Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. Prices Initial Public Offering

TULSA, Okla., Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company" or "Laredo Petroleum"), announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 17,500,000 shares of its common stock at $17.00 per share. The underwriters have been granted a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,625,000 shares of common stock at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.  The shares of common stock are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on December 15, 2011 under the ticker symbol "LPI."  The offering is expected to close on or about December 20, 2011, subject to customary closing conditions.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111214/DA23267LOGO)

Upon completion of the offering, the public will own approximately 14% of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock, or approximately 16% if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of common stock in full.  The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay its outstanding indebtedness under its revolving credit facility.

J.P. Morgan, Goldman, Sachs & Co., BofA Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. is acting as lead manager for the offering. Societe Generale, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities, BMO Capital Markets, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Scotia Capital, Capital One Southcoast, BOSC, Inc., BB&T Capital Markets, Comerica Securities and Howard Weil Incorporated are acting as co-managers for the offering.

This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of a written prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be obtained from the offices of:

J.P. Morgan
via Broadridge Financial Solutions
1155 Long Island Avenue
Edgewood, New York 11717
Telephone: (866) 803-9204

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Prospectus Department
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Telephone: 1-866-471-2526
Facsimile: 212-902-9316
By email at [email protected]

BofA Merrill Lynch
4 World Financial Center
New York, NY 10080
Attn: Prospectus Department
By email at [email protected]

Wells Fargo Securities
Attn: Equity Syndicate Dept.
375 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10152
Telephone: (800) 326-5897
By email at [email protected]

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission.  This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Laredo Petroleum is an independent oil and gas company with headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Laredo Petroleum's business strategy is focused on the exploration, development and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties in the Permian and Mid-Continent regions of the United States.

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined under federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties and actual results could differ materially. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.

Contact
Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc.
Attn: W. Mark Womble
Office: (918) 513-4570
Fax: (918) 513-4571
[email protected]

SOURCE Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc.