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 EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED:  September 23, 2011

 

HELMERICH & PAYNE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

State of Incorporation:  Delaware

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-4221

 

Internal Revenue Service — Employer Identification No. 73-0679879

 

1437 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 1400, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(918)742-5531

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed since Last Report)

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

ITEM 8.01             OTHER EVENTS.

 

On June 29, 2010, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez authorized the “forcible taking” of 11 drilling rigs and other personal and real property owned by subsidiaries of Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (the “Company”).

 

The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co. and Helmerich & Payne de Venezuela, C.A. (“Plaintiffs”) filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on September 23, 2011 against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. and PDVSA Petróleo, S.A.  Plaintiffs seek damages for the taking of their Venezuelan drilling business in violation of international law and for breach of contract.  At this time the net impact of this matter on the Company’s consolidated financial results, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated.

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly authorized the undersigned to sign this report on its behalf.

 

 

 

HELMERICH & PAYNE, INC.

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Steven R. Mackey

 

Steven R. Mackey

 

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

DATE: September 26, 2011

 

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