<PAGE> 1
UNITED STATES
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 (Date of earliest event reported) July 1, 1997
------------
PATTERSON ENERGY, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-22664 75-2504748
- ----------------------------- ------------ -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
4510 Lamesa Highway, Snyder, Texas 79549
- ---------------------------------------- --------
(Address of principal executive offices) Zip Code
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 915-573-1104
------------
No Change
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
<PAGE> 2
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On July 1, 1997 the Registrant issued the following press release:
PATTERSON ENERGY, INC. DECLARES 2-FOR-1 STOCK SPLIT
SNYDER, TEXAS, JULY 1, 1997-PATTERSON ENERGY, INC. (NASDAQ:PTEN) announced
today that the Board of Directors of Patterson has approved a 2-for-1 stock
split of its Common Stock, $.01 Par Value, to stockholders of record on July
11, 1997, to be distributed on July 25, 1997. As a result of the stock split,
each stockholder of Patterson will receive an additional share of Common Stock
for each share owned on the record date. Based on the number of shares of
Common Stock currently outstanding (7,369,257 shares), the number of shares of
Common Stock to be outstanding on the distribution date (July 25, 1997) will be
14,738,514 shares.
Patterson Energy, Inc., a Snyder, Texas based energy company, is one of the
leading providers of domestic land drilling services to major and independent
oil and gas companies and, to a lesser extent, is engaged in the development,
exploration, acquisition and production of oil and natural gas. Patterson has
87 land-based drilling rigs (81 of which are currently operable) and focuses
its operations primarily in Texas and southeast New Mexico.
For further information, contact:
Patterson Energy, Inc.
Cloyce A. Talbott, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
James C. Brown, Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer
915-573-1104
Shimmerlik Corporate Communications, Inc.
Warren M. Shimmerlik
212-247-5200
4510 Lamesa Highway - Snyder, Texas 79549 - 915-573-1104
<PAGE> 3
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 by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
PATTERSON ENERGY, INC.
Date: July 15, 1996 By: /s/ James C. Brown
---------------------------
James C. Brown
Vice President-Finance