UK: Ensco, Pride to Hold Shareholder Meetings to Vote on Merger

Ensco plc and Pride International, Inc.  jointly announced today that they each will hold special shareholder meetings on 31 May 2011 to vote on the merger of their companies, creating the world’s second largest mobile offshore drilling fleet.

The Ensco and Pride joint proxy statement/prospectus has been finalized and soon will be distributed to shareholders of both companies. The Ensco and Pride boards of directors have recommended that their respective shareholders vote in favor of the merger at their respective special meetings.

“We look forward to completing this transaction and bringing our two companies together,” commented Ensco’s Chairman & CEO Dan Rabun. “This merger will create the world’s second largest mobile offshore drilling fleet and provide many benefits to customers, employees and shareholders.”

Ensco and Pride previously announced a definitive merger agreement under which Ensco will acquire Pride in a cash and stock transaction. In preparation for the shareholder meetings, Ensco and Pride satisfied antitrust and securities regulatory requirements and Ensco successfully completed a $2.5 billion senior notes offering, the net proceeds of which will facilitate the Pride acquisition.

Ensco plc brings energy to the world as a global provider of offshore drilling services to the petroleum industry. With a fleet of ultra-deepwater semisubmersible and premium jackup drilling rigs, Ensco serves customers with high-quality equipment, a well-trained workforce and a strong record of safety and reliability. Ensco recently earned the top rating for overall customer satisfaction in the leading independent survey conducted by EnergyPoint Research with #1 rankings in eleven separate categories.

Pride International, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, operates a fleet of 26 mobile offshore drilling units, consisting primarily of floating rigs (semisubmersibles and drillships) that address deepwater drilling programs around the world. The company has one of the youngest and most technologically advanced deepwater drilling fleets in the offshore industry, with five drillships, including three delivered since the beginning of 2010, six semisubmersible rigs and two managed deepwater rigs. Two additional deepwater drillships are currently under construction with expected deliveries in 2011 and 2013. The company’s fleet also includes six other semisubmersible rigs and seven jackup rigs. Pride International’s floating rig fleet operates primarily offshore Brazil and West Africa where the company has a long-standing presence.

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Source:Ensco, April 27,2011;