RRO is a Finish offshore oil and gas contractor and the majority owner with 56 percent of the shares in the Korabel yard in Astrakhan, Russia, near the Caspian Sea. Aker Kvaerner has worked together with RRO at several occasions, latest for the CGBS's at Sakhalin II. The Korabel yard is also involved in the Sakhalin II project delivering steel and piping prefabrication. The Korabel yard is a sub-contractor to Aker Kvaerner's Kashagan project doing the fabrication, outfitting and testing of one of the seven barges for the production facilitiy on the Kashagan field.

Aker Kvaerner acquires 26 percent of the shares in RRO (43.3 percent of the voting shares), with first option to buy additional shares to get majority in 2008. The shares are acquired from ST Holding Ltd which continous to be the majority stakeholder in RRO after the transaction.

 

Door opener for Aker Kvaerner in Russia and Kazakhstan
This transaction is securing Aker Kvaerner local content for projects executed in Russia and Kazakhstan. This is expected to improve the commercial edge for projects in the region and internationally. "This yard is of strategic importance for future projects in the Caspian Sea, Sakhalin and the Barents region", says CEO Inge K. Hansen.

 

Access to competence, experience and resources
In addition to provide local content for future projects, this acquisition gives access to low cost fabrication at the Korabel yard, a low cost engineering resource base and experienced project management resources for Russia and Kazakhstan. "Furthermore, the competence and experience in business development for this region possessed by RRO is a valuable addition to Aker Kvaerner's own competence", says Hansen.

ENDS

Media:
Torbjørn Andersen, SVP Group Communications, Aker Kvaerner. Tel: +47 67 51 30 36, Mobile phone: +47 928 85 542

Investor relations:
Lasse Torkildsen, VP Investor Relations, Aker Kvaerner. Tel: +47 67 51 30 39

 

AKER KVÆRNER ASA, through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Aker Kvaerner"), is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products and integrated solutions. The business within Aker Kvaerner span a number of industries, including Oil & Gas production, Refining & Chemicals, Mining & Metals, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology, Power Generation and Pulp & Paper. Aker Kvaerner has aggregated annual revenues of approximately USD 4.5 billion and employs around 22,000 people in more than 30 countries.

The Aker Kvaerner group consists of a number of separate legal entities. Aker Kvaerner is used as the common brand/trademark for most of these entities. The parent company in the group is Aker Kværner ASA

 

Field Development Europe is a multidisciplinary and technology based organisation covering all technical and management functions for carrying out development of oil and gas fields world-wide, from wellheads to receiving terminals.

This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is subject to our disclaimer, see our web-pages www.akerkvaerner.com