SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: November 21, 1997
READING & BATES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-5587 73-0642271
(State or other (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
901 Threadneedle, Suite 200, Houston, TX 77079
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (281) 496-5000
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
Exhibit 99 - Press Release dated November 21, 1997 - Reading & Bates
announces rescheduled stockholder meeting.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf of the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
READING & BATES CORPORATION
By /s/T. W. Nagle
------------------------
T. W. Nagle
Executive Vice President,
Finance and Administration
(Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
Dated: November 21, 1997
EXHIBIT 99
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Robert F. Fulton Charles R. Ofner
Falcon Drilling Company Reading & Bates
Corporation
(713) 623-8984 (281) 496-5000
Falcon Drilling and Reading & Bates
Announce Rescheduled Stockholder Meeting
Houston, Texas, November 21, 1997--Falcon Drilling Company, Inc.
(NYSE:FLC) and Reading & Bates Corporation (NYSE:RB) announced
today that their special stockholder meetings to vote on the
combination of the two companies will be held on December 23,
1997, at 9:00 a.m., Houston time, at the Omni Houston Hotel, Four
Riverway, Houston, Texas. The notices and proxy statements
relating to the meetings will be mailed to stockholders of both
companies on November 24, 1997. The combination will be
accounted for by the companies as a "pooling of interests" method
under APB Opinion No. 16.
Falcon Drilling Company is a NYSE listed company, providing
offshore drilling services for the international oil and gas
industry. Falcon's fleet of 82 drilling units services the
international deepwater, the offshore Gulf of Mexico and the
worldwide transition zone.
Reading & Bates is a NYSE listed company, providing offshore
drilling services throughout the world. Its wholly owned
subsidiary, Reading & Bates Development Co., engages in the
business of acquiring interests in offshore oil and gas
properties and thereby participates in reservoir risk sharing.
Through its TOPS joint venture, a full range of field development
contracting alternatives is offered to oil and gas companies,
including such services as drilling, marine and subsea
construction and production services.
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