Foraco announces normal course issuer bid

    
    /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE
    UNITED STATES/
    

TORONTO and MARSEILLES, France , Sept. 24 /CNW/ - Foraco International SA (TSX: FAR) (the "Company" or "Foraco") today announced that the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") has accepted for filing the Company's Notice in respect of a normal course issuer bid (the "NCIB") to be transacted through the facilities of the TSX.

Pursuant to the NCIB, Foraco may purchase up to 1,000,000 of its common shares (the "Shares") representing approximately 1.67% of the total 59,743,000 common shares of the Company issued and outstanding as at September 23, 2009 . Purchases will be made at prevailing market prices commencing October 5, 2009 and ending October 4, 2010 . Pursuant to TSX policies, daily purchases will not exceed 1,000 common shares, other than block purchase exceptions.

The Company has engaged CIBC World Markets Inc. ("CIBC") as its broker under an automatic share purchase plan to undertake purchases under the NCIB. During the term of the automatic share purchase plan the Company will not communicate any material undisclosed information to the trading staff at CIBC, and accordingly CIBC may make purchases regardless of whether a blackout period is in effect or whether there is material undisclosed information about the Company at the time purchases are made.

The Company intends to hold the Shares, until the same are required to be transferred to employees to satisfy the Company's obligations in respect of grants made by Foraco to its employees under the Company's free share plans, or for the purpose of potential acquisitions by Foraco.

Under the Company's previous NCIB, which commenced on October 3, 2008 and ends on October 2, 2009 , the Company was permitted to purchase a maximum of 1,000,000 common shares. Pursuant to the policies of the TSX, the previous NCIB also included a daily purchase limit of 1,934 common shares, other than block purchase exceptions. Under the Company's previous NCIB, the Company acquired 1,000,000 common shares at an average price of $0.98 per share through the facilities of the TSX. In May of 2009, 150,000 of these shares were transferred by the Company in relation to the acquisition of its interest of Mosslake Drilling Services Pty Ltd. Currently the Company holds 850,000 of its own common shares.

A copy of the Company's Notice filed with the TSX may be obtained, by any shareholder without charge, by contacting Foraco's Vice-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Jean-Pierre Charmensat.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States . The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Foraco

Foraco (TSX: FAR) is a worldwide drilling service provider headquartered in Marseille , France . The Company provides a diverse range of drilling services to the minerals, energy, water, environmental and infrastructure sectors. The Company currently operates 114 drilling rigs, with a presence in 19 countries across five continents. For more information about Foraco, visit www.foraco.com.

Caution concerning forward-looking statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements and information include estimates, forecasts, information and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, the future financial or operating performance of the Company and capital and operating expenditures. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "should", "plans", "expects", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "budget", and "scheduled" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements and information are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees and there can be no assurance that such statements and information will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2009 , which is filed with Canadian regulators on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All written and oral forward-looking statements and information attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.

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For further information: Bruce Wigle, Investor Relations, The Equicom Group, T: [phone] or 1-800-385-5451, ext. 228, F: [phone], E: [email protected]