nearly every major deep- and shallow-water basin around the world. Regions will include major markets such as the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, West Africa, Middle East, North Sea, Mediterranean and Asia Pacific. (Source: Ensco)