SeaDrill Limited ("SeaDrill") is pleased to announce that Carnegie and Pareto on behalf of SeaDrill has received acceptances close to 50 % of the SME shares (class A shares).
SeaDrill has decided that in the event it receives acceptances of more than 50%, SeaDrill will acquire the shares tendered and close the Voluntary offer immediately, before the expiry of the announced acceptance period.
It is important to note that it will not be possible to accept the Voluntary Offer thereafter.
The closing of the Voluntary Offer will in such case be announced through the Oslo Børs information system.
Smedvig shareholders who want to accept the Voluntary Offer before closing of the offer need to submit their acceptances to Carnegie, by fax +47 22 00 99 60, hand delivery or post.
Bermuda, 20 January 2006
Contacts:
Tor Olav Trøim, SeaDrill, tel. +44 7734 976575
Anders Onarheim, Carnegie ASA, tel. +47 93 40 93 01
Per Didrik Leivdal, Pareto Securities ASA, tel. +47 90 67 86 49