Houston-based GlobalSantaFe Corporation announced that Global Marine Inc. and Santa Fe International Corporation completed their merger of equals. The ordinary shares of GlobalSantaFe will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on November 21, 2001, under the symbol "GSF".
Global Marine and Santa Fe International shareholders approved the merger during separate shareholder meetings held earlier today. Under the terms of the merger agreement each share of Global Marine common stock was converted
into 0.665 of an ordinary share of GlobalSantaFe. Santa Fe International
ordinary shares will trade as GlobalSantaFe ordinary shares. The combined company will have approximately 233 million shares outstanding.
"This merger of two great companies creates the world's premier drilling contractor," GlobalSantaFe chairman, Robert E. "Bob" Rose, said. "With a focus on providing a full spectrum of premium equipment and services, GlobalSantaFe has the size and reach to serve the world's largest oil and gas companies in every key offshore drilling region."
C. Stedman "Sted" Garber, GlobalSantaFe president and chief executive officer, said, "This combination speaks to the future. Meeting the challenges of our marketplace requires a company that can embrace the changing needs of our customers as well as maintain the financial strength necessary to operate effectively through volatile business cycles. What will not change, however,is our commitment to safety, the environment, ethics and customer service."