12 November 2013

Speedy Hire Plc

('Speedy', 'the Company' or 'the Group')

Speedy's International Division enters into Caspian Joint Venture

Speedy today announces that it has entered into a 50/50 joint venture with J. & J. Denholm Group ("Denholm") to provide asset management and equipment rental services to the extensive oil & gas sector in Kazakhstan, including the "super giant" fields at Tengiz, Karachaganak and Kashagan, three of the largest oilfields in the world.

Denholm, through its specialist oilfield services business has a market-leading position in the provision of maintenance and turnaround services in Kazakhstan which it has established through 20 years of operating in the region. Since 1999 it has operated this business through Denholm Zholdas LLP ("DZ").

DZ is headquartered in Atyrau, with an operating hub at Karabaton, adjacent to the onshore processing facilities at the huge offshore Kashagan field. In addition to Karabaton, it has permanent facilities at the onshore production plants at Tengiz and Karachaganak and at the export port of Aktau, which also acts as a supply base to Kashagan.

The joint venture will trade and operate under the brand "Speedy Zholdas" in Kazakhstan. Both Speedy and Denholm have identified the opportunity to leverage DZ's existing infrastructure by providing a full range of asset management and equipment rental services in support of existing clients of DZ, who include amongst others Chevron and Exxon, whilst at the same time extending such services to other oil & gas clients with whom Speedy already has, or is targeting, long-term relationships.

Speedy Zholdas already has a pipeline of near term opportunities supporting DZ in the services it provides major international oil companies under long-term framework agreements.  Given the seasonal nature of its activities, the joint venture is expected to breakeven during FY14 and to be earnings enhancing in FY15 and beyond.

As part of the transaction, Speedy has acquired a 50% interest in DZ's existing equipment rental operation for a total cash consideration of US$4.4m, of which US$1.4m is being paid on or around completion and US$3m is payable by equal instalments of US$1m on each 1 November 2014, 2015 and 2016. In the 9 month period to 30 September 2013, the business generated operating profits of US$1.4m on revenues of US$6.7m. The gross book value of the assets comprised in the joint venture is US$4.5m. Further investment by the parties to fund growth in the joint venture will be made on a dollar for dollar basis.

Commenting on the joint venture, Speedy's CEO, Steve Corcoran, said:

"We are delighted to be accessing the exciting oil & gas market in the Caspian by working in partnership with such a well-established and highly-regarded partner. Denholm has an enviable reputation, built up over 20 years, for providing outstanding levels of service to major international oilfield clients in Kazakhstan. Having recently supported Denholm Zholdas on planned turnaround projects in the region from our existing business, this joint venture is a natural next step for both parties.

Together with the Zadco project at Abu Dhabi's Zakum field, this joint venture means that Speedy now has a long-term presence at four of the largest oilfields in the world."

John Denholm, J. & J. Denholm's Chairman and CEO, added:

"We are delighted to be bringing Speedy in as a partner in our Kazakh plant hire business and believe their expertise and access to equipment will enable us to improve the level and range of service that we can offer our customers."

For further information please contact:

Speedy Hire Plc
Steve Corcoran, Chief Executive
Lynn Krige, Group Finance Director
Tel: +44(0) 1942 720 000

Hudson Sandler
Nick Lyon / Katie Matthews / Charlie Barker
Tel: +44(0) 207 796 4133

Note - Forward looking statements

The information in this release is based on management information.

This report includes statements that are forward looking in nature. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Group to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Except as required by the Listing Rules and applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update, revise or change any forward looking statements to reflect events or developments occurring after the date of this report.

Notes to Editors:

·        J. & J. Denholm Group is a privately owned conglomerate with international interests in a number of businesses ranging from the provision of oilfield services to shipping. Its oilfield services business in Kazakhstan was established in the Caspian region 20 years ago and provides maintenance and planned turnaround engineering services at Tengiz and Karachaganak under long-term framework agreements. DZ is headquartered in Atyrau, with an operating hub at Karabaton, adjacent to the onshore processing facilities at the huge Kashagan oilfield.

·        The Caspian basin is home to a number of the largest "super-giant" oil fields in the world. A "super-giant" is an oil field with at least 10 bn barrels of proven reserves.

·        Tengiz is the fifth largest oil field in the world with 28 bn barrels of proven reserves and currently produces approximately 550,000 barrels per day (bpd). This onshore field is operated by Chevron on behalf of a consortium which includes ExxonMobil, KazMunaiGaz and LukArco. Tengiz is about to embark upon a US$16 bn investment programme which is intended to increase production by a further 250,000 bpd to a total of 800,000 bpd.

·        Kashagan is the largest single oil discovery anywhere in the world in the last 30 years with estimated reserves of 30 to 40 bn barrels. It is an offshore field , utilising artificial islands to enable production during the harsh winter months, with onshore processing facilities. The field, which has just produced its first oil, is subject to a planned long-term US$136 bn investment programme. The lead operator is presently ENI on behalf of a consortium which includes Shell, Total, ExxonMobil, KazMunayGaz, Inpex and CNPC (China National Petroleum Corporation).

·         Karachaganak near Aksai is one of the world's largest oil & gas condensate fields with 9 bn barrels of concentrate reserves and 48 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves. Current production is approximately 380,000 bpd of oil equivalent. It is owned by a consortium which includes BG Group, ENI, Chevron and Lukoil.

·      Aktau, in addition to being one of Kazakhstan's main oil export hubs, operates as a supply base to Kashagan's offshore facilities.

·         "Zholdas" is the Kazakh word for "friendship".