The Abbot Group is the largest offshore platform drilling contractor in the UK
sector of the North Sea, one of the largest international land drilling
operators outside North America, and a world leader in drilling rig design,
construction and operation.
Abbot Group plc ('Abbot') announces that, through its subsidiary Abbot
Investments (North Africa) Limited, it has acquired the entire issued share
capital of International Air
drilling company Limited ('IADC'), a Gibraltar
registered company with operations in Libya, for a total cash consideration of
US$50 million, funded from Abbot's existing credit lines and cash resources.
IADC, through its subsidiary and associate companies, owns and operates ten
workover and drilling rigs in Libya, the majority of which are under contract to
both Libyan and western operators.
The ten rigs will complement the five rigs that Abbot's subsidiary, KCA DEUTAG,
already owns and operates in Libya, which with two new rigs currently under
construction and due for delivery in 2005, will make KCA DEUTAG the largest
western owned drilling contractor in the country.
Based upon unaudited accounts for the year ended 31st December 2003, IADC made a
consolidated profit before tax of US$4.6 million. Net assets at completion are
estimated at US$20 million.
Alasdair Locke, Executive Chairman of Abbot, said:
'We are delighted to have concluded this deal as it places our operating
companies in the strongest possible position to benefit from the relaxation of
sanctions and the gearing up of the Libyan market.
There are already strong indications of a major improvement in the prospects for
significant work in the immediate future. The recent announcement of the return
of a number of US based oil majors clearly indicates that the outlook for both
the medium and longer term is extremely good.
Libya today has the largest oil reserves base in Africa, but is a relatively
underdeveloped province, particularly for gas. Given its position in North
Africa, with its proximity to European markets and anticipated gas prospects, I
believe this acquisition, which follows our policy of strategic positioning,
will not only bring immediate value to the Group, but provide an opportunity for
continued benefits in the future.
In addition, we will continue to seek opportunities to acquire further assets in
our chosen geographic areas of operations.'
