Press release from Business Wire
Schlumberger-Smith Merger Receives Unconditional Clearance from U.S. Department of Justice
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Schlumberger-Smith Merger Receives Unconditional Clearance from U.S. Department of Justice12:57 EDT Tuesday, July 27, 2010
HOUSTON (Business Wire) -- Schlumberger Ltd (NYSE: SLB) and Smith International, Inc. (NYSE: SII)
jointly announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice has cleared
their proposed merger without any conditions, granting early termination
of the waiting period required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976 with respect to the proposed merger. As
announced yesterday, the European Commission cleared the proposed merger
under the EC Merger Regulation on July 26, 2010 without any conditions.
The closing of the proposed merger remains subject to approval by Smith
stockholders and the satisfaction or waiver of the other closing
conditions contained in the merger agreement between the companies. As
previously announced, the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders of Smith
is scheduled for August 24, 2010, at which meeting stockholders of Smith
will consider and vote upon matters including the proposed adoption of
the agreement and plan of merger between Smith and Schlumberger.
Subject to receipt of approval from Smith stockholders, Schlumberger and
Smith expect to close the merger on August 27, 2010. Until that time,
Schlumberger and Smith will continue to operate as separate and
independent companies and continue to serve their respective customers.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The
opinions, forecasts, projections, or other statements other than
statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Neither
Schlumberger nor Smith can give any assurance that such expectations
will prove to be correct. These statements are subject to, among other
things, satisfaction of the closing conditions to the merger, the risk
that the Smith 2010 annual stockholders meeting is cancelled or delayed,
the risk that the contemplated merger does not occur, negative effects
from the pendency of the merger, the ability to successfully integrate
the merged businesses and to realize expected synergies and other risk
factors that are discussed in Schlumberger's and Smith's most recent
Forms 10-K as well as each company's other filings with the SEC
available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).
Actual results may differ materially from those expected, estimated or
projected.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and
neither Schlumberger nor Smith undertake any obligation to publicly
update or revise any of them in light of new information, future events
or otherwise.
Additional Information
Schlumberger has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4
containing a definitive proxy statement/prospectus of Schlumberger and
Smith and other documents related to the proposed transaction. The
registration has been declared effective by the SEC and Smith intends to
mail the proxy statement/prospectus to its stockholders on or about July
27, 2010. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND REGISTRATION STATEMENT REGARDING THE PROPOSED
TRANSACTION BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED
TRANSACTION, INCLUDING DETAILED RISK FACTORS. These documents contain
important information about the proposed transaction that should be read
carefully before any decision is made with respect to the proposed
transaction. These materials are available to the shareholders of Smith
at no expense to them. Investors and security holders can obtain the
documents free of charge at the SEC's web site, www.sec.gov.
In addition, such materials (and all other documents filed with the SEC)
are available free of charge at www.smith.com
or www.slb.com.
You may also read and copy any reports, statements and other information
filed by Smith or Schlumberger with the SEC at the SEC public reference
room at 100 F Street N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please
call the SEC at (800) 732-0330 or visit the SEC's website for further
information on its public reference room.
Each company's directors and executive officers and other persons may be
deemed, under SEC rules, to be participants in the solicitation of
proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information
regarding Schlumberger's directors and officers can be found in its
proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 4, 2010 and information
regarding Smith's directors and officers can be found in its amendment
to its annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 30, 2010.
Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy
solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests in
the transaction, by security holdings or otherwise, are contained in the
definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials.
