Transocean offers $1.43 bn for Norway

Global offshore drilling group Transocean said Monday it will offer $1.43 billion (998 million euros) to acquire Aker Drilling, which currents runs two rigs in Norwegian waters. Swiss domiciled Transocean said in a statement that it would offer 26.50 Norwegian krone per share for the Norwegian company, a 62 percent premium on Aker Drilling's 30-day average share price. Shareholders representing 60.5 percent of Aker Drilling as well as its board of directors have given the go-ahead for the purchase, Transocean said. Transocean shares rose 5.59 percent during the morning, to trade at 44.52 francs per share at 830 GMT in the Swiss stock market.