Slaughter and May, working as a team with BA-HR, is advising Spike Exploration Holding AS ('Spike Exploration') and HitecVision on a recommended voluntary cash tender offer to acquire the entire issued share capital of Bridge Energy ASA ('Bridge') for approximately NOK 967 million (£103 million).

The offer, which was announced on 16 September 2013, is to be financed by way of available cash resources of Spike Exploration.

Bridge Energy ASA is an oil and gas exploration and production company which holds production licences in the UK (North Sea) Continental Shelf and exploration assets in both the UK and Norwegian Continental Shelves. The company is listed on the Oslo stock exchange and AIM.

Spike Exploration is an exploration company focusing on oil and gas exploration in the Norwegian and UK continental shelves. Spike has access to up to US$300 million in equity following an agreement entered into with the Norwegian private equity group, HitecVision, in June 2012.

CONTACTS

Corporate and Commercial: Tim Boxell (partner), Hywel Davies (partner), Tom Williams (associate)

BA - HR: Corporate and M&A: Robin Bakken (partner)