HOUSTON, Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (NYSE: ATW) (the "Company") today announced that it has priced its public offering of $450 million aggregate principal amount of 6.50% senior notes due 2020. The public offering price was 100.0% of the principal amount of the notes. The offering is expected to close on January 18, 2012, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to reduce outstanding borrowings under its senior secured revolving credit facility.

In connection with the notes offering, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC acted as joint book-running managers. Copies of the prospectus, when available, may be obtained from: 


    Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC      Barclays Capital Inc.
    Attn: Prospectus Department             c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions
    One Madison Avenue, 1B                  1155 Long Island Avenue
    New York, NY 1001                       Edgewood, NY 11717
    Phone: (212) 325-2000                   Phone: (888) 603-5847
    Email: pamela.burnham@credit-suisse.com Email: Barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com

    Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
    Attn: Client Support
    550 South Tryon Street
    7th Floor MAC D1086-070
    Charlotte, NC 28202
    Phone: (800) 326-5897
    Email: cmclientsupport@wellsfargo.com

Atwood Oceanics, Inc. is an international offshore drilling contractor engaged in the drilling and completion of exploratory and developmental oil and natural gas wells. The Company currently owns ten mobile offshore drilling units located in Australia, Southeast Asia, West Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, South America and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, and is constructing an ultra-deepwater semisubmersible, two ultra-deepwater drillships and three high-specification jackups.

The senior notes are being offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 9, 2012. This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The offering of these securities will be made only by means of a prospectus.

SOURCE Atwood Oceanics, Inc.