Schlumberger to acquire share in EDC

Schlumberger announced an agreement to acquire a minority equity interest in Eurasia Drilling Company (EDC). The agreement extends the successful long-term relationship enjoyed by the two companies within the strategic alliance signed in 2011, which has enabled deployment of a range of drilling and well engineering services to customers in the Russia land conventional drilling market.

In connection with the agreement, the principal shareholders of EDC will take the company private. Upon delisting of the company from the London Stock Exchange, Schlumberger, through one or more subsidiaries, will acquire a minority equity ownership interest of 45.65% in EDC, in exchange for consideration of USD 22 per share. The total cost of acquiring this minority interest, including the cost of a call option and various non-competition agreements, is approximately USD 1.7B. This transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2015.

EDC offers its onshore integrated well construction services and workover services to local and international oil and gas companies primarily in Russia and its offshore drilling services to Russian and international oil and gas companies in the Russian, Kazakh and Turkmen sectors of the Caspian Sea. In addition, the company provides onshore drilling services in Iraq.