NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM, THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, JAPAN OR AUSTRALIA, OR ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 17, 2009
EURASIA DRILLING COMPANY LIMITED WITHDRAWS FROM EQUITY PLACING
MOSCOW, November 17, 2009 – Eurasia Drilling Company Limited ("EDC" or the "Company" - LSE: EDCL) today announces that it has withdrawn from the placing (the "Placing") announced on 16 November of existing global depositary receipts (“GDRs”) held by EDC Incentive Plan Limited (“EIPL”).
The Company’s Chief Financial Officer, W. Richard Anderson, indicated:
”Despite the fact that there was more than adequate demand for the GDRs on offer, the Company decided not to proceed with the transaction because we felt the offered price did not reflect the underlying value of the Company’s business and did not properly give credit to the contemplated special dividend. The Company has no further plans to dispose of its treasury shares at this time. We expect our business will continue to grow and provide excellent returns to our shareholders.”
Those of the Company’s minority shareholders who had retained a right to participate in the Placing (the “Selling Shareholders”) have also determined not to take up that right.
As a result, the Board no longer intends to pay the one-time Special Interim Dividend originally proposed in recognition of the gain on the GDRs repurchased by EIPL as part of EDC’s Share Repurchase Program.
Following their withdrawal from the Placing, EDC, EIPL, the Selling Shareholders and one of the Company’s largest shareholders, Mr Alexander Djaparidze, will no longer be subject to the lock-up restrictions previously proposed in connection with the Placing.
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EDC is the largest provider of onshore drilling services in Russia, as measured by the number of meters drilled, providing onshore integrated well construction services and workover services. In addition, the Company provides offshore drilling services in the Caspian Sea. The Company 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. The Company is traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “EDCL”.
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For further information, please contact:
Kim L. Kruschwitz, VP Investor Relations
+44 (0) 207 717 9707
investors.relations@eurasiadrilling.com
November 17, 2009