Ocean Rig UDW Announces Closing

DryShips Inc. a global provider of marine transportation services for drybulk and petroleum cargoes, and through its majority owned subsidiary, Ocean Rig UDW Inc. (ORIG) of offshore deepwater drilling services, announced today that  Ocean Rig closed the previously announced offering of 28,571,428 shares of its common stock par value $0.01 per share, at a price of $7.00 per share. As part of the offering, George Economou, Ocean Rig’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, purchased $10 million, or 1,428,571 shares, of common stock in the offering at the public offering price, a number of common shares that maintains his direct ownership in Ocean Rig, representing approximately five percent of its common stock.

Clarksons Platou Securities, Inc., Pareto Securities Inc. and Seaport Global Securities LLC acted as joint lead managers, joint bookrunners and placement agents in the offering. Clarksons Platou Securities AS and Pareto Securities AS are acting as placement agents. The total net proceeds to Ocean Rig from the offering, after deducting offering fees and expenses, were approximately $193.9 million. Ocean Rig intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, including the acquisition of drilling rigs.