DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) and OceanFreight Inc. (NASDAQ: OCNF) announced today that following approval by OceanFreight's shareholders at a special meeting, the companies have completed the merger and OceanFreight has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of DryShips. Under the terms of the merger agreement, OceanFreight shareholders will be entitled to receive $11.25 in cash and 0.52326 of a share of common stock of Ocean Rig UDW Inc., a global provider of offshore ultra deepwater drilling services, for each share of OceanFreight common stock owned by them.
As a result of the merger, OceanFreight's common shares will cease trading on the NASDAQ Global Market today, and OceanFreight expects to deregister and suspend its reporting obligations under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company has been appointed to serve as the agent for payment of the merger consideration to OceanFreight shareholders, and will promptly mail to shareholders instructions on how to surrender their stock certificates and receive payment for their shares. Banks, brokerage firms or other nominees will provide those shareholders who hold their shares in "street name" with their proceeds from the transaction. For more information, shareholders who hold their shares in "street name" should contact their bank, broker or other holder of record, and shareholders of record may contact American Stock Transfer & Trust Company at (877) 248-6417 (toll free). Shareholders of record should wait to receive the letter of transmittal before surrendering their shares.