Schlumberger Ltd and Smith International have jointly reported that their Boards of Directors have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement in which the companies would combine in a stock-for-stock transaction.

Under the terms of the agreement, Smith shareholders will receive 0.6966 shares of Schlumberger in exchange for each Smith share. Based upon the undisturbed closing stock prices for both companies on February 18, 2010, the agreement places a value of $45.84 per Smith share, representing a 37.5% premium. Upon closing, and reflecting the issuance of new Schlumberger shares, Smith stockholders collectively will own approximately 12.8% of Schlumberger's outstanding shares of common stock.

Schlumberger expects to realize incremental pretax synergies-after integration costs-of approximately $160 million in 2011 and approximately $320 million in 2012. Schlumberger expects the combination to be accretive to earnings per share in 2012.

Andrew Gould, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Schlumberger remarked, 'At our investor event in September 2008, we highlighted that increased levels of drilling are required to sustain and increase world oil and gas production. Increasingly, those wells are being drilled in more challenging environments and in new resource plays, with longer and more complex profiles. Schlumberger is already the leader in the measurement and steering technologies that are necessary to drill these profiles.

We firmly believe, however, that the next breakthrough will be through engineered drilling systems that optimize all the components of the drillstring, allowing our customers to drill more economically in demanding conditions. This step change in drilling performance and well productivity must come from combining measurement and steering capabilities with the engineering and design of the complete bottom-hole assembly and its various components-including the drilling fluids and drillbit-with the hydraulic and mechanical environment in which they operate.

Smith's drilling technologies, other products and expertise complement our own, while the geographical footprint of Schlumberger means we can extend our joint offerings worldwide. We believe this transaction brings significant benefits to the customers and shareholders of both companies, and we look forward to welcoming Smith employees to Schlumberger.'

John Yearwood, Chief Executive Officer of Smith, commented, 'This transaction brings our shareholders significant value and the opportunity to integrate with and own a meaningful share of a recognized technology leader in an extensive number of fields. Schlumberger offers Smith's various segments enhanced engineering and design capability to place our products and expertise at the center of the total drilling system of the future. We look forward to a successful combination with Schlumberger and have no doubt that our customers will see accelerated technology development and that our employees will enjoy enhanced opportunities.'

Tags: Schlumberger, Smith International