e425
Filed by Smith International, Inc.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14d-2
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Subject Company: W-H Energy Services, Inc.
(Commission File No. 001-31346)
On Tuesday, June 3, 2008, Smith International, Inc. issued the following press release:
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
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Contacts:
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Margaret K. Dorman
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Shawn M. Housley |
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Smith International, Inc.
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W-H Energy Services, Inc. |
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Chief Financial Officer
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Director of Investor Relations |
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(281) 443-3370
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(713) 974-9071 |
SMITH INTERNATIONAL AND W-H ENERGY SERVICES
ENTER INTO DEFINITIVE MERGER AGREEMENT
HOUSTON, Texas (June 3, 2008)... Smith International, Inc. (NYSE:SII) and W-H Energy Services,
Inc. (NYSE:WHQ) today announced a strategic combination that will broaden Smiths capabilities
across key drilling and completion product and service offerings. Under the terms of the
definitive merger agreement unanimously approved by both companies Board of Directors, Smith will
acquire W-H Energy in exchange for cash consideration of $56.10 and the issuance of 0.48 Smith
common shares for each W-H Energy share outstanding. Based on yesterdays closing Smith share
price, the transaction is valued at $93.55 per W-H Energy share and results in a total transaction
value of approximately $3.2 billion.
The addition of W-H Energys product and service lines are a logical extension of Smiths
current product portfolio and provides entry into directional drilling services, one of the
oilfield service industrys fastest growing markets. The combined companies product capabilities
will enable Smith to offer a full suite of products and services from the rig floor to the drill
bit. The transaction helps create a stronger oilfield service franchise and is expected to be
immediately accretive to earnings and cash flow per share, excluding the impact of any
transaction-related charges.
Doug Rock, Chief Executive Officer of Smith, commented, Im thrilled that Ken White, W-H
Energys Chief Executive Officer, and W-H Energys Board of Directors and management team decided
to merge with Smith. The combined companies should be significantly strengthened in both drilling
and completion product and service offerings. From a drilling and evaluation perspective, the W-H
Energy team has developed world-class products for logging-while-drilling,
measurement-while-drilling, rotary steerable systems, directional drilling and downhole drilling
motors, as well as, trained a highly skilled cadre of directional drillers and technical support
people to operate these systems. In addition, through their focus on people and technology, W-H
Energy has also achieved broad success in its other business lines such as rental tools, cased-hole
wireline, coiled tubing and fluids-related products and services. We look forward to growing our
businesses together.
Ken White, Chief Executive Officer of W-H Energy, stated, Smith provides us the opportunity
to increase the growth rate of our directional drilling services through its strong international
presence. In addition, we bring new service lines to Smiths existing product and service
portfolio which further diversifies and balances the sources of its revenue and income.
Smith currently has approximately 200.9 million net outstanding common shares and is expected
to issue approximately 15.5 million new shares to W-H Energy equity holders. Upon completion of
the transaction it is anticipated that the current stockholders of Smith will own 93 percent of the
company and the current shareholders of W-H Energy will own 7 percent.
The transaction is expected to be effected pursuant to an exchange offer with W-H Energy
equity holders having the ability to accept the consideration mix offered or, subject to proration,
elect either all cash or all stock. The acquisition is structured to be generally tax-free for
U.S. federal income taxes to W-H Energy and its shareholders, except for the cash portion of
consideration received. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2008
and is subject to the successful completion of the exchange offer, as well as customary closing
conditions and regulatory approvals, including the expiration or termination of the applicable
waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. provided a fairness opinion and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
served as legal counsel to Smith. UBS Investment Bank acted as exclusive financial advisor and
Bracewell & Giuliani LLP served as legal counsel to W-H Energy.
The companies will host a joint conference call today beginning at 11:00 a.m. Central to
discuss the transaction. Participants may join the conference call by dialing (800) 233-1182 and
requesting the Smith /W-H Energy call. A replay of the conference call will also be available
through Tuesday, June 10, 2008, by dialing (630) 652-3000 and entering conference call
identification number 21873191. A live broadcast of the conference call will be available on the
Internet with an archived version accessible after the call. Further information on the broadcast
can be found on Smiths website at http://www.smith.com/conferencecall.
Smith International, Inc. is a leading supplier of premium products and services to the oil
and gas exploration and production industry through its four principal business units M-I SWACO,
Smith Technologies, Smith Services and Wilson.
W-H Energy is a diversified oilfield service company that provides products and services used
in connection with the drilling and completion of oil and natural gas wells and the production of
oil and natural gas. The Company has operations in North America and select areas internationally.
Certain comments contained herein are forward-looking in nature and are intended to constitute
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation,
statements regarding the consummation of the transaction, its effects on future operating results,
the expected closing date of the transaction, any other effect or benefit of the transaction and
any other statements that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from those
anticipated in the statements. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties that could
impact the companies results, review the Smith International, Inc. and the W-H Energy Services,
Inc. Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties include the satisfaction of the
conditions to consummate the proposed acquisition, general economic and business conditions, the
ability to achieve synergies following completion of the proposed acquisition, the impact of
intense competition, global economic growth and activity, the level of oil and natural gas
exploration and development activities, political stability of oil-producing countries, finding and
development costs
of operations, decline and depletion rates for oil and natural gas wells, seasonal weather
conditions, industry conditions, changes in laws or regulations and other factors and uncertainties
discussed from time to time in reports filed by the companies with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
The exchange offer described herein has not commenced. The description contained herein is
neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Smith. At the time
the exchange offer is commenced, Smith, through a wholly owned subsidiary, intends to file a Tender
Offer Statement on Schedule TO containing an offer to exchange, form of letters of election and
transmittal and other documents relating to the exchange offer, and W-H Energy intends to file a
solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the exchange offer. These
documents will contain important information about the exchange offer that should be read carefully
before any decision is made with respect to the exchange offer. These materials will be made
available to the shareholders of W-H Energy at no expense to them. Investors and security holders
will be able to obtain the documents (when available) free of charge at the SECs web site,
www.sec.gov. In addition, such materials (and all other documents filed with the SEC) will be
available free of charge at www.smith.com or www.whes.com. Such documents are not currently
available. You may also read and copy any reports, statements and other information filed by Smith
or W-H Energy 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 SECs website for
further information on its public reference room.