Impact of Falling Oil Prices: Schlumberger Acquiring Almost 46% Share in Eurasia Drilling for $1.7 Billion

Despite recently announcing layoffs of over 9,000 people as a result of declining oil prices, Schlumberger Limited appears to remain bullish on longer term outlook and is investing $1.7 billion in order to acquire almost 46% of Russia's largest drilling company, Eurasia Drilling Company Limited (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 $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 $1.7 billion. The call option will allow Schlumberger, at its election, to purchase the remaining shares in EDC during a two-year period commencing three years from the closing of the transaction. This transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2015, and is subject to customary closing conditions.

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. The company also provides offshore drilling services in the Caspian Sea and is the largest provider of such services in the sectors where it operates based on the number of jack-up drilling rigs. 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. In addition, the company provides onshore drilling services in Iraq.