Elumelu Invests in Seadrill Mobil in W/African Expansion Scheme

Tony O. Elumelu’s pan-African investment vehicle, Heirs Holdings, has made substantial investment in Seadrill Mobil Units (Nigeria) Limited, an affiliate of one of the world’s leading offshore deepwater drilling companies, Seadrill.

Elumelu has been appointed as chairman of the Board of Seadrill Mobil Units.

 The investment is further evidence of Elumelu’s strategy of increasing African businesses participate across the oil and gas value chain, and complement existing interests in oil and gas production and exploration.

Seadrill, the world’s leading offshore driller is listed on both the New York and Oslo stock exchanges, operating the second largest ultra-deepwater fleet and largest premium jackup fleet in the industry with 7,500 staff in 15 countries.

Commenting on the investment, Elumelu said, “Seadrill is a significant player in the oil and gas space, with a strong track record and one of the most respected names in the industry.  The partnership makes strong commercial sense, bringing together a major global player and a leading African participant in the oil and gas industry.

Successful development of Nigeria’s deep water oil and gas fields is of strategic importance for our country. This is an important part of our own approach of creating synergistic added value investment across the energy sector, from extraction to processing and perhaps most importantly for Nigeria, industrial production and power generation.”

Commenting further, Elumelu said ”This partnership sets the stage for greater development in our energy sector, driven by local talent and should serve as a model for further, genuine, indigenous participation, creating both economic and social impact.”

Svend Anton Maier, Seadrill Mobil Units (Nigeria) Limited, director added; “The partnership with Heirs Holdings creates the right mix of global technical expertise, backed by operational excellence and sound financial management to the Nigerian market. It positions the company as a local industry leader and a truly indigenous player.”

Heirs Holdings makes proprietary investments in strategic sectors throughout Africa. Through affiliates Tenoil Petroleum & Energy Services; and Transcorp Energy – established to lead Transcorp’s focus on the energy sector, Heirs Holdings has already made significant commitments to the oil exploration and production sector, through the acquisition of OPL 281, an onshore oil field with substantial gas reserves, by Transcorp and Tenoil’s development of OPL 2008, which is intended to enter production in 2014.